Page 33 of Ghost
Without so much as a hello, Miles launched into a tirade. “Julian, it’s terrible. I’m with Bianca, and I need your help!” The entire time he spoke, he shot strange looks in my direction.
But still didn’t meet my eyes.
I couldn’t help but wonder what I had done wrong this time. From the way he spoke—it sounded as if there was a disaster. But why call Julian?
Would I always feel so lost when it came to understanding my new friends?
Chapter Thirteen
Julian
Clinic
“Dr. Kohler,” Ms. Hollis peered through the office doorway. “They’ve called an emergency board meeting tonight. I know you were about to leave, but she mentioned that it can’t be missed…”
Disappointment flooded through me. I didn’t need to listen anymore, the outcome was already certain.
Sure enough, my mother groaned in response—too low for her secretary to hear. But even though she was disappointed, she’d never show it. Instead, Dr. Trinity Kohler would do whatever her job required, and she would do it with a smile.
She tugged at one of her tight curls—something she did only when annoyed—as she leaned back into her seat. “It’s alright.” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “Mary, go ahead. I’ll be there shortly. I just… I need to say goodnight to the boys.”
Anthony slouched in his chair, pulling his hoodie over his head. But, thankfully, he waited until Ms. Hollis had closed the door before speaking. “This fucking sucks balls. Why can’t you just say no?”
“Anthony!” Mother shot him a disapproving look. “You cannot come into my place of employment and use that sort of language. Do not test me, young man. I will still wash your mouth out with soap. Look at Julian, he doesn’t use such foul words.”
I forced myself to remain stoic, even though I felt the full weight of my brother’s glare. It wasn’t fair for him to get angry at me, this wasn’t my fault.
But I knew the glare wasn’t for that, but was for what was coming.
I loved my mother. But, sometimes, I hated that she was soproudof me. She had worked hard to raise two sons on her own, and also to gain her medical degree while doing so. On top of that, there was my role.
So when she could do it, she reveled in bragging about me. I heard her do it for Anthony as well, but never in his presence. I wasn’t sure why, but she never told him how she felt.
The unfairness had a way of making Anthony resent me and loathe the position he held even more.
“You should follow Julian’s example,” Mother started. “Already practically finished with medical school. Always has been a straight A student. A musical prodigy. Not to mention how he’s so good about avoiding trouble these last few years. I wish that you—”
I tuned her out at that point, trying to ignore the tension in the room. Thankfully, my phone chose that moment to vibrate against my leg, so I didn’t have to pretend to need to escape. She didn’t pause, continuing to lecture Anthony as I slipped from the room.
Glancing at my phone, I realized that Miles was calling. Why he’d reach out to me now, I wasn’t sure. He knew I was supposed to be with my mother and Anthony tonight.
My palms began to sweat—only something urgent would make him interrupt.
“Hello,” I answered, forcing my voice to remain calm. “What’s wrong?”
“Julian, it’s terrible. I’m with Bianca, and I need your help!” Miles rushed, his voice tight with urgency. The underlying tension in his words caused my spine to straighten instinctively.
My fears were right. Something had happened, and it sounded like it was worse than anything I could have imagined.
Miles was quiet and introspective by nature. And while he could be friendly, and joke around, he didn’t usually do so. It usually took a long time for Miles to open up to people—there had been his family, and the three of us. And now, Bianca.
And he rarely lost his composure—we were alike in that way. But now he sounded almost panicked.
What if something had happened to her? We hadn’t been able to locate the four-eyed spawn all day. But that didn’t mean anything, Damen had always been terrible at hide-and-seek. Even now, Finn could be lurking nearby. Waiting for a chance to strike again.
What if he got to Bianca again and—
“Now hold on,” Miles said suddenly. “Upon reflection, that sounds bad. But it’s not what you think. Lord, I forgot how much you worry.”
