Chapter 20

CHAPTER 20

K ane listened as Olivia talked to Waverly about her contract. Waverly did a lot of nodding and Olivia did a lot of breaking down meanings of words Kane had thought he already knew. Apparently, in the legal language, they meant something different.

"You're saying my nanoparticles are mine and my boss has no right to them at all?" Waverly asked after a very long explanation from Olivia.

"That's right. Your radar has to be patented with your company listed since you developed it at work, where you are employed while using their employees and their lab and their equipment and funding. However," Olivia said upon seeing Waverly frown, "you do not have to use the company's legal team to file the patent. You can file it yourself provided this language is in it." Olivia pointed to a part of the contract.

"What do you recommend I do?" Waverly asked as she worried her bottom lip.

"I recommend you let me patent both of your inventions. I'll follow your contract to the letter for the radar, but for the nanoparticles I will file in your name only. That is, if you want me to. I have a friend who is a patent specialist. I'll bring him on board to make sure every i is dotted and every t is crossed."

Kane watched quietly. This was Waverly's career. He wouldn't trust it in anyone's hands but Olivia's, yet it wasn't his call to make. Waverly glanced at him and then back at Olivia.

"I got a strange feeling at work today. I don't know why, but my gut is telling me to look out for myself. Do it. File them both as soon as possible."

Kane let out a breath. It was the right decision and he was glad Waverly made it. Olivia nodded and slid a piece of paper over to Waverly. "This is an engagement letter authorizing me to act on your behalf in these matters. It's important to have if Charleston Research tries to challenge the patent, which I expect them to do. They'll want to do the legal filing because it gives them more freedom to slip in small perks to your detriment. That's at least what their past patents have shown. Hidden under all the legalese were clauses that favored the company and hurt the employee. I'll make sure it's the other way around now."

Waverly signed the paper and handed it back to Olivia. "Thank you. I trust you to have my back."

"That's what family does." Olivia glanced at Kane and narrowed her eyes. "If my brother would hurry up and propose already. Nat, Maggie, Pen, and I already consider you a sister, so Kane better not mess this up."

Waverly laughed, but Kane didn't because he'd been thinking of doing just that. He was trying to find a romantic time to tell Waverly that he loved her, but couldn't. He had to tell her how he felt and how he wanted more than just the present. He wanted a future with her. But first, he needed to tell her how much he loved her. If only his family would give him some time to do so alone.

"Thank you, sis," Kane said sarcastically as he went to open the door. "If only I had some privacy, maybe I could. But, thank you for helping Waverly." Kane kissed his sister's cheek as she walked by.

"You do know she's the one, right?" Olivia whispered.

"I do."

Olivia grinned. "Good, just keep saying those two words over and over again for practice."

Kane chuckled as he closed the door. Finally, they were alone. Kane strode across the room and sat on the couch next to Waverly. He reached over and picked her up and set her on his lap. "I've been dying to touch you all day. Finally, you're mine for the night."

Kane loved the way Waverly melted into him and the happy little sigh she gave told him she loved him too.

"I've been wanting to tell you something," Kane started to say but then cursed at the knock on the door. He really wanted time with Waverly to tell her he loved her, but between everything going wrong on the investigation and people interrupting, he didn't know if he would ever be able to tell her.

Waverly tried to scramble off his lap. "Aren't you going to get that?"

"No. They'll go away." The knocking only grew louder and he let Waverly slide from his lap so he could answer the door. "What?" Kane asked as he flung open the door to find a grinning Maggie.

"I came to get your girlfriend for the women's group at the church."

Kane groaned. "I forgot about that. I'll pick you up and we can grab some barbecue to bring back home," he said, turning to Waverly.

Waverly was standing as she smiled with amusement at his pained expression at yet another interruption. "That sounds perfect, Kane. Now, I don't have many clothes here with me. What should I wear to church?"

Maggie handed a tote bag to her with a smile. "I brought you some of my clothes to wear. Go change. I'll wait."

Waverly headed to the bedroom, closed the door, and turned the bag upside down on the bed. She expected a dress or a skirt. She didn't expect the athletic leggings, a sports bra, and a tight-fitting tank top.

Waverly dressed and pulled on her tennis shoes. "I feel as if this isn't church attire," she told Maggie as she walked into the living room.

