Ghosted (Team Zero #3) by Rina Kent

“Well, sweetheart, ye’re his, so none of us is supposed to look at ye, let alone drink with ye.”

I sit on the sofa opposite him and take another swig. “But you’re obviously drinking with me.”

His gaze looms over me, pausing at my cleavage before he says, “Obviously, sweetheart.”

The prick is either not afraid of Julian or he doesn’t think I would report to Julian, which I won’t, of course, or Julian will start asking a thousand questions. He might even hurt Nick.

I don’t want that.

But why is Nick so ballsy to make eyes at a higher rank’s woman?

Perhaps, he, like Mist, know I will be out of here soon and there’s no point in keeping with protocol.

I rein in the ache trying to resurface and toast Nick. I keep chatting with him after he finishes his beer. Soon after, his eyes fight to flutter closed. He shakes his head a few times but it’s too late. He lies limp on the chair.

I spring to my feet and run a hand in front of his face. No motion. He’s fast asleep. I silently close the door.

My heart pounds as I tiptoe to the archive closet. The lock is basic. Nothing fancy. It’s strange they only protect their archives with this.

I retrieve my pin and work on it, all while keeping an eye on Nick and the entrance.

My palms turn sweaty. Working the lock takes me longer than usual.

Come on.

I draw in a deep breath and steady my hands. After a few tries, the lock opens.

Yes!

Excitement withers away when I make out what’s inside the closet.

A fucking safe. Metallic. Huge. Fingertip access and a pin code.

Dammit!

Why had I thought that I would find the archives scattered about? Of course they would protect it in something like this.

I want to bang my head against it. Now, what? Whose fingertip opens this anyway?

“Looking for something?” a chilly voice asks from behind me.

Oh. Shit.





Chapter Twenty-Three





My body stiffens. I hold my breath.

I’ve been found out.

But I closed the door and didn’t hear it open, how the hell did he get in? Not that it matters.

In Liam’s words: my mission has been compromised.

My heart falls to my knees as I slowly turn to face the one who will tell Julian all about this. My pulse heightens when I meet washed out blue eyes. His face is half-shadowed by a hoodie, but a few coppery strands of hair and a matching beard peek out. He’s watching me with the only bored expression he seems to have.

Ghost. In the flesh.

I haven’t seen him for weeks, and I’m sure it’s on purpose. Just like it’s on purpose that he’s suddenly appeared now.

My lips tremble. If he orders Julian to kill me or to hand me over to Johnny. Would he do it?

I close my eyes and breathe deeply before opening them. Julian wouldn’t hurt me. I have to believe that. Besides, I won’t think about dying. I will survive. I always do.

“You need help with that?” He motions at the safe. A portion of the flame tattoo disappears beneath his sleeve.

I circle back to what he asked. Is he offering to help me open the safe?

When I don’t answer, Ghost punches in a few numbers then scans his thumb. The safe clicks open. My jaw drops to the floor.

Countless files classified by month come into view. With flash drives, too.

“Why are you helping me?” My voice is cautious, and my body is rigid, ready to fight or flight. I can’t believe Ghost just opened the safe for me.

“I’m not helping you.” Instead of the detached expression, Ghost’s lips curve into a creepy grin. “I’m firing up things.”

My pulse is still pounding, but I keep staring at him as if that will solve a puzzle.

“Go ahead.” He cocks his head in Nick’s direction. “He’ll be up soon. The dose wasn’t that strong.”

Was he watching everything? He’s a ghost all right.

Not sure if it’s madness or instinct or both at the same time, but I turn around and dig into the safe. If Ghost wanted to hurt me, he would’ve done so already. If he plans to do something to me, then I would at least know what happened to Zoe.

I attack the month she disappeared in. I search for the day she last day called Liam; the 12th. My lips part. The file is there, but the footage isn’t.

What the hell?

“Are you looking for this?” A flash drive dangles in front of my face.

I whirl around. A satisfied gleam covers Ghost’s usually closed expression. And by usually, I mean what I’ve seen of him so far. I can’t read him.

He’s certainly in a special mood today.

“Someone deleted that day’s footage.” His fingers glide over the flash drive as if caressing a docile pet. “But I restored it. I figured there would be a time when this little video would heat things a bit.”

No idea what he’s talking about. I only know that I need that footage. I’m trying to think of ways to snatch it away or beg if I have to.

Ghost surprises the shit out of me – again – when he says, “You can have it.”

Before he changes his mind, I reach out for it.

He holds it above my head out of reach. “Under one condition.”

Gee. Of course, it’s not that easy. I adopt my firm tone. “What is it?”