Kaya lifts a shoulder. “I have my ways.”
“You always do,” I mutter, focusing on the road ahead of me. With a deep breath, I try to block out Kaya’s nagging, Cove’s scoffs, and the way that Raven’s looking at me through his thinly framed glasses. There’s something in his eyes that I can’t quite place, but currently, I don’t have the time or energy to focus on that, no matter how unnerving his intense gaze is.
“Hey, Arlo.” Kaya’s direct addressing breaks me out of the trance, and I briefly glance at her from the corner of my eye. Her brows narrow, lips thin into a line as she stares straight ahead. “Those people in the car in front of us are their men.’’
“How can you tell?” Cove quips, leaning forward, his head resting between the two front seats. A frown is on his face as he stares at the vehicle ahead, tilting his head to the side.
“Intuition.”
“That’s all?”
“It’s enough for me,” I shrug, then press on the gas pedal. Kaya gasps, clutching the seat. The trees on the side of the road flash by us in a blur, and Cove slumps back into his seat. The more I press on the gas, and the faster we ride, the more adrenaline pumps through my veins, an exhilarating feeling blooming inside me.
“Fuck!” Kaya yells, and judging by the tone of her voice, she knows exactly what I have planned. “Do you want to get us all killed?!”
“Stop being dramatic.”
Her next words are a string of very colorful curses, some in Russian, though it doesn’t take a genius to understand what she’s saying. Given her personality, she’s cursing me, my ancestors, and the next seven generations of the De Santis family.
Luckily, she was smart enough to put her seatbelt back on, because my goal was simple — smash into the side of one of the cars ahead. They either didn’t notice me speeding up like a maniac, or they didn’t think I’d be insane enough to actually hit them.
The collision causes all of us to sling forward, the airbags on the front seats activating immediately. Without missing a beat, I unbuckle my seat, pull out two guns that I always carry with me, and leave the car, the door remaining open.
One of the men exits the car, panting, and slumps to his knees. There’s a big cut on the side of his cheek, a direct cause of the broken window. Small pieces of glass are embedded into his flesh, his hands trembling as he tries to catch his breath.
I don’t let him.
Quickly, I knee him in the chin, and he stumbles backward, falling flat on his ass. A look of confusion flashes across his features when I step to stand between his legs, looking down at him. For a second, I can see my reflection in his eyes.
I have never looked this… dead. Mom used to say that my eyes are the most expressive part of my face and that she could always tell my true intentions through them. That’s the part that no one can easily hide. Yet, right now, they’re as dull as an old blade. There’s no life hidden within, and there won’t be any signs of it until I find Blair.
“Name,” I drawl out, voice steady.
“Cam Bynes.”
“Cam Bynes,” I repeat, the name triggering a memory. “Ah, I’ve heard of you, unfortunately. One of Simmons’ men, right? You also have a brother, Sam. Who would’ve thought that Kaya’s intuition would be proven correct?”
I mutter the last part in my chin, unable to stop a scoff that comes from me. Once again, she proves that she’s at the top of the game, and even her intuition isn’t to be trifled with. Thank fuck she’s an ally and not an enemy.
“Yes,” he stammers, and something clicks in his brain, because he goes pale. “You’re him.”
I quirk an amused brow. “Him, who?”
“The one Zoe has warned us about. The one they call the Ghost.”
“Oh, and what did you hear, exactly?”
He swallows thickly, trying to figure out an escape plan. The man who was beside him in the car is either passed out or dead, because he’s not moving. When Cam sees that there’s no way out, his eyes flick back to my face, and he releases a shuddering breath.
“Only stories,” he responds, voice cracking. “I didn’t think you were real.”
“Sadly, I am very much real, and I’m about to become your biggest nightmare.”
“No—’’
I cut him off because his begging isn’t something I’m interested in hearing right now. There’s no time for me to waste, and I need to finish up here quickly and get to Blair.
“Give me your phone.’’
