Page 16 of Ghostly Desires

I finally find Miles standing at the counter drinking coffee, watching me closely. Lottie is still telling me about what happened when I put the phone on speaker so Miles can hear what she has to say. I am not surprised at all when Miles pulls his phone out and calls Nikolay.

“What’s wrong?” Nikolay demands as a way of greeting.

“There is a situation with LeeAnn’s friend,” Miles gets right to it.

“Where is LeeAnn?” Nikolay demands so calmly and quietly that goose bumps pop upon my skin.

“I’m right here and fine,” I say quickly.

“Okay, now tell me what’s going on,” Nikolay states flatly and emotionlessly.

I walk him through everything Lottie told me and continues to say. Nikolay asks several questions before reassuring me that everything is going to be okay. I trust him and know without a doubt that if he says it’ll be okay, it will be. I relay the information back to her, lying to keep Lottie calm. I think I’ve succeeded in finally getting her calmed down when I hear the voice of my nightmares.

The sound of an altercation makes my heart race so fast, but I feel like I’m having a heart attack. I start screaming Lottie’s name. The voice that answers me causes bile to crawl up my throat. Looking up at Miles, I know I must look petrified.

“Well, well, if it isn’t the perfect daughter?” The taunting in his voice causes my head to spin.

Miles holds a finger to his lips, telling me to keep quiet. I grip the counter so hard my knuckles turn white as I try to keep myself from ending up on the floor.

“Buck,” Miles says lightly, as if talking to an old friend and not the man that my father hired who tricked me into loving him and leaving me to deal with a baby. “When did you get back into town?”

Buck laughs mockingly. “If it isn’t Mr. Do-good. Color me surprised.”

“And why are you surprised?” Miles questions him.

“I didn’t think you had it in you to go after one of your girls. And here I thought I was the only one getting a piece,” Buck taunts Miles.

Miles reaches over and mutes the phone. “Promise me you will take nothing I’m about to say to heart. I will say and do what I have to do to get Lottie back.”

Taking a deep breath, I close my eyes to center myself. When I open them, I look Miles in the face and nod. “You say and do whatever it takes to get her back.”

Miles nods his head back before reaching over to unmute the phone.

“Well, see, that’s what you get for thinking you were in on all the information. Do you really think I stay on LeeAnn’s guard detail just because it’s fun? You had to know I was getting something out of the deal.” Miles’s words make me want to vomit.

Hell, if I didn’t know he was just trying to taunt Buck, I would believe him.

“This is an interesting turn of events.” Buck’s tone has gone from taunting to more relaxed.

“How so?” Miles questions him.

“You see, I thought I was going to have to threaten or trick Miss Perfect into coming after Lottie but seeing as you aren’t as highbrow as I thought you were, I now have a new plan. You bring me LeeAnn and I’ll turn over Lottie untouched.” Buck’s words are like perfectly thrown daggers.

I nod my head in agreement with his plan. Miles shakes his head, holding a finger to his lips.

“So, what do you say? Lottie for LeeAnn?” Buck’s words come out sounding impatient.

“Send me the when and where, I’ll be sure to make sure it happens,” Miles's answer is flat for the first time. Now I truly understand why he is my closest bodyguard.

“You’ll have it shortly,” Buck states. “Oh, and Miles, this should go without saying, considering we’re both in the same line of work. Do not get anyone else involved in this situation, or people will get hurt.”

Miles laughs a cold, harsh laugh like I’ve never heard before. “I haven’t made it this far in the line of work that we are involved in by being fucking stupid. Get me the information.”

To my other shocking horror, Miles hangs up the phone, effectively cutting off all communication with Lottie. I grab my phone and instantly start trying to call the number back, and after the third attempt Miles comes around the island and pulls me into a hug. My phone chimes at the same time Miles’s phone vibrates on the counter.

Miles pulls away, giving me a small smile. “That’s going to be for you.” He reaches over, grabs the phone, and hands it to me.

I answer it, my nerves not feeling quite so frayed with him on the phone. “Hi.”