Ghosted (Team Zero #3) by Rina Kent

Our traitor.





I settle on the roof opposite Le Salon’s warehouse and check the surrounding area with my night-vision binoculars.

It’s past one in the morning. Cold air seeps into my bones and my injury hurts like being sliced open. I try to ignore the pulsing as much as possible.

Johnny hasn’t shown up for the past three hours I spent watching, but it’s only a matter of time before he does.

While waiting, Aaron confirmed Hawk’s release two hours ago. ‘He’s unrecognisable, but he will live’ were Aaron’s words. A part of the deal is that he’d also patch up Hawk. I sent Hades the money, but it won’t be long before he starts torturing one of the remaining Team Zero members.

We will deal with that. Now that one of the strongest snipers, Hawk, will be among us, our mission will be a bit easier.

I run a hand over my face. I’m so fucking tired, and I haven’t eaten properly for a day. Or two. I’ve taken painkillers, but the pain in my shoulder keeps pulsing as if it’s being pounded on.

There’s nothing I want to do other than hold Elle in my arms and help her deal with her grief. She didn’t tell me much, but she obviously loved that friend. I would do anything to make her happy again.

Perhaps, we should go somewhere in the north where it’s less hectic. Or better yet, out of the country. I can take her to visit Crow and his pregnant wife in Southern France. I want to show her that even though Crow is Team Zero, he can live normally.

Once this whole traitor business is over, I’ll whisk my firefly away. We both need that especially after everything that’s happened recently.

I’ve never had a holiday. I don’t even know what the word means, but if it’s with Elle, I’m willing to do anything.

I’m about to pop another pill in my mouth when a motion cuts from behind the warehouse. Johnny’s silhouette appears from around the corner. He creeps towards the wall like a fucking rat.

I duck behind the iron railings, only the binoculars are visible. Johnny knocks on the door.

Go ahead. Open, you bastard.

Even as I think that, I’m holding my breath. I know, I just know it’ll be one of the closest to me who will open.

Shadow, Mist, or even Flame or Scar.

I just want to know why they’re doing this. What have I done for them to betray me?

Once again, only a gloved hand appears from the door. Even from this opposite angle and with night-vision binoculars, I can’t make them out. They’re opening the door by an inch as if they know I’m watching.

Fuck this.

One way to find out.

I abandon the binoculars and stride towards the stairs. Anger and betrayal rage inside me.

Movement catches on my left. Or more like hushed footsteps. My hand reaches for my gun, but another clicks to my temple.

Damn the weakened reflexes.

“Keep your hands where I can see them.” Shadow’s closed off face comes into view.

His silhouette is half-obscured by the moon, but his shoulders nearly snap with tension.

My gut clenches.

Fuck.

Was it Shadow all along?

A bitter smile leaves me. “Why did you betray me?”

“Why did I betray you?” He barks a laugh. “I didn’t fucking stab you in the back. You did!”

My brows furrow, but I don’t face him. He’s worked up, and Shadow is reckless during a fit of rage. So I adopt a calm tone. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“I thought Mist made Zoe disappear. Turns out it was you all this fucking time! Do you remember her, Ghost? Or was she erased from your memories after you put a fucking bullet in her heart?”

Fuck. I knew the whole Zoe issue would come back sooner or later.

This is about the worst time for Shadow to find out what happened to her.

Footsteps sound from my right. My eyes snap that way. Everything turns black.

Elle.

Her silhouette is bathed in the moonlight and her loose, long hair is flipping all around her. Her arms are shaking. In fact, her whole body is shaking.

She’s holding a gun and aiming at me. “You’re G-Ghost?”





Chapter Twenty-Eight





Julian is Ghost.

Ghost is Julian.

And he killed Zoe. My best friend. My family.

I’m shaking as I come out from behind the door and to the moon-bathed rooftop. The strong wind whips my hair, and it’s fucking cold, but that’s not what causes my body to shudder.

I don’t even know what I’m doing. I have a gun, and I promised to shoot whoever killed Zoe between the eyes. I promised to take revenge for her. To not let her die as a nobody.

However, this isn’t how it was supposed to go. Julian wasn’t supposed to be the one staring at me. Julian shouldn’t be the one who killed my friend then comforted me after I’ve seen footage of him shooting her.

Shadow’s body is rigid, stance wide as he holds a gun to Julian’s temple.

No.

Ghost.

His name is Ghost.

I’ve been looking for him everywhere but he’s been in plain sight the entire time. Right beside and inside me.

Oh my God.

I’ve been sleeping with my friend’s killer. I’ve been letting him into my body, heart, and soul when his hands are smudged with Zoe’s blood.

I don’t mean to, but tears are streaming down my cheeks as I point the gun at Julian. My voice is trembling and filled with hurt and anger. “Why? Why did you kill her? Why?”