Shadowed (Team Zero #4) by Rina Kent

After an easy chat with Mark and Lisbeth, I thank them for the coffee and do my usual grocery shopping in town. I find super cute girls’ dresses and I can’t help but fall in love.

I hope I have a baby girl.

Unable to resist, I buy the dress and yellow shoes with adorable little bunnies. I’m grinning like an idiot as I climb the stairs to the house.

New life. Just me and my baby.

“Good morning, Zoe.”

I freeze mid-step. The grocery bag drops from my hand and hits the wooden floor with a clank.

The source of the voice stands at the corner of my porch.

Ghost.

He’s wearing one of his usual suits and his posture is straight but not uptight. A hint of exhaustion appears in the lines of his face. There’s something different about him, though. It’s his eyes. They used to be calculative and mysterious, but now, the dark brows seem as if they’re sad?

That doesn’t make any sense. Ghost is basically the leader of Le Salon. I often heard his name floating around, but I never thought that Julian and Ghost were the same person until he told me.

We agreed to cut off all contact then. The fact that he’s standing on my house — his house’s — porch, is concerning, to say the least.

Maybe he’s here on Shadow’s behalf. He’s his friend after all. Another jolting thought hits me.

Did Ghost come with Shadow to take me?

My gaze shifts sideways as I step back.

I don’t know why I expect the devil to come out and snatch me to the darkness. My heart is thundering like it’s about to burst open, but to my horror, it isn’t all because of dread. A warm burst of anticipation fills me to the core.

“He’s not here,” Ghost says as if reading my mind. “I gave you my word.”

I eye him peculiarly, still not trusting why he showed up.

He reaches for the grocery bag lying on the floor. I snatch and hold it close to my chest. “Is there something you want?”

My tone isn’t supposed to be biting. I shouldn’t provoke Ghost. What if he’s here to kick me out of this house? I still didn’t form a clear course of action about where to go from here.

“Elle is coming over.”

I stare at him, my stance widening. I don’t care if he’s Ghost or a killer or whatever. “What have you done to her?”

His lips twitch in what resembles a sad smile. I frown. That’s the first time he showed a hint of a smile. “The real question would be: what has she done? You should be proud of her courage. She infiltrated us in search of you.”

My heart nearly falls to the floor. That idiot. That damn idiot. I should’ve known she wouldn’t stay put in case of my disappearance, but I trusted that Liam would keep her safe. Why the hell would he allow her to infiltrate a place like Le Salon?

Knowing Elle, she probably didn’t listen to Liam like I didn’t.

My voice is pleading as I implore whatever shard of mercy Ghost has. “She’s too brave for her own good. I promise to knock some sense into her. Please don’t hurt her.”

He’s silent for long seconds. I hold my breath for the same time, and that’s when I see what I missed earlier. Ghost is… heartbroken. I relate because even though I’ve been trying to get to terms with my situation, that’s how I feel since the day I left Shadow and his maze.

“I have no intention of hurting her.” His words are confident, refuting any type of doubt. “I wanted to let you know she’s on her way here with Mist. She doesn’t know the destination, so if you like me to tell Mist to change direction, now is the time to tell me.”

I shake my head. “She can come.”

There’s no way in hell I’ll trust them with my sister’s life. Besides, I miss her so much. I can’t believe Elle went through infiltrating that world for me. That fool. I’m going to smack her for that — after I hug her to death.

“Very well.” Ghost nods and starts to leave.

“And…” I call after him which causes him to stop and slowly turn to face me. The lump in my throat doesn’t disappear no matter how much I swallow it. “Did Shadow know I died?”

“He almost killed me for it.” Ghost’s lips twitch, but it’s not quite a smile. “He also knows you staged your death, so he’ll try to come for you. You have my number. Call if you need anything.”

Shadow is coming for me.

I don’t know whether to feel excited or be scared out of my mind.

Or both.





Chapter Nineteen





Elle was never a hugger. She hated it with passion and I loved annoying her about it.

So when she runs into my arms, I’m overwhelmed with surprise and other undecipherable emotions. I didn’t know I needed this until her arms wrapped around me.

I hug her back and tears stream down my cheeks. I missed her. I missed our little, albeit imperfect life.

The reality hits me fast and hard. What did I leave my life for? Revenge? President Joe continues breathing and laughing while I’m hauled in a town in the middle of nowhere.

Elle’s shoulders shake and I realise she’s crying, too. Rage Ball never cries, not since her mum taught her that crying is for weaklings. I sob into her embrace for what seems like forever. I can’t believe I got her into this whole mess, too.