"It's perfect. Let's go."

"I'll go with you," Kane said, reaching for his keys.

"Kane, she'll be at the church. It's the safest place in Shadows Landing for her," Maggie gently reminded him. "Besides, Hunter is right behind me. He wanted to talk to you about something."

As if on cue, Hunter walked inside. "Kane, I'll be fine. I'll see you soon. And don't skimp on the barbeque. I'm starving." Waverly leaned over and kissed him. It felt so natural. It was as if they'd been doing this their whole lives. Kane had filled that part of her she hadn't known she was missing. Now that she had love, she knew she'd never go back. Kane completed her. He lifted her up. He supported her. He encouraged her. He protected her. He loved her. Sure, he hadn't said it yet, but she wasn't stupid. She knew he was trying to find the time to do so. A mischievous spark lit and she leaned into him to hug him goodbye. "Love you."

Then she winked at him and left him sputtering after her.

"I love you too!" he called out as she was already halfway to the car.

"I know," she called out over her shoulder. The way he leaned against the door grinning as if she'd just made him the happiest man in the world was enough to make her feel as if she were floating.

Until she was handed a knife . . . in a church . . . by the reverend.

"I'm really confused," Waverly said, looking down at the knife and back up at Reverend Winston.

"Like our town, this church was founded by pirates, Dr. Davenport," Reverend Winston explained to her. "My family has been presiding over the church for hundreds of years. We protect the souls and the people of Shadows Landing. When the men would go out in their ships to raid the waters, the women were left behind. The pirates, who were too old to go to sea, taught the women how to defend themselves and their town from the British or anyone thinking a town full of women, children, and the elderly would make an easy target. The tradition continues to this day."

Waverly looked around at the roomful of people ranging from women in their eighties down to Leah who was ten. They all held various weapons—antique weapons. But there was nothing old about the sharp point on the end of her knife.

"You start with the dagger," Maggie explained. "Then, as you get more proficient, you try the larger weapons. Eventually, you find the one that fits you the best."

Waverly looked down at the dagger. "You're saying this is a dagger from a pirate?"

Reverend Winston nodded. "It's from 1718. Why don't you join Melinda? She's still new at this too."

Waverly met the nice female reverend who was temporarily training in Shadows Landing. Her natural black curly hair was pulled back into a cute poof as she seriously worked on her drills. "Yes, please," Melinda said, looking up at Waverly and then dropping her voice. "It'll be nice to have a grown-up to work with who is also a beginner. I'm not a vain person, but your ego will take a hit when a ten-year-old is stabbing circles around you."

Waverly laughed, but then Leah threw her dagger, hitting the dummy straight in the heart. "Yeah, we'll make a good team. Don't you find this strange? Pirates and women fighting with daggers?"

Melinda shook her head. "I'm from Key West. Tons of pirates there too. I heard what happened to you. I'm so very sorry."

"Thank you." Melinda wore her emotions openly, and her sincerity left Waverly feeling as if she'd made a new friend.

"Enough talking, ladies," Reverend Winston said, joining them with his own dagger. "We need to get you prepared in case someone comes after you. We can meet daily if you'd like. But first, let's see where you are."

Waverly listened as Reverend Winston explained the dagger, its uses, and how to best defend yourself with it. He demonstrated and then Waverly and Melinda mimicked it. Over and over again, she practiced the basics.

"You're a scientist, right?" Reverend Winston asked during a break.

"I am. Physics."

"Then this should be easy for you to understand. It's all about force, speed, and angles. Let me show you." Reverend Winston took her to one of the dummies and showed how to correctly stab someone for a kill and how to stab for an injury. Then he showed her how and where to slice someone, both for defense and to kill. Yes, it involved anatomy, but once he explained the speed, force, and angle of the jab or slice, it was if a light was switched. It made perfect sense.

"Like this?" Waverly asked and then got to work.

"Nice," Leah said with a smile when Waverly was done. Waverly glanced at Melinda and then both laughed silently. Getting praise from this particular ten-year-old was the highest compliment Waverly had gotten.

"So, what did you think?" Maggie asked her as they walked out the front door of the church.

"I've never had so much fun. I didn't know what to think at first, but once I got over the randomness of pirate weapons training in a church, I just embraced it. I learned so much too."

