Pirate's Promise (Sentinels of Savannah #5) - Lisa Kessler Page 0,3

and took one last survey of his stash. Whatever they would be hunting this time, he wanted to be prepared.

Under their quartermaster Colton’s supervision, the entire crew hustled around the deck, preparing to make sail. They hadn’t crossed the Atlantic since they had lost the original Sea Dog in a storm off the coast of Savannah in 1795. Greyson could almost smell his crewmates’ anticipation.

Sailing the behemoth ship was backbreaking labor with their skeleton crew, but Colton had added an engine to this new incarnation of the Sea Dog, so if the wind abandoned them, they could still reach their destination. No more being lost in the doldrums.

“All crew on deck!” Colton shouted. The quartermaster was the tallest of the crew and kept his face clean-shaven and his light-brown hair short. Other than the tattoo of the North Star on his forearm, no one would guess he’d ever been a pirate.

Greyson locked the armory and headed topside. He jogged up the stairs and slowed as he reached the top.

A woman dressed in black slacks and a black turtleneck strode over the gangplank and onto the deck with the confidence of a captain. Her black leather shoulder holster held a Glock and two extra clips of ammunition hung from the belt around her waist. Her long, dark ponytail blew in the wind behind her like a modern-day Valkyrie.

They’d been expecting Agent Bale.

This was not the uptight government agent. This was an armed goddess.

He crossed the deck and stopped beside Colton. “Who’s the lass?”

“I’m not sure.” Colton glanced his way. “Until we know…”

Greyson nodded in agreement. They wouldn’t mention the mission. Not yet.

Colton approached her without hesitation, knowing full well Greyson was armed and ready should the woman draw her weapon.

As she came closer, Greyson narrowed his eyes. She looked…familiar. His gaze snapped to the gun at her hip and back up to her face.

Had he met her before? No. He’d remember.

Colton stopped in front of their uninvited guest. “Visiting hours are over.”

“I didn’t come here for a visit.” She stared up at Colton. “I’m Agent Aura Henderson from Department 13. Agent Bale sent me.”

“We’re weighing anchor in the morning.” Colton crossed his arms. “When’s he planning on meeting us?”

“This is my mission. He’ll be coordinating from the D.C. office.”

Her mission? Greyson narrowed his eyes as he neared Colton.

Shit. Now he recognized her.

She’d been hidden underneath a hooded robe the last time he’d come in contact with her. This was the agent who had been undercover with the witches’ coven.

The one he had inadvertently outed while rescuing Drake. The witch coven had been using the figurehead from the Flying Dutchman to control spirits of the dead and torment Drake. The mental attacks had been relentless, driving his friend to his knees.

Greyson had had no way to know Agent Bale had been running an undercover operation to infiltrate their ranks. He’d found out too late.

She met his eyes with a cold glare. “I’ll be partnering up with you to retrieve the missing relic.” She stuck a folder in his face. “Study the backstory. If you fuck this up for me, I’ll make you wish you could die.”

Greyson smirked and took the folder. The fire in her eyes was clearly meant to push him away, but it only lured him in closer.

“Backstory?” He raised a teasing brow. “Being a pirate isn’t story enough for you, lass?” While the rest of the Sea Dog crew did their best to evolve and blend into modern-day Savannah, Greyson had never bothered to hide his nautical accent. He also never cut his long, braided hair or removed his earring. His motto was the world could accept him or go fuck itself.

She smacked the folder, but his grip didn’t give. Her gaze locked on his. “Don’t mess with me, pirate. I’ve never had an undercover mission crumble until you blew the whole thing up like a loose cannon. This is my chance to make things right, and I’m not going to let you screw it up. This is too important.”

Her condescending tone was starting to piss him off. He leaned into her personal space. “Forgive me for not stroking off in the shadows while you played witch with that coven. My friend was in mortal peril. You didn’t see what those mental attacks did to him, seeing the terror in his eyes.” He shook his head, locking the memories away. “Sitting back and letting him be attacked isn’t my style.”

She poked his chest with her finger. “You and your