“Well, you and I have a lot in common, it appears, Bull. You see, I fell in love with one of my clients who I was supposed to be protecting. Though the way I was protecting her would not have gone down well with our bosses. Considering the case she was involved in was falling over, and it looked like her ex-partner she was giving evidence against was going to walk free. He’s not a good man and is dangerous in political circles.”
As I watch Cassie, a small shiver runs through her, and I can tell after all this time there is still a trigger there for what she has been through.
Ghost takes a breath and continues. “We had been together in private for a while, and around the time everything was turning to shit, Cassie found out she was pregnant with Bessy. I didn’t waste any time. I found this place and we ran. There was no way I was risking Cassie’s life or our unborn child by telling anyone what was going on. So, you know technology is my thing. I set up an intricate network so I could still work as your handler, but no one can track where I’m working from.”
“You should have told me, and I could have helped you.” Kurt’s voice is one full of genuine care.
“I know, man, but you know me, I work alone. Plus, I didn’t want to put you in any more danger than you were already in on a daily basis. So instead, I brought Cassie here.” Holding his hands out in front of him, he moves them slowly to the side. “To her new safehouse with me.”
“Damn, no safehouse I’ve ever lived in looks like this,” I say, placing my hands on my hips and pretending to scowl at Kurt.
Cassie giggles. “Don’t worry, it wasn’t always like this. Wait until you see the cabin later.”
“What, you mean to tell me it’s not the five-star accommodation your husband promised me?” Kurt, obviously relaxing a little now, joins in on the joke.
“Always so fucking fussy, aren’t you, Bull.” Ghost throws his napkin across the table at us.
Then a small pause in the conversation gives me a space to ask the one question on my mind since Ghost started his story. “I don’t know if you can answer this but, Cassie, are you still in danger or is it just a choice to be living here now, as gorgeous as it is?” My voice is a little shaky, as I’m not sure I want to know the answer.
Looking to Ghost for guidance, he gives her a gentle nod and smile. “I love my life here and wouldn’t live anywhere else, even if I had a choice, but sadly I don’t. He’s still out there and as powerful as ever. So, until something changes, I’m not risking my kids by leaving here unless we really have to.”
“And there is no way I’m risking any of you,” Ghost adds, “which is why I went off grid and left the agency. Instead, I spend my time helping people like this guy who can’t seem to do their job without me.” The grin on his face tells me he is waiting for Kurt to bite.
“Hey, I don’t do this work anymore,” Kurt defends himself.
“Yet here we are.” Ghost starts laughing.
“Asshole,” Kurt throws back at him.
“You’ve missed me, I can tell.”
“Like I miss my yearly dental visit.”
Watching the two of them reminds me of Kurt and Seth together. My mind drifts to everyone we’ve left behind and how their hearts will be aching just like ours.
With every cell in my body, I hope that one day we will be able to go back home and live the life we left behind.
As peaceful as it seems here, I want my normal crazy life.
And for the first time, the life I’m longing for is not the one I was ripped from four years ago. Instead, I want my life in North Carolina with Kurt and the family he brings with him.
Who would have thought that I would become a beach bum, loving the sound of the ocean?
The girl who can’t swim and hated sand.
Love has a habit of changing things.
KURT
The moment I saw Ghost with Cassie, I could feel the love between them, but I had no idea the story behind all this.
No wonder he knew how desperately I needed to get Asha out of there and somewhere I knew she was safe while I sort out this mess.
Standing on the deck taking a moment to get my head clear, I hear the sliding door open and close behind me, the noise of the girls laughing with Bessy wafting out and disappearing as quickly as I first hear it. The silence and the sound of the forest surrounds me once more.
He doesn’t say a word, just leans his arms on the railing of the deck beside me.
It’s like unspoken words are being exchanged.
Sorry I didn’t tell you.
I trust you, but I couldn’t risk it.
All the things I’ve been feeling since he told me.
And to be honest, I would have done exactly the same thing.
“Stop it. You did what I would have done too.” As I turn to look at him, his shoulders relax a little.
“Thanks, buddy, I appreciate it.”
Both of us go back to taking in the view and breathing in the crisp mountain air. It may be summer, but it still has that edge of coolness being up this high.
“You ready to get to work?” Ghost’s words have me now standing up straighter and the tension starting to fill my body again. “Time for you to see the inner sanctum, the room that keeps your sorry ass out of trouble.” He lays his hand on my shoulder and gives it a quick squeeze, before we move inside and walk past the girls who both give us
