Chapter Sixteen
Ghost
W E HAD CHURCH this morning and called Cage and Grim, Gage, Slim, Renegade, Lash, Venom, and a few other clubs so we’re all on the same page. Everyone has been talking to Terrence’s previous employers, his family, the few people he called friends, and anyone else they can think of. Since they’re all located closer to Clifton Falls, Cage and Joker have been handling that. I really wouldn’t want to be on the end of an interrogation by Cage when it comes to someone fucking with one of his daughters. I can imagine how horrible he’s been when dealing with everyone and knows Joker was there to pull him back when he got too lost in getting the information by any means necessary.
The only thing we can do at this point is exactly what we’ve been doing by searching for the stupid fuck while protecting Alana by any means necessary. We’re not happy with her lack of protection though. Vault has ordered that Alana has two men on her when she’s away from the clubhouse no matter where she is and Kian or Deegan will remain at the clubhouse on the days she doesn’t work and is in the clubhouse.
“How’s she doin’ when it comes to leavin’ the clubhouse?” Cage asks as I look at Geek where we sit at the table.
“Not good, Cage. If she’s not at the tattoo shop with me, she doesn’t leave. All of her counselin’ appointments are done on a video call and she almost has a panic attack every single time I put her in my truck and head through the gates of the compound. Doc doesn’t really need to see her any longer either. If he does, he comes to the clubhouse. I don’t know what’s gonna make this situation better,” I answer him honestly as he curses through the phone.
“And what have you done with the tracker you found in her fuckin’ neck?” Joker asks, his usually calm voice hard and cold in ways I’ve never heard from him before.
“We move it every so often. Deegan actually has it on his bike so when he rides around, it makes Terrence believe she’s away from the compound. We don’t want him to know she spends most of her time here,” Vault answers the question as I look around the table, the need to get to the shop with Alana starting to overrule me.
“Good. We’re headin’ out tonight to come there. Somethin’ is gonna happen and we’re not gonna be here when it does. Skylar is goin’ out of her fuckin’ mind with worry and nothin’ we say or do is helpin’ her. It’s gonna be the three of us and Pops. Brandon and Kyle will head down in a few days after they wrap up their shit. You good with that, Vault?” Cage asks, his voice hard and cold.
“Wouldn’t have it any other way, Cage. You’re always welcome in our house. The rest of the club comin’ down at some point?” he questions Grim so we know how many rooms to get ready.
“Yeah. We’ll head out in a week. You gonna have enough room to house us all or do you want us to head to Cedar Bay?” Grim asks, making plans now so nothing is a surprise when they show up.
“We’ll have enough room. The Phantom girls can go to a motel or somethin’ while we work on buyin’ a piece of land to build an apartment complex on. They don’t need to fuckin’ be here with the shit one of them have been causin’ here for Alana,” Vault assures Grim and I know Cage, Joker, and Pops will be wanting an explanation.
“Liz is tryin’ to stake a claim on me,” I say before anyone can ask me what’s going on. “Alana has put her in her place more than once. Even beat the fuck outta her when the cast was still on her hand. Didn’t once use that hand, but destroyed Liz without hesitation.”
“That’s my girl,” Cage says, pride filling his voice and I know without a doubt that he’s got the largest smile on his face right now.
“Alana has put Liz in her place every single time she sees her. Includin’ yesterday when she was tryin’ to be slick and spy on the ol’ ladies while the rest of us were at work. I watched the footage when Brynn let me know what happened. Alana threatened to beat the hell out of her again and made sure to claim Ghost and Geek once more. Your girl definitely has your attitude and hasn't once used your name when she’s bein’ all badass. Valor is the one who dropped your name, Cage, in an attempt to get Liz to back off. It’s not happenin’ and Alana is dealin’ with each situation as it comes up,” King adds in, giving us information we don’t know about because Alana isn’t gonna rat out anyone.
“Okay. So, we’ve got Alana’s family comin’ down in the next few days and then the rest of the club comin’ down within the week. We’ll get everythin’ ready on our end and I know the ol’ ladies will be cookin’ up a storm for you. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure they don’t over prepare so Skylar has somethin’ to do. We all learned really early with her over the years that she needs somethin’ to do in the kitchen or she’ll go crazy,” Vault says and we all laugh because it’s the truth when it comes to Skylar.
“We’ll head out first thing in the mornin’. We’re drivin’ straight through. In the meantime, I want to know Kian and Deegan are on my girl every fuckin’ second. I’ll be havin’ a discussion with them when I get there,” Cage says, his voice hard and cold because he doesn’t trust anyone with his girls.
