Thank you, Ghost!
****
By the time they pulled into the parking lot of the clubhouse, it was after midnight, and Cleo still hadn’t answered his text. His initial plan was to go straight to her house. But he headed to the clubhouse instead. He knew Ghost had spent a few hours at her place. At first, he was aggravated, but she’d always been tight with the brother. Instead of acting the jealous fool, he tried to keep calm. As Ace said, Wraith wasn’t available. Of course she’d reach out to Ghost if she needed something. Balancing this relationship with her was new territory. He was quickly learning if he wanted to keep her, and he did, he had to control himself.
Wraith and Ace walked into the clubhouse. He hadn’t expected a party. It wasn’t as big as usual, but there were a decent amount of people. He clocked Ghost coming out of the kitchen. He made his way across the room, stopping in front of his brother.
“She alright?”
Ghost furrowed his brows.
“You were at Cleo’s place for a couple hours.”
Ghost nodded. “Yeah, she’s good. Said you and Ace were on a run.”
“Ghost, man, making visits to Cleo’s when your brother’s out of town?” Gent whistled. “That’s fucking ballsy.”
Something shifted in Ghost’s demeanor, and he glared at Gent, then scowled at all the brothers gathered at the table.
“I went to her housewarming party, asshole.” Ghost raised his brows. “And you know who wasn’t there, Gent? Any of you motherfuckers.”
Wraith drew in a breath and rolled his neck. That’s why he’d stopped by. The date had totally slipped his mind, but Cleo had mentioned inviting everyone over to see her house. He and Ace already had a scheduled run. Cleo completely understood, andwhen he’d suggested she move it, she’d refused. Cleo didn’t want her party to interfere with the club’s usual weekend nights. It was thoughtful and sweet. More than any of them deserved.
“Her what?” Oak asked, laughing.
Ghost narrowed his gaze. “Housewarming. I was on my way back, passing her road. Remembered her inviting everyone over to see it. Figured I’d stop in.” He folded his arms, angling his head. “You wanna know what I walked into? She had a whole bar set up and more food than I’ve ever seen. Asked her if anyone else came by.” He scanned the brothers. “She said no, but she understood. You’re allreallybusy.” Ghost snorted. “Yeah, busy partying. Who the fuck gives a shit about Cleo, right?”
“That was tonight?” Oak asked, and Ghost whipped his head, glaring at the brother.
“Yeah, asshole! It was tonight.”
Oak held up his hands. “Calm the fuck down, I wasn’t the only one who forgot.”
“Let me ask you something.” Ghost glanced around the room. He had all the brothers’ attention. “Do you all fucking do this shit on purpose?”
“We. Forgot.” Cross ground his teeth.
Ghost scoffed, smirking. “Yeah, well, no worries, brother ’cause she’s used to it.” He started through the room but stopped at the edge of the hallway and turned back. “I didn’t want to stop by her place. I got two days’ worth of road grit on me, and haven’t slept in almost twenty-four hours. All I wanted was to get my ass home, have a beer, shower, and pass out.” Ghost paused. “I only stopped because it’s Cleo, and in her head me, you” —he glanced at Wraith— “And every brother in this room is family to her. The only fucking family she has left. And you motherfuckers can’t even give that girl one fucking inch.”
Ghost walked out the door, and Wraith took over the duty of glaring at his brothers. There was nothing more to say. Ghost had said it all.
Fucking assholes.
Chapter Twenty
Cleo stared down into the refrigerator. It was completely stocked to the point of no more room. She made a few containers for Grizz, but she had no place to store them until tomorrow.
Cleo packed up her small cooler and walked across the yard with her flashlight to guide her. There hadn’t been too many bear sightings, but it was mating season for the coyotes. She quickened her steps, her eyes darting all around her. She rushed toward the porch. It was after midnight, and the house was drowned in darkness. She placed the cooler by the rocking chair and started back to her little house.
Cleo was halfway there when she noticed a single headlight illuminate the road, then turn into her driveway. As she got closer, she noticed the familiar bike.What is he doing here?They’d texted throughout his run, but he’d never mentioned coming back early.
The excitement bubbled in her chest, and Cleo lengthened her stride, veering toward the front of the house. She reached her driveway just as Wraith shut down his bike and got off. He hadn’t seen her and stopped, staring up at her house. He’d seen it a dozen times, which made this all the more strange. What was he looking at? She glanced over and immediately smiled. It may not have been much to most people, but for Cleo, it was everything.And mine.
She met him at his bike. “Is everything okay?”
Wraith jerked his head. “What are you doing out here by yourself?”
Cleo resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Wraith was overprotective, and that would never change.And I’m okay with that.
