Chapter 437: Loan!!!
Nadia stared at the man standing near the entrance.
The hood hid most of his face.
But the voice...
She knew that voice.
Her lips parted.
"You are..."
The man slowly raised his head.
The shadow moved away from his face.
Nadia’s breathing stopped.
"Ghost."
For the first time since entering Marcus Vane’s apartment, real fear appeared in her eyes.
Not caution.
Not the alertness of an assassin facing another professional.
Fear.
Ghost looked at her quietly.
"Nadia."
His voice carried no anger.
That somehow made it worse.
"Did you forget?"
Nadia didn’t answer.
Ghost took one step inside.
"Last time we met..."
"You begged me for your life."
Her fingers curled against the floor.
"You begged me to let you walk away."
He stopped several feet from her.
"And I did."
Nadia swallowed.
Ghost tilted his head slightly.
"Did you really think a loaned life meant you could spend it however you wanted?"
Nadia looked toward Reina.
Then toward the gun lying across the room.
Ghost noticed.
𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂
"Don’t."
Her eyes immediately returned to him.
He looked at her for another second.
Then his expression became colder.
"You know something, Nadia?"
Silence.
"I despise women like you."
Nadia’s face tightened.
Ghost didn’t explain.
He didn’t need to.
He simply looked toward Reina.
"Reina."
"Leader."
Ghost glanced at Nadia.
"She’s not bleeding enough."
Nadia’s eyes widened.
Reina smiled.
"Copy that."
Nadia immediately moved.
Too late.
Reina’s hand flashed.
A knife crossed the short distance between them.
It struck Nadia through the shoulder.
Her scream tore through the apartment.
"AARGH!"
She collapsed sideways.
One hand immediately grabbed near the wound.
Her breathing became frantic.
Ghost didn’t flinch.
He looked around the ruined apartment.
Broken furniture.
Bullet holes.
Blood.
Then back toward her.
"Scream."
Nadia stared at him through watering eyes.
Ghost continued calmly,
"No one outside is coming."
Her breathing stopped for half a second.
"Nobody heard you."
He took another step.
"No police."
"No Secret Service."
"No help."
Nadia pressed herself backward against the cabinet.
"I..."
Her voice shook.
"I didn’t do anything to you."
Ghost stopped.
"I never went against Graveyard again."
His expression didn’t change.
"I stayed away."
Pain crossed her face as she tried moving her shoulder.
"I didn’t mess with your people."
Ghost slowly crouched in front of her.
"That sounds wonderful."
Nadia stared at him.
"You learned something."
His eyes became colder.
"People who come after Graveyard..."
"They usually don’t get a second lesson."
Nadia swallowed.
Ghost continued,
"But that’s not your problem."
He leaned slightly closer.
"You messed up again."
Nadia froze.
"You took someone from me."
The color drained from her face.
For years, she had been careful.
Painfully careful.
She had avoided Graveyard.
Avoided their businesses.
Avoided their operations.
She had remembered what mercy from him felt like.
Temporary.
Uncertain.
A gift she didn’t deserve.
And now...
Ghost leaned closer.
So close Nadia could clearly see his eyes.
He didn’t blink.
"Do you remember his name?"
Nadia’s lips trembled.
No answer.
Ghost waited.
She understood.
"A..."
Her voice failed.
Ghost remained silent.
Nadia forced the words out.
"Adam Reeves."
For the first time...
Something moved behind Ghost’s eyes.
Not surprise.
Pain.
Then it disappeared.
"Adam Reeves."
He repeated it.
His voice was quiet.
"Good."
Nadia’s breathing became uneven.
Ghost continued,
"Make sure you apologize to him."
She stared.
"If heaven and hell ever hold a meeting."
Nadia’s face twisted.
"I was forced."
Ghost didn’t move.
"She forced me."
"I had no choice."
That earned the smallest smile from him.
"Everyone has a choice, Nadia."
She shook her head.
"No."
"Yes."
Ghost stood.
"Last time..."
"I had a choice."
He looked down at her.
"I chose to spare you."
Nadia’s expression shifted.
Ghost continued,
"And now..."
"You’ve shown me that I chose wrong."
Her eyes widened.
"Just like you chose wrong."
He calmly adjusted his sleeve.
"So it’s time to repay your debt."
His gaze settled on her.
"With interest."
Nadia breathed faster.
"And believe me..."
Ghost smiled faintly.
"I’m the kind of person who collects the interest first."
