Ghosted (Team Zero #3) by Rina Kent

“Scar?” I ask, tentatively. My entire body urges me to step back.

She blinks, and just like that, life gleams back in that warm amber. Relief floods me. It’s Scar.

“Ellie?” She smiles although slight surprise resides on her face. “When did you come in?”

“A while ago.”

“I didn’t hear you.” Her brows furrow, then she smiles again.

I bite back the need to ask what’s wrong with her because what’s going on in Le Salon is more urgent. “What happened to Kyle?”

“Oh, Kylie!” She jumps to her feet as if just remembering something pressing. With a few blows, she puts out the candles and lunges into her wardrobe. Clinks of hangers and rustling of clothes come from behind the door.

“Scar?” I ask again, approaching the walk in with careful steps. “Is... Kyle alive?”

Her head peeks from behind the door. “Yup. He’s totally fine. A shot in the back won’t kill him, don’t worry. They’re taking care of him in a safe house at the outskirts of London. He’ll be here tomorrow.”

I release a sigh of relief as I let my weight drop onto the bed.

Scar goes back to digging and says in a neutral tone, “But whoever shot him better be scared.”

“Yeah. I’m sure there will be a war because of this.”

Gangsters start wars even for a low rank, it could be an apocalypse for someone as high rank as Kyle.

“Nah, I’m not talking about a war.” She pauses. “Julian would raise hell for those he cares about.”

My stomach flips at the mention of his name. What the hell? Have I been reduced to a teenager or something?

Scarlett emerges in skin-coloured lace lingerie. She’s really stunning. I catch a faded scar near her abdomen. It’s an ugly slash, like someone slit her open, but it’s almost blending with the skin. Maybe that’s why I never noticed that before. It seems quite old. I wonder how she got that.

“Which one?” She holds a short hot pink dress and its twin in black.

“The black.”

She tosses my pick and goes with the pink. I shake my head. I’m starting to think she only asks for my opinion just to go with the complete opposite.

“Kyle always calls Julian Godfather,” I say, trying to gear the conversation back before Scar gets distracted. “I assume they’re close?”

“Julian raised him like a son.” She snorts. “Though I wouldn’t say it was wise to bring him here.”

My heart aches for Julian. He must be in a lot of pain because of what happened to Kyle. If only I could comfort him.

I don’t even know how to comfort people, but I want to try for Julian.

“Look at those eyes.” Scar is standing in front of me in the hot pink dress, her glare fixed on me.

Jeez. I didn’t hear her come close.

She taps her foot on the carpet. “Don’t tell me you’ve actually fallen for Julian?”

“I haven’t!” My tone is so defensive even for my own ears.

“You better not.” Scarlett points a finger at me, eyes blazing. “You can’t fall for him, Elle!”

Her anger catches me off guard. What the hell? “Why are you shouting at me?”

“Julian is a killer!” She continues in the agitated tone. “Did that information settle in your head yet? He kills people without remorse. He killed enough people that he doesn’t bother to count anymore. He deals in drugs and prostitution and gambling. He does drugs. He’s everything wrong and illegal and you should stay the fuck away from him!”

I flinch back as if every word is a punch to the gut. She’s right. I knew all that and somehow turned the other way. Tears rim my eyes and I wipe them with jerky hands. What the hell is wrong with me?

My gaze strays back to Scar’s emotionless one. Her fingers are trembling, cheeks painted in crimson, and her body is tense. She appears like overheating or something. Although her words are true, I can’t help countering them. She’s hysterical and seems to make me want to hate Julian on purpose.

“You said the drug caused him to kill.” My tone is careful. “You said they didn’t have a say in it, and he’s obviously trying to detox.”

“Forget about that.” Scar sits by my side and clutches my shoulders so I’m facing her. Her expression softens. “If you stay with Julian, you won’t be safe. I just want to protect you, Ellie.”

“Why?”

A nostalgic look locks at the depth of her eyes. She’s staring at me but seems to be staring through me. “You remind me of a sister I lost. I’m doing all this for her. I just don’t want to lose you, too.”

My heart warms. Now, it makes sense why she’s in this type of life.

“You remind me of a sister I lost as well.” I bite my lower lip. “I think you know her.”

“I do?”

I need Scar to help me find her, and I trust her enough to say this. “Her name is Zoe. I think she was your previous roommate?”

Scarlett doesn’t appear the least bit surprised, more like she’s piecing things together. “That’s why you came here.”

Not a question. An observation.

I reluctantly take her hand in mine. “We’re each other’s families. I need to find her, Scar. Can you help me? Please tell me what you know.”