Ghosted (Team Zero #3) by Rina Kent

I’m sure Team Zero and the second generation assassins killed their political enemies and everything that hindered them. We’re all their puppets as long as they pay Hades the right price.

They never bothered with the technicalities, so the fact that one of them is coming here is fucking new.

“Did Celeste mention a name?”

I blink at Flame’s voice. He’s sitting opposite me, a cigarette hanging from his mouth. His dark ginger hair isn’t covered by the hoodie and falls haphazardly across his forehead. No sleep or detachment in his eyes. Their whitish blue is the most focused I’ve seen in a while.

“Right.” Shadow snaps his fingers and points his drink at Flame. “You hacked into their system once and it almost got you fucking killed. What were the names you came up with? Black, Smoke, and...”

“Lisette,” Flame says in a monotonous tone. For someone who forgets names all the time, he sure caught this one from years ago.

I nod. “That’s the name Celeste mentioned.”

Flame removes the cigarette from his mouth and toys with it between his thumb and forefinger. “Is she really coming over?”

I shrug. “Probably. Could be now. Could be in a few months. You never know with Hades. Ideally, we’ll get the rest of our mates by then.”

“Ideally.” Flame is smiling with a level of creepiness that’s so rare of him to show. “Or we can teach Lisette a lesson.”

He stands and places a hand in his pocket. “She’s mine when she shows her head.”

Shadow and I exchange a look as Flame disappears behind the sofa.

Shadow shakes his head, takes a sip, and says, “Anytime now, mate.”

I face him. “What?”

“Where’s Zoe?” His eyes are rimmed red, and although I don’t witness him going into blackout moments, I’m sure they will return. It’s not that I don’t trust him, It’s that I don’t trust Omega. It made us mindless for a reason. And Shadow is already reckless as it is.

“I told you she doesn’t want to be found.”

“But you sent Elle her way.” He slams his glass on the table. “I heard the old hag Mist talking with Scar about it.”

“Zoe wanted Elle to join her. I didn’t send her without notice. Her exact words concerning you were, ‘I don’t ever want to see his face again.’”

“Well, good fucking luck with that.” He springs to his feet. “Because I will find her and she will have to see my fucking face again.”

“Shadow.” I sigh. “We still have to take care of the factory. Johnny also escaped, so I need your head in the game.”

“My head is in the game all right.” His lips lift up in a smirk, and he downs the rest of his glass before heading to the door.

“Shadow.”

He glances over his shoulder. “What?”

“Don’t do anything stupid.”

He lifts a shoulder and leaves.

“Stupid is his last name.” Flame’s head appears from around the sofa. “You still didn’t give me anything to burn, Ghost.”

“One day. Not today.”

“Boring.”

“Tell me something, Flame.” I form a steeple at my chin. “Why did you show Shadow and Elle that surveillance video?”

He grins. “Because it’s fun.” His head hides behind the sofa. “Wake me up when there’s something to burn.”

I trace the rim of my glass. He’s still giving me off vibes, but it’s mostly his sense of nonchalance that bugs me.

My phone vibrates. A text from Scar.

Guess where am I?

I ignore her.

A second later, another text arrives.

You’re such a bore, Ghost. No need to guess. Tada!

Scar attaches a selfie. She’s got that coy smile that she practised a million times because she doesn’t even know how to smile. Behind Scar, two people are caught in the picture unknowingly. I zoom in behind her.

Elle.

My breathing deepens, and a strong sense of longing hits me when I make out those bright blue eyes and soft features.

Then, I focus on a man who’s having his arms around Elle’s shoulders. I see fucking red.

Elle is smiling, but there’s no trace of the sparkle that used to shine in her eyes.

I miss her.

Everything about her. Waking up to her face has become my drug, and its withdrawal is a lot worse than Omega’s.

Scar texts again.

Have you turned green yet?

And again.

Not yet? Okay, let me make the introductions. That’s Liam. He’s like the most hunk of a man I’ve ever seen. Trust me, I know. Pity he’s a fucking bastard.

And again.

But maybe Elle is into that type, ya know? She was idiot enough to fall for you once upon a time.

Another text.

Oh, Liam is a Met Police lieutenant *disgusted emoji* He just said Zoe and Elle are coming with him.

Another.

Dun dun DUNNN.

One more.

Pshh whatever. If ignoring me will make you feel better then go right ahead.

Your loss, Ghost.

I toss the phone away, close my eyes and lean my head against the sofa with a deep sigh.

Scar’s provoking me on purpose.

It’s working.

There’s nothing more I want than to fly there, break that Liam’s arm and bring Elle back. Once and for all.