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Asia sat down on the edge, her hands clasped on her knees.
“His twin sister was the better mixologist of the two,” Cain said when he’d taken a seat opposite her.
She blinked. “Twin sister?”
“Madelein. They were inseparable. He loved her more than anyone in the world.”
The news came as a shock. It also hurt that Sean had never mentioned it to her. If he’d valued their brief relationship—if it could even be called a relationship—he would’ve told her about his twin sister. “I didn’t know.”
“He doesn’t like to talk about her death.”
Of course. Cain had used the past tense when he’d referred to Sean’s sister. Her chest squeezed.
“She was a geomancist like Sean, but she had control of her gift,” Cain continued. “Sean didn’t. His was more powerful, but he never knew if he’d pull up a volcano or sink a mountain under the sea. People like them, they’re hunted.”
“By who?”
“By government. By Godfrey.”
“Why?”
“For the power of their art. Sean’s power is dangerous. Imagine what an army can do with a geomancist on their side. Governments either try to get forbidden arts practitioners secretively on their side or to eliminate those who are their enemies. That’s why Godfrey is trying to accumulate the arts.”
She shivered at the memory of Godfrey and poor Nicolas.
Cain gave her a meaningful look. “An art can be stolen if the practitioner is killed.”
She was beginning to understand what Cain was trying to tell her. “Sean and Madelein’s lives were in danger.”
“Always. They were chased by a gift hunter who caught up with them in Scotland. There was a fight. When the hunter turned on Madelein, Sean tried to save her by using his art, but instead of creating a diversion, he created a crack in the surface of the earth the size of a gorge. It happened in the wrong spot, and Madelein fell over the edge with the hunter.”
She couldn’t even begin to imagine how Sean had to have felt. “That’s terrible.”
“Sean tried to hold her, but she knew her weight was pulling them both down, so she transferred her gift to her brother before letting go.” He crossed his legs. “Sean has blamed himself ever since for his sister’s death.”
She recalled the paralyzing fear and loss she’d felt when she’d woken up after being shot, believing that Matt was dead. Until Eve had explained what had happened, she’d thought she’d go out of her mind. She didn’t wish that kind of pain on her worst enemy.
“That’s why this place was so important to him.” Cain looked around. “It was Madelein’s dream. He needed to do that for her. Knowing that and knowing Jerry was in trouble, I bought the place. Sean didn’t have enough money to pay the deposit on the rent, and Juan needed a barman for his private party. Sean didn’t want to use drug money to build Madelein’s dream, so I offered to pay him so that the money would come from the task force. You,” he gave her a soft smile, “were insurance.”
“You used me.”
“You look just like Marina. On top of that, you had a brother to take care of. I used your love for your brother to get you here. I used your determination to get him into art school to set you up against Sean. He went to that island believing I’d give the place to you if he didn’t come up with the cash. All I asked in exchange was information on Godfrey’s whereabouts. Sometime during your stay on that island, Sean’s objective changed. The bar wasn’t his goal anymore. He only asked for one thing—for your safety. I want you to understand that I did everything in my power to find a solution. Juan surprised me with the shock collar. Maya was working on a way of overriding it so we could pull you out before the end of the week, but then you left with Juan, and Armelle went to take out Sean.”
“You promised to give Sean the bar if he succeeded.”
“Yes. I honored that promise. I guess you were more important in the end. Isn’t that why he gave it to you?”
“I thought he just did it because he felt guilty for using me.”
“He didn’t use you. I did. I manipulated both of you.”
Tears welled up in her eyes. “Why? How could you do that to us?”
“If I hadn’t, the world would be a very different place today.” He patted her hand. “I’m sorry for what you’ve suffered through. In this business, we’re all pawns. Even me.” He held out his hand. “Where is the contract?”
She took it from her bag and handed it to him.
He didn’t even glance at the paper before tearing it into pieces. “The place is yours. You earned it. What you do with it is up to you.” He produced two envelopes from his inside jacket pocket. “I’m sorry it took me so long to bring you this, but I had other … urgent … business to take care of.”
