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Why would people want to watch animals kill each other? I supposed it was no different from watching MMA fighting or anything of that sort. The violence was too much for me. Was there a veterinarian on call in case these animals could survive?

My gut told me no.If they had cared about the animals, they wouldn’t be doing this. I made a mental note to report this place after I got the info I needed.

I didn’t like the uncomfortable vibes lingering near me. It had to be Ghost’s energy. My body still feared him, as though he had some invisible connection to me. Trauma could do so much to a human psyche, and I’d been trying my best to detach from him. Even when I’d thought he was dead, that unease had remained.

But knowing he was alive had intensified it. I had to face him head-on. I didn’t fear Ghost now like I had years ago. Learning martial arts had strengthened my body and mind. But the body remembered things that the mind couldn’t control. The muscle tightness, the erratic nerves, and the escalated heart rate would take time to overcome.I willed my body to eliminate the trauma that had embedded itself into my muscles—my cellular memory.

As I searched for Ghost, the wounds on my back tightened, and the nerves bubbled again and again.

Stop it,I scolded my body.He doesn’t own you. I do.

Even if I located Ghost, would he sell me information? I was in disguise and wore a mask, so I would be a regular customer coming to him for business. Despite this, I had to be extra careful if I wanted to save Aimee.

“You got your boys ready for the shipment?”

A chill skipped down my body at the sound of the familiar voice. I turned to see two men talking in the corner by a tall appetizer table. One man wore a bird mask, while the other had the clown mask I’d seen at Ormon’s restaurant.

Ghost.

I calmed my breathing as tingles bombarded me.I’m stronger and braver now. He has no power over me.

With each exhale, the goosebumps faded. I stepped over to an empty table and pulled out my phone, pretending to look busy. One thing became paramount as I stood near my enemy. My body hadlistenedto me. It didn’t panic the way I had expected it to. The fear didn’t have the same suffocating grip as it once did. Fear was still there, but I could shove it aside to focus on more important matters. Nothing was more important than getting Aimee back and figuring out how to make Ghost pay for his crimes.

I listened in on their conversation.

“The shipment’s arriving next week,” said the man in the bird mask. “Time to retire, man. What are they gonna do with those kids?”

Kids?

Ghost shrugged. “Don’t know, don’t care. Not my business. I’m just making money.You got the wine too?” Ghost asked. “Show me.”

“Yeah.” He showed Ghost an image on his phone. “What if The Taipans find out you stole their wine?”

Was this why Calvin had looked stressed when I saw him at Bella’s Bistro?

“You gonna tell them?”

“Do I look like I want to die?”

“Then don’t worry. Keep your mouth shut. Once the money’s in your account, I suggest you go on a long vacation, preferably somewhere no one can find you.”

Birdman laughed. “You too, man.”

“Yo, Tip!” shouted a familiar voice.

I turned to see Chicken, a patient at my practice. He always brought his grandmother and other patients who couldn’t afford dental care into the office. He wasn’t wearing a mask.

Chicken slipped money into Ghost’s hand. Ghost counted it and grunted. “There’s a lot missing.”

“I’ll pay the rest back soon. It’s been tough, man.”

Ghost grabbed Chicken’s shirt with both hands. “You havethree hoursto get me the rest. Add another thousand. If you don’t deliver, you’re dead.”

“I already paid you two thousand for the original five hundred I borrowed.” Terror splashed on Chicken’s face. “I can’t get any more.”

“I don’t give a shit. Get out of my face!” He shoved at Chicken.

“Yeah, get lost, asshole!” Birdman also shoved Chicken.