The Lies We Tell (The Four 1)

“It’s funny. My brother worked down at the docks last summer, loading and unloading cargo. One of the cargo ships was actually called the Argo Navis, can you believe it?” She laughed. “Someone must have really been into their Greek mythology.”

I swear a lightning bolt hit me.

“What did you say?” I gasped.

“Which bit? The ship?”

“No. This can’t be!” My hands shaking, I picked up my phone and opened Weston’s app, scrolling to the little safe icon which linked to our secure storage.

It seemed to take forever for the scanned image of my dad’s notes to load, but when it did, it was blatantly obvious.

AR(letter missing)O (letter missing)AVIS. TUES NIGHTS.

Argo Navis.

“Kins, I’ve got to go. I’ll be back. Uh, later. Or tomorrow, I guess.”

“Are you okay?” She eyed me with concern.

“Yeah, yeah. Fine. Just got to see the Four.” I saved my work and closed my laptop lid with a bang, swiped my bag from the floor, stuffing my phone inside, and rushed out of the room. I paused to grab Caiden’s hoodie and a beanie hat, pulling them both on, then flew out of the building and into the car park.

Sitting in my car, I sent the same message to all the Four.

Me: It might not be Arlo Davis. I think it could be ARGO NAVIS. A boat at the docks. I’m going there to check it out now. Will let you know what I find.

Text sent, I switched to my maps app and set a course for Alstone Docks.

We reached the security guy. His scowl deepened as he stared us down, slightly shorter than me and Cass, but built like a brick shithouse.

“Can I help you boys?”

“You need to let us through. My father is in there, and it’s imperative that I speak with him, right now,” Cassius tried.

He stared at us, unimpressed. “Sorry, no can do.”

“Don’t you know who I am?” I cringed inside as the words came out of my mouth. “I’m Caiden Cavendish, son of Arlo Cavendish, your employer. I don’t think he’d be happy that you kept us from him, would he?”

“I know who you are. I’m under orders. No one gets through this door, not without the explicit permission of Mr. Cavendish, Drummond, or Lowry. You can take it up with them later, but you ain’t getting through tonight.”

“Let us through.” Cassius’ tone was low and deadly, and I stared at him in surprise.

“Do we have a problem?” The guard pulled out his radio and pressed the button to speak into it.

“No, no problem. Come on, Cass.” I dragged him away from the smirking security guy. When we were out of earshot, I turned to him. “We’re wasting our time. Let’s get out of here.” I stepped closer, lowering my voice. “Maybe check that entrance around the back, to see if we can find another way in. We might need Weston’s expertise.”

He narrowed his eyes, thinking, then sighed. “Yeah, guess so. Let’s get the boys and go.”

We reached the main room, and Zayde and Weston stood when they saw us, pushing back their chairs and nodding a goodbye to the guys at their table. We exited into the night air and back to the car.

“What do we do now?” West asked once we were all inside the car, twisting in his seat to look at me and Zayde in the back seats.

“Fuck!”

Weston’s head flew round at Cassius’ urgent shout. “Fuck!” he shouted again. “Fucking Winter!” He slammed the steering wheel, and my stomach flipped.

“We need to get to the docks, right now. Our girl could be in trouble.” He started the en

gine and threw the SUV into gear, peeling out of the parking lot.