Ghosted (Team Zero #3) by Rina Kent

I inch forward. “What?”

She gives a side glare to Liam and he glares back. Full on.

“Hey, police,” she says in her cheerful tone. “Mind if you stop eavesdropping like a creep?”

“The answer is no.” His tone is harsh and cold.

Scar rolls her eyes. “Is he always such an entertaining conversationalist? Also, why does someone like him share the name of my beloved Liam? Change your name, police!”

“Forget about him.” I clutch her shoulders, needing to pull her attention so she won’t lose track as always. “What were you trying to tell me earlier?”

“Right!” She claps her hands. “I was going to say, have you ever thought that Julian wants you to choose him?”

I blink. “Choose him?”

“Come on, you’re smart, Ellie. Connect the dots.”

Liam barges between me and Scar, squaring his shoulders back to add even more magnitude to his height. “She will be a lot smarter – and alive – when she stays the fuck away from the likes of you.”

“Liam!” Zoe scolds.

Although Scar is a lot shorter than Liam, only reaching his shoulder, she doesn’t falter or appear intimidated. Instead, the amber of her eyes fires up. It’s rare to see Scar show full hostility, and I’m kind of worried for Liam.

She’s a killer and has killer friends. Liam won’t stand a chance if they mark him for dead.

I touch his arm, attempting to pull him back, but the bloody mule won’t stop his glaring war with Scar.

He’s that protective of us.

After what seems like forever, Scar shakes her head and breaks eye contact first. “Apparently my presence here isn’t wanted, and I’m allergic to police here. So see you, Ellie and Zoe! Unless you change your mind.”

She’s out the door. I stand there, mulling her words over.

Julian wants me to choose him?

How?

My mind snaps back to the note he’s given me. His world isn’t for me. Like I said before I fell asleep. But I told him that I want us to be together. Wait. Maybe he didn’t hear that part? Maybe I didn’t say it aloud?

Oh. Shit.

Julian wants me to return on my own.

How come I never thought about that? He wants me to choose him and his world out of my own will.

I’m running after Scar before I know it.

Liam clutches my arm and brings me to a screeching halt. “Where are you going? Don’t tell me you’re listening to whatever that crazy woman just said.”

I face him and smooth my voice. “You’ve been the best big bro anyone can ask for, Liam, and you’re a brilliant man. You are. But there are good men on the other side of the law, too.” I grin. “And I’ve found mine.”

Zoe offers me a smile, and she seems genuinely happy for me. “Go for it, Rage Ball!”

I give her a quick hug. “We still need to talk.”

Then I run after Scar.

She’s standing by her car and waiting for me with a smile.





Scar and I arrive at Le Salon late at night. Needless to say, she made me listen to Oasis’ whole discography on the way here.

Although my decision was made, my feet falter near the entrance of the safe house. What if I read the entire thing wrong and Julian doesn’t want me anymore? If he throws me away this time, I won’t be able to put myself back together again.

Not that I have.

I take a deep breath and step inside the safe house. Scar said he only spends time either punching Shadow or the bag. Judging from the successive thwacks coming from behind the house, he must be with the bag.

Nerves start wrecking me again. I glance down at the simple sweater and jeans Zoe lent me. Jeez. I didn’t even change into something appropriate or had Scar perform her magic on my face.

Well, there’s nothing I can do about it now.

I round the corner and take my millionth breath. Then, I stop breathing altogether. Julian is battling with the bag, half-naked. The rigid lines of his back and the warrior tattoo shine with sweat. He’s always been so beautiful. Both inside and out.

The need to run and hug him overwhelms me. So I do just that. The first part at least. I run at him in full speed, then instead of hugging him. I punch him in the back. Hard. My knuckles ache but he hardly budges. He stops moving, though.

I’m sure he sensed my attack but chose to do nothing. He’s Ghost after all. The one who does the creeping, no one creeps up on him.

He turns around, slowly, and my heartbeat pounds with every passing second. When he’s fully facing me, a lump forms at the back of my throat.

His intense, dark eyes rake over me with relief but also surprise. As if he didn’t expect to ever see me again. All I want to do is hug him and tell him how much I miss him.

My lips tremble. “You didn’t keep your word.”

He secures the bandages on his hands. “My word?”

“That you wouldn’t leave me.”

“You’re the one who left,” he says in that calm tone.

“After you made me!” My fist slams in his chest over and over.

He takes every one of my punches with a pained expression, but I doubt it has anything to do with how much I physically hurt him.

“Why, Julian?” Tears form in my eyes. “Why did you kick me out?”

He clutches both my wrists in his hand, but doesn’t remove them from his chest. A deep sense of longing lodges in those golden rings. “You said it yourself. My world isn’t for you. I can’t force you into this.”