Page 117 of Ghost

Mila smiled wistfully.During her years with Irinia, she’d never allowed herself to think about having a family of her own.It wasn’t until she’d met Ghost that she’d started to see a life in which one day, if he was game, there might hopefully be children.“So exciting.”

Ghost looked away, and her stomach flipped.

“What’s wrong?”

He took a swig of his coffee.“There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

The unease in her stomach turned to acid.She shifted in her seat.Things had been amazing between them the last couple of weeks.They’d celebrated Christmas Eve together, and had gone to Brick’s house for dinner on Christmas Day.

The strained look of Ghost’s face told her that everything she’d hoped for was about to unravel and she had no choice but to sit and watch.

He reached for the folder he’d placed on the counter and then set it in front of her.“I wish I could take credit for this research, but Rami had an inkling and, well...have a look.”

She set her cup on the table and frowned as she peeled open the folder.Three driver’s license pictures stared back at her.

Nicola Vasiliev

Demitry Vasiliev

Igor Vasiliev

Her brother looked at least thirty in his photo, and her parents had aged as well.Confusion swirled her thoughts faster than a blender.But her hopeful heart beat faster.She shook her head.“What’s this?”She looked at him.

Ghost’s expression turned sympathetic, but joy glittered in his eyes.“Your family, Mila.They never died in a car accident.Irinia lied to you.”

The air left her lungs.Mila propped her elbow on the table and pressed her fingers into her temple.“Oh my god.”

All this time.

She replayed the moment Irinia handed her the newspaper article.Not once had Mila questioned the validity of what she’d read.The timing had been perfect.Mila had been a teenager, and surely Irinia had known that if she was to utilize Mila as the killer she’d made her into, she’d need freedom.Freedom that would allow her the opportunity to find her family—unless they were dead.

“I-I can’t believe this.”Tears flooded her eyes and a hard lump formed in her throat.

She’d never looked for her family.Not once.Instead, she’d grieved, brokenhearted, as all of her hope was washed away.Irinia had used that despair and hardened Mila more, sending her to the US and making it even less likely Mila would get curious and look for them despite the article.

Ghost’s hand covered hers.She gazed at the three faces that’d been imprinted in her mind since birth.The faces of people that, although familiar, were strangers to her.

“I’m so sorry,” Ghost said.

She sniffed.“It feels like Irinia got the last laugh.Even from hell she’s able to crush me.”The words came out broken and hoarse.

Ghost cursed and tugged her onto his lap.He cupped her cheeks, forcing her to look at him.“No, baby.This is her losing.You can be reunited with them now.”

She jolted, realization worming through the shock that’d taken over.That was what she wanted more than anything.To see her family again.To be close to them.To set them free from the horror they probably lived with day in and day out.“I’m scared,” she admitted, whispering the words so as not to give them any more power.

Ghost’s gaze tethered itself to hers.“You don’t have to decide anything right now.We can—”

She pulled out of his hold slightly.“I need to see them.”No matter how scared she was, she couldn’t waste any more time.“For twenty years, I dreamed I’d see them again.When Irinia told me they were dead, that hope was lost.I feel like I’ve been given a second chance.”

He smiled.“First things first.”He passed his phone to her.“I tracked down your mom’s number.It’s on the paper in the folder.Why don’t you call her?We’ll start looking for flights once you two figure things out.”

She held his phone while he shifted her back to the chair.

“Take your time.”He stood to leave.

Nervousness bubbled inside her.“Wait.”She caught his arm.“Stay.”

He hooked an eyebrow.“Are you sure?”