Page 80 of Ghost

She chuckled.“’Kay.Be safe,” she added, and clicked off.

Rami pulled to the side of the road and Ghost got out, pocketing his keys and phone.Rami, August, and Zain spilled out of the truck as Ghost went to his rear door.His large duffel bag waited.He took off his flannel and situated his bulletproof vest over his torso.

Next, he slapped night-vision goggles on top of his head, pulled out the little case holding his earbud for coms, and placed his SIG in his waistband at his back.After grabbing his AR-15, he slammed the door shut.The guys were geared up and waiting.

August fitted his piece in his ear.“Test, test,” he said.

“Copy,” Ghost replied, with Zain and Rami.

Zain jerked his head toward the forest.“Let’s move.”

Ghost fell into step with his team.His movements were fast, silent, and chock-full of rage.More than anything, he wanted to see a bullet in his old boss’s head.Being that it hadn’t worked the first time, he’d ensure a few other kill shots were delivered.

They moved through the trees, guns in hand and their steps strategic and in sync.In situations like this, boots on the ground, he had fucking brothers.

Ones who’d kill for him and his own.

Just as he’d done for them and theirs.

Zain’s voice came through the bud in his ear.“Ghost and I will head west.Rami and August, you go east to the front and take out whoever’s in your path.”

“Copy,” August said.

They reached the property line and Ghost immediately took the lead, veering toward a gardening shed.He didn’t need to glance over his shoulder to know Rami and August had gone in the opposite direction.

Ghost rounded the backside of the shed and kept his shoulder blades against the wall.Zain fell into position next to him.He held his rifle tightly to his chest as he listened for any indication that they—or Rami and August—had been noticed.

“Spotted two guards,” Zain said quietly.“One by the pool, the other near the east side of the house.”

“I’ll go for the pool guy.You get the other.”Ghost pushed away from the wall and skirted across the lawn.He kept his AR-15 pointed at the ground.The longer they waited to fire shots, the better their chances of getting close to Hunter unnoticed.

He pulled his switchblade from where it was hooked on his pocket.Snapping out the steel, he grasped the handle firmly.

The guard near the pool had his back to Ghost.His breath was visible in the cold air.

Ghost approached on silent feet, but the second his boots hit the cement, the man wheeled around.

Ghost lunged, but not before the man screamed, “Code red!”

CHAPTER 21

Mila wrapped atowel around her body as she stepped out of the steamy shower in the en suite bathroom.Scrubbing the blood and death from her skin had finally made her feel human.She’d killed many times, but they’d all been clean executions.Wearing another person’s blood had made nausea thick in her stomach.

She headed into the neat-as-a-pin guest bedroom.Dana had helped Mila carry up her things and had told her to make herself comfortable while she ordered pizza.

Dana’s kindness made her feel safe and welcome, but she didn’t want to spend the night here.She went to the nightstand, where her phone was charging.

She’d meant to switch to her encrypted phone, but she still hadn’t given Ghost the new phone number and didn’t want to miss a call or text from him.She illuminated the screen and her shoulders dropped.Nothing.

Nothing but the messages and missed calls from Irinia staring back at her—a drilling reminder of what she still needed to do.

Better now than later.

She quickly changed into the pair of pajamas Ghost had bought her.The cozy flannel pants and blue waffle shirt offered some comfort.

Three texts from Irinia and a dozen missed calls: some from Irinia, some from Boris, Irinia’s brother, and some from Neo.Almost all of them had come through two days ago, when she’d been due to confirm Ghost’s death.The most recent call had come through not long ago—when Neo had presumably tried to warn her.

She called him first.The line rang but no one answered.He didn’t use voicemail, so after a handful of rings she hung up.Shit.