Page 80 of My Ghost

“Go, Teo, I’ll stay here with her.I’ll call when she wakes.”

I look at him for a beat.Then we stand and he gives me a one-shoulder hug and watches me stride out of the clinic.

Once at The Bastion, I immediately ride the elevator down to the second sub-level.This level doesn’t officially exist.But this is the heart of the building.This is the center of hell.This level also connects to a web of tunnels we use for moving our…guests.Usually when we move them out, it’s toescortthem to a crematorium we own.

I step into the cell where Rourke is cuffed to a metal chair.

He raises his face to meet my eyes.His nose is not bleeding anymore, but it is swollen and the skin around his eyes has turned purplish.Dark satisfaction coils in my gut.

When I’m finished, even his own mother won’t be able to recognize him.

* * * *

Four hours later, I step out of my bloody clothes and let them fall to the floor.A cleaning team will take care of them, along with ourguest.Or what’s left of him.I walk to the shower head at the far wall and turn on the stream, letting the lukewarm water wash away most of the blood.I’ll go up to the penthouse to properly clean up and get dressed, then I’ll go back to the clinic.To her.

The door behind me creaks, and I turn my head to see who joined the party.Too late obviously.D is standing in the doorway, taking in the bloody heap lying on the floor.After I sawed the man’s arms and legs off, he wouldn’t stay on the chair anymore and slumped on the floor.Rude.

For hours I had questioned him, alternating between fire, tools and threats until I was sure there was nothing else I could get out of him.Nor any other limb I could cut off, for that matter, except for his tongue.So I cut that off too and watched him slowly choke on his blood until his heart gave out.People never realize how much of a challenge it is to keep the perfect balance between inciting the subject to talk and keeping them alive, all the while leaving enough body parts and skin to burn, shred or cut off to keep things interesting and motivating.I pride myself on being good at my job, undoubtedly the best on this side of the continent.

“Did he talk?”D asks in a low voice, unbothered by the gore littering the floor.

“Yep, got some big names we might want to check out.”

“And their leader?”

I turn off the shower and take a clean towel from the wall rack.“Nothing, says he doesn’t know.”

“You believe him?”

“Yeah.Said he was contacted by phone.Male voice, no noticeable accent and according to him, no one he has ever met in person.Then it was email exchanges and messages through burner phones.I’ll check everything out once I’m back at the office, but I don’t have high hopes there.”

“Fuck.”D’s frustrated growl reverberates on the concrete walls.

I don’t reply as I drop the dirty towel on the floor and sling a clean one around my waist and walk toward the door.We ride the elevator up in silence, D probably planning the next steps ahead, while my mind is circling back to the clinic.I feel refreshed and clearheaded again now that I have let the darkness come out to play, giving it an outlet.I still feel it inside me, but it is currently curled up like a satisfied cat, licking its claws and purring in contentment.Now my mind and body only crave one thing—to be near my ghost, smell her scent, feel her soft skin against mine, wrap her in my arms to never let go.

Chapter Forty-Three

Erin

I am floating.There is a steady beeping sound.I slowly open my eyes.And swiftly close them.The light is too bright.I feel dizzy.There is shuffling next to me and a large, warm hand wraps around mine and firm lips brush over my forehead.Matteo.His cologne flows into my lungs and soothes my soul like a summer rain.

“Mmmteo.”My voice comes out croaky and unrecognizable.

“Shh,amore, don’t talk.”His voice sounds hoarse.

I blink slowly, letting my eyes adjust to the light.The first thing I see are his eyes, dark brown and grounding.The relief I can see in them is raw and devastating.

Suddenly people are rushing in and Matteo moves to stand next to my head to allow them access.Nurses.I frown.Then I remember.Have I been unconscious?For almost an hour, the nurses bustle about, examining me from head to toe and a nurse holds out a glass with a straw.Before I can sip from it, Matteo rips it from her grip and holds it out to me.I sip obediently, the cool water clearing my head and alleviating the soreness in my throat.Then a doctor steps forward and casts a glance toward Matteo, who practically growls at him.But the doc is either used to dealing with grumpy Mafia enforcers, or he is very confident of his value.He doesn’t back down.

“Only family allowed, Mr.Di Rossi.If you are not family, I am afraid that you will have to wait outside until I’ve spoken to my patient.”

“The fuck I’ll go out,” he snarls.

“I am sorry, sir, but those are the rules,” the doc insists.

“I fucking co-own this clinic,” he snaps.

“Then you know that those are your own rules.”