Page 76 of Ghost

Ghost ended the call and covered Mila’s hand with his.He didn’t need to be sensitive to know meeting new people couldn’t be easy for her.Hell, seeing people he knew wasn’t usually something he looked forward to.“Dana’s great.You’ll love her.”

She squeezed his fingers.“Don’t worry about me.You do whatever you need to do.If it gets too late, I’ll take a cab to a hotel and—”

“No.”He brought their joined hands to rest on his thigh.He flicked a serious gaze her way then looked back at the road.“No way.You’ll stay with Dana until I get back.Having you go to a goddamn hotel defeats the purpose of me trying to keep you safe.”

“All right,” she said, dragging out the syllables.“Hopefully I’m not intruding.”

“You’re not.Zain wouldn’t have suggested it if having you there would put Dana out.”

She didn’t respond, but he took her silence as agreement.He veered off on the next exit and drove along the road leading into Zain and Dana’s subdivision.A few minutes later, he pulled into the driveway.

Turning in his seat, he focused on her strained blue eyes.“Before I take you in, I need to hear what happened.Everything.”

She lowered her lashes and tucked her chin.“He came at me as soon as I got in the door.”

“What’d he do?”

A shuddering breath shook her shoulders.“Shoved me against the wall and tried to slit my throat.”Slowly, her eyes lifted.“I fought back.”

He nodded.“I see that.”

She glanced down at her stained fingers.“I tried to wash them, but...”

He caught her chin.“Tell me more.”

“He got the upper hand for a minute.Then I got the knife and slit his throat.”She whispered the words as if she was fucking scared he’d judge her.

A flash fire exploded inside him.He should’ve been there.Shouldn’t have fucking left her.His instinct had told him to drive her to his place, but he’d let the urgency to kill Hunter take over and she’d almost died because of it.

Because of him.

“I’m proud of you,” he said.“Don’t ever think I’m scared of what you’re capable of, all right?I fucking love how skilled you are.Means I can worry a little less.”He didn’t hide the smile because he figured she needed to see it.

Her expression softened.“Thank you.”

He kissed her lips, then swept his thumb beneath her mouth.“Dana’s a pro.Not like us, but she was FBI.None of this will shock her, but you don’t need to tell her anything.I’ll handle it.”

Mila nodded.

He got out of the truck and retrieved her bags.One silver lining: Mila was back with him.

Where he’d keep her safe.

CHAPTER 20

Dried blood andgrit coated Mila’s skin.She trudged up Dana’s front porch, her bags on Ghost’s shoulder, his fingers wrapped firmly around her hip.White Christmas lights on the roofline twinkled, and a pretty flocked wreath with a red bow hung on the front door.

As beautiful as the house and festive decorations were, Mila wanted to bolt.To say she was socially awkward was an understatement, and that was when she was at her best.Right now, she was lower than her worst, evidence of her past splattered on her face.

The door swung open.A beautiful woman with rich dark hair answered.Her gaze flitted over Mila before shooting to Ghost.“Zain just called.Come in.”She stood back and opened the door wide.

Ghost urged Mila inside, then closed the door behind him.

Dana was an inch or so shorter than her.She wore a chunky ivory sweater, leggings, and thick cabin socks.She smiled warmly.“I was just about to make some tea.Do you want some?”

Mila stepped out of her boots and wrapped her arms around her waist.“Sure.Thank you.”

“Make yourself comfortable.”She looked at Ghost.“We’ll be fine.”