"I..."
Nadia swallowed.
"I’m sorry."
Ghost remained still.
"I am sorry, Ghost."
"Really."
"I didn’t..."
Ghost raised one hand.
She stopped.
"I’ll accept your apology."
Relief appeared immediately.
Small.
Instinctive.
Reina saw it.
A knowing smile touched her lips.
Ghost continued,
"Bring Adam Reeves back."
The relief disappeared.
Nadia stared at him.
"What?"
"Bring him back."
Her face went pale again.
Ghost took one slow step toward her.
"Give me my friend."
Nadia’s mouth opened.
Nothing came out.
Ghost’s voice sharpened for the first time.
"Do you hear me?"
Nadia flinched.
"Give me Adam back."
"I..."
Her eyes filled.
"I’m sorry."
Ghost stared down at her.
"I know."
A laugh suddenly came from across the room.
Weak.
Broken.
But unmistakably amused.
Marcus Vane.
He was still lying near the ruined furniture.
Blood had spread beneath him.
Yet he was laughing.
Nadia looked toward him.
Marcus coughed.
Then laughed again.
"Miles Sterling..."
Ghost looked toward him.
Marcus’ eyes widened with a strange mixture of disbelief and resignation.
"Miles Sterling is Ghost."
Nadia froze.
Marcus continued laughing.
"The Ghost of Graveyard..."
He coughed hard.
"...is Haven’s Honorary General."
Nadia slowly looked back toward Ghost.
Her expression became stunned.
"Miles..."
Her voice barely existed.
"Miles Sterling?"
Ghost smiled.
Then...
He laughed.
Marcus joined him.
Even Reina let out a short laugh.
For Nadia, the sound was worse than shouting.
Ghost looked down at her.
"Vivienne Horrow..."
His smile disappeared.
"...will fall into the same pool of blood she’s been digging for everyone else."
Nadia immediately said,
"I can help you."
Ghost said nothing.
"I know things."
Nadia forced herself upright despite the pain.
"I know where she works outside official channels."
"I know where she keeps people."
"Those soldiers."
Ghost watched her.
"I know the locations."
"The accounts."
"The safe facilities."
"The people she uses."
Ghost finally responded.
"You’re too late."
Nadia froze.
"I already know."
Her face changed.
Ghost continued,
"You."
He glanced toward Marcus.
"And him."
"Neither of you are useful anymore."
Marcus gave a weak smile.
Ghost looked toward him.
"Just like you stopped being useful to Vivienne."
Marcus’ smile faded.
Ghost continued,
"The ice factory..."
Marcus’ eyes sharpened.
"You burned it."
Silence.
Ghost smiled.
"Waste of fuel."
Marcus stared.
"The people you tried to burn with it..."
"They’re alive."
Nadia looked toward Marcus.
Ghost continued,
"My people pulled them out."
"Every one of them."
Marcus closed his eyes.
Ghost stepped closer.
"They spent enough time inside that factory to remember things."
"Things they thought were meaningless."
His expression hardened.
"They weren’t."
Nadia’s breathing became shallow.
Ghost continued,
"They talked."
"And once they started talking..."
He looked toward Marcus.
"...the trail led all the way to Vivienne’s neck."
Marcus slowly laughed.
"You have evidence."
Ghost smiled.
"Enough."
Nadia immediately said,
"Then expose her."
Ghost turned toward her.
"Expose her?"
"Yes."
Nadia looked desperate now.
"You can destroy her legally."
Ghost stared for several seconds.
Then quietly said,
"No."
Nadia froze.
Ghost continued,
"I won’t release it."
Marcus looked toward him.
Ghost’s eyes darkened.
"Because this isn’t General Miles Sterling’s revenge."
The apartment became completely silent.
"This belongs to Ghost."
Marcus laughed again.
A tired, broken laugh.
"I knew it."
Ghost turned.
Marcus stared toward the ceiling.
"I always knew..."
"One day..."
"My choices would drag me to destruction."
His breathing weakened.
"But..."
He looked toward Ghost.
"I never imagined the scale would be this big."
Ghost walked toward him.
Marcus no longer tried to reach for a weapon.
No point.
Ghost stopped nearby.
"A brilliant soldier."
Marcus smiled faintly.
"Was."
"Decorated officer."
"Yes."
"Good combat history."
Marcus looked away.
Ghost continued,
"You protected people at the border."
Marcus said nothing.
