Ghosted (Team Zero #3) by Rina Kent

“I’m going to fuck that bitch up with my bare hands for what she’s done.” He snarls then downs a shot of whisky before glaring at me. The scar becomes an ugly faded colour. “You killed two of my fucking men for her!”

I’m stopping myself by an inch not to send the fucker after them.

He wasn’t snarling or even looking me in the eye when he begged for his life.

“Two of my finest men. We need compensation.” President’s Joe’s voice and expression are composed, completely devoid of the reckless anger in Johnny’s. He’s a man of logic who survived decades of running mobster groups even when he was imprisoned. That alone makes him a notable opponent.

The only reason why I’m not cutting out Johnny’s tongue for calling Elle a bitch is because I need President Joe. Letting the factory disappear by his doing is the only way around escaping Hades’ wrath. President Joe must keep a loser like Johnny by his side because the bastard is successful at selling drugs.

Shadow leans on his elbows. “Like what exactly?”

“Like...” President Joe trails off and meets my gaze. “A share in the new factory you’re setting up?”

Now, we’re talking.

But Shadow continues the masquerade so we don’t come out with the short stick of the deal. “You want a fucking share for some men’s lives?”

“My finest men.” President Joe straightens.

“Come on, everyone.” Kyle saunters from the cabinet, holding a glass of cognac and grinning wide. “Let’s chill for a minute.”

“I’m sure we can work something out.” Mist’s lips curve in that welcoming smile, appearing like an upper class, elegant woman. She’s even wearing one of her designer dresses and makeup. Her appearance is drastically different from the dishevelled state she’s existed in for days.

“I want that bitch.” Johnny’s squeaky voice drags on my nerves.

“And the girl, of course.” President Joe agrees. “No one humiliates my second in command and lives to talk about it.”

“We will think it over.” Mist places a hand on Johnny’s thigh. He visibly flinches, eyes growing wide as if he’s a teenager with a crush. She flashes her best sultry eyes. “I’m sure you will give us time, right?”

“Sure.” Johnny swallows and grins.

“A week,” President Joe says, unfazed with what Johnny said. “Either give us the girl and a share of the factory or it’s a full-blown war.” He stands and offers his hand. “I’m sure you don’t want that, Ghost.”

I get up, button my jacket and give him a firm shake. If only I could crush his and Johnny’s bones. “Of course not.”

“We will keep in touch.” He strides out with a slight limp. Johnny’s gaze lingers over Mist before he follows him out.

As soon as the door closes behind them, Kyle plops on the sofa. “Well, that was boring. I should’ve stayed with Flame.”

Shadow’s wary gaze flickers my way. “What will you do?”

“What do you mean what will he do?” Mist springs to her feet, arms crossed under her chest. “Of course he’s giving them what they want. We will stall for time and cover our tracks so Hades knows nothing about this.”

I pick up my glass of scotch and drink half of it. The burn clogs my throat. “I’m not giving them Elle.”

Kyle smirks. Shadow shrugs. Mist’s eyes fill with a blind rage that matches the colour of her hair.

“What did you just say?” she hisses.

“I won’t hand Elle to those pigs. That’s fucking final.”

“Final?” she repeats, incredulous. “As in, ‘it’s fine if Hades kills Hawk and the others?’ That type of final?”

I slam my glass on the table. “Hawk is my mate. So are the others, and I will think of a way to save them, but I’m not sending an innocent girl to be raped and killed for them. Is that fucking clear?”

“Listen here, Ghost.” Mist is in my face in a second. Her nostrils flare as if she’s about to breathe fire. “I don’t know what the fuck this girl has done to you, but I never thought you would abandon us for someone who came yesterday. I will never allow anything to happen to Hawk because of her or anyone else. Now, is that fucking clear?”

She grabs a bottle of gin from the cabinet and storms out of the room.

“Isn’t she the ultimate drama queen?” Shadow whistles, for once getting an idiom right. “Never mind her, mate. She’s been especially pissy this period.”

Because of Hawk. She’s right to a degree. He’s been one of ours for decades. But how the hell does she expect me to give Elle to those monsters? I wouldn’t do it even if it was another woman, let alone Elle.

“Mist holds grudges, you know.” Kyle sips from his cognac and watches his phone as if all of this is normal. “You shouldn’t make her an enemy, Godfather.”

“Who said anything about an enemy?” I sigh through my teeth. “I will talk to her once she cools down.”

“That old hag never cools down.” Shadow throws his weight next to Kyle and snatches a bottle from the table. He doesn’t bother with a glass and drinks straight from it.

“I’m just saying.” Kyle pours me a drink and offers it. “Come drink with me, Godfather.”