Ghosted (Team Zero #3) by Rina Kent

It’s a long shot, but perhaps this can provide information about Zoe’s disappearance.

I can’t miss this.





The energy in Le Salon’s hall is different from usual. It’s past midnight, so it’s normal that there aren’t many patrons around, but tonight, they’re fewer than usual. Only three regular geezers are chatting with the girls.

The number of guards shot up, too. They all work here, but usually in shifts. Tonight, most of them showed up. Their shoulders are squared as if ready for a brawl.

The suffocating energy turns my spine rigid. Le Salon appears every bit the monstrous place Liam and I studied in his cave.

The mafia. They’re the freaking mafia, and their meeting is probably about fucking up the universe some more.

And I’m here all alone.

I gulp as I head to the bar area. Zoe was also here all alone, and it’s my mission to bring her home.

I opted for a little black dress that Scar thought was too gloomy for her wardrobe. It’s comfortable and pretty – unlike the matching heels.

Scar is nowhere to be found and neither is Kyle, so I assume he’s attending the meeting. I fetch a bottle of cognac and head to Mist’s office – where I’m sure all meetings take place.

At the entrance of the second floor, a guard with squared features and a bald head thrusts a hand in front of my face. “No one’s allowed in.”

I adopt my sweetest smile that I’ve been practising with Scar in the mirror. “Kyle wants his cognac. You know how grumpy he gets when he doesn’t get his drink.”

The guard scowls then tries to yank the tray. “I will take it.”

I smoothly pull the plate away and say in a flirty tone, “He asked me to bring it for a reason. If you want to take it, fine. I will just tell him that I didn’t show up because you didn’t let me.”

He scowls again, but he moves out of the way.

Whoa. That wasn’t so hard. I need to practise more facial expressions with Scar.

The entire hallway is overflowing with scowling guards. I walk down with measured steps, greeting and smiling at them. As I approach Mist’s office, the guards’ faces become less and less familiar. They aren’t from the firm. If they were, I would’ve seen them around.

Perhaps this is a meeting with some other gangsters.

Liam would definitely want to know about this. I think it has to do with that war everyone has been talking about.

If Julian finds me here, he’ll be super pissed off, but I will try to be discrete.

I stop in front of Mist’s office and attempt to get past the guards. I don’t get to say a word. This time, a tall guard with dark skin doesn’t even talk to me. He takes the tray from my hand and opens the door. His companion puts both hands on my shoulders to stop me from going any further.

At that moment, I tiptoe and peer around the guards to see who’s inside. Mist comes into view. She’s wearing an impossibly short dress that bunches up to her thighs when she crosses her legs.

I hate how beautiful she is.

Then, when I make out the man bluntly staring at her with disgusting eyes, fury overwhelms me.

Johnny. That arsehole. The urge to barge in there and punch him to death bubbles inside me.

The man sitting beside Johnny catches my attention. He’s bald with pointy ears. He’s wearing a striped suit and a red bow tie, it’s almost comical. His expression is completely serene as he focuses ahead – on someone out of my vision.

The stranger says, “Give us the girl who hurt Johnny and there won’t be a war, Ghost.”

My pulse spikes up, and I lean sideways to take a better view of Ghost. The door slams shut in my face.

The guard who’s been holding my shoulder turns me towards the lift. “Out you go.”

I smile and scramble away. There’s no way they would allow me inside, anyway.

That man said something about giving him the girl who hurt Johnny.

Me.

Either they give me or there will be a war.

It’s no secret what Ghost and Mist will decide.

I start running.





Chapter Fifteen





President Joe’s face is round and flat and begging to be punched to fucking death.

I maintain my relaxed posture despite the urge to get up and rip his heart out of his chest. I don’t even need Omega to encourage me.

Just his words are enough to stir that ugly, rage-filled side.

Shadow and I sit across from President Joe and Johnny. Mist chose to sit next to them – a friendly gesture. Kyle fusses with the drinks the guard just brought. He’s never been good with sitting around in these types of meetings.

“It’s only fair to hand her over,” President Joe says and adjusts his striped double-breasted suit. He meets my stare with a cool, diplomatic one and sips from his whiskey on rocks. “Better men died for hurting Johnny. She’s a mere girl and I want her taken care of.”

My clutch tightens around the glass of scotch. I’m tempted to down it all, but stop myself. That would show agitation, and I don’t do that. Especially not in front of a dog like President Joe who’s always sniffing for his rivals’ weaknesses.

He’s never found one on me – not from lack of trying. I won’t give him a chance to find it now.

Johnny, who’s been blatantly eye-fucking Mist, turns at his president’s words and puffs his chest like a kid who brought his father to the fight. Because that’s exactly what he did. A pussy like Johnny needs President Joe behind him to show his power.