Ghost's Treasure (18 page)

The other man crumpled and didn't move.

"Tango down."

No sooner had he whispered the words than a line of fire burned down his arm. He instinctively lurched sideways away from the bark of a gun. Losing his precarious balance, he toppled to the side, grabbed onto the top layer of bricks, and held on as his legs swayed over the edge. Glancing down, he found nothing below him but a four story drop destined to snuff out his life or produce serious enough injuries to cripple him for life. He tightened his grip and prepared to pull himself up.

"Surely, you didn't think it would be that easy?" A man stepped forward, removed his ski mask, and stared down at Ghost with dark eyes. The face matched the few pictures he'd ever seen of Striker.

Shit.
He'd brought along an accomplice, someone to impersonate him while he snuck up the back stairs.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Always expect another.
He forgot the important lesson and paid the price for it.

Striker stepped purposely on his fingers, the only thing keeping him from falling. Gradually, the man shifted more weight, crushing Ghost's digits and loosening his hold.

Ignoring the pain, Ghost sneered up at the other man. "Nothing ever is." One hand slid off, helped with a hard shove by Striker. Ghost managed to bend his injured arm just enough to latch onto the hidden weapon in his waistband holster. Using the momentum of his sway, he yanked it free, aimed at Striker, and pulled the trigger.

The man listed, then somersaulted forward, over the edge, and landed with a resounding thump down below.

Gritting his teeth, Ghost pulled himself back on top of the roof, caught his breath, and stared down at the unmoving body. "It never pays to boast."

* * * *

Ryan slapped Ghost on the back. "Great job. Although it might have been nice if you told me you were locked up in a firefight on the roof. I could've assisted."

Ghost shook his head. "Not your fight."

"Still." Ryan gestured to the bloody trail seen through a rip in Ghost's black shirt. "You might want to stop by the ER on your way home. Looks like you've sprung a leak."

"We'll see."

"Stubborn to the core." He nodded at a couple of coworkers from the FBI's cleanup team.

The small group had arrived almost immediately, jumped to the task, and collected the bodies. Another agent cornered Ghost and Ryan, treating them to a two hour question and answer session, which made the Spanish Inquisition look like a beach party.

Ghost checked his bag once more, then zipped the thick material closed.

As much as he argued with himself, he couldn't help inquiring. "Josie okay?"

Ryan grinned. "As nervous as a long tailed cat in a room of rocking chairs. Lark said she's been pacing all night, worried sick."

"She needs a treadmill."

"Tell that to Lark. She said you'd better stop by and prove you're alive to Josie, in person."

Ghost arched an eyebrow.

"I'd do it if I were you. Lark will hunt you down and drag you back by your ear if she has to."

Ghost sighed and checked his watch. Five am.

"Time doesn't matter when you're already awake." Ryan pulled a slip of paper from his pocket. "Lark's address. I'll call her and tell her you're coming. After you stop by the local ER and get patched up."

"Hell's bells, don't tell her that. Josie will think the worst."

Ryan grinned mischievously, started to leave, then paused. "Oh, almost forgot. We picked up Shirley Blarney tonight. She's not talking, but that's no surprise. With this kill, the case should be complete and, according to the informant, there's no one else on the payroll for this one. Those that left messages on Josie's phone, one was legit. He's been turned away. The other we picked up a couple days ago."

Ghost leveled his gaze on Ryan.

"You're free, buddy."

With a quick nod, Ghost spun on his heel and left. If he was truly free and done with this case, why didn't he feel excited or relieved? Instead, his shoulders weighed down like he had lost his best friend.

In all honesty he should just walk away, but his conscience and something else wouldn't let him. Instead, he climbed into his vehicle and drove to the local emergency room. Luckily, the waiting room proved empty, allowing him quick service and few questions after he flashed his high security government card. The whole time, he debated what to do. His head said to walk away, his gut said another. In the end, his gut won out because of a couple of important facts. He needed to see Josie again. Assure her he still lived. Maybe then he could return to his normal life and allow Josie to get back to hers. Apart and final.

A deep ache in the vicinity of his heart followed those thoughts.
If only things could be different.