Waverly felt Maggie falter next to her as they walked down the steps. "Waverly—"

"Is coming with us."

Waverly looked down at the bottom of the stairs. Two men with tattoos were standing waiting for her. One of them she recognized—it was Jesus.

"Run!" Maggie yelled, pushing Waverly back toward the stairs only to be confronted by two men coming from behind.

Waverly screamed. She probably should have done something helpful, but at this moment all she could think of was to scream. She even forgot the dagger in her tote bag.

The doors to the church opened and Reverend Winston, Miss Ruby, and Miss Winnie stood looking out.

"Oh no you don't, young man," Miss Ruby reached out and snagged a man by the ear.

Waverly was still screaming. She couldn't stop. She got taken silently last time, but that was never going to happen again. Doors opened all along Main Street as she fumbled for her dagger.

The man tried to smack Miss Ruby's hand away, but she only cranked his ear harder, causing him to drop to his knees. The second man behind her moved to push Miss Ruby, but Reverend Winston pulled a cutlass from his robes. "Touch her and lose that arm."

"What do you think you're trying to do?" Gator asked as he crossed the street with Skeeter and Turtle.

Waverly finally shut her mouth as the three men pulled out hunting knives so big that they had to be illegal.

"Didn't anyone tell you not to bring a knife to a gunfight," Jesus said, standing at the bottom of the stairs. In a flash, he and his partner pulled guns and pointed them at Gator, Skeeter, and Turtle.

"Don't worry. I brought a gun." Waverly didn't even know where the gun Maggie was now holding had come from. One thing was clear: she held that gun steady and didn't look worried about using it.

"So did I," Kord, the sheriff's deputy, said as he walked casually down the sidewalk with a rifle aimed at them.

"I did too. And trust me when I say I'm almost as good with mine as Maggie is with hers," another deputy said, coming from the opposite direction.

"Is that the assassin?" Waverly asked Maggie, but clearly the men heard her.

"Former assassin," Maggie said with a smirk.

"But I'm itching to get back into the game," Tristan said as he stopped, keeping his rifle aimed at them.

Waverly glanced around. The men were completely surrounded and they knew it. The man behind her tried to rip his ear free of Miss Ruby but quickly found a rapier to his throat.

"Leaving so soon?" Miss Winnie asked, pressing the sharp tip into the throat enough to cut the delicate skin.

"I'd like to invite you all to visit our cells," Kord told them, pulling out handcuffs. "They're haunted by pirate ghosts who protect this town."

Waverly would have thought he was just teasing, but by the way Skeeter was whispering in the air, she was beginning to think better of it.

Kord reached for the first man who shoved Kord, trying to take off down the road. Gator moved way faster than a big man should. He flew through the air and took the man down from behind. Waverly's mouth dropped open as Gator yanked a rope from his overalls and had the man hog-tied in seconds.

"Handcuffs or hog-tie? We're happy to accommodate you here in Shadows Landing," Kord said causally to the second man.

"This isn't over yet," Jesus threatened as he locked eyes with Waverly. "We still have a card to play. You want your boyfriend? Then you better let us go."

Waverly looked around and it was then she realized Kane wasn't there. He was supposed to be waiting for her. No longer frozen with fear, anger raged through her. She yanked the dagger from her tote and marched down the stairs.

"Where is he?" Waverly demanded of the man who had threatened her on the island.

Jesus grinned and Waverly sliced his upper arm before she even realized she did it. The man yelped and then looked at the blood pouring from his arm.

"That's your brachial artery. Next will be your femoral. Now, talk."

"They grow up so quickly, don't they Rev?" Miss Ruby said with a chuckle.

"Bruno should have killed you," he spat and then lunged for her.

Two gunshots rang out and the man dropped to the ground. Waverly stood staring as blood pooled at her feet. Her ears were ringing and then people were moving, but all she could think about was getting to Kane.

"Waverly!" Maggie was in her face, screaming at her. It was then Waverly realized she was screaming Kane's name out loud.

"We have to find him!"

"Waverly," Maggie yelled again as the ringing began to fade. "Kane is with Hunter. There's no way they'd take the two of them. I swear to you, Kane and Hunter will be okay."

"Then where is he?" Waverly asked as tears came.