Page 22 of Ghost

She closed her eyes in response, wanting to hear him say it again.

“Good.We’re getting somewhere.”His gruff tone held a note of appreciation.

“Ibuprofen?”

He grunted, but there was a hint of amusement in the sound.Or maybe she was imagining that.

“Sit up and you can have it.”

Resistance pulled at her muscles.Gently, he eased her upright again.The room spun like a merry-go-round.Sweat broke out on her skin.Nausea swelled at the inside of her throat and she pressed her fingers to her lips.

“Shit.”He pulled back her hair and moved the quilt out of the way.

Cold air hit her skin, but it felt good on her now-hot cheeks.

“Go ahead.Puke if you need to.”

She pressed her hands to the cement and kept her head down as she sucked in one breath after another.He waited, still and silent, her hair drawn back in his hands.

Minutes passed and the water stayed down.She opened her eyes and the room stopped swaying a little, but the edges of her vision were blurry.

He dropped her strands.The rattling of a pill bottle followed by the crack of a water bottle opening reached her ears.He held out his palm.Two pills sat in the large landscape of his hand.With shaky fingers, she accepted them, knowing they might kill her.

She’d take any relief right now.She tossed the pills into her mouth and washed them down with a small sip of water.As she tilted back her head, her eyes wandered to the window.The sun appeared to be on its descent.How long had she slept?

“Here’s the thing, Mila.”Crouched in front of her, he rested his forearm on his knee.He hadn’t shaved the scruff on his jaw.The unsettling urge to stroke his bristly hairs made her curl her fingers into her palm.

“Believe it or not, I don’t want to hurt you.Whether you live or die doesn’t matter to me after I know who hired you.”

She snorted.“You really expect me to believe that?”

His jaw clenched.“No.But you’re not new to this line of work.What do you think every other asshole would’ve done if they’d caught you?Think you’d still be alive?”

She narrowed her eyes.The fact he was trying to make himself out to be the good guy in this scenario was wild.“There’re many ways to torture someone.Hypothermia and a head injury are a good start.”

His cheeks reddened.Instinctively she shrunk down an inch, waiting for him to lash out.But he kept his hands in front of him and didn’t touch her.

“Look,” she continued, “I don’t even know your name.I was given your picture and address.That’s all I know about you.Whoever hired me wanted me to have as little information as possible.”

“Prove it.”

She scoffed.“I would, but my car was parked a block from your house.My phone’s in there.”

He straightened.“Give me the make, model, and plate number.I’ll have someone pick up your things.”

She compressed her lips.She didn’t think there was anything in her phone that could tie Neo to her.Still, she didn’t want to take the risk.

At her hesitation, his eyes grew small.He sighed and shook his head.“I can see we’re not getting anywhere.”He stood and switched on the fans.

Her heart plummeted.Words formed on her tongue, but twenty years of training evaporated them.

“See you tomorrow, sugar.”He walked out of the shop, leaving the door wide open.

CHAPTER 8

“Jesus Christ,” Ghostbellowed.

He stormed back to the cabin and yanked off his jacket.Dragging his hand through his hair, he muttered another curse.