Page 81 of Ghost

Wetting her lips, her nerves spiraling out of control, she hit Irinia’s contact and sat on the bed.

She answered after the second ring.“Mila?” The thick accent loaded with shock and concern made uninvited emotions rush forth.

Hate.Anger.And, dammit, longing.

Irinia had been cruel and distant at times, but part of Mila had always sought her approval.Some delusional area of her brain still believed that if she was good and did everything Irinia asked her, maybe she’d see her parents again.The heart of younger Mila still lived somewhere inside her.“Yes, it’s me.”

A string of curses in both English and Russian floated through the phone.“Where are you?”she finally demanded, once she settled down.

Mila squeezed her eyes shut.Not, “Are you okay?”or “What happened?”Just outrage that she wasn’t where she was supposed to be and hadn’t reported to Boris.

“I’m fine, thanks for asking,” she shot back.

Irinia tsked.“Cleary you’re fine or you wouldn’t be calling.You have a lot of explaining to do.Do you realize how this makes me look?You didn’t follow through with a contract—”

“I was caught.”

“Is he alive right now?”Irinia barked, her tone indicating she already knew the answer.

Mila balled her hand into a fist.As much as she wanted to tell Irinia to shove it and hang up, she needed her to know Neo could be in danger.“I think something happened to Neo,” she said, ignoring Irinia’s question.“I was attacked, and I think someone got to him.”

For a moment there was dead air on the line.“Hmm.We’ll check on him.Where are you?I’ll have someone—”

Mila gathered her strength.“I’m done, Irinia.”Her words came out strained, tired, but unwavering.

“You’re done when I say you’re done.”

Mila’s hands shook with anger.She clutched the phone to stop herself from throwing it.At one point, she’d have been terrified to go up against her abductor.Hell, a week ago, she wouldn’t have dared to think of a different life.But now there was no going back.Even if she and Ghost stopped talking after today, she wanted freedom.Any semblance of it.She’d made up her mind.

She wanted to give her mother peace beyond the grave.

“You’ve taken everything from me,” she spat.“My family, my childhood, my innocence—mylife.But I’m not a scared little girl anymore.You’ve controlled me for a long time, butMadame,” she growled with disdain, “this is over.”

She hung up and dropped the phone on the bed.Pressing her shaking hands to her forehead, she inhaled slow and steady through her nose.

Holy shit.Holy shit.

An enormous wave of relief washed over her.A thin, brittle laugh bubbled from her lips.She’d done it.She’d finally broken away from Irinia.

She was certain that the old woman wouldn’t go away quietly, that she’d insist on having the last word or try bullying Mila into doing what she’d wanted, but there was no turning back now.There was nothing Irinia could say or do to make her return to that kind of work.

She pressed her palm to her chest.Tears streaked down her face.Part of her couldn’t help but regret not making this decision sooner.Not having the courage to escape Irinia before her family died.

But she couldn’t obsess over something she couldn’t change.All she could do was be grateful she could now do what she wanted.Anything she wanted.

She got to her feet and wiped her tears.Then she grabbed her phone from the bed in case Ghost called and made her way back to the kitchen, giddiness lifting her steps.

Dana stood at the island wearing pink silk pajamas and fluffy white slippers.“Look at us!It’s a pajama party—” She gasped.“What’s wrong?Are you crying?”Confusion puckered her brow as she came around to meet Mila.

“Everything’s fine.Great, actually.I just—” What could she say?How much did Dana know about her and, more importantly, how much did she want to divulge?

Dana rested her hand on her shoulder.“It’s okay.You don’t have to share.As long as it’s good news, I’m happy for you.”

Mila relaxed and fresh tears burned her eyes.Already she could see Dana being the friend she’d never had.“Thank you.”

“I ordered pizza,” Dana said.“Hope you’re hungry.”

Mila smiled.“Starving.”