Chapter 67

The late afternoon sun bathed the university campus in a golden hue as Amanda made her way to the secluded spot behind the old library—a place she and Ghost had come to think of as their own. It was a quiet corner, shielded by towering oak trees, where they could talk without interruption. Her heart pounded with a mixture of anticipation and nerves as she neared the spot. Today was the day she would tell Ghost about the plan.

When she arrived, Ghost was already there, leaning against the trunk of a tree, his tall frame blending into the shadows. His eyes met hers, dark and unreadable, but Amanda could see a flicker of something softer beneath the surface. He had been guarded during their previous meetings, but she sensed he was slowly letting his walls down.

“Amanda,” Ghost greeted her, his voice low, almost hesitant. “You’re early.”

She offered him a small smile, trying to ease the tension she knew was building between them. “Yeah, I thought we could talk.”

Ghost’s expression shifted slightly, curiosity and caution mingling in his gaze. He straightened up, taking a step closer. “What’s on your mind?”

Amanda took a deep breath, steadying herself. She needed to be careful with her words, to make sure Ghost understood what she was asking without pushing him too far. “It’s about Russell,” she began, watching his reaction closely.

Ghost’s jaw tightened at the mention of their father’s name, but he remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

“I’ve been thinking a lot about how to deal with him,” Amanda continued. “We both know he’s dangerous, and he needs to be stopped. But I don’t want you getting hurt, Ghost. I don’t want you to do something that you can’t take back.”

Ghost’s eyes narrowed slightly, a flash of defensiveness crossing his face. “I can handle Russell,” he said, his tone laced with a hint of anger. “I’ve been dealing with him my whole life.”

“I know you have,” Amanda said quickly, reaching out to place a hand on his arm. “And I’m not saying you can’t. But I want us to do this the right way—to bring him down without you having to carry that weight alone.”

Ghost looked down at her hand on his arm, his expression softening ever so slightly. “What are you getting at, Amanda?”

Amanda hesitated, choosing her words carefully. “Ron and I have a plan. We’re going to gather evidence against Russell—enough to get him arrested and locked away for good. But I need your help to make it happen.”

Ghost’s brow furrowed in confusion. “My help? I thought you didn’t want me involved.”

“I don’t want you involved in a way that could get you hurt or in trouble,” Amanda clarified. “But you know more about Russell’s operations than anyone. You could help us find the evidence we need—documents, connections, anything that ties him to his crimes. But I’ll be the one who takes it to the authorities. You won’t have to get your hands dirty.”

Ghost stared at her, his expression unreadable. For a long moment, he didn’t speak, and Amanda’s heart raced in the silence. Finally, he sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

“You think you can just gather some papers and get him arrested?” Ghost asked, his voice tinged with skepticism. “Russell’s smart, Amanda. He’s been doing this for years, and he knows how to cover his tracks.”

“I know it won’t be easy,” Amanda admitted. “But it’s worth trying. And if we work together, we might actually have a chance. I don’t want you to be the one who has to take him down with violence. That’s not who you are.”

Ghost’s eyes flickered with a mix of emotions—anger, doubt, and something else, something more vulnerable. “And what if this doesn’t work? What if he slips away, and you’re left empty-handed?”

Amanda took a step closer, her voice firm. “Then we’ll figure out the next step together. But I can’t sit back and do nothing, and I can’t let you go after him alone. We’re in this together, Ghost. I want to protect you as much as I want to bring him to justice.”

Ghost looked away, his gaze distant as he processed her words. Amanda could see the conflict in his eyes, the struggle between his instincts and his desire to trust her. When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter, almost resigned.

“You really think this can work?”

“I do,” Amanda said with conviction. “But only if we’re smart, and only if we do it together.”

Ghost met her eyes again, and for the first time, she saw a flicker of hope in his expression. It was faint, but it was there, and it gave her the strength to keep pushing.

“Okay,” Ghost finally said, his voice steadying. “I’ll help you. But if things start to go wrong, if Russell catches wind of what we’re doing…”

“Then we’ll adjust,” Amanda promised. “We’ll be careful, and we’ll stay one step ahead of him. I won’t let anything happen to you, Ghost.”

He nodded, though the doubt lingered in his eyes. “I don’t know if I believe that, but… I’ll trust you, Amanda. For now.”

Amanda smiled, relief washing over her. It was a small victory, but it was enough to keep her going. “Thank you, Ghost. We’re going to make this work.”

Ghost gave her a curt nod, his expression softening just a fraction. “Just… don’t get yourself hurt, okay? I’ve lost too much already.”

“I won’t,” Amanda assured him, her voice filled with determination. “We’re going to be okay. We’ll take Russell down together, and then we’ll figure out what comes next.”

Ghost didn’t say anything more, but he didn’t need to. The understanding between them was clear, and as they stood there in the fading light, Amanda felt a renewed sense of purpose. They had a plan, and they were going to see it through—together.