9. Ghost
Ghost
“I talked to Antonia.”
“And?”
“She was pretty torn up,” Memphis answered. “You know how she loves Mom. It got her all torn up to hear about her losing the house. It was even harder knowing that her father was the reason she’d lost it. She feels all kinds of guilty about it.”
Preacher folded his arms with a scowl. “But it didn’t have anything to do with her.”
“I know that. You know that. And I think deep down she knows that , but the guilt is still there.”
“You should’ve just left it. There was no reason for you to tell her.”
“She deserves to know the truth.” Memphis shook his head. “This mess with the cartel is coming whether we like it or not.”
“Maybe,” I muttered, leaning back in my chair. “But telling her doesn’t change anything. It’s not like she can do anything about it.”
“He’s right. There was no sense in worrying her. But that’s neither here nor there.” Prez sounded irritated as he told him, “It’s not just her father’s mess anymore. It’s all of ours.”
“Yeah, you’re right. So, what are we gonna do about it?”
“Shep reached out to Carmine’s handler.”
“And?”
“Carmine is aware of the situation, and he’s looking into it.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“He didn’t just fuck over one powerhouse. He fucked over several, and one or more of them have connections to the cartel. He’s just gotta figure out which one has come knocking.”
“How long is that gonna take?” Memphis pushed.
“As long as it takes.” Prez tried to remain calm as he told him, “I know this isn’t easy for you, but you’re gonna have to be patient. We gotta play this smart, or it will blow up in our faces. Now, go home and see about your girl.”
To my surprise, Memphis didn’t argue. He simply nodded, dropped his cup of coffee in the sink, and walked out of the kitchen. Prez shook his head and sighed. “That boy and his mother are gonna be the death of me.”
“He’ll settle down when we get some more answers.”
“Yeah, I doubt that. That boy’s a loose cannon. Always has been. Always will be.”
“But he listens to you, so there’s that.”
“Thank God for that.” He shook his head and scoffed. “So, about our guests...”
“What about ‘em?”
“There was a situation earlier this morning, and I think it’s time to make a change.”
“What kind of situation?”
“The kid walked in on Rusty and one of the club girls.” Prez cocked his brow. “He was down on the girls’ wing, and they were doing what they do. And he got an eye full.”
“Ah, man.”
“If I had to guess, I’d say it wasn’t the first time.”
“Whitney didn’t mention anything about it.”
“Doubt she knows.” Prez shrugged. “Not the kind of thing a boy would bring up to his mother, especially when he had no business lurking around the bar.”
“Damn.”
“It’s been a long time coming. The clubhouse isn’t exactly the best environment for a kid. At least, not day in and day out. It’s time to find them a place that’s a bit more permanent.”
“But they’re safe here.”
“Yeah, but they can’t keep going on like this. It’s been months. We need to start working on a plan to get her a job and get the kid back in school. Hell, this whole thing’s gotta be wearing on ‘em. I know it’s wearing on me.” His eyes narrowed. “She hasn’t said anything to you about it?”
“She wouldn’t. She’s too grateful for everything to complain.” I could tell that he wasn’t going to change his mind about this, so I asked, “So, what are you thinking?”
“I figured we’d find a place close so we could watch over them. Shep could put in a security system, and...”
Before I really thought it through, I suggested, “They could stay at my place.”
“Your place?”
“I’ve got plenty of room,” I replied casually. “Goose and I could work something out and still keep an eye on them. Maybe get a prospect or two to help out here and there. That way, they could get their lives back without putting them in jeopardy.”
“Seems like you have it all thought out.”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
“You got an interest in this girl?”
I thought back to the night she was outside. She was looking up at the stars, and I couldn’t deny that I felt an unexpected pull toward her. It felt strange to admit it. There was a time when I just felt sorry for her. It was impossible not to with the bruises and the anguish in her eyes. But as I stood there next to her, I realized there was much more to her than the pain or bruises. She was strong and beautiful, with a heart filled with hope.
And then, there was the night she had the bad dream. She reached for me, clung to me, and for a moment, I was her security net. I still hadn’t forgotten how incredible she felt in my arms, so I told Prez, “Yeah, there might be something there.”
“You need to be sure.” Prez gave me a knowing look as he added, “You can’t go through the things they’ve been through without having some pretty deep scars, and not the ones you can see. They’re hidden well below the surface, and they show themselves when you least expect it.”
“I have scars of my own.”
“Then, you know what it would mean to take these two on.”
“I’m not going to pretend that I know how things are gonna play out, but there’s just something about her... I can’t explain it, but I know this is something I need to do.”
