by Lisa Kessler
David nodded, staring at his clasped hands on the table. “Yes. I already admitted it was a lapse in judgement.”
“And keeping your biological relationship to this”—he put on his reading glasses and consulted the paperwork—“Christopher Bale broke another code.” He lifted his gaze, removing the glasses. “You should have alerted the team and shifted the chain of command for this assignment to Agent Henderson. You were too close to this one.”
Just hearing him say Chris’s name out loud sent a pang of regret through David’s battered heart. For the past week he’d been reevaluating everything. If he had stepped in sooner, maybe he could have saved his nephew, which inevitably led him down the mental path to why he hadn’t. Was he a coward, like Chris had said?
A month ago, David wouldn’t have hesitated to deny that claim. But now he was humbled and hurt. He’d failed his team and his family. “I’m aware I made a huge mistake, but we didn’t lose any relics and in fact gained the Hourglass of Kronos from Trumain.”
David raised his gaze to address everyone around the table. “Look, I thought I could contain this and save my great-great-nephew. It was stupid and reckless. It won’t happen again.”
Brenda nodded slowly. “No, it won’t. It can’t.” She glanced at the others. “Are there any more direct questions, or are we ready to discuss?”
“I’d like to add something.” All eyes turned to King, and David braced himself. A few months back, when David had tried to run a background check on Dr. Charlotte Sinclair from the Maritime Museum, Kingsley Pratt had manipulated data and gone so far as to fly down to Savannah to warn her. When David discovered Charlotte was Kingsley’s daughter, he’d been relentless in his threats to keep King loyal to the department instead of his family.
The shoe was on the other foot now, and whatever King was about to level in David’s direction, David figured he deserved it.
King cleared his throat, his gaze sweeping the table before stopping on David. “I, for one, believe this experience will make Agent Bale better at his job.”
David blinked, stunned by King’s support.
Agent Henderson frowned. “He put our entire department at risk, and if Trumain hadn’t shot Christopher, we might’ve had a missing rune to retrieve, too.”
“All true.” Kingsley nodded, glancing her way. “But until now, Agent Bale has lived his life by the book, incapable of empathizing with his teammates who still have family alive in this world. He couldn’t relate to the unthinkable choices we’re faced with at times.” King focused on David again. “This job, and this department, is more than regulations printed on a page. We’re a dysfunctional family of misfits. And our leader should understand the pull of the heart when it comes to our loved ones. I believe now, he might.”
Brenda nodded slowly. “Well said.” She scanned the table. “Anyone else?”
When no one spoke up, she turned to David. “Can you give us a few minutes, please?”
David stood. “It’s been a privilege serving with all of you. I’m sorry I let you down this time.”
David left the conference room and went back to his office. At least it was still his for now. He’d fucked up, and if it had been someone else in the department, he would’ve considered cutting them loose.
King’s assessment was on point. David had never understood that instinctive drive to protect family. When he’d first joined the department, his parents were already gone, and his brother Paul had grown distant after the birth of his children. David hadn’t been forced to face a situation that involved his blood relatives.
And when he realized his great-great-nephew worked with the Digi Robins, instead of turning the information over to someone else on his team, he’d gone off-book, ignoring protocol to try to protect Chris.
They would be justified in dismissing him.
What would he do if it came to that and they wiped Department 13 from his memory? The department was his life and identity.
A knock came on the door. He lifted his head as Brenda entered, closing the door behind her.
David raised a brow. “That didn’t take long.”
“No. There wasn’t a lot of debate.” She shook her head and took the chair across from him. The regret in her eyes had his gut tied in knots.
“Shit.” He ran a hand back through his short hair. “It’s bad, isn’t it.”
“Well.” She opened her hands. “I guess that depends on you.”
He frowned. “How so?”
“Everyone agrees you need some time away from the department, and in the interest of national security, while you’re away we’ll be changing the electrical locks on the vault to require two agents’ prints to open the door. No more walking through the warehouse alone.”
“How long will I be away?”
She cleared her throat. “That’s the thing—we also all agreed the country is safer with you at our helm. I’m going to be writing up a new contract. You’ll need to sign it and agree to a week’s suspension without pay.”
Relief washed across his shoulders, and he nodded. “I can do that.”
“Good. I’ll draw up the paperwork.” She stood and went to the door. Glancing back over her shoulder, she added, “King was right about us being a family. If you ever want to talk, you know where to find me.”
“Thanks, Brenda.”
She walked away, and he rested into his chair, rubbing his face in his hands. He’d almost lost everything, but he’d been offered mercy by his team.
He’d never take them for granted again.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Harmony looked up as her brother entered her apartment with a box containing the past five years of her life.
“Where do you want me to put it?”
“You can set it on the dining room table.” She crossed over there, peering into the box. “Thanks for doing this for me. I owe you a burger.”
“It was no big deal.” He cleared his throat, waiting until she met his eyes before he went on. “Your boss seems like a nice guy.”
Her heart fluttered. “John saw you?”
“My ninja skills must be getting rusty.”
She chuckled. “Nothing gets past John, trust me.”
