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“Hey, William. Sorry I didn’t call. I got so caught up with Lydia and ended up crashing at her place. I think I’ll hang out here a few more days because she’s not doing too great. Missing her dad and stuff.” I give him the same lie I’ve fed him a million and one other times. Before, it was only so I could go out and party without him worrying or hook up with Bradley.
“Okay,” he sighs with relief. “I was just worried since I haven’t heard from you. I just wanted to make sure all is well and let you know your father’s trip has been extended for a few weeks.”
I roll my eyes. “No surprise there.”
“Carmen,” he starts, but I cut him off.
“It’s fine. Really. I don’t care, but thanks for letting me know. If I need anything, I’ll call.”
Nothing but silence sounds out for a few beats. “Okay.”
“I love you, William,” I add before he can hang up.
“Love you too, kid.”
I end the call and immediately type out a text to Lydia.
Sorry. Me and Cyrus made amends—if you catch my drift. All is well. We’re just tying up some loose ends in Pine Hills for his job. I’ll call soon. ??
Once it shows delivered, I power my phone back off and hand it to Cyrus. “Done.”
“You’re not going to call Lydia?”
I shake my head. “She knows when I’m lying. I sent her a text.”
He nods and grabs my phone and slips it into his pocket. “Okay.”
We move back into the kitchen so Cyrus can attend to the food he left cooking, but before we make it through the doorway, muffled ringing sounds out. Both of us pause, looking at each other. “You turned your phone off, right?” he asks.
I nod. I know for a fact I did, so what the fuck is ringing?
He pushes past me, going back to the pile of things from his duffel bag on the couch. He rummages through everything before finally pulling out another device. His, I’m assuming.
He glances to the screen, then to me, then back down and finally answers. “Ghost.”
I watch intently at his motions, trying to pick up what he’s thinking, but it’s a lost cause. He’s a fucking stone. All those walls I worked to break down last night are back in place and stronger than ever. I see no cracks, no faulting, nothing. He’s surrounded himself with coldness, yet again.
I cross my arms over my chest and continue to watch. Although he isn’t giving me much to go on, I know whatever Ghost is saying on the other end can’t be good. After all, that’s his boss. His boss who is probably pretty pissed that he took the life of a paying customer.
“It won’t happen again,” he finally lets out, but that’s all I get before more silence.
I start to fidget. The anticipation of not knowing what the fuck is going on has me on edge, but I can’t ask him. Not yet.
“There is no girl.”
My eyes snap to his. He’s already staring at me, watching me, the same way I’ve been watching him, and it makes me feel uneasy. What is he being told? Who’s the girl? Is it me? What the fuck is going on.
I shift my weight on my feet before finally moving closer to where he stands by the couch.
“No. Public setting of my choosing,” he demands, and with that, he hangs up.
“What’s going on?”
“Ghost wants to meet.” His tone is void of any emotion.
“Okay, and? That isn’t a bad thing, is it?” I want him to tell me no, that there is still hope everything can be worked out, but even my own hope is slim.
He shakes his head. “It’s a very bad thing. By killing Bernard, I was blacklisted. Which means every single man and woman who does what I do—everyone within Ghost’s private network of assassins—is now looking for me. It’s only a matter of time before they find me.”
