Page 12 of My Ghost

But my gut says otherwise.

Then, without permission, my thoughts drift to her.

Erin.

She’s in that building.

I don’t want to think about it.I don’t want to link her to any of this, but ever sincethatnight, she has never been far from my thoughts.And now that she is back in the fringe of my life, she seems to be all I can think about.Because that night she got under my skin.But now that I am seeing her again, with every smile, every word, every infuriating taunt she throws my way, she embeds herself deeper.Like a fucking thorn in my side.

She shouldn’t matter, but she does.

God help me, she does.

And that terrifies me more than any signal breach.She’s under my protection, whether she knows it or not, and if this Ghost or anyone else is getting that close to my system, it means she’s not safe and that’s fucking unacceptable.

I scrub a hand down my face, irritation flaring hot in my chest.Maybe it’s time I moved her into my building, into a space I control entirely.The Bastion has top-tier security, encrypted entry, biometric locks and a security surveillance team that could rival any army.

But who am I fooling?It wouldn’t solely be about keeping her safe.

It would be about keeping her close, and that is not a fucking option.

Chapter Eight

Erin

On Monday I am back at the clinic.The news of the dogfighting circle being dismantled and the abusers getting arrested had made the headlines this weekend and Mira sends me an inquisitive glance when she sees me this morning.I give her one of my blinding smiles and she returns it with one of her own.I’m not sure if she suspects I was behind the bust, but if she does, she doesn’t ask me.I’m happy to have distraction at work, taking care of the animals and reassuring their owners.

Weeks go by peacefully and I am enjoying the quiet life with its predictability.The only excitements are the Sunday brunches at Lily and Damiano’s mansion.If I’m honest, I look forward to them because I can see Matteo.He has shown up every week until now and our brunches have turned into a strange dance.I laugh, I smile, I tease him.He scowls and shoots me down.But it only makes me more determined to provoke him to see how far I can push him.His presence is like an electric current traveling over my skin.Every glance between us feels as if there is something barely contained under the surface waiting to ignite.I keep telling myself it is my imagination getting the better of me, but my eyes keep circling to him.And every time my heart does a weird leap in my chest and my breath becomes shallow.It must be because he’s a sight for sore eyes.Of course he is.His tall, powerful body is drool-worthy, his face looks like it was chiseled by Michelangelo himself, the angular jaw and high cheekbones softened by full lips that look good enough to nibble on.But what pulls me in the most is the intensity of his gaze when he focuses it on me.Every time our gazes collide, I feel like the ground is shifting under my feet.

But the problem is that week after week, I’m getting more restless.I need the tension to break.I want to stop wondering if he is thinking aboutthatnight the way I am.But I am also too much of a coward to ask him.So our dance goes on and my frustration grows with every encounter.

This Sunday, I am my usual self, laughing with Lily, Chiara and Lucas, sharing stories about ridiculous pet owners at the clinic and enjoying the warmth of our little circle.Damiano is his silent self, but sometimes his lips twitch or he brushes a tender kiss over Lily’s temple and I melt at the love I feel between them.

Matteo is there too, leaning back in his chair, silent and brooding like always.

“I never want to set foot into that wretched clinic ever again,” Lucas says with a shudder when I finish recounting my last anecdote.

“Why?”I turn toward him with my brows raised, trying not to laugh out of anticipation when I catch Lily snickering from the corner of my eye.

“I’ll tell you, but you must swear not to tell anyone.”

Now I can’t suppress a laugh.This is definitely going to be good.“I won’t, I promise.Now, do tell what happened there that got you so traumatized.”

He inhales dramatically and starts with a mock-somber voice.“One day I was there to stay with Lily, and there was a lady coming in with her pet chicken.”

We all snort loudly and he goes on.“At some point, that damn beast escaped outside into the gardens, and guess who had to run after it?”

I start to giggle.

“Me!”Lucas wails dramatically, and we all topple over from laughter.

I am now laughing so hard I have to wipe away my tears.“So, did you catch it?”I ask him between fits of wheezing laughter.Lucas shakes his head with a wicked gleam in his eyes.

“I was ready to shoot it but it returned inside after a while.”

“So, basically you were outwitted by a chicken?”I hoot, leaning across the table.“Should I give you an appointment at the clinic to have someone check your pride for injuries?”

Everyone erupts in laughter again, even Lucas, who throws up his hands in mock defeat.