Page 109 of Ghost
She lifted her gaze as he approached.He took a long drag on the cigar in his fingers and stopped a few feet away.
“Hello, Mila.”
She flinched involuntarily but didn’t respond.
“You turned your back on us,” he continued.“After all we did for you.We took you in, taught you everything you know.Helped you become the lethal machine you are—were.”
He shook his head with disdain.“A waste,” he spat.
Mila pressed her tongue to the roof of her mouth, not daring to say anything.He was goading her.Like a viper, he’d strike as soon as she reacted.
Paul stalked forward, his expression murderous.“She needs to pay for what she did to Wes.”
Boris sucked on the cigar again then released a cloud of toxins from his lips.He flicked his emotionless gaze to Wes then back to Mila and shrugged.“It’s good she still has some fight in her.We can work with that.”
Paul’s eyes bulged.“Do something, dammit!Cut off her goddamn fingers.Show her she can’t cross us again.”
Amusement creased the older man’s face.His two henchmen, who stood off to the side, chuckled.
“Listen to him, making demands.”Boris zeroed in on Paul.“Looks like she did a number on you.”
Paul’s hands fisted at his sides.Redness coated his cheeks.
Boris sighed and focused on Mila again.“Sorry, my dear.”He withdrew a pocketknife from his jacket, then handed it to Paul.“Take her pinkie.Left hand, though.She’s going to need her right.”
Panic soured Mila’s stomach.She coiled her hands into balls as Paul accepted the knife.Some of the color left his cheeks as he turned to face her.
“Go on,” Boris said.“Get your pound of flesh.”
Mila dipped her chin, ready to fight if he tried.
Paul didn’t move.
Boris snickered.“Give me that.”He tore the knife from Paul’s hand, flipped out the blade, and slashed it across his throat.
Blood sprayed.Paul’s eyes filled with horror as the life left his body.He sank to the ground.
“Clean that, Max.”Boris passed the knife to the bulky man who’d carried her.
Shock rippled through Mila.Her fingers throbbed, grateful to be intact.She kept them curled tight against her palms as she watched Boris.He was as predictable as a hurricane.
“What the hell’s going on?”Irinia strode through the barn door, her eyes fiery and her nose turned up.She took one look at the two dead men on the ground and stiffened.“Really, Boris.Look at this mess.”
Boris’s face hardened.“Time to get started, Mila.”
CHAPTER 28
Ghost moved swiftlyaround the perimeter of the barn, Zain at his back, their footsteps soundless.Birds chirped and cawed, and critters scattered in the nearby forest.
They rounded a corner and reached the rear of the barn.Near the back door was a window.Ghost pressed his shoulder tight to the wall as he reached the pane.Keeping his head low, he peered through the glass.
“In position,” Zain said softly.
“Waiting on your go,” Rami replied.
Ghost spotted Irinia first.There were also two buff assholes in suits standing with their hands in front of them.They appeared to be guarding a man who had an air of authority.Boris.He was tall and built but had to be in his sixties.
“Is she there?”Zain asked.