"Then you started hurting your own."
His voice softened strangely.
"What made you think any of it was worth it?"
Marcus remained silent for several seconds.
Then answered with one word.
"Greed."
Ghost watched him.
Marcus laughed faintly.
"No great cause."
"No ideology."
He closed his eyes.
"Money."
Ghost looked toward the blood beneath him.
"You’re dying."
Marcus smiled.
"I know."
"You seem calm."
"I deserve it."
Ghost remained silent.
Then Marcus opened his eyes again.
"Ghost."
Miles looked toward him.
Marcus swallowed.
"As a soldier..."
"You said I protected the country once."
Miles nodded once.
Marcus breathed slowly.
"Then give that soldier one last wish."
Miles studied him.
Then replied,
"Speak."
Marcus’ eyes moved toward a cabinet across the room.
"My greed..."
He laughed weakly.
"I have millions."
Nadia looked toward him.
Marcus continued,
"Different accounts."
"Different names."
"Money I couldn’t spend."
"No wife."
"No children."
"No one."
His voice weakened.
"What a joke."
Miles didn’t interrupt.
Marcus looked toward him again.
"Those soldiers..."
"The ones who attacked the Winslow Estate."
Miles’ expression hardened.
Marcus continued,
"Their families will stop receiving money."
"She’ll stop."
He coughed.
Miles waited.
"In the front cabinet."
Marcus pointed weakly.
"There’s an envelope."
"Bank access."
"Credentials."
"Everything."
Miles looked toward the cabinet.
Marcus continued,
"I knew something was wrong the moment you looked at me during the ceremony."
A faint smile appeared.
"That’s why I asked Vivienne for cash."
"I didn’t want to touch those accounts again."
Miles understood.
Marcus looked at him.
"Use the money."
"For the families."
"The soldiers who died at the Winslow Estate..."
"Whatever they were..."
"They still had families."
Marcus’ voice became quieter.
"Bring the others back."
"The ones still alive."
"Let their families know they’re not dead."
He swallowed.
"Use what I took..."
"...to fix something."
Miles looked at him for a long moment.
Then nodded.
"That’s a surprisingly wise thought."
Marcus gave a weak laugh.
"Too late."
"Probably."
Miles’ voice remained calm.
"But I’ll fulfill it."
Marcus closed his eyes.
His breathing slowed.
Once.
Twice.
Then stopped.
Reina moved closer.
Checked quickly.
Then looked toward Miles.
"He’s gone."
Miles stared at Marcus for several seconds.
No triumph.
No satisfaction.
Only silence.
A soldier had died.
A criminal too.
Both could be true.
A faint scraping sound came from behind.
Reina turned instantly.
Nadia was dragging herself across the floor.
Toward her gun.
Ghost sighed.
"Nadia."
She stopped.
Then moved again.
"Nadia."
Reina walked over.
Nadia reached.
Almost.
Reina stepped in front of her.
Nadia looked up.
Slap.
Her head snapped sideways.
Ghost raised an eyebrow.
"Reina?"
Reina looked completely serious.
"Sorry, Leader."
Then she flexed her fingers.
"My hand was itchy."
Miles almost smiled.
Nadia glared at both of them.
"She is the Vice President."
Ghost looked toward her.
"She’ll destroy you."
Nadia’s voice became frantic.
"Do you understand?"
"She’ll destroy everyone you care about."
"Your family."
"Your friends."
"Everyone."
Miles slowly crouched again.
Nadia continued,
"Let me go."
"You’re making a mistake."
Ghost smirked.
"Believe me..."
"Her next target is you."
Nadia’s expression hardened.
"No."
"She won’t hurt me."
"You sure?"
"She can’t."
Ghost looked toward Reina.
"Reina."
"Yes?"
"I see duct tape."
Reina looked beside the kitchen counter.
"Oh."
She smiled.
"I saw it too."
Nadia immediately began struggling.
"No."
Reina picked up the roll.
"No."
Nadia tried moving backward.
Reina reached her.
Seconds later...
Nadia’s wrists were secured behind her.
Then Reina pulled a strip across her mouth.
Nadia protested through it.
"Mmph!"
Ghost nodded approvingly.
"Much better."
Nadia glared at him.
Ghost continued,
"You know, Nadia..."
"My friend Reina has an interesting talent."
Reina tilted her head.
"Want to see?"
Nadia stared.
Then Reina spoke.
"What do you think?"
