Chapter 7
CHAPTER 7
GHOST
" W hat’s next?" Cassie asked as she slid into the seat beside Ghost in Elite’s parking garage.
"Well, I have a place about forty minutes from here with a full guest suite. You're welcome to stay with me, or we have a couple of safehouse options. I stayed in town at the hotel during the mission because I wanted to be close to Higgins," he explained as he turned on the ignition, letting the cool air conditioning flow through the car. His last couple of missions had been in desert climates, and while the temperatures were similar, the humidity was a game changer. Wet heat and dry heat were not even remotely the same, and he didn’t enjoy the stickiness of humidity.
"How long do you think I'll be here?" Cassie asked quietly. "I hate to no-call, no-show to work. It doesn’t matter anyway; he's looking for a reason to fire me."
"I understand your concern about being professional," Ghost began. Being professional was the last thing he wanted to be with her jackass boss. "But I'm not sure he's earned your respect. I'll be as honest as possible with you. The only time I might withhold information is if it's a security clearance issue, and I'll communicate that clearly. It's unclear how long we'll be here or how long the mission will take. If we obtain the necessary information and feel you're no longer in danger, it could be a day or two. If things escalate or more information surfaces?—"
"It’ll be longer. I get it. Well, I've been updating my resume anyway. I'm not sure my boss is going to give me much of a recommendation after all of this is over, though." She frowned before turning to look out the window.
Ghost hated not being able to give her a clearer timeline. Being accosted wouldn’t rate high on her list of memories, he was sure of that, but maybe being mistaken for Higgins would be a blessing in disguise and afford her the ability to quit her messed-up job. He maneuvered the large SUV through the streets of Charlotte and out of town. He owned an old farmhouse in a nearby quiet, charming town near the South Carolina border.
After a few minutes of driving in silence, he spoke again. "We're going to stop at a small local store in town so you can grab whatever you need for the next couple of days."
"I should be fine. I have my outfit from the signing and this one, plus my pajamas and my toiletries."
He could hear the worry in her voice. He knew she was stressed about finances, and it bothered him. If it were up to Ghost, she wouldn’t have to worry about anything ever again.
"I am under strict orders from the boss to make sure you're as comfortable as possible. Money isn’t an issue with Elite. Since you're staying with us, we'll make sure you have what you need." A little white lie never hurt anyone. Elite had plenty of money, but Ghost planned on buying whatever she needed on his dime. Money wasn’t something he lacked.
"Oh, well. That's nice of them."
She didn’t sound any happier than she had been a minute before. "Is everything okay? I thought girls liked to shop, especially using someone else’s money," Ghost said with a laugh.
"I mean, I don’t dislike shopping. To be honest, I’m pretty frugal with my money so mostly I shop at thrift stores. Besides that, though, I don’t know if you noticed but I’m a bigger girl. Now before you say anything about me putting myself down, it’s true. I am a bigger girl. A lot of stores don’t carry anything that will fit me. It’s not as fun to shop when there aren’t many options. I am grateful, though."
"Well, if you can't find anything you like, we can order something from one of the stores in Charlotte and have it delivered."
She looked out the window and met Ghost’s eyes. “I do like online shopping. I have several wish lists I’ve made over the years. You know, in case I win the lottery or something.” Hearing the longing in her tone, Ghost was determined to be the 'or something' in Cassie’s life.
The next ten minutes passed in a comfortable silence as Ghost drove the SUV down the familiar winding country road. Since Hunter had hired him to join Elite and proposed him as his second-in-command for the Charlotte office, with the likelihood of eventually running it, Ghost had engaged a realtor. It would be a relief to establish a true home base. For years, he had been bouncing between hotels and short-term rentals, keeping all his valuable possessions in a long-term storage facility. After the realtor had shown him half a dozen identical cookie-cutter houses, he had grown disheartened. He expressed his yearning for a home where he couldn't glance out the window and see into his neighbor’s living room. That’s when she had brought him out here.
A twenty-minute drive from where the office would be made for an easy commute. The long, winding road was flanked by towering, mature trees that guided Ghost down the gravel driveway, leading far back from neighboring houses. The journey to the property itself had already begun to sell him on it, even before he laid eyes on the house.
As soon as the tires crunched on the gravel driveway, Ghost felt a sense of departure from modern society, as though he had been transported two hundred years into the past. The charm of the setting was undeniable, but it was the sight of the large white house that truly captivated him. Originally a dairy farm, it occupied a generous twelve acres of old farmland. The centerpiece was the transformed three-thousand-square-foot dairy barn, now a spacious four-bedroom, three-bathroom bungalow.
