Page 1 of Ghost Among Lies

CHAPTER ONE

SLOANE

Adulting sucks!

Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Paying bills? Horseshit.

Making tough decisions? Who wanted to do that?

Working full-time? Well, when you had a job like mine, it wasn't too bad actually.

But honestly, who decided that when you turned eighteen you magically became an adult and were capable of being responsible? Because let's be real, that logic was complete bullshit. The arbitrary number did nothing to qualify you as an adult. Take it from someone who was twenty-nine and ten times out of ten didn't agree I should be making adult decisions.

Right now, for example, I was withholding vital information from my team because I didn't know how the square peg fit into the round hole. Stupid analogy, I know, but my brain couldn't process how Mason could possibly know Hayes.

The smart thing would've been to reach out to Hawk and ask after I turned up zilch during my own search. But I didn't want them to know I was keeping a close eye on Mason after they assured me he was innocent. Our team worked too closely with Hawk, and I preferred to keep the peace.

With a dramatic sigh, I opened the message app and sent a group text to the team.

TEAM MEETING IN 5.

I didn't give a location. There was only one place we ever met up. The common area. I didn't give a reason. There was no need. If one of us called a team meeting, everyone would show no questions asked.

I made up my mind. Four heads were better than one, and maybe one of them would have a better idea about what was going on with Mason.

Carrying my tablet, I made my way to the common area. Nyx was already there, playing Russian roulette with her knife and fingers. She didn't bother to stop when she glanced up at me and raised her brow in a silent “what's going on?”

"Don't you ever worry you're going to stab your hand?"

"The day I stab my hand is the day I give up this life." She kept going despite her attention being split between the conversation and her movements. "You going to tell me why we're meeting?"

"Not until the others arrive. I prefer to only explain things once."

"So pragmatic. That's got to get boring after a while."

I ignored Nyx's jab. Not all of us could have her carefree attitude. Some of us had shit in our past that changed us fundamentally.

Anita was next to arrive with Beckett hot on her heels. That man looked at her like she hung the moon when he thought she wasn't looking, because Anita struggled with feelings. There was no denying she loved him back, but from what I gathered, it would take lots of time before she was completely comfortable expressing herself.

Fortunately, Beckett was willing to meet her where she was at. My friend got lucky when he walked into her life.

The last to arrive was Lilith. She slipped in silently and leaned against the wall with her arms folded across her chest. Lilith was naturally quiet and reserved. She only spoke when she had something important to say, but I knew she soaked up information like a sponge. Nothing got past her.

"New assignment?" Anita got straight to the point with one raised brow.

I was the team contact for Hawk. Every assignment they brought to our attention went through me first. Normally, when I called a team meeting, that was the reason.

"Not exactly."

"It either is or it isn't. There's no in between," Anita huffed.

Anita wasn't exactly known for her patience. Nor did she tolerate cryptic answers. She was a straight shooter all the way.

"Since I released Mason, I've been keeping tabs on him." I watched Anita closely for a reaction. My teammate didn't disappoint.

"Why?" she narrowed her eyes at me and snapped. "I thought you were convinced he was innocent."