He sighed. If only pigs could fly too.

Chapter 30

Lark watched the young blonde woman nearly wear a hole in the hardwood floors from her constant pacing almost since she'd arrived. Worry creased her face into tight lines as she nearly crackled with nervous energy. She declined anything but the lightest supper and a bottle of water. As much as she probably needed sleep, Lark knew Josie wouldn't be able to do more than lie down and think. Rest wouldn't come until Ghost returned. Her heart went out to the woman who in a few short days grew attached to the man with the soulless eyes. She'd do the same if Bryce landed in the same position as Ghost, going one-on-one with a professional assassin in a deadly game of cat and mouse.

Ryan's text came at a good time, or she might have to have her floors sanded and re-stained from all the footsteps trailing over the same area tonight.

"Josie?"

Her houseguest swung around.

"Ryan just called. It's over."

"Ghost?"

"Is perfectly fine."

Josie blinked for a moment like the words had to sink in. Then a smile bright enough to outshine the sun emerged. "Thank goodness."

"What's this I heard about Ghost?" Bryce entered the room from the far hallway, a pistol in hand.

"Ghost nailed the other assassin. It's finally over."

Relief etched Josie's face as she plopped down on the couch, rubbing at her tired eyes. "I've never been so worried in my whole life."

Bryce studied the young blonde for a long moment before sharing a look with Lark. She shrugged but gave a slight nod. Seems her fiancé picked up on the same clues she had earlier. Their little houseguest had definite feelings for her bodyguard. Lark sure hoped so.

"When can I see him?" Josie gazed at her with such hope and longing, she nearly took Lark's breath away.

Lark grinned. "As soon as he gets here. Ryan promised Ghost would drop by even if he had to hog-tie him and deliver him like a Christmas turkey."

Bryce snorted. "As if. Your brother is just begging to get his ass kicked."

Josie giggled. "Now that would be something I'd like to see."

"Me, too," Lark admitted with a chuckle. "So I guess we wait and see who rings the doorbell."

They didn't have long to wait. Bryce gestured the women toward the side hall, away from the door as he checked the peephole. With a quick nod, he unlatched the chain and unlocked the door before pulling it open. "Come on in."

No sooner had Ghost stepped into the entryway and Bryce shut the door, than a streak of blonde flew by Lark.

"Ghost."

Josie ran to her former bodyguard and threw herself in his arms, wrapping herself tightly around him as if he were a long lost lover just returned from a decade long war. While not totally surprising considering their talk earlier, the woman's reaction stunned Lark for only a second before she smiled knowingly.

"You're hurt?" Josie lifted a shirt sleeve to reveal a strip of white gauze. Her face furrowed in worry.

"Just a scratch."

Instead of putting Josie away from him, like Lark expected him to do, Ghost held Josie just as tight, cupping her bottom with one hand when she wrapped her legs around him as well, molding to his person. For long moments, they stood twined around one another, whispering to each other, oblivious to Lark and Bryce.

Josie leaned back enough to rub her nose against his and grinned brightly. Ghost smiled back, a fleeting expression, all the more special for its rarity.

Bryce nudged Lark and tilted his head toward the couple. "Did you see what I saw?"

Lark nodded and whispered back, "He smiled. I think Josie's just what he needs."

They watched the happy reunion until Ghost almost reluctantly lowered Josie back to her feet. For the first time, his gaze found Lark. "Thank you for watching over her."

He glanced over at Bryce. "I owe you."

Bryce shook his head. "No. We still owe you for taking out those hired assassins before they could wipe out Lark's team."

The men shared a long look before Josie lifted Ghost's arm, her attention roaming his entire body. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"I'm fine." He looked down at her. "I need to get going. Do you want me to drop you off somewhere?"

Josie fell silent, then nodded. "Please?" She turned back to Lark. "Thank you for everything. I need to get out of your hair, though." Impulsively, Josie hurried over to Lark and gave her a hug, then repeated the action with Bryce. "Thank you. You'll keep in touch, right?"

