Ghosted (Team Zero #3) by Rina Kent

Shadow appears carefree, but he’s the hardest one to crack. After the exchange we had the other day, he’s been giving me suspicious stares. They’re not like Julian’s intense ones. Shadow thinks he knows me, and it’s nerve-wracking.

Ghost is... odd. I can’t put my finger on it, but he appears so different from what I imagined Ghost to be like. It doesn’t make sense that he would tell me about Omega unless he planned something. He’s still the most suspicious of all because Zoe mentioned his name to Liam right before her disappearance.

He’s been true to his name and disappeared without a trace. I tried snooping near Mist’s office, hoping to catch him in there, but aside from Mist watching her phone, there’s no trace of him.

It’s like I only see Ghost when he wants me to, not the other way around.

I knock on the control room’s door. Kyle greets me with a blinding smile, eyes gleaming with mischievousness. I’ve already put him at the end of my suspects’ list. He just seems like the fashionable type who got caught in a gangsters’ world. At times, I wonder if he had a choice or if he’s just following Julian.

And then, I go on an endless loop wondering why is Julian in this world in the first place. Why does he even take drugs?

I’m wondering an awful lot of things that I shouldn’t about Julian.

He’s just a stepping stone to find Zoe.

Totally.

Absolutely.

“Always grand to see ye, love.” Kyle swings the door wide open. “Come in.”

I saunter inside and place the tray on a small table in front of a sofa. As expected, Kyle is alone. The walls are filled with several screens of the hallways and the club area. Different angles, even behind the bar. Thank God I haven’t been doing anything odd there.

The chairs in front of the screens are empty. Kyle has discarded his denim jacket and is sitting on the sofa in jeans and a grey T-shirt. He makes satisfied sounds while savouring the cognac.

I manage an awed expression. “Whoa. You keep an eye on all this?”

“It’s nothing now, love. The headache is at night.” He winks and pats the place beside him. “Join me for a drink.”

“I only brought one glass.” I stall while trying to be discreet about roaming the room with my eyes. This is the first time Kyle hasn’t dragged me out. Perhaps, he’s starting to trust me. There’s a metal cabinet on the side, on which is written ‘Archive’.

Bingo.

There’s a traditional lock that I’m sure I can pick. Could it be that easy? The hardest part would be to find an opening. It’s impossible for the control room to be empty. If Kyle isn’t here, then one or two of his men take the task. I tried bribing them with alcohol, but they only shooed me away.

Now, I know it’s because of Julian. They don’t dare look or touch someone who’s under his protection. He’s making my mission tenfold harder.

A hand pulls at mine. I startle then clench my fist to not throw a punch. I’m yanked back and end up sitting on Kyle’s lap, facing him. One of his arms surrounds my waist while the other holds the glass of cognac between us. His eyes gleam as he smirks. “We can share, love.”

I gulp. If I push him away, he might not allow me here again. I place my hands on his shoulders and smile. “Of course.”

He stares at my lips, and my breath catches in my throat. I attempt to focus, to stop the uneasiness crawling up my spine, but I can’t.

It’s just a kiss, Elle. You’ve kissed before. Nothing will happen.

And yet, as Kyle tightens his hold around my waist, all I can think about is those strong arms that held me tight during the previous nights. I don’t see Kyle’s lips. All I can picture is Julian’s warm breaths tickling down my neck and his heat lulling me to sleep.

I don’t want to kiss Kyle. Not when an entirely different man is on my mind.

I’m about to push him away when the door swings open. Julian strides inside, an angry scowl tightens his face. He approaches us with wide steps. His muscles flex underneath the white shirt.

My mouth dries, and I gulp, unable to look away from the sheer intensity in his eyes. He’s so raw and physical, it’s doing stupid shit to my body.

Julian clutches my hand in his bigger one and yanks me to my feet.

My stomach tightens as I take in his reaction. It’s like Julian’s anger grew hands and is roaming all over my body. It’s kissing and ravaging me senseless. The space between my legs tingles and heat smothers me.

There’s definitely something wrong with me because I think I’m loving his reaction.

No. I’m sure I do.





Chapter Twelve





The deep darkness on Julian’s face keeps me rooted in place. Just his side profile is oozing with that enigmatic thing he has going on. He’s all primal and male. My mouth is dry from just studying the sharp line of his jaw and the pointed glare he has on Kyle.

If looks could kill, Kyle would be chopped to pieces about now. He isn’t a bit fazed, though. On the contrary, a satisfied gleam covers his face, complete with a smirk.

“I told you to keep your hands off her,” Julian grits out, tone curt and on the verge of all hell breaking loose.

He’s always calm and composed, I doubted anything could faze him. Even in his robotic state, he wasn’t worked up. It’s like I’m witnessing an entirely different person right now.