Chapter Nineteen
Cleo didn’t have high expectations that all the members of the club would show up.
But she hadn’t banked on none of them making an appearance.
It made Ghost’s arrival that much sweeter.
He’d mentioned coming back late from a job, and she hadn’t expected him at all, but as always, Ghost showed up for her.
“Holy shit!” He glanced at her counter.
Cleo had made too much food, especially since no one showed up to eat it.
She also had a fridge full of beer and had purchased a few bottles of liquor that were popular with the members.
She’d done her best to make it perfect. And it was.
There just wasn’t anyone there to appreciate it. Except Ghost.
“Are you hungry?”
His gaze scanned over the food. “Ate on the road.”
Cleo flattened her lips, forcing a smile. When he looked over, he shrugged. “But I could eat again.”
It was a sweet gesture, but she didn’t want him to feel obligated. When he walked to the table and grabbed a plate, she sidled up next to him.
“You don’t have to eat if you’re not hungry, Ghost. It won’t hurt my feelings.”
He scooped a hefty serving of potato salad and scoffed. “I don’t turn down homecooked meals, Cleo.”
She ducked away, watching him pile the food on his plate. She spent the next thirty minutes talking about the house and the plans she had for the future. It wasn’t very interesting, but he listened while he ate.
“Sounds like it’s all working out.”
“It is.”
And she had Ghost to thank for it. Had he not devised a plan to speak with Inez, she’d probably still be living at the clubhouse.
“I never thanked you.”
Ghost furrowed his brows. “For what?”
She waved her hand gesturing to the kitchen and living room. “For this. If you hadn’t told me to ask Inez, I don’t think the club would’ve allowed it. I’m still kind of shocked Wraith is okay with it. He was really against it.”
“Fear.”
She blinked. “What?”
Ghost wiped his mouth, tossing his napkin on the plate and grabbed his beer.
“Wraith doesn’t take chances with you. Never has.
Keeping you safe comes before everything else.
That blinds people. His need to protect you overshadowed what you really needed.
A little freedom.” Ghost cocked his brow.
“He did the wrong thing for the right reasons.”
She hadn’t thought of it that way.
“Gonna show me the house?”
The tour was quick with only four rooms. But it had something special she knew only Ghost would fully appreciate.
“You wanna see something cool?”
Ghost shrugged. “Why not?”
She waved him to follow her to the back of the house. The living space was on the main floor, but it had an unfinished attic with stair access near the back door. Cleo started walking up, and the floorboards creaked.
“We’re gonna fucking die on these steps, aren’t we?”
She glanced back and snickered. “No, and I promise this is worth it.”
Ghost sighed. “It better be.”
When she reached the landing, she stepped aside, making room for Ghost. He wasn’t as bulky as some of the other brothers. His physique was more comparable to a swimmer. Slim but solid and defined. But at six foot, he remained hunched over to not hit his head on the beams.
Ghost scanned the small space. “Risked my life for an attic?”
Cleo smiled, shaking her head. She walked toward the window in the front. It took three tries before it finally gave way and opened. She climbed out onto the roof and turned back.
“I have my own roof now.”
Even in the dark attic she saw Ghost smile before walking to the window and climbing out, taking a seat beside her.
“It’s cool, right?”
Ghost let out a soft chuckle, staring off into the woods. “Yeah, it is.”
It wasn’t the same rooftop view. Ghost’s was better.
But it was something. She tucked her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around her legs.
They sat in silence for a while. It was calm and peaceful.
Not how she’d expected the night to go. When she’d invited the members over to check out her house, she didn’t expect them to stay long.
Cleo saw it as more of an open house where they could stop by, grab some food, see her place, and be on their way.
Or at least, that was how she’d envisioned and hoped it would turn out.
Cleo got the opposite. As if he read her thoughts, Ghost glanced over.
“Who else stopped by?”
“Oh well, um Wraith and Ace are on a run.” She cleared her throat, circling her shoelace with her finger. “And Cypher said he had something at the motel, but he’s gonna swing by next week.”
Ghost’s jaw squared and gave her a curt nod. “Still leaves a lot of brothers. Anyone else come by?”
“I know how busy they all are.”
“No one?”
“No.” She muttered then smiled. “But I’m glad you did.”
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, and when 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 all really busy.
” 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.