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She narrowed her eyes at me like I’d just grown a third eye. “Are YOU okay?”

“Yup. Just trying to promote more positive energy. I’m leading by example. So make sure you have a fabulous day, okay?”

“Okay,” she said warily as she slid on her jacket.

I wanted to let her know she was now my official sister forever and ever. The adoption had been completed a while ago, but I’d been meaning to do something special for her. I’d been so focused on finding Aimee that I’d let this celebration slip through my mind. This was an overdue celebration.

In my eyes, she had always been mine—part of my family. But I think it mattered to her that it became official. I sensed a longing in her voice just now when she spoke about Aimee and her parents. Kaylee didn’t grow up with two parents. Her mother died when she was young, so I could imagine how scared and lonely she’d been.

That would change. I’d make sure of it.

She deserved a party. Arrow and I did too. It had been a complete whirlwind, one storm after the other. If it were any other man, he probably would have ended the relationship a while ago. I had too much going on, and no man would want to deal with that much stress and danger. Arrow not only dealt with it, but he also took control of it. Like how he’d visited the storage unit with me.

My mom had a lot of gold bars, cash, and a flash drive containing evidence of the corrupt officials The Triad had dealt with. They even had incriminating evidence of other Triad leaders around the world. My grandfather had probably asked her to keep it safe for him.

I didn’t want this dirty money. It came with a kind of karma I preferred to stay away from. The Triad lifestyle wasn’t for me. I’d give the money to Calvin and hope he would put it to good use. But the giving part wasn’t as easy as I’d hoped. Arrow was organizing all of that for me.

“I’m ready,” Kaylee said, bringing me back to the moment.

“Let’s go.”

After dropping Kaylee off, I drove to work. My associate had taken care of my patients while I’d been away. Luckily, there hadn’t been any urgent visits. After lunch, I sent Arrow a text message reminding him about the Chinese food and the cake order I’d already placed under his name.

My office manager, Allison, stopped in my doorway. “We have a guywith an emergency. Dr. Jones doesn’t have any openings. Do you want to look?”

“Let me go out and talk to him. Maybe I can see what he needs and refer him to another office.” I didn’t want to take on adult patients. Arrow was the exception.

When I walked out to the front desk, my body tensed. The guy with the toothache was none other than Ghost. Even after the multiple plastic surgeries, I knew it was him. No matter how much someone changed their face, there were still aspects of them that remained.

His eyes were still filled with malice. My body’s instant reaction told me it was him. Intuition didn’t lie.

Ghost didn’t know I recognized him. He could be here because he wanted me dead. I was the one who got away. But what game was he playing? Was he testing me?

I’d been waiting for him after Arrow threw a punch to his mouth, making him lose two teeth.

Forcing my body to calm, I played along. “How can I help you, sir?”

He placed a hand on the right side of his mouth and winced. “Bad toothache. Can you look? I don’t have insurance, but I can pay in cash.”

If he were any other patient, I’d help him by using the Kindness Fund I’d set aside for people who couldn’t afford dental care. But I didn’t want to waste it on him. He had murdered my mother and tried to kill me.

“I’ll take care of him.” I nodded to Allison and walked toward my workstation, preparing for the exam of a lifetime. I would take care of him indeed.

I sensed the fiery blood of The Triad tycoon coursing through me. My grandfather would be proud to know that his granddaughter understood the power of vengeance. That I’d do anything to protect my family. In the beginning, I’d wanted Ghost to rot in prison.

But what if he escaped? I couldn’t be sure he’d leave Dad, Kaylee, Arrow, or me alone. He had to be stopped. I didn’t know if Mom would approve of what I was about to do. I hoped she would understand if she were watching me from up there. She didn’t want my dad or me involved in The Triad or anything involving crime. And here I was, preparing for the ultimate crime.

Please forgive me.

I was only callous and vengeful toward evil murderers. Arrow had told me Orion had already gotten to the containers holding the women and children that Ghost was supposed to deliver. Ghost had failed his buyers, which meant disgruntled people were probably after him. Or maybe he’d already replaced the women and children. The thought sickened me. When would this all stop?

“Please fill out this patient form, and we’ll get you settled.”

Dakota was performing a cleaning for another patient. She’d be over to help me with Ghost as soon as she was done.

My hands shook as I prepared the dental tools. So much for committing crimes.Such an amateur.I got out the new device I’d created with an expert at the company Arrow had connected me with, which made dental devices and other high-tech equipment. I’d have to tell Arrow about Ghost. But that could wait until after the exam.

Nausea rose in me, but I focused on my breathing.