Page 28 of Ghost
“Listen up! Tizzy’s trying to talk,” Devon barks loudly. The conversation instantly ceases. “Go ahead, Bunny.” Smiling and shaking my head at him, I turn back to the boys.
“Well, I thought you all would like to know; I’ve got some big plans for this place.” I stop, giving a dramatic pause as the guys all look at me, confused. “Drum roll, please! I’ve decided to revamp the bowling alley!” I say, waiting for the excitement, the yells, the cheers, the party, dang, a squeak? Anything?
What do I get? Crickets. Actually, I think I really hear a cricket in here. Focus, Tizzy girl!
“Did ya hear me? I’m giving the old girl upstairs a facelift! Whoo hoo!” I clap and cheer again. No go. Grrr… men! Never the visionaries they should be.
“Uhhh Mama Tiz? Isn’t that what all the cleaning was about?” Mania stars.
“Yeah, I remember lots of sanding involved in getting those lanes up and running again,” Taz tacks on.
“Yeah, I mean no offense, Mama Tiz, but we kind of want to keep this place longer than we had the last one before those two fuckers got it blown up. Not sure doing more than you’ve already done is the best way to do that,” Caesar says, tilting his head in Taz's and Mania’s direction.
“Hey! No one ever proved we were tagged,” Mania says, offended.
“And no one ever had a doubt it wasn't,” Crypt mutters, his face now in his phone since he’s done eating.
“Anywayyyyysss,” I say, trying to get them back on track. “Cleaning was just the first step. Not only would gettin’ the old girl up and running again be a better cover for the club, but I think a big fancy schmacy grand reopening party could be the perfect lure for those big baddies with the drone you all seem to think I forgot about,” I tell them all and can’t hold back my smirk at the wave of winces that rolls through them at my less than subtle snipe.
“She’s got a point there. The signal has been going out for almost a month, and we haven’t seen any movement. A lure like a party could be our best chance to get some movement on the case,” Crypt says, and I knew I always liked him.
“How about we take a vote? All those alright with the bowling alley becoming something more than the crusty ass black hole that currently occupies upstairs, say aye,” Devon announces.
To my utter shock and disbelief, every one of them men in the room gives me a resounding aye. It absolutely melts my heart.
Yup, this ol’ girl has finally found her home.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Ghost
Looking over the most recent report from Rasp and Cesar’s most recent run, I mark the file closed and place the case file on the edge of my desk. I’ll need to email my contact in the MI6 and let him know the rescue was a success and his niece is currently on a first-class plane ride home. According to Caesar's report, there wasn't a lot of fire with this case. The kidnappers, two amateur gangster-wannabes that barely knew their ass from a nine mil, much less the barrel of Caesar’s Barrett fifty cal. Easy job, and luckily, the girl wasn't harmed.
Those are always the best jobs. Though I know my men would disagree, and maybe I would have thought differently in my younger days, too. The riskier missions were always more thrilling, dangerous, and exciting. Those missions… nothing made you feel more alive. I can say now, with my full chest, that my view has changed. My bunny has given me a new outlook on life. Also makes me realize I'm not as young as I once was. I lovethe thought of knowing my boys and I rid these streets of the nastiest demons walking this earth.
“Prez,” Omen’s voice and two knocks on my open door pull me out of my thoughts and have me focusing back in and giving him a chin lift, letting him know it's all good to come in and sit.
“Can't stop thinking about her, can you, old man? Even when reviewing the world's most dangerous and epic mission reports. Reports most men would kill their own mamas to read.” He smirks at me as he sits in the seat across from my desk and props his ankle on his knee.
“She’s one amazing fucking woman. I might just be a little obsessed.” I smirk back, causing him to chuckle.
“Yeah, only a little bit.” He shakes his head.
“Just wait, it’ll happen to you, and then it will be my turn to bust your balls,” I threaten, and watch as the humor falls from his face.
I suspected there was something, or more accurately, I should say someone, Omen couldn't leave in his old life. He’s got some little tells that had me thinking, and I’m sure he has no idea I even have a clue, probably thinking he’s hidden it well, even to himself. Still, I pick up on things other people don’t. I feel like this mood shift might just be connected to his past.
“Nah, Prez, don't think that hand is in the cards for me. I’m happy for you and can honestly say I’ve never seen you so happy, but I missed my chance. She’s long gone now, a ghost in the wind. Plus, I’m dead, remember?” He gives me a smile laced with absolutely zero humor.
This life is a hard one. One most people couldn’t handle or choose for themselves. Leaving behind everyone you’ve ever loved. Having those people believe you’re gone permanently and never coming back. Putting the people you love most in this world through the pain of losing you. It would drive most people crazy. Not many are strong enough to resist the urge to contact their loved ones. Most fail. They think letting one person here or there know can do no harm. It always does harm. It puts everyone, your family, your team, and yourself in danger.
My transition was a lot easier, and I’ve been on the luckier side of being “deceased” on paper. Since my daughter, or rather her husband, was the one to find me alive after being “killed” by that fucker Reyes, I never had to hide the truth from her. Well, if you don't count the years the bastard held me, but I was locked away, so it doesn't count. Other than Piper, I don't have anyone I was ever close to, unless you count my contacts worldwide. Those people never knew my true identity; I only knew as much about them as they wanted me to know. Or at least as much as I want to dig and find out. Some things are just better left to the unknown.
“The future isn't written in stone, Omen. We never know what the next day holds. Before Tizzy came into my life, I probably would have kicked your ass for letting your past distract you from the next mission, but you know what having that woman in my life has taught me?”
“What's that Prez?”
“There's always going to be another mission. Always gonna be someone in trouble, some bad guy to take out, always a need to keep this world safe, but if you ain't got someone out there you're doing it for, you’ll just end up losing yourself. You need an anchor to humanity. I never would have guessed it, and for a lot of years, mine was Piper without even realizing it, but still, evenwith Piper, I lost my humanity. Tizzy, she seems to somehow, if not restore, at least repair it a bit. You need that, Omen, more than you may realize right now,” I tell him.