Shadowed (Team Zero #4) by Rina Kent

First, I need to take care of the fucker Ink. The thought of being away from Zoe guts my soul, but if I want to be realistic, I’ll have to put that into consideration.

One thing for certain, I’m never letting her fucking go.

After an hour — or two — of watching her like a creep, she cracks her eyes open. I send a quick text.

Zoe’s shoulders stiffen as she takes in her surroundings. Right. I never brought her here before. When her gaze falls on me, the green softens and she sighs.

“Where is this place?”

“My room in Le Salon’s safe house.”

She brings the sheet to her chin like she’s hiding. “Why did you bring me here?”

“She should be here any time now.” I check the text I just sent.

As if on cue, there’s a fast knock on the door before it swings open. Elle appears on the threshold dressed in black shorts and a sleeveless T-shirt. Her hair is gathered in a ponytail, but a few strands stick to the side of her face with sweat. She must’ve been boxing.

“Zoe!” She runs towards her friend, and I stand to make a room. Zoe hugs Elle, and then she’s crying again.

Elle is her best friend, and I’m sure she’s better than me at comforting. I can try, but it isn’t enough. I don’t even know what the fuck the word ‘comforting’ means.

I turn to leave. Zoe clutches my hand and mouths over Elle’s shoulder, ‘Thank you.’

My fingers brush against her knuckles, then I let her go.

Ghost is waiting outside the room. He’s only in shorts with a towel hanging over his shoulder. With the sweat coating his torso, the samurai warrior tattoo appears menacing. He must’ve been working out with Elle.

He raises a mocking eyebrow. “Here I thought I’d never see you around here again.”

“You.” I stab his chest with a finger. “We need to talk.”

We end up in the empty bar after Ghost changed into one of his regular, sloppy suits.

It’s hours before opening time so it’s only me, Ghost, and good old scotch.

I pour him and myself a drink then go for the attack. “Does Elle know you plan to play superhero and offer yourself to Hades’ hell on a fucking platter?”

Ghost’s hold tightens on his glass. “No. And you won’t tell her.”

“Oh, I fucking will. I’ll publish it in the Daily Mail for her to see what a bloody idiot you are.”

He slams his drink on the table and droplets soak the old wood. “The alternative will be Mist or Hawk. He almost went insane in that withdrawal. If he goes through it again, the next thing we see of him is his corpse.”

“Then you’re all right with worrying Elle after she chose you?” I’m being an arsehole and I know it, but I’m ready to use any tactic to stop this nonsense. His guilt and his affection to Elle are the only weapons I currently have.

“You think I actively try to worry her?” His voice bubbles with undercurrent tension. “I’d do anything to protect her, but Team Zero is my family. If I can do something to prevent their torture, I will.”

“Fucked up loyalty for undeserving people, mate.” I drown half my drink until I feel the burn.

“An unconventional family is still a family.”

“You won't think the same when the other shoe drops.”

“That’s not how the saying goes.” Ghost tilts his head. “It’s waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

“Same thing.”

“Not quite.”

We continue drinking before he says, “Don’t say anything to Elle. I’ll tell her myself.”

“Tell her you momentarily lost your mind, but you’re all cool now and not going.” I raise my glass. “If Hades wants more money, wake the Sleeping Beauty Flame so he’d hack some.”

“He can’t hack in big amounts. We’ll trigger Hades’ already suspicious side and have the other mafias on our backs.”

“Then sell more shares to President Joe. He’s been drooling all over the new drug factory.”

“He already owns twenty-five per cent. Anything more and Hades will notice.”

“Ten more per cent won’t hurt, mate.”

He shakes his head. “President Joe wants twenty per cent aside from what he already has.”

“Negotiate with the greedy old man. You’re calm, and he listens to you better than to me.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“Negotiating with President Joe is plan A. Surrendering to Hades is plan B.”

We fall into a comfortable silence as we drink the bottle away. All my attention drifts back to Zoe. I hope meeting Elle will calm her down a bit. There’s also their police friend, that Liam wanker, but there’s no way in fuck I’m inviting him over. I doubt he wants anything to do with us in the first place.

“One of Ink’s disciples came over the other day.”

My drink almost falls from my hand. “What did he want?”

He lifts a shoulder. “Just asking if we’ll help Ink out.”

“What did you tell him?”

“We’re working on it. Mist will handle it this time.” He rolls his neck as if to alleviate tension. “I offered him to stay with us if he liked.”

“Come the fuck on, mate. He could be Hades’ spy.”