Page 2 of My Ghost

“What?”I can picture her turning beet red at the other end.“We would never do such a thing, and—”

“Relax, I’m teasing.”I grin.I’ve always enjoyed flustering her, and she makes it so easy.“But you know, I need my own place.”

“Oh, right.”Her disappointment is palpable.She knows about my…side hustle.She had been supportive when we were roommates at vet school, when I wanted to do something useful with my skill.She would never expose me, and I can trust her with my life.

“We’ll be seeing each other of course, don’t worry about that.You’ll be so sick of me, you’ll send me packing after a month.”I try to lighten the mood.

She scoffs.“Doubtful, but okay, I get your point.I’ll send you the address and meet you there.”

“Will do, I can’t wait to squeeze you and your little tummy!”We hang up and I return to packing.What should a girl pack for an adventure in a big city?Everything, of course!

So that’s what I do—I pack as many clothes and shoes as I can fit into my two big suitcases.After all, I don’t know how long I am staying, and what occasions might occur.Best be preparedhas always been my motto.But even though my methodic packing keeps me in a meditative state, I can’t help thinking about the one thing I shouldn’t be thinking about.Him…Matteo.Over six feet of broad-shouldered yumminess wrapped in a bad boy packaging.My absolute Kryptonite.And our chemistry?It is mind-blowing.It’s a shame, though, that our one night together would never have a repeat.But well, maybe it was for the best,I tell myself.After all, he is working for Damiano Santaluccia, the Boston Mafia boss.Of course he’s not the kind of man you want to bring home to introduce to your family.Not that I have any family to introduce anyone to, for that matter.I’m an orphan—my file mentions a deceased mother, an unknown father, and no known family.I have been raised in foster families all my life.So yeah, no bringing anyone home.

I sigh.It is very likely that our paths will cross.Since he seems to hold Damiano’s trust, he must be high up in their hierarchy, but I have no idea what or who exactly he is.I don’t even know his last name.As much as I am curious about him, I have never tried to pry into him, deciding that I’d rather put him in my rearview.I haven’t planned on seeing any of them on a regular basis.

Since I am on theother side, so to speak, I have a conflict of interest with Lily being a Mafia queen now.But luckily for my conscience, the Santaluccia organization is not dealing with human traffic.On the contrary, they apparently are not fond of it either.So as long as it stays that way, I have no beef with them.Well, I might not, but they might have one with me if they find out about my side activities.Dread creeps up my spine, cold and crippling.I need to be extra careful and play my part convincingly.My life depends on it.

As for Matteo?I will avoid him as much as possible for various obvious reasons.For one, he is a danger for my panties, and I constantly seem to lose a few brain cells in his vicinity.Well okay, maybe a lot of brain cells, judging from my flirty and reckless behavior at Lily’s wedding.Ugh!

But that’s not the main reason.The second and vital reason is that I cannot let him in at any cost.If he discovers who and what I am, what I do, I am not sure how he would react.Handing me over to their organization would be the kindest thing he could do.Judging from the cold glint always present in his dark eyes, he wouldn’t hesitate toremoveme himself, and he wouldn’t even lose his appetite over it.I know I’m stepping right into a potential mess and I have to tread carefully.

What I need is a list to clear my head, with a few ground rules that will hopefully keep me out of trouble.

One, no getting close to anyone tied to the Santaluccia organization, except Lily and her sister Chiara, of course.

Two, dazzle them with my glitter until they are blind.

Three, no Matteo.

Four, keep a low profile.

Five, if I do see him, be cool as a cucumber.

Easy-peasy.I can do this.

Chapter Two

Erin

“What ishedoing here?”My shocked shriek is anything but cucumber cool, and Matteo looks like he just bit into a lemon.

“Well, he’s the landlord.”Lily’s sweet voice snaps me out of my shock.“So he kind of has to be here to show you in…” Her voice trails off as she sends me a curious glance.

She had been waiting for me in the parking lot and after we hugged and squealed excitedly for a full ten minutes, she ushered me into the lobby of a tall high-end condo building.It would look absolutely perfect if Lucifer himself weren’t standing right there, tall, forbidding and so good-looking I have to grit my teeth at the unfairness.His dark hair, cut short on the sides but left longer on the top, is carelessly raked back and a strand is falling over his forehead.His angular jaw is even sharper with the way it is locked and his full lips are now pressed together in annoyance.His dark brown eyes are two voids sucking me in and his brows are slanted down into a scowl that would send the toughest man running.He seems as delighted to see me as I am to see him.Good.

“Hello, Erin,” he grits out sourly.“Welcome to my modest housing.I’ll let Lily settle you in, the concierge will bring your belongings up.There is somewhere I need to be.”He stalks closer, his long legs eating up the distance in two strides, and hands Lily the keys without sparing me a glance.

Shit, he still wears that damn cologne that drives me crazy.

Lily takes the keys with a confused look on her face.“But didn’t you want to show Erin the apartment and the building amenities?”

“A call just came in, but I trust you to show The Atrium under its best light.”

“Well okay, then it can’t be helped.”Lily thanks him and takes my arm to drag me to the elevator, already chatting excitedly about the apartment and the services available in the building.But I’m not registering a single word, my mind is too jumbled.I’m supposed to stay here…in an apartment belonging to him!Speak about avoiding him.Should I go to a hotel?But then Lily would want to know why, and I can’t possibly tell her that I slept with the groom’s best man at her wedding, and that I now have to avoid him at any cost.

Ugh, what a mess!

When the elevator dings to a halt, we step out into a luxurious hallway.There are only two doors on each side, and Lily guides me to the one on the right and opens it with her key.