“The Duchess is secure at the island. Unfortunately, it seems a bird followed her.”
Jonas whines, turning green before my very eyes, and goes to Damon for comfort. Mav stares at me with a frown.
“Oh, shit.” Aleksi huffs out.
I rub my fingertips across my forehead, then scrub down my face, hand landing on my hip. “Yeah. Any chance you have some kind of connection that can get us as close to that island as possible? Between those two, something real bad is about to go down on that island.”
He sighs. “Let me see what I can do. Can you send me the coordinates of the island?”
I fiddle with my phone and send him exactly that. “Sent.”
“Give me an hour.”
“We’ll be there by then.”
“Alright.” He hangs up and we disperse, taking less than that hour to get to our new headquarters at the Winters’ Estate, and I can't help but stare at Charlie’s monument when we pass it, just as the first snowflakesbegin to fall.
Chapter Thirteen
Sabrina.
The ferryman waves us off as we drive off the boat and onto the dock, then down a long, winding, narrow road, where I can see the manor from where I sit in the passenger seat. It sits high on a hill overseeing the entire island, a lighthouse at the edge of the cliff. Another kilometer and we’re passing through an old wrought-iron archway, where it seems the gate was either ripped off its hinges or there’s simply no need for a door because nobody comes here. I will my knees not to bounce at that thought.
I am cool, calm, and collected. I am here for answers.
My nerves grate at me as I straighten in my seat, staring up at the humongous Gothic Greystone sitting stoic against an angry sky that looks as though it’s empty save for a few lights on in the windows. It feels haunted even from this distance. What spirits reside here?
My curious mind wants to ask all the questions, but I really don’t want to hear Kane’s voice. Are there other Syndicate members waiting there? There are large grounds from what I can see. Lots of places to hide. I keep sweeping my eyes over our surroundings just in case I do have to run and hide. I’m so glad I brought my fur-lined boots and not my trainers. Looks like I may need them.
“What do you think?” Kane asks from beside me as we finally park in what looks like a newly constructed garage.
I smile. “It’s beautiful. And it’s just us?”
He nods my way, fingers tapping on the steering wheel. “Staff come in the morning and leave in the afternoons before sundown.”
I relax a little. It means we won’t be alone until tonight. But then what? I’ve promised something I can’t give and have no interest in giving. “Lovely,” I reply with a bit of a flirty undertone.
“Right.” Kane says, hazel eyes bouncing between mine, and gets out, letting a blast of the cold air into the vehicle, leaving the keys in the ignition. He rounds the front of it and opens my door. I go to the boot, andhe scoffs. “Leave it. Staff will get it later. I don’t want you carrying anything heavy, darling.”
“Kane,” I smile bleakly. “A lady needs her things. I just need to grab my purse, if you’ll unlock it? I promise not to carry anything heavy.”
He steps to me and squeezes my arms over my coat, leaning in to give me a chaste peck on the forehead. Uggghhhhh. As if I wasn’t nauseous enough from the fucking ferry ride. I never understood how Charlie could stand the sea. The amount of motion the waves cause is atrocious.
“Ohhh, Sabrina. You know I can't deny you anything.” Ugh, gag me. “Let me just… go…” He gives me a slight nod and points to the front of the car, leaving me to grab my purse.
The boot opens and I squeal when I see Raven on top of my luggage with my purse in her hands.
“Is everything alright?" We hear the driver’s door shutting.
She throws me my purse and grabs the little string hanging from inside in case one is kidnapped and pulls it shut quickly. “Yes! Yes.” I throw my hand over my chest dramatically. “Just a little mouse.” I swallow, moving away from the vehicle.
Kane hugs me. “Odd. I thought mice hibernate.”
I shrug. “Probably trying to find somewhere to go before the snow starts.”
He grins a lazy smile, the kind that used to warm my heart when I would look at him as a teenager. “You might be right. Come, I’d like to give you a tour and have some tea with you in the drawing room like old times. Would you like that?”
I nod. He cups my elbow, and soon we’re inside the eerily silent manor’s back foyer. There’s no chatter, no footfalls on the marble flooring from the staff. I can hear my own pulse in my ears as we stride out of the hallway and into a kitchen where there’s a little redheaded woman standing over a pot, mixing whatever she’s poured in, and it smells delicious.