Nadia’s eyes widened.
It was her voice.
Not similar.
Not close.
Her voice.
Tone.
Pitch.
Cadence.
Nadia stopped struggling for a second.
Ghost smiled.
Then...
Buzz.
Everyone looked down.
Nadia’s phone was vibrating.
Ghost glanced toward Reina.
"Perfect timing."
Reina pulled the phone from Nadia’s pocket.
The name on the screen appeared.
Vivienne.
Nadia immediately struggled again.
"Mmph!"
Ghost looked toward Reina.
"Pick up."
Reina answered.
No hesitation.
Vivienne’s voice came immediately.
"Did you finish the job?"
Reina answered in Nadia’s exact voice.
"His dead body is right in front of me."
Nadia’s eyes widened even further.
Vivienne sounded irritated.
"What the hell are you doing?"
Reina watched Nadia.
Vivienne continued,
"You were supposed to clean the scene by now."
Reina smiled slightly.
"Yes..."
"But I had a second thought."
Silence came through the phone.
"What?"
Reina leaned against the table.
"What are you planning to do with me once you’re finished using me?"
Vivienne’s voice immediately hardened.
"Nadia."
"I need insurance too."
"Are you threatening me?"
Reina’s smile widened.
"That’s exactly what it sounds like."
Nadia violently shook her head.
Ghost watched with amusement.
Reina continued,
"This is the last job I’m doing for you."
Vivienne remained silent.
"Your friend Vane made quite a mess."
Reina looked around.
Bullet holes.
Broken furniture.
Blood.
Marcus’ body.
"No chance of cleaning everything before someone notices."
Vivienne cursed quietly.
Reina continued,
"But..."
"I can take one thing away."
A pause.
"Something that’ll protect you."
Vivienne immediately asked,
"What?"
Reina looked toward Ghost.
He smiled.
"Vane wrote a letter."
Vivienne became silent.
Reina continued,
"A confession."
Nadia stared.
"His crimes."
"And yours."
The silence on the other end changed.
"What did you say?"
Reina calmly repeated,
"He confessed."
"Names."
"Operations."
"Your connection."
"Everything."
Vivienne’s breathing became audible.
Reina continued,
"The letter is here."
"If you want..."
"I can take it with me."
Vivienne’s answer came immediately.
"What do you want?"
Ghost’s smile widened.
Nadia struggled harder.
"MMPH!"
Reina looked down at her.
"I’ll tell you when I’ve decided."
Vivienne went quiet.
"For now..."
"I’m keeping the letter."
"Insurance."
Reina’s voice became colder.
"If anything happens to me..."
"If you make one wrong move..."
"This letter goes straight to the Secret Service."
Vivienne exploded.
"Are you threatening me?"
Reina smiled.
"Yes."
"Don’t forget who I am."
Vivienne’s voice became sharp.
"I am the Vice Presi..."
Click.
Reina ended the call.
Then...
Crack.
She snapped the phone in two.
The pieces dropped to the floor.
Ghost laughed softly.
"Nicely done."
Nadia was shaking with rage.
Ghost looked toward her.
"Take the tape off."
Reina pulled it away.
The moment Nadia’s mouth was free...
"You..."
She gasped.
"What did you do?"
Ghost said nothing.
Nadia’s voice rose.
"I’ll kill you."
She looked at Reina.
"Both of you."
Then toward Miles.
"And everyone you love."
Ghost’s expression didn’t move.
"You don’t understand Vivienne."
"She will come after you."
"You think you can play with her?"
"She will bury you."
Ghost waited until Nadia stopped to breathe.
Then looked toward Reina.
"Take her away."
Nadia froze.
Ghost stood.
His voice was calm again.
Too calm.
"Keep her contained."
"Don’t let her escape."
Reina nodded.
Ghost continued,
"And make sure she understands something."
Nadia stared at him.
"Mercy isn’t coming twice."
Her face slowly changed.
Ghost looked directly at her.
"Let her sit with that fear."
"Let her wonder when it ends."
Nadia’s breathing became shallow.
"But don’t let her die."
Reina understood.
"Copy that."
Ghost turned away.
Then stopped.
Without looking back, he added,
"I want her alive long enough."
Nadia stared at him.
The rage was gone now.
Fear had returned.
Ghost glanced over his shoulder one last time.
"And Nadia..."
She couldn’t look away.
"You already begged me once for life."
His eyes hardened.
"This time you will beg me for death."