Page 72 of Ghost

Even a short one.

He needed to get his head out of Mila’s panties and into the real fucking world.After punching the garage-door opener, he cruised inside and closed the door.

Inside his place, solitude greeted him.Dropping his bag inside the hall, he peeled off his jacket and went to the kitchen.Had it really been barely four days since he caught Mila in his bedroom?

Fuck, it felt like a lifetime ago.

He filled a glass with water.The humming of the refrigerator and the heat pumping through the vents were sounds he’d never really noticed before.Now, they were loud.More acute.

Chugging the water, he stared at his space.Everything was fucking neat.Empty other than furniture.Damn, it was almost as if no one lived here.

He should’ve asked Mila to stay with him.No, dammit.He stroked his hand over his jaw.That wasn’t smart.Not right now.Once he dealt with Hunter, then he’d see where things went with Mila.Maybe take that trip to Mexico.

The idea of her in a skimpy bikini on the beach made his cock ache.He had to get his shit together.He dialed Rami and put him on speaker.

“That was fast,” Rami said.

“What do you have on Hunter?”

“You sure you don’t want to sleep first?That was a long drive.”

Ghost fought a grumble.“I’m fine.”He pulled some beef jerky from the pantry.“I thought you guys were ready.”

“We are.Just makin’ sure you’re all right.We have good intel Hunter’s at his house with the bunker.”

“All right.Where’s that?”

“Thirty minutes from you.I’ll gather the guys and call you when you’re close.We’ll just meet on the way.”

“’Kay.Send me a pin.”

“Done.”Rami hung up and a second later, Ghost’s phone beeped.Rami had sent him a map with a red pin on it.Ghost ripped open the package of jerky and headed to his bedroom.

He’d quickly change, get his weapons ready, and take out this motherfucker.

Then he’d get back to Mila.

***

Mila’s back slammedagainst the wall and her teeth clanked together.The masked man’s eyes, black and beady, bore into her.A knife flashed in his fingers.

Fear rattled her spine, but instinct took over.

She jabbed her hand into the inside of his elbow, making his arm go weak.Before he could recover, she jerked her knee into his crotch.

“Fuck,” he hissed, falling against her.

His weight pushed her harder into the wall, making it difficult to strike.His arm swooped around her waist and he threw her to the ground.Her hip banged against the floor.

He tackled her.

“No!”The cry tore from her lips and shame immediately rose within her.Alexei’s voice entered her mind.

Never beg for your life, Malyshka.Never show weakness or you’ll lose.

The man snickered with excitement.“I’ve got you now, bitch.”

One of his hands clutched her throat.The other still held the knife.Mila kicked and thrashed, bucking her hips in an attempt to throw him, but his weight was distributed too low on her body.She couldn’t get enough height.