Phantom ~ [Simon Ghost Riley]

XXII. Hidden

"I don't know what they want from me, captain. That's the part I'm concerned about. This doesn't feel like some sort of money request..." I sigh, frustrated over the whole situation. "They would have made contact about that already."

"You're right. I understand your frustration. I'll have Laswell and her team look into it, too. I promise we will get to the bottom of this. In the meantime, I think it's best if you stay hidden in Soap's apartment while we find another location for you," Price says, his brows furrowed. "I'm sorry, Ace."

"Not your fault, captain. Just... The fact that these fragile fucking men have to target the only woman in this group.."

"Ace," Ghost steps forward, now wearing his full mask and gear. "We'll get them."

I sigh again, looking around the group of men who've now all shifted their gaze toward me. "I trust you."

I turn around and head towards the door, ready to get to my office to grab some of my stuff. I hear steps behind me, and I don't have to guess twice about who it is. He catches up to me quickly, as his legs are quite literally twice the size of mine. He walks beside me in silence, matching my speed as we quickly near my office.

I open the door and immediately grab all the stuff I need. This includes the extra handgun I've got stored in one of my many drawers and the necessary ammo for it.

"We need to go by the armory before we go," I say as I close my drawers.

Price has allowed me to take an AR from the armory. It's something I had never thought was possible due to the strict rules, though he insisted on it. "I trust you won't do any bad with it. Better safe than sorry, Ace," he had said.

Ghost nods as he holds out a hand, wanting to carry my bag. I'd usually refuse to give it to him, though my shoulder still wasn't feeling as good as it should.

"Thank you," I say as I give him the bag.

We quickly pass by the armory before we get back to Soap. Ghost passes me a Grau 5.56, an assault rifle that I had previously used before.

"This will do," he says. "Let's hope you won't have to use it."

I look up at him as he peeks over the edge of his mask. His eyes show an expression that I haven't seen on him before. I quickly look back down at my hands so as to not make him uncomfortable. He's not someone who talks about his feelings often, so I don't bother asking him unwanted questions.

"Alright. I've got everything."

~

I put the dirty pan in the sink after having finished dinner. Ghost helps me clean up the kitchen as Soap is sprawled out on the couch, watching some useless reality TV. I had offered to cook for them as Soap's injury wasn't as well healed as we hoped it was.

"Thanks, love. It was amazing," Soap exclaims from the couch as Ghost and I finish cleaning up.

I sit down on the couch next to Soap and watch how Ghost takes a seat in the chair to the right of us. He leans back, his thighs spread apart to make himself comfortable. He lifts one of his arms before leaning his head against on thumb as the rest of his fingers support the side of his head. He still wears his mask, though only the balaclava.

Then, his gaze suddenly shifts to me. I'm a bit shocked by the unanticipated eye contact, though I refuse to look away. He blinks slowly, keeping his hardened gaze on me as nervousness creeps up on me. He then tilts his chin up in a challenging movement, peeking down at me over the edge of the fabric that's covering his nose.

"You two gotta fill me in on what the fuck is going on here," Soap says from beside me.

I turn to look at him as my cheeks flush with heat. "Nothing is going on."