Page 10 of Ghost
Three years had passed since then.He’d been lying low to keep himself safe.He worked with Backcountry Protection Services under one of his aliases.
He sighed.He’d get to the bottom of it.And whoever had come for him would pay in spades.
Despite the fact he couldn’t have slept more than fifteen minutes before she’d made her attempt, he wasn’t tired.Matter of fact, he was fucking wired.
Because in about twenty minutes he had to face her again.Gone was the hothead who’d dragged her around furious.Here on out, he’d tamp down his anger.He’d make her crack only by proving who was in control.
Anticipation thrummed through his veins.It might have taken him the full six hours and change, but he’d hammered into his psyche that there was only one way to handle this situation.One he didn’t like but one he couldn’t change.
She’d chosen her career.She’d gone after him.Her fate wasn’t his problem.She’d taken the risk the minute she slipped into his house.
As much as he wouldn’t enjoy killing her, he couldn’t have any loose ends.Those wide, distant blue eyes filled his mind and made his gut clench.She was something all right.Attractive—okay, beautiful—but in a haunting way.
Her beauty wasn’t the kind that’d make him do something stupid.While her features were appealing, the lack of emotion in her eyes unnerved him.
He’d seen grown-ass men, military soldiers, look at him with more fear than she did.And that bugged the hell out of him because very soon, he’d have to earn her fear to get her to talk.
It wouldn’t be pleasant, but he’d fucking break her.He’d make her spill every piece of his file that she was aware of.He’d bet his twenty-two-acre property in the woods he’d have answers in less than twelve hours.
He reached the gravel road.It’d been too long since he visited his cabin.Months.He craved the solitude.
Fifteen minutes and several turns later, he reached the crooked tree branch that jutted over the road.After hanging a left, he followed the long driveway up another hill and stopped outside his two-story log cabin.Snow covered the ground that’d been green the last time he was here.The walkway and steps leading up to the cabin were caked in a good twelve inches.
Inside the single detached garage was his Ford F-150.Off to the side of the clearing where the house and garage sat was another outbuilding—a large workshop equipped with everything he’d need to make her talk.Pushing open the door, he got out and then stretched.
The brisk early-morning air rushed into his lungs.Crisp, cold, and comfortingly lonely.He slid his gaze toward his trunk and bunched his fists.Not as lonely as he’d like, unfortunately.
Snowflakes fluttered down from the still-dark sky to pepper his flannel jacket.It wouldn’t be light out for another couple of hours.
Not a single sound came from inside the compartment.She’d probably fallen asleep.He smirked.She was gonna need it.He reached into the car and grabbed his bag, then made his way across the snow to the house.Once he got the woman settled, he’d clear the paths.He went inside to switch off the alarm system and drop his bag before heading to the shop.
He unlocked the padlock, entered, and flicked on the light.The bulbs sizzled and then burst into a bright-white glow.He dropped his keys on the nearby tool bench and went to the corner he reserved for this purpose.
It’d been a long time since he interrogated.
He retrieved a roll of plastic and got to work.
***
Mila woke witha shuddering breath.Her arms and legs ached, needing to be stretched.Pinpricks along her toes and ankles confirmed her feet had fallen asleep.She turned onto her back and—
They weren’t moving.They’d stopped.
No footsteps.No voice or movement inside the car.Urgency surged inside her.Now was her chance.She twisted so her head was just beneath the lid of the trunk and her feet were pressed against the back seat.She drew her knees to her chest then slammed her heels into the seats.
The frame bounced but didn’t open.She adjusted her footing and tried again, this time with more force.The whole vehicle shook, but the seats didn’t give way.Sweat dotted her chilled skin.Her arms burned with her weight pressing down on them.
How long had he been gone?Had he just left her?
No, that was wishful thinking.He wouldn’t have transported her all this way just to abandon her.She drew her knees up and slammed her heels into the back seat with as much force as she could muster.
The seat popped.She gasped against the duct tape and scrambled to the opening.Wedging her head in first and angling her feet against the wall of the trunk, she pushed herself into the back seat.The scents of leather and air freshener hit her nostrils.She hoisted herself into a sitting position.
As she looked out the windows and scanned her surroundings, fear took root at the base of her spine.They were in the woods.Her gaze took in three buildings: cabin, garage, and some kind of workshop.
A light shone through frosted windows.
Shit.
