Chapter 6
CHAPTER 6
CASSIE
G host navigated the sleek, black SUV through the entrance of an imposing, high-security parking garage attached to a large formidable looking building. He stopped before the arm of the security barrier, and Cassie expected him to scan a badge to obtain entrance. She was surprised when he leaned forward and a light flashed. A second later the arm rose and he was driving deep into the garage.
“What just happened?” She asked, still far from convinced this was reality.
“We use biometric scanners. It's easy to steal or replicate an ID card. It's more difficult to kidnap a former special forces operator. Our security systems are designed to verify the identity of every vehicle and occupant entering the facility.”
“I see?” She didn't see. None of this made an iota of sense to Cassie. “Is everyone in this building a former special forces operator?”
“Only the people on the teams, the actual security agents. There is support staff but they park in a different garage and come in another entrance. This garage is where our company vehicles are parked and our private entrance takes us to the armory. Support staff don't have access to our arsenal. The iris scan is only for operators.”
Cassie was a reader. She had no desire to pen the novels. But, if the desire ever came to her, she sure had lived enough of an adventure in the last forty-eight hours to write one hell of one. She shook her head in awe.
As they entered the garage, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. The lighting was dim but strategic, casting a subdued glow over the pristine concrete floors. Cassie noticed the security cameras, they seemed to cover every angle. Based on their conversations, Cassie assumed nothing in this place went unnoticed. Yeah, this was no ordinary parking garage; it was a fortress.
Ghost pulled into a designated spot near an elevator bank, marked with the Spartan Elite logo —a stylized helmet reminiscent of ancient warriors and a number 2. The spot next to it, marked with a number one, was empty. Number three through six were all filled by similar looking high end SUVs. Cassie stepped out of the vehicle and looked around, taking it all in. The walls were lined with reinforced steel panels, and the air was cool and sterile.
Ghost led her to the elevator, swiped a key card, and pressed his thumb against a scanner before selecting the floor. The doors silently slid open, and Cassie was surprised to see the elevator's interior looked more like that of a luxury hotel than an office building. As they ascended, she saw herself reflected in the polished, mirrored walls of the elevator and Ghost’s large frame standing beside her. It dawned on her then.
They didn't match.
An astute people watcher, Cassie had often mentally separated couples into two distinct categories. Those who matched and those who were mismatched. Matching couples looked like they belonged together. They appeared to be of the same socioeconomic class, physical attraction level and the like. Fit men with their beautiful, sculpted women at their sides. Wealthy men in high-priced suits paired with women in name brand clothing and expensive handbags. Frumpy women with overweight men. She knew she was being totally biased, but she enjoyed writing their stories in her mind. When she saw a geeky looking man with a dad bod holding hands with a woman who looked like a model, she assumed the man was rich. When she saw an uglier looking woman with a handsome man, she assumed the woman was wealthy or extremely good in bed. Social media had ruined her. It'd trained her into observing things that weren't necessarily true. She never spoke these thoughts out loud, of course... and she knew she was likely wrong with her assumptions. People watching was more about making up their backstories than about reality. In all fairness, she often felt guilty for thinking those things to begin with. It was definitely a weakness she had. She wished she lived in a world where people were authentic and physical attractiveness didn’t make a difference in life. Her own personal experiences and that of her friends, told her they still had far to go as a society. How you looked was definitely related to how people treated you.
Playing her own fucked up game with Ghost and herself, she realized they didn't match. He was the handsome wealthy man standing with a slightly overweight, very curvy, lower middle class woman. What is it, Cassie? Are you good in bed? You sure aren’t wealthy. Well, hell. Ghost didn't know if she was good in bed or not. They'd never even kissed.
Because you just met him, you floozy.
If he hadn't told her he was attracted to him, she wouldn't believe it. Yeah, she was definitely inside of a coma dream, or maybe it was a nightmare. She wasn't sure yet, it was still going on. It still had time to take a twist. Would someone throw a gallon of blood on her? Would Ghost say this was all an elaborate prank? Lots of things could happen in a dream. Would she wake up and be eighty-years-old and have missed her entire life? Slept it away in a coma? God, she hoped not.
When the doors opened, the vast lobby took her breath away. The space was minimalist yet opulent. She stepped out onto polished marble floors, reflecting the soft ambient lighting. Ahead, a massive digital display showcased a rotating globe with various data points and security feeds.
“Mr. Ghost, Sir!” The woman sitting behind a sleek, curved desk, called out as she stood in greeting. “They are expecting you.”
“Ghost. Just call me Ghost,” he corrected. Turning to Cassie, he took her elbow and guided her across the large room. “No matter how many times I tell her to call me Ghost, she insists on adding the mister. I worked for a living, I wasn’t an officer.” Cassie had no idea what he was talking about.
Cassie studied the reception area, where the beautiful, long legged woman still stood. The receptionist was dressed in a sharp, tailored suit, and not a single hair was out of place. She looked like a woman out of a James Bond movie. It dawned on Cassie then, the receptionist, she was the one who would be a match for Ghost, or someone like her. A woman with legs for days with perfectly manicured fingernails and name-brand tailored suits.
