SERENITY ♠ SAM DRAKE

♠ 𝟎𝟏 ♠

THREE YEARS LATER

LENNOX RESIDENCE, SCOTLAND

Serenity knew something was up the second the doorbell chimed. Magnus, her grandfather, never had company over, ever.

He was extremely meticulous and paranoid about who entered the mansion. Magnus had made several enemies in his treasure hunting days, select few knew of his residence. A palatial type manor located in the rolling hills of Scotland.

And, Victor Sullivan, a middle-aged white man, with dark brown hair was one of 'em, the select few.

❝Magnus, I'm telling you, I've hit the jackpot, this is it!❞

Serenity was eavesdropping, but, who could blame her?

Her grandfather never had company, ever. The girl had been living with him her whole life... Magnus had always been a paranoid billionaire, "pirate". His unique profession always rendered curiosity.

❝How many times, Sully? I'm out, no more treasure hunting.❞

Serenity pressed her ear up against the oak door to Magnus' study, attentive and ready. Should the redhead be out in the town living her life at 10 pm on a Friday night, hell yeah? But, instead, there Serenity was, engrossed in a story of fabled Portuguese gold.

❝Las Cinque Chagas, Magnus, this is it, we can get it this time!❞

The man's voice held certainty and confidence, Serenity would give him that.

❝Oh god,❞ Serenity pictured Magnus dragging his hands down his face, ❝Sully, I'm done with treasure, I've made more enemies than allies, as expected.❞

Sully groaned loudly, ❝Mag, it's different this time, I've got a team lined up all I need is you, one more player in the gold game.❞

The man was starting to sound desperate; it was only fueling Serenity's excitement. Treasure hunting... real treasure hunting. The redhead grasped her lucky coin, thinking momentarily. If Magnus couldn't go...

❝What's so different this time? What's your proof?❞

Magnus sent Sully a silent-looking saying, enlighten me. Only, Sully never got to.

Instead, Serenity barged into the study, aware that she'd outed herself (about eavesdropping) but, not caring. The redhead smirked, sauntering in confidently, Koala pyjamas on and Henry Avery's coin in hand. How mature for a twenty-year-old!

❝Portuguese gold coins have recently washed up on the shore of Terceira, Portugal.❞

Serenity took a spot on one of Magnus' loveseats, staring both men down.

❝The coins have been traced back to the 1500s, and that's around the time Las Cinque Chagas sunk, after being attacked by English pirates.❞

Magnus smirked, Serenity really did have pirate blood in her veins, just like him. The apple certainly didn't fall far from the tree. So much so, Sully raised his eyebrows in surprise... she'd taken the words right out of his mouth.

❝You're Magnus' infamous granddaughter?❞ The brunette cocked a brow, a slight smirk on his face. Evidently, Sully had heard of Serenity.

❝Something like that,❞ Serenity smirked, ❝You're Victor.❞

The redhead wasn't asking, she was affirming that she knew him. Of course, she knew him. On her grandfather's red oak desk sat a framed picture, of them, together. The image was captured on a dock, several suitcases stacked around them and the Caribean sea behind them.

❝Victor Sullivan, but, you can call me Sully.❞

❝Okay, Sully,❞ Serenity crossed her legs beneath her body, ❝I want in.❞

Sully's eyes widened, he placed his glass of scotch on the marble coffee table. The man leaned forward, pressing his elbows on his knees. He squinted at Serenity.

❝You want in?❞ He cocked a brow, ❝What can you bring to the table, Serenity? What gold have you found?❞

Serenity cocked her brow back at Sully. Okay, if he wants to be a smartass.

❝What gold have you found? From what it sounds like, none.❞ She sent him a sly smirk, ❝Gotta start somewhere, right, Sullivan?❞

At that comment, the man nodded his head in approval. Serenity had a sharp tongue and could bite back, good, can't be a pushover in the treasure hunting business. She had the quick wit.

❝Look,❞ Magnus stood up from the couch, the man began pacing the floor. ❝I'm writing a biography about my life right now, I'm too busy for treasure, and too old.❞

Serenity rolled her eyes. Her grandfather had to be the most dramatic person on the face of the plant. Too old, my ass. Just yesterday the sixty-year-old man was lifting weights. Fifty-pound weights. If he wanted to go treasure hunting, he could.

❝But,❞ Magnus stood in front of a large painting, of Pirate Henry Avery,

❝Serenity and I, we got pirate blood in our veins, the richest and bloodiest of 'em all. We can't let our legacy go,❞ the man turned back around, adjusting his cuff links, ❝and we won't.❞

The last part of his sentence caught Sully's attention. The man perked his head and ears up. His brown eyes followed Magnus as he slowly paced the floor.

❝Sully, I'll fund the treasure hunt.❞

That wouldn't be hard, seeming that Magnus was a billionaire.

❝On one condition,❞ Magnus crossed his arms over his chest, ❝Serenity takes my place on the hunt.❞

Sully clapped his hands, and by the smirk on his face Serenity knew that she was in the gold game.

Her entire life listening to grandpa's stories of treasure hunting were finally resonating in her own life. All those diving classes, scuba classes, studying nautical shit, all of it would be put to use.

❝So, when do we fly out, Sully?❞ Serenity inquired.

To which both Magnus and Sully started to laugh. The men obviously had an inside joke about whatever it was Serenity said.

  ❝Pack up kid, plane leaves at 3:00 am.❞

Serenity's eyes widened, that soon? This whole treasure shit was no joke. And as Serenity walked out of the study, looking down at her lucky gold coin, she knew that everything was going to change, furthest from serene.