Page 77 of The Spy Who Ghosted Me

Daddy and Pops came out of the kitchen, each carrying a tray filled with mugs of hot chocolate and popcorn. Most everyone was sporting a few bandages and bruises. Once they set the trays on the coffee table, they passed out the mugs of hot chocolate.

I sat up and grabbed my mug from Daddy, who kissed me on the forehead. “I’m proud of my girl.” He kept saying things like that.

“Thanks, Daddy.” I blew on the hot chocolate. “Did the windows get all boarded up at the lodge?” I didn’t want there to be any water damage on top of all the other damage Isla and her crew had done.

“Yes, darlin’. It’s been incredible how fast the insurance company has been taking care of us.”

I had an inkling it wasn’t the insurance company. “I’m glad to hear that.”

“You men, shoo now,” Nana admonished. “We have women things to talk about.”

Daddy and Pops chuckled before shuffling out of the room.

“Let’s start with you, Mia.” Nana nudged her with her elbow. “What have you and Drew decided?”

“Well.” Mia, sandwiched between Lexi and Nana, bit her lip. “After the incident ...” No one wanted to say “wedding rehearsal,” for Lexi’s sake, especially seeing as Lexi was supposed to be getting married right about now. “... Drew said it made him think about what was most important in life. He said that’s me,” Mia said, ever so pleased. “So, he’s thinking about moving to Park City.”

I leaned over and smiled at a beaming Mia. I was happy for her. “It’s about time.”

“What about you and Cash?” Mia asked. “Did you get to talk to him much in the hospital?”

“Not much.”

“Can you talk to him while he’s in quarantine?” Mama asked.

“I don’t think so,” my voice shook. “It’s a pretty serious thing. They might have to put him in a medically induced coma.” I hated lying, but I couldn’t tell the truth. Ivy had scared the crap out of me, and I knew she would be watching and listening to me. When I got brave enough, I would probably tell her and SPI off from time to time just for the fun of it.

“I’m sure he’ll be thinking about you.” Mama rested her hand on my leg.

“I hope so.” I really, really hoped so.

Nana pointed at my necklace, the necklace I wasn’t taking off until I knew one way or the other if Cash was coming back to me. “Men don’t buy gifts like that unless they’re serious about you. Or unless they’re diamond smugglers,” Nana chided Lexi.

Lexi burst into tears and coiled into me.

“Now, now, girl. Don’t go crying over that man. Just make better choices in the future. Choose someone like Cash,” Nana directed.

If only Nana knew what she was saying.

“Cash left me once before,” I reminded her. Maybe I should remind myself of that more often. Was I being ridiculous holding out hope for us?

“No, baby girl, he found his way back to you, and he will once again. Mark my words.”

Oh, I was marking them all right. I had a feeling it was going to be a long two months. Very long.

Cash

TWO MONTHS LATER

AS I STRODE DOWN THE seemingly endless corridor, the rhythmic click of my shoes reverberated through the air, bouncing off the polished tiles and amplified by the bare gray walls. I’d had my fill of gray walls since I’d arrived here two months ago to recover in a secure location on an island in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean. I say recover, but it was more like SPI trying to remind me who I am and what they trained me for. No doubt that’s why Hugh wanted to meet with me today—to remind me who I was.

I remembered, all right.

When I reached the dark sliding glass doors at the end, I looked into the retinal scanner before they slid open, revealing panels of blinking lights and several screens monitoring agents and missions all over the globe. Hugh sat alone in the middle of the room on an uncomfortable straight-back swivel chair, watching all the pieces of the moving puzzle, directing every one of them.

The doors automatically closed behind me, making the frigid room feel small and tight.

Hugh swiveled in his chair to face me. To look at him, one would think he was just a run-of-the-mill accountant with a receding hairline, but I knew better. Hugh was as cold and calculating as they came. He was a genius by every definition of the word. Honestly, it surprised me he hadn’t had me incarcerated. When he’d found out that Sabrina knew exactly who I was, he’d been livid.

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