Page 77 of Ghost Walk
Peaceful green cornfields. Peaceful green cornfields. Peaceful…
Jamie.
The image of him suddenly filled her mind, offering a deeper feeling of security than even the endless rows of corn on her parents’ farm. Jamie. She let out a long breath and her eyes flicked up to his stunning profile. He was her safe place.
“I love you.” She whispered, because she might not have another chance to say it.
“Youdon’tlove me.” Robert wailed, thinking she was talking to him. “If you loved me, you would have forgiven mefor that pizza-tramp! You wouldn’t have had me thrown in prison and gotten me fired!You wouldn’t have ruined my life!”
Jamie ignored his caterwauling. “You’re not saying goodbye to me, Grace. I won’t lose you. I can’t.” Patriot blue eyes burned into hers. “Keep moving towards the sword. Two steps. You’re going to befine.”
She gave her head a frantic nod, wanting to believe him. “Just don’t leave me alone.”
“Never.” It was a solemn promise. “Never again. I was stupid to even try it, Grace. I couldneverleave you. No matter what, I will be right by your side.”
“You leftme, not the other way around.” Robert was still sure she was talking to him. “You never consideredmyfeelings, at all. Never thought about whatIwanted and now you show up here to --What?-- try and make things right? Well, it’s too late!”
“One more step, Grace.” Jamie watched Robert with dark and unfathomable hatred. “Feel for the hilt with your hand.”
“I’m not here to see you, Robert.” She told him, careful not to look at the weapon as her fingers tried to find it. God only knew what she’d do with it once she held it. Everything she knew about sword fighting she’d learned from watchingGame of Thronesreruns and she’d had to cancel HBO last year, when her paycheck shrank. “I just want you to leave me alone.”
“Then why did you come to the museum?” He demanded, stalking forward to make up the distance she’d created. “Security told me they saw you come down here on the monitors and thought you were looking for me.” He glanced around, noticing the dozens of unpacked boxes on the floor. “Wait, are youstealingfrom the museum? From me?!”
“Of course not! I’m…”
He cut her off, a triumphant smile on his bloated face. “You are! You pretend to be so sweet and good, but you’re a dirty bitch underneath it all, aren’t you?” He reached for her with sick determination. “You’re nothing but a thieving whoreand that’s exactly what I’m going to treat you like.”
Jamie’s beautiful hand slammed out, trying to shove Robert back from her. If he’d been solid, the smaller man would have been careening into the shelves behind him. Grace’s eyes narrowed in sudden consideration. No one noticed. Jamie’s ghostly palm passed through Robert’s chest and her ex continued his advance. Jamie’s cursing could have blistered paint.
But now Grace knew what to do.
Her fingers finally sealed around the broken saber’s hilt. She swung it in a wide arc, catching Robert off guard.
He leapt back in surprise, narrowly escaping a long slice across his stomach. “Holy shit!”
Grace arched a brow, holding him a bay. Maybe she had a bit of pirate in her after all, because this was coming pretty naturally to her. “Robert, you’re an asshole.” She said succinctly.
Jamie gave a chortle of delight that the tables had turned. And also at her cursing. The man really was a scoundrel.
“You think I’m afraid of you, you rotten little slut?” Robert hissed. “I’m going to hold you down and make youbegfor me.”
“There’s only one man alive who can do that and he’s dead right now.” Grace told him seriously. “Nothing is going to stop me from saving him. Certainly not someone as boring and normal as you.” She jabbed the jagged sword point at him and Robert went flailing back in panic.
…Right into the shelves behind him.
He floundered against the boxes, trying to keep his balance. It was no use. The shelves tipped like a row of dominos, taking Robert with them. He fell backwards with a frantic scream, buried under cartons of broken pottery and embroidered tablecloths.
“Go!” Jamie bellowed.
Grace went. Rather than run out the door, though, she headed down the aisle of piracy artifacts. Robert would dig himself out in a moment or two. She didn’t have much time.She desperately ripped boxes open, trying to find the shawl. Scrimshaw whales’ teeth and model ships tumbled to the floor as she haphazardly dumped the cartons onto the cold cement.
“You have to get out of here!” Jamie tried to grab her arm and drag her to the exit, but his fingers passed right through her skin. “Fuck!”
“I can’t go yet.” She got out breathlessly. “Not yet.” If she left now, she’d get no second chance. This was her one and only opportunity to save him. “I have to find it.” His name was a frantic chant in her mind as she tried to calm down.
Jamiejamiejamiejamiejamiejamiejamiejamie.
“I ambeggingyou, love. Leavenow! He’s not going to give you another opportunity to escape. You’ve made him too mad. He’s going tohurtyou.”
