Page 47 of The Ghost

“Why did you do it?” I responded, sounding more plaintive than I had hoped.

“You’ve been out in the world for some time now,” he said. “Haven’t you seen what’s wrong?”

“I see terrorists and criminals trying to attack people,” I asserted. “I see innocent families being targeted by you and your organization.”

“Innocent families?” he scoffed. “Those are sheep. We’re talking about system-wide change. We’re stuck in an aging democracy that is resistant to everything that needs to happen.”

I worked one finger loose, continuing to see-saw my wrists while I kept him talking. “And what needs to happen?”

“We need to release the power of the individual countries and knock the population down so that we can rebuild peacefully,” he decreed, sounding more and more like a comic book villain the longer he spoke.

“And why did you bring us into it?” I demanded, speaking for myself, Lukas, and Z all at once.

“You were supposed to be the vehicle for my takeover,” Mr. Ashcroft explained. “But unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way.”

“Maybe because you trained us to be critical thinkers?” I suggested.

“I only did that to unmoor you from the party line. I wanted you to grasp the concept of a new dawn so that you wouldn’t be stuck in the past.” He recited his crazy philosophy for me, giving me a glimpse into his real personality.

I hadn’t known it at the time, but he must have been insane from the very start. It was no mistake that he targeted lost children, orphans, and juvenile delinquents for his program. He probably thought he could mold us to do whatever he wanted. I could sense a heavy disappointment in his manner, something that made me proud of who I had become.

“You gave me too much autonomy,” I said, sticking my chin out. “I never liked killing, and I thought you approved of that.”

“Killing for its own sake is destructive,” Mr. Ashcroft expounded, pacing in front of the window, “but killing in the name of humanity is necessary.”

“Agree to disagree,” I quipped, freeing another finger from its bonds.

I was close to being able to rip the tape off. If I could just distract him for a moment longer, I could break free. And then what? Was I really going to attack the man who had taken me in when no one else wanted me? Despite everything he did, I still felt a certain amount of loyalty.

But then another player entered the ring, and all bets were off. Ryan Abrams, another person who supposedly cared for me, showed his face. He walked right by my chair, thankfully missing the fact that I was shedding my bonds. He took up a spot right next to Mr. Ashcroft, indicating that they were on the same team.

“I’d like you to meet Ryan,” Mr. Ashcroft said.

“We’ve met,” I snapped.

“Not officially,” Mr. Ashcroft corrected me. “You see, while you thought you were engaging in a personal relationship, Ryan was on the clock.”

I turned my gaze to my former lover, enraged at the mere suggestion of being a target. “Is that true?”

“It is,” he said with a grin. “Not that I didn’t enjoy it, but I have to admit, you’re a little high maintenance for me.”

I shrugged my shoulders, tearing at the tape, ripping my entire right hand free. But in order to capitalize on my newfound freedom, I held back. The timing had to be exactly right. I didn’t see anyone else in the room, but I knew Ryan was a formidable opponent. Mr. Ashcroft was getting older, but he was still in good shape. I had to work the element of surprise into my attack or risk getting taken down by the pair of them.

So I clasped my fingers and pretended to be stuck. “I’m going to kill you,” I swore.

“Fat chance,” he declared. “I’ve been studying you for years. I know every move you’ll make.”

“You think so?” I sneered, itching to launch myself out of my seat and wrap my hands around his throat.

Instead, I focused on weapons that would be available to me when I finally made my move. The chair was an option. I could visualize bringing it down on Ryan’s head, watching him crumple to the floor before throwing Mr. Ashcroft into the wall.

I thought I saw a bulge on Ryan’s right thigh, possibly a concealed gun. If I could reach it, then I would have the upper hand. So then I could use the chair to brain my former lover, reach for the pistol, and use it to take them both out.

Having settled on a plan of action, the only question remaining was when. I decided to let them talk. They might even reveal some secrets that I could use when I reconnected with Theo. It was a well-known tactic to pretend to be helpless while the enemy spilled their guts. I was sitting on a gold mine of information—if only I could make them believe they were secure.

“Why don’t you tell me how you did it?” I asked sweetly.

“Why not?” Ryan said with a shrug. “You have to know that we’re going to kill you as soon as we get the key.”