Chapter 9 - The Last Ghost
Grant did not run because he wanted revenge.
That was the first thing Odessa understood when he called her.
His voice shook.
“Victor has people inside.”
“Where are you?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Grant.”
“They’re killing witnesses.”
Odessa looked at Anton.
The call was on speaker.
Anton signaled Luka to trace it.
Grant continued.
“I know I don’t deserve help.”
“No,” Odessa said. “You don’t.”
Silence.
“But I’m listening.”
Grant exhaled.
“Victor kept copies of everything. There’s a second archive.”
“Where?”
“Your building.”
Anton frowned.
“Impossible.”
“Fortieth floor. Old elevator shaft.”
Odessa remembered construction plans she had processed 2 years earlier.
“There is an unused service shaft.”
Anton looked at her.
They searched immediately.
Behind an access panel, they found a locked steel door.
Inside were servers.
Thousands of files.
Victor had been recording everyone.
Politicians.
Police officers.
Businessmen.
Judges.
Anton.
Even Grant.
Luka stared at the screens.
“This could burn half the city.”
Anton looked at Odessa.
“What do you think?”
She almost laughed.
“When did you start asking me?”
“When you became COO.”
“No. Before that.”
Anton smiled faintly.
“The night you told me you dressed for yourself.”
Odessa considered the servers.
“Turn everything legitimate over to investigators. Anything involving innocent private lives gets protected.”
Luka nodded.
Anton did too.
No argument.
Odessa noticed.
That mattered more than she expected.
Grant was found the next morning at a motel outside Charleston.
Alive.
He entered witness protection after testifying.
Before leaving, he requested one meeting with Odessa.
She almost refused.
Then accepted.
They sat across from each other in a federal office.
Grant looked older.
“I owe you an apology.”
“You owe me several.”
“I know.”
He looked down.
“I spent years making you feel small because I was terrified you’d realize you were better than me.”
Odessa said nothing.
“I thought if you felt lucky to have me, you wouldn’t leave.”
“That wasn’t love.”
“I know that now.”
She studied him.
There had been a time when hearing this would have healed something.
Now she discovered the wound had already closed.
“I forgive you.”
Grant looked up.
Hope flashed across his face.
Odessa shook her head.
“That doesn’t mean you get me back.”
“I know.”
“It means I don’t want to carry you anymore.”
His eyes filled.
“I’m sorry.”
“I believe you.”
She stood.
“Goodbye, Grant.”
Outside, Anton waited beside the SUV.
“You okay?”
“Yes.”
“Did he upset you?”
“No.”
“Did he ask for you back?”
Odessa smiled.
“Are you jealous?”
“No.”
“Anton.”
“Deeply.”
She laughed.
He opened the door for her.
Instead of entering, Odessa wrapped her arms around his neck.
“What?”
“You’re learning.”
“At what?”
“Being normal.”
“I dislike it.”
“You’re doing great.”
Six months passed.
Victor Saran was convicted on federal racketeering, fraud, and conspiracy charges.
Kazarian Import and Freight survived.
More importantly, it changed.
Anton closed the last illegal division inherited from his father.
Some associates objected.
Anton encouraged them to seek employment elsewhere.
Luka described this as the polite version.
Odessa preferred not to ask about the impolite one.
One Friday evening, Anton appeared in her office.
“Dinner.”
“I’m working.”
“It’s 8:30.”
“And?”
“You haven’t eaten.”
“I had almonds.”
“That isn’t dinner.”
She looked up.
Anton held a garment bag.
Odessa narrowed her eyes.
“What’s that?”
“A dress.”
She laughed.
“You bought me clothing?”
“Apparently that was incorrect.”
“Very.”
“I kept the receipt.”
“Progress.”
He handed her an envelope instead.
Inside were tickets to Mariah’s 1-year gallery anniversary.
Odessa smiled.
“You remembered.”
“I remember everything about you now.”
Her smile softened.
Anton touched her face.
“Wear whatever you want.”
“Even my gray cardigan?”
“I will suffer.”
She laughed.
Two hours later, Odessa descended the staircase of Anton’s home.
She wore emerald green.
Anton stood below in a black suit.
He stared.
Odessa smiled.
“Careful.”
“What?”
“You’re doing that thing again.”
“What thing?”
“Looking like you forgot how breathing works.”
Anton walked toward her.
He stopped one step below.
“Who are you dressing up for?”
Odessa grinned.
“Still myself.”
“Good.”
She kissed him.
Then whispered, “But you’re allowed to enjoy it.”
Anton’s smile was slow and devastating.
“I intend to.”
May you like
Neither of them knew that Luka stood in the hall holding a small velvet box Anton had asked him to keep hidden.
And Luka was beginning to suspect his terrifying best friend was about to make the most frightening decision of his life.
