man in charge of GHOST for his part in almost killing her friend.
“I’m sure it’ll happen again.” Pierce’s lips lifted in a smile. “Vincent has a way of bringing it out.”
Mona glanced to where the men from GHOST flanked the entrance to Pierce’s office. “He’s used to getting his way, isn’t he?”
“Absolutely he is.” Pierce backed toward his office. “Would you enjoy helping me burst his bubble?”
“How are you going to do that?” Mona took a tiny step his way, the offer making her more interested than she was a second ago.
“A brilliant woman told me I have the power in this situation.” His smile turned to something she’d never seen on him before.
The devilish grin Pierce wore transformed his whole face, taking the almost regal lines of his jaw and nose and making them seem almost boyish.
And it made her do something she normally didn’t. “She does sound smart.”
Confidence wasn’t anything she owned. It was something she tried to fake, learning from the new friends around her.
But right now she felt a little confident. A little sure she might be able to hold her own.
Mona started walking, following Pierce like a rat in Hamelin.
Hopefully she didn’t go over a cliff.
Vincent was standing at the window, staring down at the random plant in front of Pierce’s window. “Your plant needs water.”
“Thank you for the observation.” Pierce closed the door and strode straight to his desk, leaning against it instead of going to sit. “What can I do for you, Vincent?”
“You’re sounding more accommodating than I remember.” Vincent turned to face Pierce. “I’m happy you’re coming around.”
“I don’t know that I’d call my revelation coming around.” Pierce was back to the man she knew. The one who always appeared in control. Always seemed to recognize he was the most powerful man in any room.
The same one who usually made her want to throw up.
Vincent’s face carried a hint of amusement. “What would you call it then?”
“Understanding.” Pierce held Vincent’s gaze. “I’d been looking at our relationship entirely wrong.”
“Had you.” Vincent crossed his arms. “And how was that?”
“I assumed you were in the position of power.” Pierce’s smirk sent a shiver down her spine.
But fear was not what it carried. When he wasn’t terrifying her, Pierce was causing equally debilitating emotions to wreak havoc on her insides.
“I’m always in the position of power, Pierce.”
“This isn’t a friendly visit. You didn’t come to make sure we were all safe and happy.” Pierce’s tone was cool and controlled. “You need something from me. Otherwise you wouldn’t be here.”
The head of GHOST stared Pierce down, one eye squinting more than the other.
“What is it I can help you with, Vincent?”
Vincent stood a little straighter. “I’m not so sure I’d be celebrating a win just yet.” His hard eyes moved to Mona. “Could you open that door, Ms. Ayers?”
Mona glanced to Pierce.
He gave her a nod.
She slowly opened the door to Pierce’s office.
One of the men from GHOST stood just on the other side, a computer in his hands. He held it out to her.
She took it since there wasn’t really another option. “Thank you.” Mona turned to the men at her back.
“We discovered a listing an hour ago.” Vincent came over, carefully taking the laptop from her hands. He walked to Pierce’s desk and set it down, flipping it open and resting his fingers across the print pad in a specific succession.
“A listing?” Mona stepped in behind him, curiosity pulling her toward the laptop. “For what?”
“A hit man.”
“What?” She bumped Vincent, knocking a little more space to see the computer screen. “For who?”
The head of GHOST tapped the pad, pulling up a photo.
Her whole body went cold.
She started to tip back.
An arm banded around her waist, tight and solid, supporting her weight as her knees buckled.
“That’s unfortunate.” Pierce’s tone was dry as he stared at the screen over her head, the hard line of his body pinned tight to her back.
“A few weeks ago we heard some rumblings that suggested you were the actual target of all this.” Vincent eased his large frame into one of the chairs across from Pierce’s desk. “I was hoping to get things handled before it came to this, but you didn’t seem too interested in discussing it.”
Was he trying to put all this on Pierce?
Mona turned from the grainy photo of Pierce holding her hand as he led her from GHOST headquarters this morning. She sized up the smug man acting like he had no skin in this game.