She fished out her photos and grinned as she lifted her lucky Troll doll out of the box. She and Trixie had closed many deals together. God, she was going to miss Privateer, and she’d been missing John since the moment she got out of his car.
Max crossed his arms. “When are you going to tell me what’s really going on?”
She glanced his way, doing her best to bury the flush of emotions Max churned up by mentioning John. “I already told you, I quit. Time for a new adventure.”
“Oh, come on. Don’t lie to your favorite brother.”
She grinned, rolling her eyes. “You’re my only brother.”
He sobered. “I’m serious, Harmony. What’s going on with you? Your boss couldn’t stop talking about how good you are at your job, and he wanted me to pass on a message.”
She set her framed photos aside and met his eyes. “What did he say?”
“He said to tell you that if you ever need him, he’ll be there.”
An unexpected wave of hot tears flooded her eyes. She spun around for the bathroom, hoping her brother hadn’t seen the unwelcome tidal wave of heartbreak. Safely inside, she plucked a couple of tissues from the box on the counter and fought to regain her calm.
Max knocked on the door. “Are you okay?”
“I will be.” She wiped her nose and took a cleansing breath before opening the door. “See? I’m fine.”
Max shook his head. “You’re in love with your boss.”
Her eyes widened. “You’re insane.” She pushed her way past him to get back to her box, eager for a distraction. “We did go out, but it fell apart, okay? No big deal.”
“It’s a big enough deal that you’re leaving town.”
“How did you…” She froze, then slowly lifted her gaze. “I was going to t
ell you.”
“When? As you weighed anchor and sailed away?”
She sighed and sat on the couch, patting the spot next to her. He grudgingly came over and plopped down beside her. She shook her head. “I’ve been a shitty sister. How long have you known?”
“The dock called me a couple days ago. You listed me as a reference.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
He shrugged. “I figured you’d tell me when you were ready.” He searched her eyes. “None of your other breakups had you cashing in all your savings to buy a boat and escape.”
“Fine.” Her vision wavered as she blinked back another unwelcome wave of tears. “I’ve never met anyone like John before. At work, he used to make me nuts with his conservative investments and micro-managing tendencies, but over the past few weeks, we spent more time together. I saw a new side of him.” She cleared her throat. “When I was with him, I felt like I was enough. No one, except maybe you, has ever made me believe I was just right the way I am.”
Max wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her in for a side hug. She clung to him, closing her eyes and accepting the comfort. He rested his head on top of hers. “If he’s so great, why’d you quit?”
Here came the part she couldn’t explain to him. She couldn’t tell him about the Grail, or the immortal pirate crew, or Pandora’s box.
“He told me he wouldn’t change anything about me, but that turned out not to be true.”
Max pulled back, his eyebrow cocked. “What did he want you to change?”
My mortality. “Being with me is too risky for him, and I’m not going to start living safe, so…” She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter anymore, anyway.”
…
John finished the monthly books for the Sea Dog and closed the ledger. Running the numbers offered him a welcome respite from obsessing over Harmony. After her brother left, her empty office made their break painfully real.
She was out of John’s life.
And while that was supposed to protect him, it felt like the opposite. He brought the bank book topside and found Drake coming straight toward him.
The ship’s carpenter had his tool belt low around his waist and a hammer in his hand. “Boatswain, I didn’t know you were on board.”
“Just finishing up the books.” He glanced at the hammer. “You’re making repairs?”
“Aye.” He pointed to the rail. “Replacing a couple cracked cleats.” He looked around. “Where’s your thief?”
“She’s not mine.” John’s heart twisted. “And our business together is finished.”
Drake tucked his hammer back into his belt. “Her idea, or yours?”
“She’s a mortal with her whole life ahead of her.”
“Exactly. A life she could share with you, right?” He gestured up at the riggings. “You’re a fool to let that woman get away. She beat me up the ratlines in a rainstorm!”
“I am most definitely a fool,” John agreed.
Drake’s eyes narrowed, his true nautical accent bleeding into his voice. “Why aren’t ye fightin’ for this lass? It’s not like you to give up.”
“Because there’s no winning this fight. Death will win.” He shook his head. The pressure of pent-up emotions was building. “I thought she was dead!” John shouted, his pain erupting like an island volcano. “She’s a gale-force wind I would never attempt to tame, but I also can’t stand by and watch her die. I won’t.”
Drake crossed his arms, shaking his head. “Yer a piece of work, boatswain. This lass reminded you what living is all about, and now ye think ye can sail back into the safety of the harbor, balance the register, and be content with just existing again? Fuck.” He swiped the air as he turned away. “Ye don’t deserve her.”
John watched Drake walk away. The carpenter got one thing right. John didn’t deserve her.
In over two hundred years on this earth, he’d never laughed more or loved more than he had in the short time they’d been partners. One lifetime would never be enough, but he didn’t need to run the numbers to recognize how much he’d be losing if he let Harmony slip away.
If it wasn’t already too late.
…
After Max went home, Harmony started folding her laundry, singing along with her breakup playlist, but it wasn’t bringing her any relief. Not this time. She couldn’t stop thinking about John. He’d sent a message through her brother.