Lark grinned and nodded. The petite blonde reminded her of a Jack Russell terrier bouncing with energy. After pacing the floor all night, she would have thought the librarian would be exhausted. Apparently not.

She didn't miss the way Ghost's eyes kept traveling back to Josie. The spark in his normally lifeless eyes told her Josie held the key to reclaiming his very soul. A sure sign of something brewing between the two. If only they pursued the budding romance.

She sure hoped so. If anyone deserved a chance at happiness, Ghost, assassin and bodyguard extraordinaire, stood at the top of the list.

Chapter 31

"Where do you want to go? A friend's house maybe?" He offered up as they walked to his waiting SUV. Streaks of pink covered the sky as the sun barely tipped the horizon, announcing another night completed and dawn well on the way.

Josie shook her head. As much as she truly wanted to stay with him, her pride refused to ask. Everyone assured her the mess had finally come to a close, the jewels would go back to Ryan first thing this morning, and she no longer needed a bodyguard. She could return to her previously scheduled life. Only her shaken nerves disagreed.

Sticking her chin in the air, she pulled on her wavering courage. "My apartment, please."

He gazed at her thoughtfully, then broke off long enough to jump in the driver's seat. She gratefully opened the passenger's side door and climbed in, automatically shutting the door and buckling her seat belt.

"Are you sure?" He shoved the key in the ignition, then pinned her with a serious look.

She nodded. "I have to face it sometime. Delaying won't get things back in order."

He cranked the engine, put the vehicle in gear, and pulled out of the driveway. "Makes sense. Just remember the FBI makes lousy maids. There might be a trail or two through the place, but the rest is trashed. They did take the big stuff out, though."

"That's good to know. I only got a glimpse of what it looked like before. I'm sure once I see everything I'll have a full day's work."

She turned to study her bodyguard. Former bodyguard. For all intents and purposes, he appeared unscathed by the whole ordeal. Probably just another day on the job for him. Most likely, he felt relieved at finishing the assignment. Now he could go on about his way. Without her.

A lump formed in her throat. The thought of never seeing him again sent piercing pain through her heart as if someone shot fiery arrows into the center of her being. She'd become attached to him in their nearly two week ordeal. Maybe the fear of being alone drove her. Maybe the violent trauma caused her to misinterpret her feelings of thankfulness for interest and longing. One thing held true. She cared for the man. Big time.

Not to mention she hadn't attained her primary goal yet. He might have shown amusement with a couple of small smiles, but she hadn't heard him laugh, yet. Her stubborn nature refused to give up. She just needed to come up with a way to see him again.

Just ask him out on a date.
While good in theory, she didn't know how he'd react when he'd spent so much energy keeping her at arm's length. Goodness knew she couldn't read his normally expressionless face, and his eyes never gave anything away. He said she'd gotten under his skin. A definite step in the right direction, but she needed to find the next stepping stone and soon.

Twenty minutes later, they pulled into her parking lot, trudged up the stairs, and entered her apartment. Josie followed Ghost through the door, then stopped in complete astonishment.

Nothing could have prepared her for the chaotic state of her apartment. Josie stood transfixed for a long moment, staring at piles of rubble, resembling tornado debris scattered as far as her eyes could see.

"I can help you clean up," Ghost offered.

She shook her head. "Thank you, but no. You've done so much already, and I know you're exhausted." He'd been up all night long taking out a professional assassin. After several days of little sleep watching over her. She couldn't ask him to do anything else.

"I'm not at the end of my rope yet."

She searched his face and knew he spoke the truth. Yet she needed to deal with this part alone. "I need to take my time, work through this. There's nothing anyone else can do to hurry up the process." With an indebted smile, she returned to his side and hugged him tight.

His arms wrapped around her in return, accepting of the affection and returning the embrace. Her heart soared at the small action.

Leaning back, she sucked in a breath and lifted her chin. "If you really want to help me, come by tonight. By then I might need some help lugging the trash and heavy things down the stairs."

Ghost surveyed the room, then met her gaze. He pulled a pink cell phone from his pocket and handed it over. "New and upgraded." When she started to protest, he shook his head. "Compliments of the FBI."