She quickly nodded.
Cleo would get used to being with him publicly in front of the club. But it would take some time. And he’d give her that.
“I’ll come find you when I’m done.”
She smiled and ducked her head, not even acknowledging Ace, who had started to walk over. She practically ran up the front stairs and into the house within seconds.
“Well.” Ace smirked. “What do the kids say? You just made it official?”
Wraith scoffed. “Ace, I’m thirty-five. I don’t fucking know what the kids say.”
Ace laughed. “I’d say it’s about fucking time. The brothers would agree.” Ace folded his arms and glanced over to the front door.
“How’s this gonna look, brother?”
Wraith knew what he was asking. Cleo at the clubhouse as Knox’s sister was an entirely different scenario than being with him. It would change the dynamic. The club had lived by rules and made an exception for her. But a couple living among the brothers was different. For his part, Wraith wanted privacy with her and going to the motel was a temporary fix. But long-term? He needed something more.
It wasn’t an original idea but a damn good one. There was plenty of space in Killcreek.
Wraith dragged his hand down his beard. “Pull some Ghosttown shit and build some houses?”
Ace snorted. “We could do that.”
Fucking Ghosttown paving the way. Who would’ve thought!
Chapter Twelve
The last two weeks had been surreal. Perfect, actually. Cleo had spent more time with Wraith than she ever had. And it wasn’t restricted to the clubhouse. They’d gone back to the bar for lunch a few times. It was enough for Barry to comment. “You’re becoming a regular.” It wouldn’t have meant much to most people, but Cleo liked the idea. They’d gone to Minnie and Ralph’s three times and stayed the night. It gave them privacy, which was necessary after Gent’s taunting about hearing her. Although, it hadn’t stopped her from sneaking into Wraith’s room. Twice.
Their relationship was shaping into something real. So, why did he lie?
It was completely by chance she’d stopped by the motel. She was heading to the clubhouse when she saw a car pass in the opposite direction. She didn’t see the driver, but she thought she recognized the car. Reyna’s.
For the last two weeks, she’d done odd jobs around the clubhouse and for Ace, because the motel was still shut down for renovation.Or so I thought.When she showed up, there were no signs of construction. She searched for Cypher, but he wasn’t around. A few prospects she didn’t know well were leaving when she stopped them. That was when she was informed the wholeoperation had been shut down weeks earlier, and the girls had all moved out.
Why had no one told her? She wasn’t privy to most club business, but this should’ve been an exception.I friggin’ work there.Or, she did. None of it made sense. But Cleo wanted answers.
When she pulled into the driveway, she groaned. They were having a party, which made finding a parking spot an absolute nightmare. She circled the house several times, finding an opening on the grass. She rushed through the back door. She was looking for Wraith but found Ace instead.
She sidled up next to him at the bar, squeezing between him and a woman clearly vying for his attention.
“Ace?” She nudged his elbow, and he glanced down.
“Hi. I just stopped by the motel, and the prospects said the girls moved out.”
His jaw squared. “Yeah.”
She waited, expecting some type of explanation. Ace lifted his glass, taking a sip without any response. She could’ve let it go. She didn’t.
“They said you shut it down weeks ago.”
Ace stared back at her but didn’t say a word. What the hell was going on?Say something. Anything!
“Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
“Because we don’t answer to you, Cleo.” His cold tone had her clamping her lips.
Of course they didn’t. But why all the secrecy? She wouldn’t push Ace any further. He was the president and no one questioned him. She turned to leave and felt his hand wrap over her wrist. She glanced back and he leaned closer.
