Page 86 of Who's Saving You
“You think your girl hasn’t found anything?”
“She’s been digging and found nothing, so there’s no article to write. It sounds like your ‘ghost’ hunt is a bust.”
“Oh, Nik, the webs we weave. Your lies to your friends, the school, the world,” he pauses, “and your girl.” The way he says it has the hair raising on my neck. “Wine and dine her, fuck her right, and she’ll keep your secrets, too? Is that how it works?”
His arrogant tone has me jumping from my seat, but Dante is quick to hold me back. I stand in front of Rhett, hands in fists, trying to calm myself with deep breaths while he just keeps on talking. “She may not have found everything, but Ghost knows she got something. He’s alerted every time there is a request for info.”
I shake my head as Dante gets me to sit. “Okay,” Dante says, “We’re gonna bargain here. You tell Ghost to leave her alone. If he’s looking for a cut or wants dibs on a game, he can talk to me. We’re done with the girl, Rhett. You know we don’t play games like that?—”
“I wanna know how Ghost is involved,” I cut in. “If it's the guy we made a deal with, he got his money. It’s dead and gone.” I swallow hard, and think, andprobably so is Dad. “What more is he looking for?”
“I just do what I’m told.” Rhett adjusts in his seat. “But what I do know about him is he doesn’t likehisghosts to be disturbed. He does a job, and it ends… for good. So if it is the guy from sophomore year, then your girl digging around is disturbing his peace. And there's only one way to get that peace back.”
“I don't do well with threats, Rhett.”
He laughs and puts his hands up. “No threats, man. But she turned him on, and now he wants her.”
I begin to grow madder, the cockiness leaving me, and in its place, rage. “You sat here and told me you forgot every job you do. That you don’t ever run your mouth. Seems to me, you’re a snitch. And you know what happens to them.”
“Oh, don’t get it twisted. I haven’t said a word to Ghost. Like I said, I'm following orders. But he’s getting antsy. And he’s not going to keep waiting around. He’ll come for her himself.”
I scoff. “You’re so full of shit. He wants to hide; he won’t show himself.”
Rhett shrugs. “That’s a chance you take, I guess.” Rhett stands. “It comes down to more than just writing an article or getting too close. Ghosts' words feel personal.”
Security opens the door and follows Rhett out, but his stench lingers. “Jesus, Rhett, cut back on the cigarettes. Don’t you know they’ll kill ya?”
He gives a smug grin and a wink. “Worried about me,Warrior?”
The way he says Warrior sets me on edge, and the hair on the back of my neck stands up. He’s never used that moniker before—Saint, but not that. My heart races in my chest as my mind puts the last few pieces of the puzzle together, even though my heart is screamingdon’t believe it.
And right now I know I need Noelle, and I need her in a way that could break us before we even have a real chance.
I watch Rhett walk out the door and lock eyes with Dante. “Remember that leverage you spoke about?” He nods once. “We’re going to use it.”
36
Nik
I left the club feeling extremely uneasy. The way Rhett was speaking had every one of my senses standing at attention. Everything he said made this seem personal, and too close for comfort. It’s not just about getting her to stop writing the article. Ghost is coming for her and me. But why?
Telling my secret would only ruin me and my career. I did what I did on my own to save my family, so I’m the one going down for it, not anyone else.
Stepping off the elevator inside my condo, I nod to Stone. “Everything good?”
He gives me the thumbs up. “All good. It’s been quiet, Nik.”
“Good.” But underneath, I know things aren’t quiet. And it’s going to get worse when I ask her to risk herself. Punching in the code, I enter the condo. Her sugary sweetsmell welcomes me in, and I realize I've become accustomed to looking forward to it every time I come home.
“Noelle?”
“In here.”
I hear her voice and walk down the hall to the bedroom she’s been staying in. Well, not that she’s been sleeping in here, but this has been her space to work in. She has a determined look as she types furiously on her laptop until she turns to me, and then a smile appears. And I’m totally gone for this chick.
“How was your run-through?”
“Good,” I walk in and sit on the bed. She turns her chair completely to me, laptop glowing behind her. “We have the night game tomorrow, so I don't have to be at the field until one.”
