He tightened his brows. “IknowWraith did that.”
Really?For me?She peeked over at the car again. They had gotten one guy in the car but seemed to be struggling with the other’s limp body.
Ghost nudged her knee, handing her the bourbon. “You’ve had a busy week causing chaos in the club.”
She fisted the bottle, and heat rose from her chest to her cheeks.That’s an understatement.However, she didn’t agree entirely.
“I should’ve told you guys about the campers, but” —She drew in a breath— “Aside from not telling anyone where I was going, what’s so wrong with wanting to hang out with Reyna, play some poker, and possibly go on a date?”
“Date?” Ghost raised his brows. “He’s a client of Reyna’s who took an interest in you. For guys like that, you only serve one purpose, on your back and on your knees. I don’t give a shit what Reyna told you. He was looking at you like you were a whore. How are younotoffended?”
Cleo nibbled on her bottom lip, staring off into the woods surrounding the clubhouse. Maybe Rogue was right. Her thinking was off, and her brain wasn’t wired the same as others. But was it so wrong to feel a little appreciative that someone found her attractive? Maybe it was, and she should’ve been offended. She wasn’t though. It was probably due to being so awkward and oblivious. Self-worth could have played a part. There was too much to dissect. She was a therapist’s dream client.
“Cleo,” Ghost snapped.
She shrugged, clasping her hands, resting her arms on her knees, and looking over the darkened yard. It was quiet. Too quiet.
“You’re fucking better than that.”
The corner of her mouth curled, and her eyes welled. It wasn’t so much what he said but who he was mimicking. Knox would have said the same thing. He would have gone into full big brother protective mode had he been around to hear the conversation. But he wasn’t. And he’d never be. Knox was gone, leaving her on her own to fare for herself.I just don’t know how to do it.Cleo had spent a lifetime following orders. Even to this day there was someone else who dictated her schedule, corrected her mistakes.
Cleo sighed, mulling over Ghost’s statement.
“Am I?” she mumbled.
“What the fuck does that mean?”
Cleo licked her lips and angled her head. “Am I better than this? Uneducated, socially awkward, and I can barely take care of myself. I have no life experience worth mentioning and—” She clamped her lips shut.
“And what?”
“I’m invisible.”
He knitted his brows. “No, you’re not.”
“It’s the superpower everyone thinks they want. But in reality, it’s kind of torture.” Her eyes welled. “No one sees me, not really. Only Knox, and now he’s gone, so…”
She felt his hand wrap over her calf, and she jerked her head.
“I fucking see you, okay?”
Cleo snorted. “You see Knox when you look at me. You all do. I’m an obligation he left behind that you all honor because you loved him. It really has nothing to do withme.”
“That ain’t true, Cleo.”
Yes, it is.
Cleo turned her head, staring over at Ghost. “Even if you’re right and that guy Evan just wanted me for sex? He had plenty of beautiful women to choose from. And he picked me.” Cleo smiled, not feeling any joy in the statement. “No one ever picks me, Ghost. I’ve never been anyone’s first choice.”
There was a long stretch of silence. She’d made it awkward opening up. It had completely shifted the vibe of celebrating her birthday on the roof. Cleo was prepared to leave when Ghost turned to her.
“There’s hundreds of people downstairs partying. Almost half of them are my brothers.” Ghost pointed at her. “And you’re the only one Ipickedto come hang out on the roof.”
A tear slipped down her cheek and she sniffled. She’d never been so happy to be proven wrong, and his statement did just that. She smiled and sucked in a breath.
Ghost narrowed his gaze. “But I’m kicking your ass off if you start crying.”
Cleo ducked her head, slyly wiped under her eyes, and chuckled. It wasn’t much of a birthday, sitting on a roof and drinking. But at least she was in good company.
