Page 3 of Possessed By Ghost
“How?” I ask, not exactly excited about hopping from one hotel to another.
“As you were informed and agreed to prior to testifying, you’re going into the witness protection program,” he says. “A US Marshall agent has been assigned to your case. You will be given a new identity and relocated to a different city. It’s best if you forget everything about your old life. Friends, family and love interests, everything!”
“Starting right now?” For some reason, I thought I would have more time to…prepare.
“Exactly. From this moment on, Elizabeth Grundy is dead.” He dips his hand into his pocket then hands me a white envelope. “Say hello to Iris Turner.”
Chapter One
Six Months Later
Iris
The cocktails slosh around on the tray, threatening to spill over the edges as I maneuver around the tables, cleverly dodging the hands that reach out to touch me. I toss back a warning glare at the owner of the wandering hands and receive an innocent look back, one that’s followed by a silly grin.
I don’t take it to heart, don’t bother calling security either. Working at bars for as long as I have has always meant dealing with drunks who can sometimes try to cop a feel. One can hardly call security over every rogue hand that wanders “accidentally” to your hip so I’ve learned to evade them and only call out for help when I feel threatened. I’ve learned to take care of myself. When one is dealt the cards the world has dealt me, you don’t have a choice in the matter.
With another glare at the customer, I manage to make my way to the table without spilling a drop, leaving everyone with their expensive drinks and leering stares. I don’t breathe easy until I’m back behind the counter.
“Busy night,” Tracey says, sliding next to me and dropping her tray next to mine. “There must be something in the air tonight. Everyone is giving me the creeps!”
“Must be the new members,” I tell her, preparing my next orders, an arrangement of colorful cocktails which are always my favorite to make. “They won’t last the night if they don’t get with the class of the place.”
I silently agree with her, turning to sweep my gaze over the bar, taking it all in. The air is thick with the scent of expensive perfume, the sweet scent of tobacco and excitement. The bar itself is miles away from the one I worked at before. Back when I was still Elizabeth Grundy.
The little bar I worked at in Austin was old and run down but this one… It’s a gleaming expanse of polished wood, reflecting the colorful glow of the slot machines in the background. It speaks of wealth, just like the power allowed in it. Elysium.
An exclusive members-only casino that men with seven-figure salaries beg to be let in. Some of those patrons wrongly assume they can do whatever they want in here considering the money they pay for a membership but no matter how much influence they have outside of these walls, it means nothing in here. Touching the staff is out of bounds, as they will soon come to learn.
No one steps out of line in a casino run and owned by the most dangerous men in all of Vegas.
“If you’re nervous about going out there to serve drinks, I’ll take your tables,” I offer, turning to Tracey. She might be a year older than me but she’s green to all this. I’ve had experience dealing with scummy men way before I even started working in bars. Losing parents at the tender age of seventeen leaves youvulnerable to all kinds of people and situations. Heck, I would have drowned ages ago if I hadn’t learned how to take care of myself. “Why don’t you mix the drinks and I’ll grab them after I take these to my table?”
“No, I don’t want to be a bother.”
“You’re not,” I say with a smile, lifting my tray, ready to dive back into the chaos. “I’ll drop these off then come back for your orders and…”
My words trail off, and I feel my heartbeat spike, racing fast enough to send me into a near cardiac arrest. Standing by the entrance of the bar is the one person I’ve tried and failed to ignore for months. The very person that sends my pulse drumming and body pulsing in ways it never should around anyone. One look, just a single look is enough to send a ball of lust settling in my gut. My nipples harden painfully behind my top and that spot between my legs begins to pulse.
Christ!
I find myself frozen to the floor as he walks in, eyes the color of rich whiskey, coldly moving around the crowd with enough intensity to send some of the men straightening up. Rogue hands disappear under the table and the air in the bar changes as the man strides in—all steely-eyed with a hard look that would send even the strongest scrambling to hide but all it does is melt my heart. And other parts of me too.
He looks so freaking hot, standing at the entrance, bathed in the garish glow of the overhead lights. I stand frozen—a little hypnotized—taking in those broad shoulders and muscles barely hidden underneath that black shirt. His shirtsleeves are rolled to the elbows to expose forearms corded with muscles, thick veins and dark ink. The top button of his collar is undone to reveal hints of the tan skin and another line of ink that disappears tothat firm chest. My eyes follow the line of his muscular body to the narrow waist but quickly look away before I can allow myself to look any further.
“Oh, thank God he’s here!” Tracey whispers from behind me. “Everyone is terrified of Ghost. Now these assholes won’t act up if they don’t want to lose an arm.”
“Yeah,” I say with a dreamy sigh as my eyes track his movements.
Ghost.
The name spins around in my mind even as I think over Tracey’s words and she’s right. Everyone is terrified of the man they call Ghost. Rarely does he come to the casino floor and when he does, it’s always because someone is in trouble. He commands respect just by…being.
I should know better than to fall into the charm of the quiet man.
I’m too messed up, a little too broken to fall in love with anyone. I know better than to let my guard down enough to develop an interest in a man after so many months of hiding. One slip, one accidental social media post or a word to the wrong person would send an army of very dangerous men coming after me.
Besides, any relationship I develop would be based upon a lie.
