“That’ll be handy if we need another interpreter. I’m going to make some calls, tug some lines. We’re going to need a boat and diving gear.”
“You wheel that deal,” Sawyer told her. “You’re good at it.”
“One of my specialties.”
“It wouldn’t hurt to have a car or van on tap,” Bran pointed out. “We may need to go farther afield.”
“I’ll see what I can do.”
“Might as well leave my bike inside where it is, unless we need it. I’ll set up a training area in the grove. We can use the trees for cover,” Doyle speculated. “Plenty of hills for hiking.”
/> “I like hiking.” Annika ate the last of a honey-drizzled bite of peach. “Can we hike down to the beach?”
“Maybe later,” Bran told her. “I have some work if Sawyer can help Doyle set up the training area.”
“I’m on it.”
“Annika, you could help me while Sasha and Riley deal with the cleanup here. We want to replenish the medicines. You’ll make your calls,” Bran said to Riley, “work your own brand of magic.”
“We need to go over the maps for this area,” Doyle pointed out. “And work out some strategy.”
“Agreed. Could you do another assignment chart, Sasha?”
“Right after KP.”
“Okay, go team.” Riley clapped her hands together. “Let’s get started.”
She liked working with Bran, not only because of his patience, but the delight of his magicks. She had no skill as a witch, but he’d shown her during their time on Corfu how to crush leaves or petals, how to measure.
He could and did make weapons, like the potions of light and power that had defeated Nerezza and her beasts on Corfu. He could call the lightning and use it as skillfully as the others used gun or bow or sword. She had witnessed what he could do, and believed his power greater than any witch she’d known. Even greater than the sea witch or sorcerer.
But he would spend much time on the healing arts as well. Though she understood some felt fear or illness at the sight of wounds and blood, Annika saw a need. And felt pride when Bran told her she had a skill for healing.
She had no wish to be a warrior, though she accepted the war. Her weapons were her speed and agility—in and out of the water. And the bracelets that shot power or blocked it.
When Sasha joined them, Annika made an excuse to leave them. Because they were in love, and time between lovers was precious. She wandered the house, familiarizing herself with its chambers—rooms, she corrected.
Following Riley’s voice, she stepped into one flooded with light, where Riley paced and talked very fast on the phone in a mix of English and Italian.
“Che cazzo, Fabio! What kind of deal is that? Two weeks minimum, and likely four or six weeks. Stronzate. Don’t try to hose me. I could go to a stranger and get a better rate. Okay, that’s what I’ll do. Oh, and I’ll be contacting your mother while I’m here. She and I really need to have a nice chat because I find my memory about that night in Naples is coming back. Same to you, amico.”
She listened, listened, her smile going sharp and satisfied. “Quanto? Better, some better, but . . . I really miss talking to your mother. Oh, that’s for two weeks? Now you’re talking. That works, you keep the deposit either way. What’s that?”
Riley threw back her head and laughed. “Baby, you wish I was squeezing your balls. Four-week minimum’s a deal. We’ll pick it up tomorrow. She’d better be seaworthy, Fabio, or remember how I pulled your ass out of the fire in Naples? I’ll be shoving it right back in. Ciao.”
She swiped off the call, swaggered over to Annika. “High-five.”
When Annika looked toward the ceiling, Riley laughed again. “No, no, slap my hand. It’s a high five. It’s a fucking A. We’ve got a boat, and I wrangled the cost down.” She rolled her shoulders. “I did squeeze the little asshole’s balls.”
“What kind of balls?”
Riley pointed at her crotch. “Those kind.”
“Oh, yes. I know those kind. But how did you squeeze his balls when . . . It’s an expression.”
“You’re catching on. The diving equipment was easy. Fabio’s cousin Anna Maria’s in charge of that, and she’s giving us rock-bottom rate. I’d have taken Fabio’s next-to-the-last rate if he hadn’t tried to squeeze my balls first. Anyway.” She shoved the phone in her pocket, dusted her palms together. “Done. And I’ve got the sister of a friend’s boyfriend who’ll lend us his van for gas and beer if we need it.
“So, where’s everyone else?”