Ghosted (Team Zero #3) by Rina Kent

“Keep an eye on him,” Liam’s voice drifts through my thoughts.

“Why?” I ask carefully.

“Mist doesn’t keep men close. She’s known to be a heartless bitch who’s never had a relationship. If this Julian is that close to her, then he might be handy.”

“No, I...” I can’t spy on him. There’s a stupid feeling that goes through me whenever I see him.

“What do you mean by ‘no’?” Liam goes back to being tense. “Did he do something to you?”

Besides making me feel insignificant after he saved me or how foreign my body becomes around him?

“No.” I’m glad my voice doesn’t crack.

“Then, this is the first real opening we have about Mist. Remember, she participated in Zoe’s disappearance. She’s Ghost’s right hand. If we can get her, we will be able to get Ghost.”

Liam’s right. This is a good opportunity to investigate Zoe’s disappearance, but how will I be able to use Julian? When I see him, all I want to do is run the other way. Call it self-preservation or whatever. Besides, Julian is the most alert person I know. He won’t be easily fooled.

“Elle? Everything good?”

“Yeah, I’ll figure it out.”

“You always do, Rage Ball. Just don’t put yourself in danger.”

My heart warms at the soft tone. I miss when it was only Liam, Zoe, and me. I don’t miss the cruel foster parents or the mean sisters, but I miss sneaking around. The three of us would go down the street to an old lady’s house. She had a lake house that she gave us its key and allowed us to read and play there. Liam used to train us in that small room. He said we have to be strong and protect ourselves.

In his words, ‘Listen here, you little buggers, even if I’m not around, you won’t let anyone hurt you. My sisters are strong, got it?’

We were a family, and now, we’re dysfunctional because Zoe was the link between us.

“Do you think she’s alive?” I whisper, tears springing to my eyes. “What if she’s been dead all this time?”

There’s a long pause at the other end. I know Liam must’ve considered this option, but I suspect he doesn’t want to give it weight.

“We just have to believe that she stayed strong,” he finally says.

I nod. That’s the only option we have. The alternative is unthinkable.

After I hang up, I stare at the screen for what seems like forever. Dread tightens my chest. I can’t believe I have to remain by Julian’s side. And... do what exactly?

If I’m to spy on him, I have to be there during every breath he takes. I don’t trust myself to do that.

But Shadow and Kyle stay here, too. That’s a better than being one-on-one with Julian.

I’m about to swing my legs inside when I sense eyes burning into me. I glimpse down.

A man dressed in dark trousers and a hoodie stares up at me.

His face is half-shadowed, but he has a dark, short, ginger beard. His expression is emotionless and completely detached. There’s zero humanity on his features. His eyes are the palest blue. It’s so freaky like they will turn white, but it’s the deep boredom in them that strikes me. He points a finger towards me, and I catch a fire tattoo peeking from his sleeve. Or more like it’s a ‘beware of fire hazard’ sign.

“You will fall,” he says in a bland tone.

My eyes widen, not because of what he said, but because of the bracelet dangling from his hand; a silver bracelet in the shape of lotus. I would’ve recognised that bracelet anywhere.

I made it specifically for Zoe when we were children. My first token of friendship right after she gave me the firefly bracelet.

Why does that man have it?

He turns around to head in Le Salon’s direction.

My pulse skyrockets.

Ghost.

It must be him.

I finally put a face to the name. And he has Zoe’s bracelet.





Chapter Nine





Ghost disappeared into thin air.

For almost two days, I roamed in Julian’s room, about to go nuts. There isn’t even anything personal to snoop into. Only clothes. There’s a safe, too, but I have no way to open it.

Shadow brought me meals, gave me suspicious glances, and that’s it. I think he might recognise me from the fighting rings. He’s an underground fighter, too, or so I heard from the girls’ gossip. Although men and women matches are isolated, and I never mingle with those a lot bigger than me, perhaps he’s seen me around.

Bottom line is: I need to avoid Shadow. Julian is suspecting me enough without Shadow shedding light about my professional fighting.

Close to the opening hours of the second day, I ignore Julian’s instructions. He locked me in his room and didn’t even return to check up on me.

Freaking bastard.

If he’s locking someone up, the least he can do is visit.

During the time I’ve been under house arrest, I plotted my escape. Once Shadow left, I made a rope with the sheets and used it to climb down. Then, I headed to my room in Le Salon.

Scar hugged me senseless and fixed up my face with tons of makeup. My lips are still unnaturally swollen, and a plaster covers my nose, but the rest is fine. This is nothing compared to the injuries I sometimes had after a match.

“You’re not to leave my side again!” Scar uses her stern tone as we head towards the main club area.