Chapter 66

Amanda sat in Ron’s living room, her fingers tapping lightly against the armrest of the couch. The soft glow of the evening light filtered through the curtains, casting warm shadows across the room. Despite the comforting atmosphere, her mind was far from at ease. It had been a few days since her last meeting with Ghost, and the weight of what she needed to do pressed heavily on her.

Russell—her biological father. The man whose name alone brought a chill to her heart. He was the source of so much pain, the reason behind so many of the dark twists her life had taken. But more than that, he was dangerous, a criminal whose actions had left a trail of destruction in their wake. Amanda knew he had to be stopped, but the challenge lay in how to do it without dragging Ghost into the fray.

Ghost, her brother, had only just begun to open up, to trust her. She couldn’t risk him getting his hands dirty, especially not when she was just starting to see glimpses of the person he could be—someone more than the shadowy figure he’d become. But that meant she had to be the one to find a way to bring Russell to justice.

Amanda sighed, her thoughts spinning. The sound of footsteps pulled her from her reverie, and she looked up to see Ron entering the room. He offered her a gentle smile, holding two mugs of tea.

“Thought you could use something warm,” Ron said, handing her one of the mugs before taking a seat next to her.

“Thanks,” Amanda replied, wrapping her hands around the mug. The warmth seeped into her palms, but it did little to ease the chill in her heart.

Ron studied her for a moment, his expression concerned. “You’ve been quiet tonight. Want to talk about what’s on your mind?”

Amanda hesitated. She hadn’t told Ron everything yet, but if anyone could help her figure out a way to deal with Russell, it was him. He had always been steady, reliable, and most importantly, he cared about her. After a deep breath, she decided to confide in him.

“It’s Russell,” she began, her voice low. “I need to figure out how to get him out of our lives for good—how to get him arrested. But I can’t let Ghost be the one to do it. I don’t want him to get dragged into something he might not come back from.”

Ron nodded, his expression serious. “I understand. Russell’s dangerous, and you’re right to be worried about Ghost. But Amanda, you don’t have to do this alone. We can figure this out together.”

Amanda’s heart warmed at his words. She hadn’t realized how much she needed to hear that, to know that she wasn’t in this battle by herself. “I just… I don’t know where to start. Russell’s careful, and his network is deep. If I make one wrong move, he could disappear, or worse, retaliate.”

Ron leaned forward, setting his mug on the table as he considered her words. “You’re right. We need to be smart about this. But you’ve got one advantage—Ghost. He knows Russell’s operations, even if he’s not directly involved anymore. He could help us gather evidence without getting too close.”

Amanda nodded slowly. “That’s what I was thinking. But how do I involve him without putting him at risk?”

“Maybe,” Ron suggested carefully, “you let Ghost think he’s helping you keep your distance from the danger. We could work together, using what he knows to build a case, and you could be the one to hand it over to the authorities. Ghost doesn’t need to know every detail—just enough to keep him focused on the right path.”

Amanda considered Ron’s idea, turning it over in her mind. It was risky, but it made sense. Ghost had the knowledge, the connections, but she had the determination to see this through without crossing any lines. And if they worked together, maybe they could bring Russell down without Ghost having to get his hands dirty.

“I like that plan,” she finally said, a determined glint in her eye. “But we need to make sure Ghost feels like he’s in control, or he might go off and do something rash.”

Ron nodded, agreeing. “We can set up a system. You and I will handle the legwork—gathering evidence, making contacts with the authorities—and we’ll keep Ghost informed just enough to keep him engaged. But the real action? That stays with us.”

Amanda felt a sense of relief wash over her. She wasn’t alone in this, and with Ron by her side, the task didn’t seem quite as insurmountable. They would need to move carefully, methodically, but for the first time, Amanda felt like she had a clear path forward.

“Thank you, Ron,” she said, her voice filled with gratitude. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Ron smiled, his hand reaching out to cover hers. “You don’t have to worry about that. I’m here for you, Amanda. We’ll get through this together.”

Amanda squeezed his hand, feeling a renewed sense of hope. They had a plan, and with Ron’s help, she could protect Ghost while ensuring that Russell finally paid for his crimes. She had no doubt that the road ahead would be difficult, but for the first time in a long time, she felt like they had a fighting chance.

As the evening wore on, Amanda and Ron began to discuss the details of their plan, sketching out the steps they would need to take to gather the evidence and set the trap. Amanda knew it wouldn’t be easy, but with Ron’s steady support and her determination, she was ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.