Ghost Phoenix Read Online Free PDF Page B

you don’t need me. You’re great at this. The firm can survive on entirely legal jobs. You and Grandfather have all the contacts. The firm won’t miss me.”
    â€œYou’re the only one who can live up to the legacy of the Doyles, Marian,” Grandpa said. “You owe us this. You can’t walk away.”
    â€œLegacy? You mean the Doyle history of stealing?”
    â€œOh, so now all your ancestors are as equally to blame as I am? They’re the ones who built the firm that allowed you to be well fed and clothed all these years. Yet you sneer at them.” Grandfather shook his head. “And all to cover that you’re a coward.”
    â€œMaybe I just don’t like breaking the law!” No, she hadn’t meant to lose her temper. This was a stupid argument. They couldn’t force her to do anything. Hell, they couldn’t even stop her from ghost walking through the back wall to get away from them.
    So why did she feel so guilty and miserable? She tasted bile in her throat and wondered what the old man would say if she threw up on him.
    He’d probably call her pathetic again.
    â€œMarian.” Her father hugged her. “I didn’t realize you were so unhappy. You’re right, that last flight was a wake-up call. We can do something to fix it, give you more time off, maybe you could go on your dig and come back. Let me work something out. This is just such a bad time to leave. Give us another chance, please, sweetheart?”
    â€œDad. No.”
    She backed away. She was immune to Grandfather’s insults but not her father’s concern. Jen apparently had the right idea all along. Run away and don’t look back.
    â€œDad, please. Let me go. I’ve had enough. I’ve done enough.” She looked down at the floor.
    â€œYou talk as if the phantom ability is a curse to run from and not a birthright to be proud of,” Grandfather sneered.
    Marian glanced at her dad. He stood between her and his father, frowning. More than once, he’d told her he wished he had the family gift instead of her, so she could have a normal life. He would always follow Grandfather’s wishes, even if it came to being arrested. He enjoyed pleasing his father.
    Dad took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
    â€œIt’s not your fault, Dad.” Yes, she liked making him happy, as he liked making his father happy. “You know the firm is in good shape. Think of it as a challenge to build us up legitimately. What if something happens to me? Or if no one gets the gift in the next generation? You’d have no choice than to be legitimate then. This works out better for the long-term.”
    â€œLong-term doesn’t always pay the bills in the short term.” Dad sighed. “The work you do will also ensure your new godson has a bright future. Jen and the baby deserve our help too.”
    James. She was letting her godson down. She was letting her sister down. “I don’t want…”
    Don’t let them guilt you , her sister had said. And here they were, doing exactly that. “Jen would agree with me.”
    â€œAs your father said, this is a very bad time to talk about this,” Grandfather said. “Stop acting a spoiled child who doesn’t realize how good she has it. Do you think you would have your lovely loft in SoHo without us?”
    â€œAnd my next home might have bars if I’m caught. I can give up the loft. I can give up everything. Okay, you’re right. I’m scared. But it’s more than that. A hundred years ago, even fifty years ago, this smuggling and looting wasn’t a big deal to anyone. But times and attitudes have changed. These precious items belong to their native heritage, not in the hands of some private collector. At the least, they belong in a museum. We’re being selfish and greedy and helping no one but ourselves.”
    â€œI see you’ve learned political