The call comes right as I am getting out of the shower. A cloud of steam bellows after me as I step outside, following me to the bathroom counter where I left my phone. My first thought is that Ghost is calling me to tell me he’s coming late. This always happens on Wednesdays when his club has Church and the men stay back to talk about, well, club business. I wrap a towel around my waist then reach for the phone, the smile on my face dropping when I see the name flashing on my screen.
It’s Henry, the US Marshall I’ve been trying to reach all week. I consider ignoring it then curse myself out for a fool the second the thought slips in, but a part of me is terrified that the US Marshall will tell me I need to leave Vegas and move somewhere else.
I don’t want to leave.
Not the city. Not Ghost. Heck, I don’t even want to leave Elysium. I like working here and I’ve developed friendships, if only tentative ones, with the people who work here. Unlike my previous bar, the people here treat each other like family. Something I’ve always craved.
Christ, I want to stay.
I watch the phone ring and ring before the call drops. And when it starts again, I decide I might as well take it. I can always say no, right? That’s my choice. I can decide to stay if I want to. They can’t make me leave. I won’t leave!
“Hello,” I say when I take the call.
“Elizabeth!” I wince at the name. One I haven’t heard in such a long time. It doesn’t even feel like mine anymore. “It seems there was a breach in the system and we’re afraid that the fucking Víboras Gemelas found where you are.”
“Yeah,” I murmur, clearing my throat when the words come out choked. “I’ve been trying to reach you all week.”
“We were taking care of the security breach. Look, I can’t talk to you on the phone. We need to meet so I can give you your new identity and discuss where you’re moving to next.”
“I…” My heart is racing as I search for the right words. “I don’t want to leave Vegas. I just started a life here and…”
“Elizabeth,” he says with a sigh and even though I cannot see the man, I can hear the pity in his voice. “Everyone in witness protection thinks this way. Some people start building an entire life elsewhere and when their lives are back at risk, they choose to stay. Do you know what happens to those people?”
I’m afraid to ask. “What?”
“They get killed. Along with everyone close to them.” God. “Do you really want to see your friends die because of you? What about your lover? The cartel would not spare him either. I’ve been in this business long enough to see things that would send most people into psychosis. Trust me, Elizabeth, you don’t want your boyfriend in the hands of the cartel. They will–”
“I get it,” I whisper, closing my eyes and wishing I could hang up too so I wouldn’t have to listen to him anymore, but Iknow he’s telling the truth. What I witnessed doesn’t cover half the horror those monsters put people through. The things I’ve heard and read about the Víboras Gemelas are enough to send a chill down my back and the thought of Ghost experiencing any of that for the sin of caring…
No, I can’t bear to think about it.
“Elizabeth, I need you to listen to me carefully,” Henry says into my ear. “I have no choice but to move you. I can’t get to you if you’re in the casino. I’ll send you a secure address and I want you to meet me there tonight. Don’t tell anyone about this, or both our lives will be in danger.”
I drop to the toilet seat as my legs turn to jelly at the thought of leaving Ghost. Still, I can’t tell him about this knowing he’ll do his best to stop me. No, he’d never let me leave. Not even if staying meant putting his life in danger. He promised me that the Sinners would deal with the cartel but that would mean shedding blood, lives lost and for what? Me? I don’t deserve that kind of sacrifice.
“Send me the address,” I say, a slight tremor in my voice.
“Don’t tell Ghost about this.”
“I won’t,” I whisper, my heart breaking so loud I’m surprised he doesn’t hear it through the speaker. “I’ll see you there.”
“Make sure to leave everything you own in case they try to track you. Come as you are. No phone. No personal identity. You’ll get a new one.”
The call drops seconds before my phone vibrates with a message with instructions to delete it once I’ve memorized the address. I do as instructed, then drop my face to my hands, fighting back the tears that threaten to fall.
I love him.
Ghost.
There is no question about it. Slowly, over the last couple of months of watching the man from a distance, I fell in love with him. And then he touched me, promised to protect me. My white knight, who would happily toss himself in the line of fire to protect me. Isn’t that what I’ve been praying for my entire life. And now that he’s here, I can’t keep him. Not when it means risking his life.
I run my hands over my face and brush them over my wet hair, letting the tears fall. I only have a few hours left with the man and I’ll be damned if I spend them crying and feeling sorry for myself. Tonight was my night off and I had plans of feeding and then seducing Ghost into making love with me all night.
No, I’m not spending my last night with Ghost wallowing, so I push up and move to get ready. Everything will go as planned. I’ll get ready and when Ghost shows up, I’ll make our last night memorable for both of us. It’s going to ruin everything when I betray his trust, but it’s a necessary evil.
An hour later when Ghost walks in, I’ve composed myself as best as I can and hope the heartbreak in my eyes is almost concealed. Almost. Christ, I hope it’ll be enough to pass his radar, but he seems distracted when he walks in, sniffing audibly at the air.
“Do I smell meatloaf?” he hums, stripping off his jacket to reveal a string of muscles hidden underneath.