“I’ll make sure to let them know,” Vault says, laughing because our Prospects are gonna either piss their pants or listen to Cage and not show any emotion.
“We’ll talk soon,” Cage says, hanging up his phone as the rest of the men on the call with us soon hang up their phones and it’s once again just us in church.
“With them comin’ down, I want to make sure that we have everythin’ ready. I’ll get with Annabell as soon as we get out of here. Geek and Ghost, call your family and let them know. If we can get them down here, we’ll have even more protection for Alana because she’s family. We’ll make room no matter what we have to do,” Vault orders before calling church to an end.
Rushing from the room, I grab my stuff and let Geek know I’m heading to work so I can lay eyes on Alana. Vault stops me just long enough to let me know he’ll talk with Deegan and Kian and send them over to the shop now so they’re with our girl. It’s gonna be a long fucking day for them, but this is what they signed up for.
Walking into Phantom Ink, I see Alana sitting at the counter talking to a client on the phone while cashing out one of Crab’s regular clients. I knew he was coming in to get the back piece he’s been working on finished today. Stepping up to the counter, I wait until Alana’s off the phone before I lift her from her seat and wrap her body around mine, staking my claim by kissing her deeply in front of everyone currently in the tattoo shop. I don’t typically kiss my girl at work because we both try to remain professional and I’m not really sure how she feels about PDA unless she’s putting some desperate girl in her place when they’re trying to get me to fuck them. This is a first for us, but today it’s needed. My nerves are shot after having church and knowing all the Wild Kings will be in town soon.
“What’s wrong, Kaden? Did something happen?” Alana asks me when we finally pull apart, worry filling her eyes as she looks at me.
“I’m over this situation, Tink. I need you safe and spendin’ the mornin’ without you was fuckin’ hell. You should know a few things after church this mornin’,” I tell her, motioning Beckett over to the counter while Crab walks in the door with a knowing look on his face. I’m guessing he went out for a quick smoke break after working on a back piece.
I walk Alana back to the breakroom and close the door so no one else overhears our conversation. We sit on the couch and Alana doesn’t take her hands off me as we sit together. Her touch calms me and I’ve never experienced that before. A simple touch from the woman I’m falling in love with is so soothing and peaceful that I know it will only ever be like this with her. Geek has told me it’s the same with him whenever she touches any part of his body. Even if it’s a simple, innocent touch on his arm or shoulder.
“You’re scaring me, Kaden. Please talk to me,” she says, tears filling her eyes as she continues to look at me.
“Kian and Deegan are gonna be your shadows movin’ forward, Alana. Even if you’re at the clubhouse one of them will be there with you at all times. I’m sure they’ll be stationed outside our room when you’re in there and then they’ll follow you if you go to the kitchen or common room. They’ll give you space to do your thing, but they won’t ever be too far from you,” I tell her, pulling her on my lap and wrapping my arms around her.
“I’m good with all that. But I feel like you’re not giving me the full story. What else has you so upset?” she questions, reading me better than anyone but Geek.
“Your family will be on their way here first thing in the mornin’. Right now it’s just your dads, mom, and Pops comin’ down. In a few days Brandon and Kyle will be headin’ out. By next week the entire club will be here. I’m gonna call my dad to come down too and I know Geek is gonna call Playboy and his grandpa to come down as well,” I inform her and watch as Alana’s face lights up.
“Good. It’s been so long since I’ve seen your family members and I miss them. I hate the reason for the impromptu reunion, but I’ll take it. I’m not gonna fight against anything you guys need to do to keep me safe. I know this isn’t a good situation and until Terrence is found, we all have to be safer and ensure that he can’t get close to me. If he does, I honestly don’t know what he’ll do since I left him,” she says, fear filling her eyes as she looks at me and lets me see everything she’s feeling.
“If I have any say in the matter, he won’t get near you, Alana. Geek is ready to leave his job for now to hang out here and ensure one of us has eyes on you at all times. He doesn’t even have to tell me that’s where his head is right now. I read him when we were sittin’ around the table to know how much this is botherin’ him. It’s botherin’ everyone who loves you and there’s not much we can do about it until Terrence fucks up. He will fuck up, we just need to bide our time until he does it,” I state, using my words to try to convey how serious I am about her protection and how hard this shit is hitting everyone.
