Page 78 of Ghost

Butterflies tickled the lining of her belly.“He feels sorry for me.”The humble words came out before she could stop them.

Dana’s eyes filled with understanding.She set the kettle back on the stove before leaning her forearms on the counter in front of Mila.“I understand that feeling.More than you know.But if there’s one thing Ghost isn’t known for...it’s compassion.Sorry to say,” she added with a shrug.“My point is, if he’s shown you he cares—even if you think it’s just empathy or pity, well, that says a lot.”

Mila lowered her gaze to the smooth, glistening counter.She wasn’t going to bare her heart, soul, and past to Dana.Didn’t know how to form that connection.With Ghost, some of that had been forced.The rest had come naturally.

“I don’t have any expectations.”

Dana grinned like a fourteen-year-old girl at a slumber party.“But you like him?”

Mila laughed.It was light and short, but a laugh regardless.“Have you seen him?He’s hot.”

Dana bobbed her eyebrows.“Well, I can’t comment on that, but I can say Zain does all that for me and more.”She waved herself off.“Anyway.Your secret’s safe with me.Just don’t break his heart, okay?”

Mila lifted one eyebrow.“Aren’t you worried I’ll make an attempt on his life?”

“Ohh, I want to hear all about that!I bet that’s when things got hot between you two, am I right?”Dana winked suggestively.

Mila chuckled, unable to stop herself from liking the woman.“If you’ve got time, I’ll tell the story.”

Dana clapped.“Yay.I want the real version.I heard a very diluted male perspective.”She came around the island and plopped herself onto the stool next to her.“Tell me everything.”

***

It’d been almostan hour since Ghost dropped off Mila.Darkness had fallen, but his headlights illuminated the stretch of winding mountain road.Ghost drove behind Rami, Zain, and August.Which was a damn good thing because he probably couldn’t follow the GPS directions given the thoughts bogging his mind.

Getting that call from Mila had fucking shaken him.

Ten minutes.That’s all it’d taken for one of Hunter’s men to make a move on her.Hunter’s men must have been watching Mila’s place and vehicle, waiting for her to return.

He smoothed a hand over his face.They’d been so close to killing Mila.His chest tightened and the unfamiliar sensation of anxiety pinched his stomach.

Shit could have ended a whole lot differently.

He’d kill Irinia and whoever else was involved in Mila’s kidnapping, but he was grateful as hell they’d trained her so well.

His phone rang over the speaker, cutting off the music playing softly on the radio.Rami’s name lit the screen.Ghost tapped the answer button.“Yeah.”

“Hey.Just wanted to talk about a couple things as we get close to Hunter’s.”

Everything had moved quickly.Normally he and the guys would spend time going over entry and exit strategies, and usually they’d obtain blueprints before launching into a property to take out a target.

With Hunter’s place being out of town, it was less likely neighbors or witnesses would report their attack.Ghost didn’t give a damn if they took out everyone there.He wanted this done.In and out so he could get back to Mila.

That said, they needed to discuss some logistics before going in hot.“What’ve you got on his place?”

“Large acreage, underground bunker, helipad.Asher said Hunter keeps a handful of guys as security.So we should expect at least that.”

Ghost harumphed.“Probably more considering he just tried to take out Mila.”

“Don’t sweat it.There’s four of us.”He paused.“Zain said Mila’s doing all right with Dana.”

That piqued his interest.“Yeah?”He felt like an ass for leaving her.Not only had she just been attacked, but she’d looked lost and out of place at Dana’s.“What’d Dana say?”

“That they were bonding,” Zain said, enunciating the last word.

Rami’s chuckle ruffled Ghost’s feathers.

He snorted.“Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”