I’ve seen Asha writing before, and her fingers fly fluently across the keyboard and don’t stop for a long period. Sometimes a smile comes across her face as she writes something funny or a slight blush as the steamy words are being written. Looking at her now, she is completely different. Her shoulders are hunched forward, the keys only tapping out a few words at a time and then stopping before she adds a few more. It’s just not doing it for her.
My phone vibrates in my pocket, and knowing it has to be Ghost because no one else has this number, I pull it out quickly to see what the news is.
Ghost: Main house now.
Kurt: Both of us?
Ghost: Yes.
The short sharpness of the message means it’s important.
“Baby, Ghost needs us now,” I call, making my way across the yard to her. She must sense the urgency in my movement. Jumping to her feet and putting the laptop inside, she closes the door behind her and is at my side. Both of us hurry up the track but neither of us say a word.
Taking her hand in mine, I squeeze it for reassurance.
Looking up at me, she gives me the small smile that tells me that she needs my hand, but the truth is it’s not helping the nerves.
Entering the back part of the house, everything is quiet, and I know where Ghost will be.
“Let’s head to the bunker, before Bessy spots us,” I whisper in her ear. Then kissing her temple, I pull away.
Opening the door to the inner sanctum, Ghost is madly talking away on the phone, giving orders, so we quietly stand to the side. He is aware of us but continues on.
“Okay, the date is set for three days from now, so make sure everything is in place for tomorrow. We can’t afford for any screw-ups.” His voice is stern, and I know it’s go time. The call ending, he turns to address us.
“I’m sorry, but we need to move. Scott has been extracted and will be meeting you at the rendezvous. Davina has become frantic and told Scott if she can’t find you in the next two days, her life is over. The reason being the court case has been moved forward for an emergency hearing.”
Hearing Asha gasping next to me, I know she must be petrified. I pull her into my arms, her back against my chest so she can still see Ghost and hear everything, but she will know that I have her and she can lean on me.
Ghost continues on with the details. “The reason for the change is that one of the accused has cut a deal with the prosecution and rolled over on his boss, spilled his guts, and been put into protective custody in prison. But we all know that means nothing for his safety. So, they are trying to get the conviction signed, sealed, and delivered before this guy turns up dead in his cell.”
“But what about me? Does that mean I’m let off and don’t have to go now?” Asha asks with the slightest bit of hope that it’s all over.
“Sorry, sweetheart, I wish I could say yes.” Ghost looks to me, and I give him the nod to continue and tell her everything. No sugarcoating. “You’re still a witness that will help seal the case for them. They have you as security if something happens to this other guy.”
“What the fuck. I’m in more danger than him, I’ve got two different groups hunting me down. The bad guys and the good guys who are supposed to protect me from the bad guys, but hey, they want me dead too. How fucked up is this whole thing! It’s like I’m some pawn in a game of corruption.” Asha pulls from my arms and paces the room. I know I need to let her get it out. “Why do they care about this guy who is scum of the earth anyway and nobody seems to give a shit about me? Hello, has everyone forgotten I’m the innocent party here? I was just at work doing my job, I didn’t ask for this.”
“Okay, that’s enough!” I yell across the room, snapping her out of her rant. “I know how you feel, but let’s just clarify that I give a shit. Actually, I care a hell of a lot more than that. We need you to hold it together for a few more days so we can finish this.”
I walk slowly towards her now to where she stopped frozen when I yelled. My voice a little calmer now and softer, I say, “Then, hopefully, we get to walk away and get on with our lives.” Placing my hands on her shoulders, I try to give her my strength. “Is that what you want?”
“More than my next breath.” The tears well in her eyes.
“Okay, then help us make that happen.” As I wait for her to say something, instead she just nods her head at me and then leans her forehead into my chest. I kiss the top of her head. “I know, baby, just trust me to get you through this.” Wrapping her tightly in my arms, I give Ghost the look, so he knows to just continue.
“Here is the plan, and we need to make sure we stay calm and execute it perfectly.”
Pulling Asha back from burying herself in my chest, I turn her to see Ghost. “Understood,” I say, and he continues.
Pulling out a chair, I sit and draw Asha into my lap so she is never far from me. The computer screens on the wall all start coming to life again, and before long, the details of the next few days are laid out in front of us. I don’t know what I would have done without Ghost. I could never have pulled this kind of operation off on my own or been able to source