“Everything will work out, Kaden. I have to have faith or I’ll never get out of bed. It’s bad enough every time I leave the safety of the gates, I want to have a panic attack. Until this shit is over with, I won’t be able to move forward with my life. I need to be able to move forward with you and Colton,” she says as a tear falls from her eye and rolls slowly down her face to land on my hand where it rests on her thigh.
“We’ll move forward, Tink. Geek and I want to take you out on a date and we can’t do it. We were plannin’ on takin’ you to a nice restaurant and just spendin’ the night with you away from the clubhouse and everyone inside. The one thing we need to do is get the furniture in our house in the next week. That way we can free up another room in the clubhouse for everyone. Plus, your parents can stay in the guest room. Or Pops. Brandon and Kyle will wanna be at the clubhouse with everyone,” I tell her knowing they’ll take full advantage of the Phantom girls while they’re here because they haven’t fucked them before.
“Okay. I think we picked everything out already. We just need to pay for it and have it delivered. If I remember correctly, everything is still in the cart. The bed is already at the house too,” she says, already thinking of what else needs to be done. “I can do a pick-up order for groceries or something to fill the house so we can cook for our families. We have enough room for your parents and Colton’s parents to stay at our house too.”
“Are you sure you want everyone in our place?” I ask her, thinking of all the ways I want to fuck her in our home as we work our way through each room one at a time.
“It won’t be forever, Kaden. We can figure something out while they’re there. Not to mention it might be kind of exciting to sneak around and have quickies when we can,” she says, a blush staining her face and neck as she looks at me with desire filling her eyes.
“I like the way you think, Tink. I’ll make sure to let Colton know that’s where your head’s at,” I tell her, pulling her even closer so no room separates our bodies as I lean in for a long, deep kiss.
By the time we break apart, we’re both panting and trying to fill our lungs with air. I always get so lost in our kisses and don’t give a shit if I can’t breathe. Alana presses one more kiss against my lips before she carefully gets off my lap and adjusts her clothing. I stand and try to think of anything that will make my cock go down before I head out for my first appointment of the day. When we make our way back out the main floor of the shop, another woman is standing against the counter, frustration filling her face until she spots me. I watch on as she pulls her shirt down to expose more of her chest while a fake smile covers her face.
“Ghost, I’ve been waiting out here for you so long,” she pouts, her whiny voice grating on my nerves. “Why would you make me wait?”
This bitch is completely ignoring my girl at my side as I pull Alana even tighter against my side.
“My man was taking care of me and will make anyone wait when I need him,” Alana speaks up, making the girl turn her attention her way for the first time.
“Honey, Ghost would never be with a girl like you. He needs a real woman in his life and never makes me wait when he’s taking care of me,” the girl lies to Alana’s face as she looks at her with disgust filling her face.
“Really? You’re such a woman you have to come into a tattoo shop and lie while flirting with one of the men here. You pull your shirt down to expose your chest like a slut and seriously think that’s the kind of woman Ghost wants. Honey , he can get that shit at the clubhouse and know he’s not gonna have a stage five clinger on his hands. You’re nothing to him and never will be. I’ve known Ghost my entire life and he’s in my bed every night. This is my man so I suggest you run along and find a man who actually wants you instead of continuing to come off as the desperate slut you are,” Alana says, rubbing her hand up and down my abs while moving even closer to my side and glaring at the woman at the counter. “Ghost will no longer be tattooing you for any reason. If you want to get work done, Beckett or Crab will be more than happy to assist you.”
“Now you think you can tell him who he can work on. Ghost won’t let that shit stand,” she says, trying to act as if she knows what I’ll say in this situation.
“Actually, my woman doesn’t want me to work on you, so I won’t. She’s said what’s gonna happen movin’ forward. You can either get on board or leave. Our shop will more than survive with or without you comin’ here,” I tell her, stopping the argument before it even gets started. “Either way, today is booked full now and there’s no time for you. Make your decision and call for an appointment later next week.”
I give Alana my full attention as the woman hesitates for only a few seconds before she storms from the shop and lets the door slam closed behind her. Beckett and Crab start laughing hysterically as I help Alana in her seat before giving her a kiss and heading to my station to get ready for my appointment. I don’t take my eyes off my girl as she removes the girl from the schedule and makes a note that she’s only allowed to get work done by Beckett or Crab moving forward. Alana won’t be here as long as I will today and I know as soon as she gets home she’ll order the furniture we picked out for the house. I’ll make sure Colton calls to get it delivered immediately so we can move in and free up another room at the clubhouse for everyone.