“Then, talk to her. See what she thinks about it, and once the dust settles with this Carmine situation, you can make a move. And while you’re at it, you need to discuss what kind of work she’s interested in doing, and we need to get the kid in school. Shep can help with that.”
I gave him an understanding nod, then asked, “Is there anything I can do to help with the Carmine situation?”
“Just keep my son from doing anything stupid. He’s lost his brother, and the last thing he wants to do is lose his mother. I get that. Hell, I feel the same damn way, but we gotta be smart about this. The last thing we need is a war with the fucking cartel.”
“I’ll keep my eye on him.”
“Thanks, brother.” When I turned and started out of the kitchen, Prez called out, “Let me know how it goes with the girl.”
“Will do.”
My mind was racing as I started down the hall. I wasn’t sure who to talk to first. I wanted to clarify some things with Whitney, especially after my conversation with Prez, but Memphis was going through it. He was known for being a loose cannon, so checking in with him and making sure he didn’t do something stupid seemed more pressing.
When I got to the bar, I found him sitting alone at the front counter with a shot-glass and half-empty bottle of whiskey sitting in front of him. He wasn’t drunk, but he was well on his way. The poor kid looked like he was carrying the weight of the world on his back, and maybe he was. Things had gone south fast, and there wasn’t an end in sight.
He wanted blood. I could see it in his eyes. He was itching to do something—anything, I had to talk him off the ledge. I walked over and sat down next to him. He tightened his jaw like he knew what I was about to say. “I’ve already had one of your lectures. I’m not in the mood for another.”
“No lecture. Just here to make sure you’re okay.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m peachy keen.” He scoffed, downing the rest of his whiskey before slamming the glass on the bar. He glared at me, and that fire in his eyes was still burning hot. "Why wouldn’t I be? It’s not like everything’s going to shit, and Dad wants us to sit back and do nothing. Just like we did with Beck.”
“Hey, now.” Beck was Memphis’s brother. He’d gotten himself killed when he retaliated against the men who’d killed his girlfriend. He’d wanted the club to back him. When Prez refused, he went out on his own. “It’s not like that, and you know it.”
“Shouldn’t you be babysitting or something?” He glanced over his shoulder with a snarl. “Wouldn’t want little Bo-Peep to think you’ve forgotten about her.”
“Don’t start with that bullshit. This isn’t about me.”
“Yeah, Dr. Phil has no problem delving into other people’s shit.” Memphis cocked his brow. “But never wants to talk about what’s going on with him.”
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
“You really gonna sit there and pretend you don’t got a thing for this girl?”
Memphis knew me better than most. I knew there was no point in lying to him, but lying is exactly what I did. “Not like that. I’m just doing the job I was assigned to do.”
“Yeah, yeah. Keep telling yourself that.” A somber expression marked his face as he admitted, “I don’t know how to make any of this right, and Antonia’s all in her head over her father. I don’t know what to do or say to help her.”
“Then figure it out, ‘cause she was there when you needed her.”
I could still see the wheels turning in his head.
His chest rose and fell, his breath uneven as the words sunk in.
I leaned against the bar, looking him dead in the eyes.
“You’re right again.”
“I usually am.”
Memphis didn’t respond. He just stood up, gave me one last look, and headed out of the bar. I grabbed the bottle of whiskey and turned it up, taking a long drink before slamming it back on the table. I was surprised when I heard a woman’s voice say, “Whoa. Looks like someone’s having a rough start to the day.”
I turned and found Bridget walking towards me. “Yeah, you could say that.”
“Anything I can do to help with that?”
“Not this time.”
“Hmmm.” She walked behind the counter and stood in front of me. “Seems that’s happening a lot lately.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“First, it was Grim.” A soft smile spread across her face, and it was like she was referring to some fairy tale as she said, “When he met Jenna, that was it. He lost all interest in anyone else. And then, the same thing happened with Memphis when Antonia came into the picture.”
“What are you gettin’ at?”
“Just that Whitney’s as good as any girl who’s ever come through here, and she deserves to find her slice of happiness.” She leaned her elbows against the counter and propped her chin on her hands. “I really hope she finds it.”
“You and me both.”
Without saying anything more, Bridget turned and walked out of the bar, leaving me wondering if what she’d said was all bullshit or if there was really something to it. Either way, I wasn’t going to find my answer at the bottom of that whiskey bottle, so I got up and went to find Whitney.
