The car started to descend, and I searched the floor, making sure none of his fingers were rolling around. If I found one, I’d have to put it in my pocket and take it back up there. Maybe they could reattach it. His hands were just too nice for any part of them to be missing.
Relieved to see it was just me in here, I exhaled and dropped against the wall. Another loud ding had me straightening as the car slid to a stop on one of the lower floors. Lungs frozen, I stared as the doors opened, bracing myself for an angry man to charge inside.
But it was just some woman and her chihuahua with a pink collar.
She gave me the side-eye like I wasn’t supposed to be there, which was fair. I tried to smile, but it probably looked more like I was suffering from constipation.
We rode in awkward silence the entire way down except for when I shifted and the chihuahua growled like it was going to eat me for dinner. I made sure to stay motionless until the doors opened in the lobby and the woman exited first.
The second I stepped out of the car into the well-lit lobbywith floors so polished I could see my reflection, all the hair on the back of my neck rose.
“Garrett Redding.”
I nearly peed my pants at the threat in his tone and the shock that he was waiting. How the hell had he made it down all those stairs? And also, how dare he just announce my full name like that for the entire world to hear?
I took off running, shoes squeaking like wet balloons fighting with the floor as my knee threatened to give out.
And then it did. I crashed toward the floor, pain screaming through my wrist when I caught myself with my hand. Ignoring the searing discomfort, I shoved up and bolted through the door that a man with a briefcase had just pushed open.
“Thank you!” I called on the way past and dashed down the street.
I ran a block and then turned the corner, finally stopping to glance back.
Part of me expected to see him standing there scowling, and my stomach dropped when no one was there.
“What was he supposed to do, run through the streets practically naked?” I muttered and turned in the direction of the long walk home.
CHAPTER
SIXTEEN
Ghost
What we just witnessed was top-tier audacity. Running away from someone who took a bullet for you? It was givingLooney Tunes.
I mean, I’d ask him what he was thinking, but I wouldn’t want to embarrass him.
I could have just let him go. I had his address now. But that would make me a quitter, and I’d rather make it awkward. After taking a few shortcuts only ghosts like me knew about, I settled in and waited for him to appear.
It took longer than I expected, so long that I began to question my talent for stalking. When he finally came into view, I was mad all over again. Consider me heroic for not causing a scene by stomping out there and tossing his bony butt over my shoulder.
Being the pillar of control that I am, I waited and snatched him off the street between buildings. The space was too narrow to be considered an alley but wide enough to lurk and pin him against the brick.
“Why are you limping?” I demanded. If he wantedcoddled, he shouldn’t have had me out there running him down in my bestie’s drawers. If I tried to give these sweats back to Kieran now, he’d probably set them on fire… with me still wearing them.
“G-Ghost,” he panted, the fear in his eyes dimming when he realized it was me.
It would be an ego boost if not for the fact that I needed to report a crime. “Try again.”
His nose crinkled. “What?”
Oh, so he was on a crime spree, was he?
He must have seen the warning in my eyes because he said, “I’m tired.”
?Forgetting my name.
?Trying to look cute to get out of it.
