Chapter 18
A fter tidying the shop, Ghost locked up and made his way back to the cabin. Normally he’d shovel again before leaving, but he was in too much of a hurry to get back to Seattle and find Hunter.
By now, the leader of Trident would be well aware Ghost was still alive. Which meant the bastard might disappear again, or find another way to take him out. If Hunter came after him, it’d save Ghost the trouble of finding him.
Too bad he hadn’t slept well. A nightmare. Dammit. What was the matter with him? Hearing about Mila’s childhood must have unearthed the emotions and memories he’d thought were only a marked gravesite in his mind.
Turns out, Evie still had a stranglehold on him.
He hadn’t dwelled on Evie in years. Sure, he’d thought about her. Remembered her blond curls and blue eyes. The way she was always twirling and dancing. So goofy and loud. Fuck had she been loud. He fought a smile. As quickly as his lips twitched, anger filled him.
Evie’s light had dimmed in the months before Ghost realized what was going on. She still always lit up when he was around, but she seemed more withdrawn. Sad.
The guilt of not preventing Richie from getting to her—that was something he’d have to live with until he died.
He stomped his boots on the mat before entering the kitchen. Mila stood beside the kitchen table, the bag he’d lent her on a nearby chair. “All set?” he asked.
She had her coat on and her arms wrapped around her waist. If body language was anything to go by, she didn’t want to leave.
Hell, he didn’t want this—whatever this was—to end either. Waking up to her had been pure fucking heaven. Sinking into her ready and waiting body as they both roused from sleep was something he could get used to.
Her lips stretched into a paper-thin smile. “Ready when you are.”
“All right, let’s go. We’ll take the truck. It’ll be better on the roads.”
“Okay.” She reached for her bag, but he swung it over his shoulder before she could grab it.
A wistful smile flitted over her face. “I’m gonna miss that.” She sidled around him and slipped her feet into the boots he’d bought her.
“Miss what?”
She lifted one shoulder. “Having someone chivalrous around.”
He snorted and opened the door for her. “Honey, I’m anything but chivalrous.”
“You just opened the door for me,” she said pointedly. “And you’re carrying my bag. As a matter of fact, you’ve carried everything, including me.”
He locked the door then jiggled his keys in his palm. Chivalrous. Not how he saw it. Assholes like him didn’t care about manners. That said, he’d be damned if he watched a woman carry something heavy when he was more than capable. “It was below zero and you had no shoes. ’Course I carried you.”
She trudged down the path next to him, a wide grin on her face.
“What’s so funny?”
“Oh, nothing.” She glanced up at him, amusement shining in her eyes. “I just think it’s cute you don’t want anyone to think you’re a nice guy.”
“Ha,” he barked. “Soon as we get to Seattle, I’m getting you a CT scan.”
He opened the man door and clicked on the light.
She laughed. “Don’t worry. Your secret’s safe with me.” She winked.
He shook his head and tossed their bags on the back seat of the truck while Mila climbed into the front passenger seat.
Moments later, the cabin was in his rearview then hidden by a span of trees.
They stopped at a drive-thru for breakfast before hitting the highway. He hadn’t wanted to waste time cooking.
Mila ordered a breakfast sandwich and he got an egg burrito with coffee. Music droned low from the speakers as they traveled in comfortable silence.
“What’s your plan for Hunter?” she asked once she’d finished eating, the question gently popping their quiet bubble.
The sun was rising, its rays bright and reflecting off the snow-covered mountains. It’d be a nice day for a hike. Damn, he hadn’t done that in months, and it had been over a year since he hiked in the winter. Something about striding through the forest in the snow soothed him.
“Find him,” he ground out. “Kill him.” He tucked his wrapper into the paper bag between them and flicked his gaze her way.
She rested her head back against the seat. Her cheeks lightly pink, and her dark hair was in a long braid that fell over her shoulder. She looked so damn pretty he wanted to pull over and kiss her. “Then what?” she asked quietly.
He drew his attention back to the road. “That’s a loaded question.” He propped his elbow on the console between them. “Not much will change. I’ll continue working for Backcountry as long as none of Hunter’s friends come for me.”
“And if they do?”
He lifted a shoulder. “I’ll kill them, too.”
Her fingers wiggled into his hand. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
He scoffed, lifted their joined hands to his lips, and brushed her knuckles with his mouth. “Not gonna happen.”
She said nothing and damn, he hated that she worried about him. She hadn’t asked for a guarantee to see him again—hadn’t even hinted. It bothered the hell out of him and also made him respect her even more.
