Page 44 of Ghost

He lifted a shoulder.“We’re pretty remote.Even if it does, we might not have a clear path down the mountain.”

Her pulse kicked up.The idea of being alone with him here, sleeping under the same roof, maybe even the same bed...

The prospect made her panties wet.

“Look, if you don’t want to talk about this anymore, that’s fine.I’m not going to force anything on you.But I’m here to listen.”

She gave him a tight smile.“Thank you.”

“Can you tell me one thing, though?”

“What?”

“What’s your dance teacher’s name?”

Mila inhaled a slow, controlled breath then compressed her lips.Talking about Irinia, saying her name, was too close for comfort.“I don’t think I should go there.It—it could be dangerous.”

“She’s still around?”

Mila chortled.“You could say that.”

“Well, save me the legwork.I’m sure there’re news articles naming where you danced.It won’t be hard to find out.”

She sighed, exasperated.“Fine.Irinia and Alexei Sokolov.Why do you want to know?”

He gave her a smile that revealed his teeth, and his eyes flashed with mischief.“Because I’m going to kill them.”

She didn’t even jolt.She’d dreamed of killing Irinia ever since she was nine years old.“Well, don’t take your time about it.”The fact she could have a sense of humor right now showed she was as messed up as she feared.

He reached for his coffee.

Anxiety circulated through her.She either needed to change the course of the conversation or go for a run to blow off steam.

“How about I call Neo now?I’d like to hold up my end of the bargain in case the roads are all clear tomorrow.”

“Sure.Let me grab my burner phone, though.”He got to his feet and went upstairs.

She picked at the food, her mind churning.What would she say to Neo?He’d known her since she was seventeen, when she’d moved to the U.S.and started taking jobs more independently.

He’d flip his lid when she asked who’d issued the contract.

Ghost came down the stairs and fell back into his seat on the couch beside her.“Think he’ll tell you anything?”

She blew a breath through her lips.Ghost had already stated he’d pay Neo a visit.That wasn’t something she wanted.She wouldn’t put it past him to kill Neo to get the information he needed.

She took the phone from his fingers.“I’ll just tell him the truth: you caught me and won’t let me go until you have the name.”

He nodded.

Hesitation seized her muscles.Once she made the call, there was no turning back.Irinia would find out that she’d caved to the man she’d been hired to hit—that all the years of training for a scenario like this hadn’t worked.

That she was weak.

It rattled her that she cared what that heinous woman thought.But soon she’d be free.Before she could lose her nerve, she dialed the number she’d had memorized for almost half her life.

The call connected, but Neo didn’t speak.He was always careful.An unknown caller would be a major red flag.He wouldn’t risk using his voice until he was given the code word.

“Massachusetts,” she said.