Page 1 of My Ghost

Prologue

Erin

“Please, pretty please, Erin?”Lily’s voice is pleading, and she knows that I can’t deny her anything.“It’s only for a few months until I can work again.You’re the only one I trust with my clinic.”

I sigh dramatically, although we both know she has already won.“I don’t know, Lily, it would mean I would have to move to Boston and find an apartment.Plus, I’d have to quit my job at the vet clinic here…” I trail off, weighing the possibilities.

“Come on, we both know your job as a vet tech is just a hobby.As for accommodation, I promise I will find you something.Or Dark will, since he owes me for not letting me work anymore.And, of course, the pay will be awesome.You can’t refuse this offer!”Her excitement starts to rub off on me and I exhale.My best friend really knows me well.And maybe being there, in the heart of the action, will help me with my other…project.

“Okay, I guess I can replace you until you can go back.How is the pregnancy going?Is it that bad that you need to stay in bed?”

Lily snorts noisily.“Of course not, I’m only three months pregnant and all is going great according to the doctors.But my overbearing husband is freaking out and wants me to stopexertingmyself, as he puts it.God forbid I cut my finger with a sheet of paper.I swear this man is driving me crazy, I will be certifiable when the nine months are over and—”

A sharp slapping sound resounds through the phone and she yelps.“Dark!You can’t do that, I’m on the phone!”A deep rumbling voice replies and I’m pretty sure I hear the wordsassandred.

“Geez, you two, get a room!”I try to sound disgusted but I can’t help laughing.Lily and her husband Damiano, or Dark, as she calls him, are the sweetest couple.He is the epitome of obsession when it comes to his wife, and although he rules Boston with an iron grip as the head of the local Mafia, she is the one ruling him.Well, until she fell pregnant apparently.I guess he drew the line there.

“So, where were we?”Lily asks when she’s on the phone again, sounding flustered.“Oh right, you need to come and replace me as the head of the vet clinic, because I can’t lift a finger here without someone getting bossy.It’s only temporary, and you can always work part-time if it suits you better.”

I laugh.“All right, I’ll do it, but I want all the cuddles with my future little niece or nephew of heart!”

Her delighted squeal coming out of the phone speaker makes my ear ring.“Deal!I am so excited to have you here!When could you come?”

I promise her to wrap up everything as fast as possible here and be down as soon as I can, then we hang up.I feel excited at the idea of this sudden change in my life.Running Lily’s vet clinic?Awesome!Moving to Boston and living the big city life for a few months?Why not!Seeinghimagain?I cringe.Not so great.

Second thoughts start to gnaw at me.

Shit, what have I gotten myself into?

Chapter One

Erin

I lean back in my outrageously expensive gaming chair with a long sigh and look at the ceiling.Another human trafficking ring is going down soon.All their IP logs, client names, details, crypto wallets and bank accounts, everything has been anonymouslyleakedto the FBI.

But first I paid myself, funneling a tiny amount of cryptocurrency to one of my shell wallets.Is it legal?Nope.Necessary?Absolutely.A girl’s gotta eat.I’ve also anonymously donated a major amount to recovery and support groups.It is only fair that the bad guys pay to repair the harm they cause.

I turn my focus back to my computer screens where lines of codes are blinking.

Time to clean up.

I get back to work, meticulously erasing my tracks until everything is squeaky clean.I never take chances.Because one misstep and my life could be over.

Shutting down another ring usually gives me satisfaction and I normally celebrate with a late night out drinking, dancing and flirting.But tonight I only feel exhausted.What good does it do?I bring one down, and two others take its place.It’s never-ending.

My mind goes back to the organization I still haven’t been able to bring down.Manticore.They do flesh trade, the worst kind.A few months back I thought I got them when Lily was abducted by Damiano’s rival Gian Mancini.I thought the Mancinis were behind Manticore, and that by killing Gian, Damiano had cut off the head of the beast.But I was mistaken, Manticore still exists and has built itself up again after Gian’s death.The network reaches further than I’d first suspected and it frustrates me that I haven’t been able to take it down.

I pause and look at my screens.Should I try again tonight?It would be unwise, since I’m moving to Boston tomorrow and still need to secure everything here until I come back in a few months.After weighing the pros and cons, I reject the idea.Too reckless.I resolutely unplug every device, discard the used burner phones, and stash my two laptops in my luggage.Then I call Lily to update her on my arrival.

“Hey, Lily!I wanted to let you know I’m on schedule and will be arriving tomorrow early afternoon.”

“Hey, Erin.”Her excited voice makes me smile.“You’re the best, I can’t wait to have you here!”

“Where should I go?Is there a hotel near your clinic?”

“Nonsense, I found you somewhere nice.But you know you’re welcome to stay with us in our house, of course.”

“Uh, and watch you and your husband make out in the kitchen?Ew, gross!Hard pass, thank you very much.”