Page 25 of Ghost Among Lies

I didn't even have to think about it. "I can live with the secret if it keeps Hayes safe. I refuse to be the reason he does something he might regret."

"I told you back then I would always keep your secret, but I want you to consider one thing. Would you be okay with having someone in your life who betrayed you, or would you rather know the truth so you could decide how to proceed?"

That was a good question. It was a matter of the lesser of two evils. Which was worse though?

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

HAYES

"Who are you?"

The accusatory tone scared the shit out of me and had me dropping the dumbbell on the mat before I spun around to find a teenage girl staring at me. Her black hair was tied back in a braid with a few pieces sticking out randomly. She stared me down with her hazel eyes, waiting for me to answer.

"Ummmm, I'm Hayes. And who are you?"

The girl didn't answer. Instead, she continued her interrogation like it was her job. "Well, Hayes. Why are you here?"

I looked around the small gym. "In this room specifically or here in general?" I pointed down to where I stood.

The girl––who I assumed was Krista, now that I had time to think about it––rolled her eyes. I didn't know much about teenage girls, but based on what I was seeing, they were sassy.

"Here at the compound." There was a silent “duh” tacked on to that. I was sure of it. "Obviously, you're in the gym to work out." She crossed her arms over her body and popped a hip. A move I was sure she imitated from an adult. That or the female genes came programmed with that particular move.

"Shouldn't you be in school?" I wanted to move the conversation away from me, and the best way to do that was deflection. Besides, it was the middle of the day, during the week, and not summertime, so really this girl should be in school. It wasn't a far-fetched question for me to ask.

"I attend online school, and I'm currently between classes. I live here, so what's your excuse?"

I cleared my throat. I didn't think admitting that I was kidnapped was the best route to take. I wasn't sure how much this girl knew about what Sloane and her team did, so I wasn't about to be the one outing them.

"I'm staying with Sloane for the time being." There, that was a safe answer.

"Why?"

What the hell was with the third degree? Was this what it was like to have a child? I didn't remember being this obnoxious, but then again, my parents would've had to give a shit about me or even be around for me to ask them questions.

In case I didn't make it clear yet, they weren't.

"Because she asked me to?"

I phrased that like a question, and damn if she didn't call me out on it.

"You don't sound so sure about that."

"I'm sorry. I don't think you told me your name."

"I'm not supposed to tell strange men my name, and you, sir, are strange."

Wow. Okay. I mean point taken, but geesh. That was a bit harsh.

"You're right. Whoever taught you that lesson was smart."

A sadness like I never wanted to see again clouded her eyes. "My mom was the one to tell me that."

Well, fuck. If this was in fact Krista, then from what Sloane had said, the girl had no family.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you."

The girl sniffled, and it looked like she was about to say something else but was cut off when another one of Sloane's teammates walked in––Lilith I believe.