Page 111 of Ghost

Her body shuddered beneath him, so slight and fragile he wished he could carry her from this nightmare right now.But he couldn’t do a fucking thing except pray no bullets hit her.Evie flashed in his mind, and for a fraction of a heartbeat, he was that cocky young man hell-bent on protecting his kid stepsister.

And failing.

He couldn’t fix the past.But Evie’s smiling blue eyes and toothy grin stayed in the back of his mind.

The gunfire ceased.

“You’ll pay for this!”Irinia screamed.

Ghost lifted his head just as Zain forced Irinia against the post, her hands drawn tightly behind her back.Boris’s unmoving form was sprawled on the ground.There were two bullet holes in his chest.Irinia’s eyes glittered, but her evil stare didn’t reach Mila, who was still beneath him.

Rami crossed the barn, signaling to Ghost that all was clear.

Ghost eased off Mila.He caught her elbows and helped her sit up.

“Mila,” he ground out.There was so much power in the syllables.She was alive.He hadn’t lost her.

She threw her arms around his neck.

He ducked his face into her hair, inhaling the sweet scent that was all her.“I’m so fucking sorry, babe.”

She drew back, her brow puckered.“This isn’t your fault.”

He kissed her forehead then her cheek.“They got to you on my watch.”

Torment shimmered in her blue eyes.“I knew you’d come for me.”

Tears streaked her swollen cheek.He swept his thumb over her cheekbone.That’s when he noticed the bruise.“You’re hurt,” he rasped.

She sniffed and turned her face into his palm.Her hair was tangled, her body shaking.“You found me.”

His jaw tightened.“Not fast enough.”He smoothed his hands over her shoulders and down her arms, gently prodding.All he wanted to do was turn back time to the moment she’d been taken from his house.To stop that from happening.Only he fucking couldn’t.

He continued moving his hands down her body, spotting the torn skin at her wrists and fighting the urge to lose his shit.When he reached her right ankle, she flinched.He gently lifted her foot.Her ankle was puffy and discolored.Scratches marred her shin.“What happened?”

“I-I fell in the woods.”

The corners of his lips twitched.“I knew you’d escape.”

She wet her lips.“Didn’t do me any good.Clearly,” she added dryly.

Ghost glanced up as Rami and Zain tied Irinia to the post.The woman shot daggers at Mila’s back, but if she sensed it, she didn’t turn.

He returned his gaze to the only thing that mattered—Mila.“You’re the bravest person I know.”He winked.“That says a lot.”

She gave him a weak smile.“What happens now?”

He grimaced.“I’m no medic, but I’m gonna bet you’ve got a severe sprain or broken ankle.Both of which suck.”

“I’m not done with you,Malyshka,” said Irinia, her voice slithering through the air.

Mila dipped her chin and slowly looked over her shoulder.

Ghost cupped her jaw and forced her to focus on him.Anxiety carved fine lines in her forehead, and her eyes creased with worry.

“She’s done, Mila.”He wrapped her hands in his and kissed her knuckles.

Tears swam in her eyes as she nodded.