As Ghost led her through deeply frosted double doors, Cassie noticed the subtle yet sophisticated security measures. Every door had biometric scanners and discreet cameras were positioned to cover every corner. “There sure are a lot of cameras around here,” she muttered.
“Hunter's doing. All of our headquarters have state-of-the-art technology, a blend of advanced surveillance and seamless design. Jay, Ruby, and Hack worked hard to make his vision a reality. Every part of this building is planned out. Even our air filtration. The idea is to bring in the highest end of clientele.”
“That explains why it feels like a warmer hospital,” Cassie said. Or she was inside of a hospital room and reality was trying to get through to her. When she’d had her appendix removed and was waking up from anesthesia, the in between conscious and subconscious had been super blurry. It’d taken her a bit to realize she was in a hospital and not dreaming.
“A warmer hospital? I'm not sure I will ever get used to some of the things you say,” Ghost replied.
“Yeah. A hospital has a certain feel to it, like, sterile, you know? But every hospital I've been in has also been cold. The air here feels sterile and everything is clean and pristine, but there's a warmth to it, too. Maybe it's the paint or something but it doesn't feel as impersonal as a hospital.”
Ghost laughed. “You should tell Hunter all of that. He’d appreciate your insights.”
They passed several conference rooms, each visible through the glass walls. The rooms were equipped with large digital screens, holographic displays, and interactive whiteboards, all tools of a high-stakes, high-tech environment.
Finally, they reached their destination. Ghost opened a door to reveal a spacious conference room with a panoramic view of the city. The walls were lined with more digital screens displaying various security feeds and operational data. At the center of the room was a large, oval table made of dark, polished wood, surrounded by high-backed leather chairs.
Ruby and Dozer were already there, standing by one of the screens, deep in conversation. Ruby looked up as they entered, her expression shifting from focused to welcoming. Dozer gave a curt nod, acknowledging their arrival. Ghost lifted his chin back in response.
“Welcome to Spartan Elite, Cassie,” Ruby said, gesturing for Cassie to take a seat. “We’ve been expecting you. How do you take your coffee?”
That wasn't the question she was expecting. But, she hadn't had breakfast. The thought of breakfast made her stomach growl and she hoped no one heard it.
“One of our assistants is making a coffee run,” Ruby explained to her. “I'll text her your order.”
“I don't like coffee,” Cassie said quietly.
Ghost shook his head at her. “Of course you don't like coffee.” His small grin told her that he was teasing.
“Tea then?” Ruby offered.
“I'd love a steamed chai with coconut milk instead of water.” Cassie told her.
“You've got it.” Ruby quickly tapped on the tablet in her hands. “I've never had chai,” the redhead told her.
“Really? It's so good! You definitely should try it. It's sweet but also kind of spicy. They combine black tea with spices and cream. I especially like it in the winter months.”
After Cassie gave Ruby her drink order, she sat down, her mind still reeling from the whirlwind of impressions. She couldn’t shake the thought that if she didn’t make it home in time, at least she’d be dealing with people who could more than afford to compensate her for her troubles.
A few minutes later, with a pastry in one hand and the largest cup of chai she’d ever had in the other, Cassie sat in the middle of the room. Hunter, the head of Spartan Elite, was watching from a screen on the wall, having joined via video call from a remote location in Algeria. Ruby sat to her left, Ghost to her right with Dozer flanking Ghost’s other side.
“Cassie,” Hunter began, his voice firm but not unkind, “Thank you for agreeing to meet with us. I know it has put a kink in your plans. I’m sure Ghost let you know that Elite will cover any costs you might accrue to compensate for any changes you might need to make.”
“He did.” So, Ghost hadn’t been exaggerating when he’d told her they would pay for a new flight.
“Now, if you could tell us everything you remember about the attempted kidnapping last night, it would be appreciated.”
Cassie nodded, taking a deep breath to steady herself. “It happened so fast. I was on my way to my rental car.” She turned and smiled at Ruby. “Thank you for getting the car returned for me this morning.”
“Of course,” Ruby said. “It was a team effort. Dozer drove me to the car, and I returned it to the rental agency.”
"Well, thank you both then." Cassie smiled at Dozer.
"You were walking towards your rental car..." Ghost prompted her.
"I parked down the street from the restaurant instead of utilizing valet parking or the expensive adjacent lot. I saw the two men, but even though my gut told me to turn around and run, my head said I was just being paranoid. I should have listened to my gut. One of them looked at his cellphone, I’m guessing he had a photo of Ms. Higgins, and then they grabbed me. We had on similar dresses last night and are about the same height and weight. Even though I told them I wasn’t her, they didn’t believe me. I fought them and was yelling when one of them shook me and told me to be quiet. They didn't want me making a scene and said someone named Wilson would be upset."
At the mention of the name Wilson, she noticed the four of them exchange significant looks. Ghost leaned forward, his eyes locking onto hers. “Wilson, are you sure?”
