Ghosted (Team Zero #3) by Rina Kent

A single ray of light slips from between the thick curtains. The doctor, Aaron, recommended exposing Kyle to sunlight, but it isn’t worth the risk of snipers. Even if I strengthened the security around Le Salon.

The weather is all overcast, anyway.

Kyle groans. His face has regained some colour. No more pasty skin or bluish lips. However, he’s still lying on his stomach. The bandage covers half his back like a whiteboard. Aaron has him on strong medication and Kyle obviously hates it.

He will heal.

This is his third gunshot. Once you survive the first two, you kind of become invincible.

Or that’s what we tell ourselves in Team Zero.

“Didn’t see their faces,” he croaks. With another grunt, he attempts to support himself on an elbow so he can reach the bottle of water on the nightstand. His strength fails him and he falls back on his face. “Bleeding hell. This is worse than I thought.”

“How can you be this careless, Kyle?” I hold the bottle for him, with a straw as Scar insisted – after she made my ears bleed for disallowing her or anyone to visit Kyle.

I only did that for precaution. He’s already been shot. I won’t allow anything else to happen to him.

Kyle takes a sip and lets his head fall to the pillow.

“It was a shot to the back, Godfather, remember? Not like I had a say in the matter.”

Still, Kyle’s reflexes are good enough that he won’t be taken by surprise. Especially not by President Joe and Johnny’s gangsters or even mercenaries. We’re experienced assassins. Kyle might not have taken Omega, but he was trained extensively before he learnt what the hell life is all about.

In fact, he doesn’t know much about what life is all about. He’s one of the few second-generation assassins who stayed with Team Zero. We’re the wrong crowd to hang out with. We might tolerate each other, but the second generation either avoid or fear us. No one likes our level of crazy or the gruesome killings we do when on Omega.

Not Kyle. He’s been there only because he considers me his godfather.

I was selfish enough to keep him by my side. Because I doted on him and saw a real son in him. And he helped in retelling me everything that happened while I was under Omega’s influence.

It’s time to stop being selfish.

There must be a way out for him. Like the second generation who defected. Team Zero is different. We’re fucked into this because of Omega and the rest of our team under Hades’ clutches. Kyle can find another life.

I sit beside him on the edge of the bed. “Do you want out?”

“Out of bed? Abso-fucking-lutely.”

“No. Out of The Pit and this whole mess.” My tone is calm even though it pains me to imagine him gone. Like any normal father who sees his son leave, I suppose.

Kyle squints, then says in a detached tone. “What did ye have in mind?”

“The Rhodes defected and their family is powerful enough that even Hades has trouble hunting them down. Aaron and Tristan Rhodes are my disciples. I can ask them for a favour.”

“Doesn’t Tristan hate you for teaching him how to kill?”

“But Aaron likes me for it. That’s why he shows up whenever I ask for his doctor skills. Besides, Tristan is secretly thankful I taught him how to survive. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have escaped The Pit and taken over his family’s business. I can ask for a favour.”

Kyle stares at me for long seconds. It’s deep and calculative; his usual expression when planning trouble. He finally says, “You hate asking for favours, Godfather.”

“Not if it’s to keep you safe.”

Kyle laughs then winces. “No need. I have no intention of leaving. Not now that all the fun is starting.”

“A mafia war isn’t fun.”

“Depends on which angle you look at it.” He’s grinning despite the clear pain on his face. “More importantly, when are we killing President Joe and his crew in their sleep?”

“We won’t.”

Kyle’s face contorts into confusion but also anger. The clear blue of his eyes hardens. “What do ye mean we won’t? They fucking shot me.”

“We’re not sure about that. It doesn’t add up.” I form a steeple at my chin. “The mercenaries from the attack were clearly told to say President Joe’s name. Whoever paid them must be the same person who shot you and tried to blame President Joe. Someone is trying to trigger a war.”

And a party of that is by my side. Mist and Shadow. Just thinking about that fills me with nausea.

Silence prevails for a few seconds before Kyle grits out, “Why are you sure that it isn’t President Joe?”

“He’s a smart businessman and I’ve given him a deal he can’t refuse. He would never risk my wrath because that means losing the factory. Besides, violence is always his last resort, not the first.”

“He could’ve changed tactics to misguide you. I’m damn sure it’s him. Come on, Godfather. I need revenge.”

I poke his bandage on a non-injured side, and he grunts. “You just focus on getting better. I promise to find out who did this to you and make them pay.”

The door swings open and Mist barges inside. Wild strands of red hair fly all around her fired up cheeks. She didn’t tie her hair. That’s rare. The clicks of her heels fill the space.