Geomancist (Seven Forbidden Arts 5)

“Sean…” She bit her lip as Juan’s words came back to her. He’d said Sean had betrayed her.

“Sean is here, too.” Eve smiled. “You can see him in a minute.”

“Tell me everything, please. How did Matt get away?”

“Sean sent him to the mainland before the attack, and Cain brought him and your grandmother here.”

“Why? Who’s Cain?”

“Sean will explain everything.”

Eve made to get up, but Asia stopped her with a hand on her arm.

“There are things I want to know,” Asia said, “things I need to know before I see Sean.”

Eve sat back down reluctantly. “I understand your concerns, but—”

“Why am I in a safe house?”

“To protect you from Juan’s accomplices or further attacks.”

“Who is Cain?”

“Cain Jones.”

“Mr. Jones, as in Jerry’s landlord?”

Eve didn’t answer.

Suspicion grew in Asia’s mind. “Who exactly is Cain Jones?”

“He’s the commander of a paranormal crime task force.”

It was too much to take in. “Are you part of the team?”

Eve nodded.

“Is Sean?”

“No.”

“How are Sean and Cain connected?”

“Asia, I really—”

“Please, just tell me.”

Eve sighed again. “Sean was doing a job for Cain.”

“What job?” At Eve’s silence, she said, “Tell me what’s going on. I deserve to know.”

Eve seemed to consider her request. After a moment, she said, “Sean was gaining information about Godfrey from Juan.”

“For Cain?”

“Yes.”

“Is that why he went to the island?”

“Yes, from what I understand.”

“Why? Is Sean an undercover agent?”

“No.” Eve avoided her eyes. “Cain promised him Jerry’s bar if he succeeded in obtaining information about Godfrey’s whereabouts.”

Understanding dawned. Hurt washed over her. Betrayal burned in her stomach like a flame. Sean had used her to get what he wanted. Is that why he’d asked her to spy for him? To obtain his precious bar?

Keeping her voice level, Asia asked, “Was there ever a friend who was going to pull me off the island, or did Sean make it up?”

“Asia, you should really talk to Sean about this.”

Asia closed her eyes and swallowed back her tears. She couldn’t believe it, not of Sean. He wouldn’t have risked her life, submitted her to Juan’s torture, and endangered her family just to win ownership of a bar. Would he?

She was afraid to ask, but she needed to know. “It’s too much of a coincidence that I look like Juan’s dead wife. They knew, didn’t they?”

Eve’s somber stare gave her the answer. They used her for their own, selfish purposes. Humiliation and deceit tasted bitter in her mouth. What an idiot she’d been. Foolish and naïve.

“Thank you for being honest with me,” she said, schooling her features. “Can I see Sean now, please?”

“He was anxious to see you.” Eve stood. “I’ll call him right away.” She gave an encouraging smile and left the room.

When Asia was alone, she allowed her composure to slip. She stifled a sob with the back of her hand. The thought of Sean knowing all along what he was setting her up for hurt. She trusted him. No, used to trust him.

She’d barely pulled herself together before Sean stormed into the room with Eve on his heels. He rushed to Asia’s side and took her hand, but she pulled away.

“I can’t let you stay long,” Eve said to Sean.

“May I have a word with Sean alone?” Asia asked the doctor.

“Of course,” Eve said. “I’ll leave the two of you for a few minutes.”

When the door closed behind Eve, Sean sat down on the edge of the bed and wiped the curls from her face. “You gave me a fright, kitten.”

The tenderness in the act was almost her undoing. She wanted nothing more than to wrap her arms around his neck. Instead, she took a steadying breath and cut straight to the chase. “What’s a geomancist?”

He hesitated before answering. “It’s someone who can manipulate the earth.”

“Someone who can cause earthquakes and volcanoes? Like what happened with the island and on the beach?”

“Among other things,” he admitted with reluctance.

“Thank you for getting Matt off the island.” That gratitude was owed to him. No matter how ending up on the island had come about, she was thankful he’d somehow convinced her brother to leave.

“It was the least I could do. When I realized you were gone—”

“Thank you for saving me.” That was the second thank you she owed him. “Despite what he’d said, Juan would’ve killed me. He never would’ve forgiven me.” Sean opened his mouth but she didn’t give him time to comment. “Is he dead?”

“Yes.”

Good. It was the only way she’d ever be free of that monster. “The others?”

“All gone. Tony and Garcia were killed during the fight on the beach. Stefan was taken out with the drug operation.”

She averted her gaze. “Eve said we’re in Santiago.”

“It’s safe here.”

When she looked back at him, she saw something in his face she didn’t want to. Guilt. Her heartbeat slowed to a painful thud. Every beat fell like a hammer in her chest. Eve had been right, but she needed him to say it.