"I am. I remember thinking how ironic it was that he said Wilson because the last bad guy in Ms. Higgins' book was also named Wilson."
"What happened next?" Hunter asked gently.
"I turned and ran down the alley. A tall man in a dark suit was waiting at the end and grabbed me. Even though he was leaner than the other two, he was more menacing. I started to panic. I didn't want them to get me in the van."
"What van?" Hunter asked.
"There was a black van with two other men in it waiting for us. Come to think of it, I'm surprised the men didn't get out when Ghost came. Guess we were lucky."
"Or, they saw what Ghost did to their companions and were cowards," Dozer said.
"After you got to the end of the alley and the man was there, what happened?" Hunter asked.
"Ghost showed up and karate chopped the man in the suit," she answered.
"He karate chopped him?" Dozer asked, biting back laughter.
"I don't know what else you would call it. He hit him in the neck and the guy crumbled to the ground. Then he quickly got rid of the other two and next thing you know, I was in Ghost's SUV."
"Ruby, pull up the camera feeds again and look specifically for a black van at the light before the intersection," Hunter ordered.
Ruby nodded and immediately started clicking on the tablet in front of her. "Cassie, you mentioned Wilson from Ms. Higgins' book. Can you tell me about the storyline?"
"Um, sure?" Why did the head of Spartan Elite want to know about a book she'd read? Ghost squeezed her knee under the table. Cassie looked at him, and he nodded in encouragement. "In the most recent book, the villain's name is Wilson. He's a dangerous man. He runs an underground ghost gun operation, providing weapons to many notorious crime groups. Wilson has a younger sister who he raised after his parents’ deaths. They have a falling out and she runs away. The Department of Justice is building a case against Wilson, and recruits his sister to testify against him, but she goes missing on her way to court. In the story, she runs off with the U.S. Marshal who’s supposed to protect her. They’re hiding from Wilson and fall madly in love. They end up hanging out on a remote island until her brother is killed and she can return home to the United States safely."
Hunter and the team shared a brief, silent exchange before Hunter spoke again. “Cassie, there’s something you need to know. There’s a man named Wilson we’ve been tracking. He's put an international bounty out on his missing sister, dead or alive. Wilson’s the head of a ghost gun operation—illegal, untraceable firearms. His sister was supposed to testify against him, but she’s gone missing. Along with the government agent who was tasked with protecting her. They disappeared into thin air.”
Cassie’s eyes widened, her heart pounding in her chest. "It's so similar to the book! Do you think Ms. Higgins knows something about the real-life situation?"
Ghost sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s very possible. The timing and the details you’ve given us fit. We’ve been working on locating Wilson’s sister, but she vanished without a trace. The agent assigned to her protection was a U.S. Marshal named Ethan Kane. No one has heard from Ethan or Winnie since the day she was supposed to testify in court.”
"I don't understand. The names, the circumstances, are all the same as in her book. The sister's name is Winona and the agent's name is Evan. It’s all too similar to be a coincidence. Why didn't she change the names completely? Or switch some of the details? No wonder there's a target on her back!" Cassie said.
Ghost exchanged another look with Hunter. “If Wilson knows about the book, he might believe it’s based on actual events and that Iris has information he doesn’t want to get out, or she knows where his sister is. He's desperate to find her. He put a seven-figure bounty on her head."
"Is that why you are looking for her?" Cassie didn't want it to be true. "To turn her over to her brother for the money?"
"Absolutely not." Hunter said. While our methods may be morally ambiguous, we never harm innocent women or children. The government hired us to find Winnie because she has information that could put away several dangerous crime bosses, including her brother. She grew up surrounded by crime and is an invaluable asset not only to us, but to several foreign governments, too. We aren't sure if Kane took her somewhere safe, or if another crime family captured her or what. I am concerned by how much it appears Ms. Higgins knows about the situation. Either she has a source in the government or she is somehow involved with these people.”
“No way. No way is Iris involved with people like this.” Cassie would not believe that her favorite author had any dealings with real life felons.
Ruby leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. “Which means she could be in more danger than we realized. And if Cassie is being mistaken for her, that puts her in harm's way, too.”
Cassie swallowed hard. She had a feeling she would not head to the airport after this meeting. "I doubt they'll come after me again."
"It's not a risk you can take," Ghost said.
Hunter cleared his throat. “No, it's not. We'll keep both Higgins and Cassie safe. Ruby, get in touch with our sources and find out everything you can about the connections between the book and the actual case. Dozer, enhance security around Iris. Call in Bravo Team. Ghost, you stay with Cassie.”
Cassie felt a wave of relief wash over her. Despite the fear and uncertainty, she knew she was in good hands. Ghost’s reassuring presence beside her was a comfort she hadn’t expected to need so much.
“We’ll figure this out, Cassie,” Ghost said, his voice low and soothing. “You’re not alone.”
Cassie looked into his eyes and nodded. “I don’t think I’m in danger. But, then again, I didn’t think I was in danger when I left the restaurant either.”
Ghost gave her a small, reassuring smile. “You won’t have to find out. We’re in this together.”