Car doors slammed, and in a swirl of screeching tyres, roaring engines and spraying sand, the vehicles headed out onto the road after Ahab.

The only members of her crew who remained were Tranquil and Davey. They stepped up to flank Shelby. It was just the four of them on the beach now.

It began to rain. Heavy coastal rain, slanted sideways by the Black Wind. It ran down into Mack’s eyes, as he stood there, one against three.

‘We need to go, Shelbs,’ said Davey, still avoiding his brother’s eyes. ‘Now.’

‘I’ll find a way to contact you,’ said Shelby to Mackenzie.

No, she wouldn’t.

Mackenzie mourned all the things he’d never get to have. A home to call his own. A wife, children . . . a picket fence, and a dog to sit at his feet . . .

But some things just couldn’t be helped. He’d always been a realist. Cut your losses and run. That was the only way to survive in this world.

And when your time was up . . .

‘Just one last piece of advice,’ said Mackenzie. He stepped in for a hug, pulling Shelby tight. She held him just as close, her fingers pressing into his back. He could feel her pulse pounding in her chest. ‘That story about Persephone . . .’

‘It’s just a name,’ said Shelby, now trying to pull away.

He put his mouth closer to her ear. ‘Shelby, Persephone only had to spend half her life in the underworld because she was married to Hades.’

‘Mack,’ said Shelby, slumping a little. ‘I know.’

‘Okay. Good.’ Mack was whispering as low as he could. ‘Do me a favour . . . bury me at sea.’

He pulled away from Shelby, one of her pistols now in his hand.

‘No, wait!’ she screamed.

He pointed it at Davey and pulled the trigger.

His brother’s eyes showed the barest hint of surprise as the bullet caught him in the middle of his chest. He slumped to his knees.

Tranquil’s gunshot hit Mackenzie a second later, with such force he was knocked off his feet, red-hot agony flaring in his side.

He felt no fear as he fell to the ground. No sorrow.

Shelby was free of the underworld.

Mackenzie felt only peace.

CHAPTER 60

FOREST
One Month Later

Forest sat on a stool at the bar in Mermaid’s Darling, Zeus asleep on the floor. He was with Ahab and De Corrado, and he was happy.

The light of early autumn shone in through the windows, the fire burning merrily in the corner, chatter and clinking cutlery echoing all around. The Mermaid’s Darling was rarely empty, these days. The smell of spilled beer, the busy kitchen, woodsmoke . . .