Page 31 of The Phantom's Vice

GHOST

The Code: Rule #10

Feelings—and therefore, desires—will get you killed.

She lookslike an angel when she’s sleeping.

In my years, I’ve found most people have disgusting sleeping expressions. All twisted up, slobbering, unhindered.And then there’s the snoring.

When I watch Brett sleep, I feel nothing but an intense desire to stick my cock inside her. She’s so perfect. Even the bear-like sounds coming from her lips are endearing, and I’m convinced this woman couldn’t do anything to make me dislike her.

And that is bad. Very, very bad.

I tilt my head, running the back of my unglovedindex finger over her cheek. “I still can’t believe I can feel you,” I whisper, shutting my eyes as the electricity flows through me. “I will never be able to repay you for what you’ve done for me.” With all the willpower I can muster, I pull away from the dark-haired siren. “Although I will try with my very last dying breath.”

I want to cry out as the electricity fades, leaving me with this terrible nothingness. It’s becoming more difficult to part from Brett the longer I know her. The days seem impossibly long, and the nights I get to sit here at her side, justfeelingher… they don’t last nearly long enough.

“Soon, darling,” I murmur, pausing at the door when her whimper pierces my ears. Like a man possessed, I turn on my heels and crouch at her head, watching the way her pretty face twists into a scowl. Her hand reaches out, and I let it make contact with my face, not daring to move, even as her fingertips curl beneath the edge.

I don’t move—not even when she pries that cool metal away from my skin. I don’t breathe as she exposes my face to the moonlight, nor when her delicate fingers press along the harsh panes of my cheekbones. And—I can’t fucking help it—I moan when her fingers slideover my lips.

Her breath hitches, and for one terrible moment, I’m afraid I’ve woken her. But then her fingers continue their curious exploration, and I breathe a deep sigh of relief, shutting my eyes as her fire lights my heart. Heat courses through my body, breathing life into parts of me I hadn’t realized were there, and I have to take my hand between my teeth to stop myself from doing something reckless—something like sinking them into her again.

All of a sudden, Brett’s mouth turns down and her lips part, letting several distressed mewls escape. Her hand clenches, causing her nails to dig into my cheek, and I groan, pushing into her grip.

“It’s okay, darling. I’m here,” I whisper, leaning in so there’s only centimeters between us. “I’ll protect you from now on. You don’t have to be scared anymore.”

Brett mumbles something unintelligible before yanking her hand from my cheek. I would protest except for the fact it lands on my chest—right above the spot where my heart lies. I stay eerily still, watching the tears start to leak from her closed lids.

Before I know what I’m doing, I lunge forward, watching the salty drop on the tip of my tongue. A wave of ecstasy flows through me as Brett coats my tastebuds, and I quickly remove my vial from mycoat pocket. I’m running low, and I’m going to need more of her to get me through these next couple of days. Days I’ll be forced to spend away from her.

I lick the rim of the vial before stopping it and placing it in my pocket, deciding not to dwell on it.It’s only a few days, and then I’ll be back where I belong—at her side.

Steeling myself, I slip out of her apartment, closing the door gently behind me. As I take the stairs leading to the street, I scroll through my list of contacts, pressing one I haven’t in decades. One I never thought I would need to.

The line rings once. Twice. Then it clicks through, and a deep, mechanical voice echoes through the speakers.

“P-1313. It’s been a while, kid.”

“Too long, Master.” I frown as I throw my leg over my bike, wishing it were under better circumstances. “I need a favor.”

After a long pause, he says, “Ah. I was wondering when the day would come.” A deep sigh sounds out. “Just tell me what you need, and it’s done. The least I can do.”

“Thanks, Maverick,” I whisper. “Not just for this.”

“Peh. No need to thank me for that.” A deep,rattling cough breaks through the speakers. “Just glad this call came before I finally kicked the bucket. You sure like to take your time.”

“I was taught by the best. It’s the little things that get you caught, remember?”

He chuckles weakly. “Seems like a lifetime ago. I’m glad some of that shit ended up being useful.” There’s a hissing noise in the background, as if he’s taking a breath from his oxygen machine. “You know, you were the best of them, Boy. I always hoped you would be the one to end it all, but I could never be sure. I’m glad you called me.”

“It’s Ghost now,” I remind him, my skin crawling at his careless use of my dead name. “And it was inevitable. Nothing more.”

“So you say.” Another wet cough rumbles through his chest, and I can’t help but cringe.The old man really is dying.“So what do you need me to do?”

I grin to myself, thinking of the plan I’ve set in motion. “I can’t tell you over the phone, but I’ll have Orion send you the details.”

There's a weak chuckle on the other end. “Still far too paranoid, Boy.”

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