Resurrected King - Kaye Blue Page 0,22

the way his hands were the perfect combination of smooth and rough.

Those were the thoughts that sent me to sleep.

The arid unmistakable smell of smoke was what woke me up.

Mikhail

“Where the fuck are you, Ghost?”

At Riker’s snapped question, I looked over, blinked.

“Sorry,” I said, not denying that I was distracted.

“Is something troubling you, Ghost?” Etienne asked.

He had flown back in this morning, and I had no clue how long he’d be around. But him asking that question was proof that I was way off my game.

“I’m fine,” I said, hoping I sounded convincing.

“Good. Because I need all eyes on the Federovs.”

“I thought that was handled?” Riker said.

“It was, and I want to make sure it stays that way.”

“You’re expecting trouble?” I asked.

“I hope the deal stands, but with the protection rackets being back up for sale and a leadership vacuum in the city, things could get messy.”

“I’ll keep an eye on it,” I said.

“So will I,” Riker added.

“And how is Shay progressing with the books?” Etienne asked.

“She’s doing fine, making good headway,” I said.

Riker just scowled.

“Good. I’ll speak to her, but I have several hundred million dollars I need cleaned, so when she’s finished with the books, she has another big task ahead. Making sure she’s protected and comfortable is my top priority.”

I glanced at Riker, who looked like he was going to break his teeth his jaw was so tightly clenched.

But he eventually nodded and Etienne did the same.

“Sasha will be back in a few weeks?” Etienne asked.

“Maybe. He might extend the trip, but I’m taking care of things at the restaurant,” I said.

“Good. So, it seems like everything is in order here,” Etienne said, looking pleased, or as pleased as he could be.

“Yeah,” I said.

“Good. Riker, I left Shay with several guards. See that she makes it back to my building when she’s done for the day.”

“If she’s with your guards, why can’t they take her?”

“Call me when she’s been safely delivered,” Etienne said by way of response.

Riker scowled but then turned and stalked off without another word.

“I don’t get it. Why is he such an asshole about her?” I asked after Riker left.

“He’s an asshole about everyone,” Etienne said.

“Yeah.” I couldn’t argue that point. “But it’s too much, and she shouldn’t have to deal with his crap.”

“Shay can take care of herself,” Etienne said. “And I’m not here to discuss that.”

I looked at him, and though his expression gave nothing away, I couldn’t shake the sense that something serious was happening.

“Trouble?”

“Hopefully not, but I didn’t want you to be caught by surprise.”

“What?” I asked.

“The Commander is in the city.”

Of all the things I would have expected him to say, that was the last one.

I hadn’t heard that name, hadn’t uttered it in a decade, but it was never far from my thoughts.

Because the Commander was the reason I was here, and he was responsible for this half-life I’d been living.

“Do you know why?” I asked, keeping all emotion out of my voice.

“No, but I’ll figure it out.

“Does he know about me?”

“As far as he knows, you died a decade ago. I intend to keep it that way.”

I nodded, though I felt distant, my mind both calm and racing.

“Ghost, I—”

The low vibration of my cell phone cut Etienne off.

I reached into my pocket and looked at the screen, though I knew who it was.

I’d only given the number to one person.

But I wouldn’t answer, not in front of Etienne, even though I knew the sound of her voice would ground me, again remind me that I was here, alive, when thoughts of the Commander threatened to do the opposite.

Still, now wasn’t the time.

I sent the call to voicemail then looked at Etienne.

“This can’t be a dis—”

The phone vibrated again, and once glance at Etienne told me he was getting pissed. “You need to handle that?” he asked, only the faintest lilt of anger in his voice.

One call might be a coincidence, but two back-to-back had me worried.

I answered without pause.

“Adora?”

“I-I’m sorry to call, but can you come?”

Her voice was soft, watery with unshed tears, and my brain was on high alert.

“I’m on my way. What’s happened?”

I glanced back at Etienne who just shrugged, as much permission as I would get, not that I would wait for any.

“The bakery. It’s on fire.”

Twelve

Adora

“You sure you all right, sweetheart?” asked one of the firefighters who’d shown up at the bakery.

He had kind eyes and a face streaked with soot, but he seemed nonchalant about the chaos around him.

I tried to mirror