When I walked by the family room, I spotted her and Kay huddled up on the couch, and they were carrying on about something. They were an unlikely pair, and while I couldn’t make out what they were saying, they both seemed engrossed in whatever they were talking about.
I was curious what had them both so excited, so I started over to them. When I got closer, I heard Kay say, “I’m telling you, we could totally do it.”
“You really think so?” Whitney bit her lip like she wasn’t sure if she was ready for a change or just afraid of what might come with it. “It’s pretty dark.”
“Absolutely.” Kay reached over and ran her fingers over the ends of Whitney’s hair, assessing it like she was on some kind of mission. “It’ll take a little time, but we can definitely go lighter.”
“Oh, that would be great!” Whitney laughed, tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear, and the entire room lit up. “I know I can’t go back completely natural, but even a little lighter would be amazing.”
Seeing that look of hope in her eyes hit me like a damn freight train. There was something about when she was like this—talking, open, vulnerable—that made her seem even more beautiful. She had been through hell, yet here she was, talking about her hair like it wasn’t a big deal. It was nice to see her so excited about the possibility of a fresh start.
“Well, then let’s do it.” Kay sounded almost as excited as Whitney when she said, “We’ll need to get someone to run to the beauty store and grab us a few things, but we could do it today.”
“Oh, that would be amazing!”
“We need to get a list together, so we make sure we get everything.”
It seemed like they were really hitting it off, and after everything she’d been going through, Kay needed that—maybe even more than Whitney. It had to have been tough to hear that her worst fears were coming true, and her ex-husband’s past was catching up with her. She was a smart lady. She knew that losing her house was just the start.
I was contemplating whether I should leave or interrupt their moment when Kay announced, “I’ll go find Zeke and have him pick up what we need. I’ll be back in a few.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
Kay patted me on the shoulder as she walked past me. “Hey there, sweetie. I’m off to see a guy about an errand, but I’ll be back.”
Before I could respond, she was gone, and I was left alone with Whitney. She glanced over at me and muttered, “Hey.”
“Hey.”
“You weren’t at breakfast.”
“I had some things to tend to.”
“Hmm.”
We hadn’t spoken since our encounter the night before, and an awkwardness had settled between us. It was my fault. I shouldn’t have given her a hard time about being jealous, especially when I wasn’t sure how she was feeling about things. “So, you’re thinking about coloring your hair?”
"I don’t know." She raked her teeth across her bottom lip. "I’m not sure it’s a good idea.”
“Why not?”
“I’m afraid it might make it easier for him to find me.”
Her eyes were filled with worry, and I got why. Dylan was an asshole and had put her through hell. The last thing she wanted was to make it easier for him to find her. But there was more to it than that. This was a chance for her to take back a piece of herself, and I knew it was important for her to take it. “The color of your hair isn’t going to make much difference either way.”
“That doesn’t make me feel any better.”
“If you wanna go lighter, do it. But if it doesn’t feel like the right time, don’t. You call the shots."
"I just don’t want to do anything that might mess things up.”
"You’re not going to mess anything up.” I stepped over to her and placed my hand on her chin, gently lifting her head so she was looking at me. “You don’t have to worry about that.”
“I worry about everything,” she admitted. “It’s hard not to. Every time things start going well like they are now, something always happens, and it all falls apart.”
“Nothing’s gonna happen.”
“I really want to believe that.” She looked up at me and whispered, “I’m so tired of being afraid.”
“You don’t have to be afraid anymore.” Her eyes stayed trained on mine as I told her, “Not as long as I’m around.”
I stepped closer, narrowing the gap between us, then reached over and carefully brushed a strand of hair from her face. She didn’t move. She just stood there staring at me with that longing look in her eyes. I couldn’t stand it. I had to know what her lips would feel like against mine, so I leaned down and slowly lowered my mouth to hers.
I feared she might pull away, but instead, she wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me back. It was slow and soft, just like I imagined it would be. My hand fell to the nape of her neck, and I gently pulled her closer. A shudder ran through Whitney’s body as she parted her lips, giving me full access to delve deeper.
Our tongues tangled, and I knew this one kiss would never be enough. Just as things were starting to get heated, Whitney placed her hands on my chest, pulled back, and inhaled a deep breath. “I’m sorry... I just...”
“You can trust me, Whitney. I’d never hurt you. I need you to know that.”
“I do.”
“You don’t,” I argued. “Not yet, but you will . I am going to prove to you that you have nothing to worry about with me. It’s just going to take some time.”
With that, she gazed into my eyes as our lips met again in a kiss I wouldn’t soon forget.