But it wasn’t “I can’t live without you.” Or “Tell her I love her.”
It was simply, “If she needs me, I’ll be there.”
The one thing she’d always wanted her entire life. And to make it worse—she believed him. Even after their partnership ended, there wasn’t a single doubt in her heart that if she needed help, John would show up. When she was hanging, trapped in an underground tomb, even though it probably looked like she played him for his money, he still found her and got her into fresh air. He didn’t abandon her.
So why didn’t she call him?
Pride? Or maybe it was more.
She’d seen the pain in his eyes when he admitted he’d brought the Grail with him into that tomb, intent to give her a drink without her consent. Eventually every gray hair on her head would be a reminder to him that time was slipping away.
And if she drank from that cup, would she feel the same way about Max? Leaving him behind before he noticed she wasn’t aging would kill her, and when he died—she didn’t want to think about it. There was no escape from the pain of loss for John. She understood why he needed to take a step back.
Didn’t make it hurt any less, but she did get it. Which also made it impossible to be angry. Maybe that was why she couldn’t seem to move on.
None of this was fair.
She wiped a stray tear and picked up a pair of jeans to fold. A knock on the door had her glancing over her shoulder. “Just a sec.”
She set the folded pants on the bed and headed for the door. Maybe Max forgot something. Her lips parted, eyes widening when John stood on the other side of the door. He was in jeans and a dark green slim-fit T-shirt that hugged his broad shoulders. His strong jaw was accentuated by a five o’clock shadow he rarely sported, giving him an extra dose of pirate swagger.
She did her best to tamp down her hormones and play it cool. “John. I didn’t expect to see you again.”
A muscle flexed in his cheek. “Can we talk?” He held up a small brown bag. “I brought Leopold’s. It’s Peanut Butter Chippy and banana.”
Her heart melted that he remembered her favorite flavors. So much for playing it cool. “Like I could turn down Leopold’s.” She stepped back from the entry. “Come in.”
She led him into the kitchen and took out two bowls, an ice cream scooper, and a couple spoons. John picked up the scooper and filled their bowls while she took the opportunity to enjoy the way the muscles in his forearms and biceps tensed with each scoop.
They’d only been apart for a week, but damn, it was so good to see him again.
He offered her a bowl and followed her over to the couch. She popped a spoonful into her mouth and groaned. “Oh, this is so good.” She glanced his way. “Thanks for the ice cream.”
“You’re welcome.” His expression was unreadable, but the desire in his eyes was undeniable.
Heat swirled low in her belly. Ugh. Why did he have to be so sexy? “You said you wanted to talk. I assume it’s not about ice cream.” She took another bite, sliding the spoon out of her mouth slowly, enjoying the way his eyes tracked her every move.
He cleared his throat, focusing on his bowl of ice cream. “I’ve been a fool and a coward.” He lifted his gaze to meet hers. “And I hope ye can forgive me.”
The hint of his true accent, his true self, touched her. She’d noticed it only slipped out when his emotions were running high. “I’ve been doing some thinking, too,” she replied. “I can’t find a solution that would let us be together without hurting you. As much as I wish we could make this work—I don�
��t want to cause you pain.”
He put his bowl down beside hers and took her hand, his thumb stroking her knuckles. “A wise man once said a boat might be safe in a harbor, but that’s not what it’s built for. I see that now. Someday time might separate us, but hearts were made to love, pain and all.” He swallowed, his eyes searching hers. “I’m trying to say I love you, Harmony. And I don’t want another moment to pass without you in it.”
Her heartbeat pounded in her ears like a jack hammer. For a second, she wasn’t sure she’d heard him correctly. “Are you sure about this? Because if you ever break my heart again, I’ll kick your ass.”
He chuckled and cupped her cheek. “I’ve never been surer of anything in over two hundred and fifty years, love.”
“Really?” She raised a brow, struggling to bite back a smile. While her heart was already all in, the last vestiges of her self-preservation weren’t quite ready to let him off the hook yet. “So when my hair is gray and I have spectacles hanging low on my nose, you’re not going to freak out and leave me, worried I could drop dead at any second?”
“When your legs get too weak to cross the gangplank, I’ll carry you on board the ship.” His eyes sparkled, his gaze locked on hers. “I was a coward and a fool to walk away. I’ll never make that mistake again.”
She smiled, sinking into his arms as his lips caressed hers. His tongue explored her mouth, and he pulled her into his arms. His fingers slid into her hair, clutching her tighter. She moaned into the kiss, struggling to contain the wave of emotions cresting inside of her. Being in his embrace was like coming home again.
She broke the kiss, resting her forehead on his, and whispered, “I love you, too.”
He picked her up off the couch, carrying her toward the bedroom as he claimed her lips again. In her room, he set her down, and she slipped her hands underneath his shirt, pulling it off, tossing it aside. Hers was next, landing beside his. While he unclasped her bra, she unfastened his jeans, eager to lose all the barriers between them. He pushed her pants over her hips, and she stepped out of them, kicking them out of the way.