“What about you? Plan to stick around Seattle once things settle with Irinia?” He kept his tone casual, but Christ. He was beating around the bush, wanting a plan from her.
More than that, he wanted to know how things went once she left the clutches of that evil fucking woman. He wanted reassurance that she was safe.
And he wanted Irinia hanging from a fucking tree.
She sighed. “I want a vacation after this. Maybe Mexico.”
He chuckled. “That sounds deserving.”
“I think so,” she said, a playful note in her voice.
He grinned. “Maybe I’ll join you.” His insides buzzed with anticipation as he glanced her way.
She smiled. “I’d like that.” Several beats passed. “Wanna know something funny?”
“Hmm?”
“I don’t even know where we are.”
He laughed. In the last couple of days, he’d smiled and laughed more than he had in years. “I guess that’s my fault. We’re near Missoula, Montana. We’ve got a seven-hour drive ahead of us.”
She groaned. “I wish I hadn’t asked.”
***
It was after 4:00p.m. when they finally rolled into Seattle. Mila was exhausted even though she’d been a passenger the whole time. Her head pounded. She was emotionally drained from thinking about what Irinia and her relatives might do.
All she wanted was a shower and her bed.
And maybe a little bit of Ghost too, but that wasn’t going to happen.
“Where should I drop you off?”
“My car’s parked near your place. If it hasn’t been towed. I’d rather get it now than have to take an Uber later.”
“No problem.” He got off I-95 at the next exit and the familiar area quickly registered. “By the way, your stuff’s at the Backcountry office.”
She gaped at him.
“Well, we had to check out your story. The guys brought in your bag to analyze after finding your car. The office is close to my place, though. We’ll stop there first so you can get your things.”
Her cheeks burned with a touch of indignation.
“What?” He smirked.
“Nothing. I just assumed you’d looked at what you needed to and hadn’t lifted my belongings to be scoured.”
He turned into a parking garage and drove through the levels. “At the time, all I knew about you was that you’d tried to kill me and that self-preservation wasn’t high on your list. I wanted to confirm you didn’t know shit so I didn’t feel compelled to get it out of you.”
She sighed. “I suppose that makes sense. They better not have wiped any of my files.”
“Nah. They’re pros. Everything will be exactly how you left it.” He swung into a reserved parking spot and turned off the engine.
Ghost met her on her side of the truck as she got out. She followed him into the building and then they stopped at an elevator. The doors whooshed open. Inside, he swiped a card over a keypad and hit the floor number.
“I’m not sure who’ll be here,” he said, folding his arms across his chest as the elevator flew up the shaft. “But don’t judge me based on these idiots.”
She raised her eyebrows. “That bad, huh?”
“No, just obnoxious as fuck.”
The elevator slowed then came to a stop.
The doors slid open. Ghost dropped his hand to the small of her back and they entered a bright, modern office.
A coffee bar was tucked against the window and a big wooden desk sat beneath the words Backcountry Protection Services in black letters on the wall.
Glass, smooth lines, and potted plants completed the space. A pit bull trotted down the hallway, its tail straight and eyes fixed on Mila.
“Um.” She took a step back. Hesitancy filled her gut. Irinia and Alexei’s dogs weren’t exactly friendly. Matter of fact, she’d witnessed their brutality more than once, and while they’d never shown aggression toward her, she’d never forgotten their capabilities.
Ghost dropped to one knee to greet the animal. “Who’s a good girl?” He scratched her neck and stood, patting her back. “This is Micha. Rami rescued her. She’s our working dog.”
Mila gave him a wobbly smile. “Is she friendly?”
“She will be if you pet her. Don’t and she might hold a grudge.”
The dog wagged her tail expectantly. Her brown eyes were warm and gentle. Mila stroked the top of her head. That sent Micha into an excited spin around Mila’s legs, making her laugh.
“All right, girl. Go lie down.” Ghost pointed to a dog bed against the wall near the coffee bar. Micha huffed and obeyed, flopping onto the plush material. “Usually Kevin, Taschen and Seraphina’s dog, is here, too.”
“He’s at the groomer,” said a woman coming down the hallway. “We weren’t expecting you today, Ghost.” She headed straight for them, and her gaze shot to Mila. “Hello, dear. I’m Pearl.” Contrary to her polite greeting, hostility flared in her milky-blue stare.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Mila said hesitantly.
Ghost chuckled. “No need to bare your teeth, Pearl. Mila has been very cooperative. She’s a friend now.”
Pearl tossed back her shoulders. “Well, if Ghost has cleared you, that’s good enough for me. Would you like some tea or coffee?”