Shadowed (Team Zero #4) by Rina Kent

“Hey… um…” Mist trudges beside us on the porch with a flustered expression. “Don’t cry.”

Elle and I cry harder until Mist fidgets. The badass madam of Le Salon actually fidgets. I knew she didn’t like the girls being hurt, but I never thought it bothered her this much.

“If you stop crying…” Mist trails off until both of us look at her. “I’ll punch them for you or better yet, I’ll break their dominant arms so they’re useless.”

I smile despite the snot and tears streaming down my cheeks. If there’s anyone capable of doing that then it’s Mist.

Elle scowls. “Don’t do it.”

I stare at her through a blurred vision as she wipes her eyes. Mist said ‘they’, not Shadow. Just how did Elle implicate herself in Le Salon?

Mist glances from me to Elle, seeming as if she wants to bolt. “I have to go, but I’ll be back. Are you going to be okay?”

I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand. “You don’t have to return.”

Or else Shadow will follow her and find me. I’ve been barely holding on these weeks. If I see his face, I don’t know what will happen.

“He won’t find you,” Mist says as if reading my thoughts. Darn. Am I that transparent? “He’s good at hunting, but I hide my tracks better.”

I smile, but I’m sure it comes out awkward. Shadow is the most unpredictable person I know. Underestimating him equals a death sentence.

Mist goes way back with him, and maybe she knows him better than I do, but I can’t trust that he won’t be able to track her — and therefore me.

After Mist leaves, I lead Elle and sit her on the porch and inspect her from head to toe. No visible injuries. The black dress hangs a little loose around her frame. Wait. Isn’t this Scar’s dress? I swear I saw her stare at it just to throw it away. In her words, ‘the dress is boring’.

The outfit aside, there’s something drastically different about Elle. It doesn’t have to do with the tears still shining in her eyes, but more with her slumped shoulders and the sheen of loss on her soft features.

The last time I saw her, she was a fighter through and through. Whenever she lost a match, she’d rebound as if nothing happened. Now, she appears like she lost something more precious than a fight.

I sit beside her and hold her hand. “What happened, Ellie?”

Her scowl greets me back. “Why don’t you tell me what happened, Zoe? We thought you were dead.” More tears stream down her cheeks and her lips tremble. “Do you know what it feels like to wake up every day and try to convince myself that you’re not dead?”

I bite my lower lip to not burst into tears again. “I’m so sorry, Ellie. I… wanted to protect you.”

“Protect me from what?”

“From that place and the people in it.” Knots form in my throat and words come out smothered with emotions. “I’m so sorry for being a horrible friend. I should’ve thought your stubborn arse would go to that atrocious place looking for me.”

She shakes her head and smiles through tears. “You would’ve done the same.”

“You seem so different, Ellie.” I stroke strands of her thick brown hair back. “What happened to you in there?”

“A lot.”

“Is part of it because of Ghost?”

It’s mere speculation, but I get my answer even before she speaks. Her shoulders droop and her expression becomes gloomier.

It’s not a coincidence that both Elle and Ghost sport the same tortured look.

“Even you know his name is Ghost. I only got Julian.” She throws a dismissive hand. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”

“How can it not matter when you look like a mess? He didn’t assault you or something, did he? I’ll kill him with my bare hands.”

“No!” Elle appears offended that I even suggested such a thing. “He’d never do that.”

“Then what is it?”

“I’m just too raw now.” Her voice chokes with pent-up feelings. “Can we talk about it later?”

“Sure.” I swallow, not wanting to think about my next words. “Did Shadow hurt you?”

“No. He actually helped me search for you.”

“He did?”

Elle nods, sniffling the remnants of her tears.

“He didn’t force you. He helped you?” I do a double take.

“Yeah. He was suspicious of me at first, but once he realised I’m your friend, he changed his attitude and helped me.”

My mouth hangs open, and I’m unable to form words. I was scared he’d have hunted Liam and Elle down, but I never thought he’d help her.

What happened to the devil?

“What’s the deal with him anyway?” Elle’s inquisitive huge blue eyes bore into mine.

“Nothing.”

She points a finger at my chest. “I followed him to the lake house. No one but the three of us know about that house. You even left him a note. I call bollocks on the ‘nothing’.”

“It’s… a long story.”

She folds her arms. “I have all day.”

“I’ll tell you.” I wrap an arm around her shoulders, stand, and take her with me. “You need to sleep first. You look exhausted.”