The realtor's tour was quick. Upstairs housed three bedrooms and a bath, while downstairs boasted a large master suite, a formal dining room, an open kitchen, and a welcoming living room. But it was off the kitchen where Ghost discovered his favorite room in the entire house. A small, sunlit room with a wall of windows framed the picturesque backyard, making it an ideal home office. It was quiet and isolated. Exactly what he’d wanted.
Ghost had invested considerable time and a small fortune into bringing the house up to code and ensuring discreet security measures were seamlessly integrated. Each improvement added to the sense of sanctuary and historical allure that first drew him to the property. He’d remodeled and turned the upstairs into two bedrooms, each with an ensuite bathroom. He’d knocked out walls and turned the third bedroom into a den between the rooms with a couch, loveseat and large tv mounted to the wall. When his siblings came to visit, they had their own space to escape to. Now, as he parked the SUV in the driveway, he found himself hoping Cassie would be as captivated by the property as he was.
He grabbed their bags out of the back as she walked around to join him. “Wow, Ghost. It’s beautiful out here.”
“Yeah. I knew I wanted to buy the house before I set foot in it. It’s peaceful out here.” The kind of peace that settled deeply into a man’s soul after a chaotic mission. “Let’s go inside and I’ll show you around.” As they climbed the steps to the expansive screened in porch, a blur of orange and white fur raced ahead of him. Ghost put down the bags on the porch and turned to Cassie with a smile. He bent down and scooped up the large cat into his arms. "Hey there, Pumpkin," he said affectionately, scratching the cat behind the ears. "This little troublemaker decided he owns this land, too. I discovered him inside a hollowed-out jack-o'-lantern as a kitten, and he's been here ever since. Tried to make him an indoor cat, but he's a free spirit. He's what I call an inside-out cat—comes inside for cuddles now and then but mostly roams outdoors. I didn’t think I was a cat person until I met Pumpkin.” He put him back on the ground and opened the front door to the house.
Cassie laughed as Pumpkin rubbed against Ghost's legs before darting off to explore the yard. "He's adorable.”
“An adorable pain in the ass. You wait until he drops a decapitated mouse on your foot before you’ve had a cup of coffee—or in your case, tea in the morning.” Ghost grumbled half-heartedly. “I installed a cat door for him, against my own better judgment, for if he wants inside while I’m gone.”
Ghost held the door open and motioned Cassie through it. Inside, the farmhouse's interior seamlessly blended rustic charm with modern amenities. The spacious kitchen boasted state-of-the-art appliances and a large island, while the living room featured comfortable furniture arranged around a stone fireplace.
“I've done some remodeling over the years,” Ghost explained, gesturing around. “Made sure it's comfortable and secure. Let me show you where you'll be staying.” He led Cassie down the hallway and up a short set of stairs to a cozy guest room. His sister had flown in for a couple of weeks one summer and helped him decorate. The larger of the two guest rooms had her touch all over it. It had a warm ambiance with soft, neutral tones and extra plush bedding. A full bathroom with modern fixtures adjoined the room, complete with a walk-in shower, clawfoot tub and ample counter space. The bathroom closet was stocked with soft towels and a wide variety of toiletries and necessities.
“This will be your space for as long as you are here,” Ghost said with a small smile. “Feel free to make yourself at home. If there's anything else you need, just let me know.”
Cassie nodded, running her hand along the smooth surface of the dresser. “It’s a beautiful room, looks like something from a fancy bed and breakfast.”
“I can’t really take credit for it. My sister Eve did the decorating. I’m good at taking down walls and installing fixtures but all the softness came from her.”
“Thank you for letting me stay here and invade your space. It’s really kind of you.”
“It’s the easiest solution. I know how secure my property is. Plus, I’ve enjoyed the short time I’ve had with you so far. I’d like to get to know you better. I wish it was under better circumstances but, I’ll take what I can get. Ruby is going to drop by later with a laptop for you to use while you are here and a secure phone. Meanwhile, why don’t you make a list of anything you need. Drinks, snacks, clothes or whatever. I’ll make sure you get it all.”
“I don’t want to be any trouble. Whatever you have is fine.”
Ghost shook his head. “It's no trouble at all. Elite takes care of its own. Take some time to settle in, and when you're ready, we can discuss what comes next.” Ghost left her to get settled. He went into the kitchen and opened a can of wet cat food and dumped it into a bowl for Pumpkin before he pulled out the ingredients to prepare a light meal.
The quiet of the countryside surrounded him, offering a stark contrast to the chaos of the city and the many missions he’d been on. He put on his favorite playlist and, as he cooked, he thought about the beautiful woman upstairs. She was probably contacting her asshole boss to let him know she wouldn’t be making it in today. Hopefully, resigning from her position. He didn’t know her. Not at all. But, it didn’t stop him from feeling like he’d known her forever. The feeling would have scared him, but instead, it gave him peace.
What will be, will be.