Chapter 28 #2
“How dare you put another woman’s life in danger to save me?
What gives you the right to choose who might live or die to save me?
What the fuck, Fury? Whack can go fuck himself, too!
None of you get to put someone else's life in danger. No how, no way. I take my own risks and no one else. If I’d known that this was going on, I’d have come out of hiding and…
AAARRRGGHH!” I slam my fists on the table several times and only stop when I realize how much it hurts.
“If I’d known this was the thanks I was going to get, I’d have left Ghost to come tell you on his own.”
“Thanks? Thanks? If you’re expecting thanks you’re so way off target, you’re on the wrong fucking range!
Stay here while I go calm down or I’ll be giving Pattie her wish to use my shotgun again, on you!
” Storming outside, I stop on the front porch and take several deep breaths.
As far as calming goes, they do jack shit.
Seeing Spirit and Mateo fighting on the grass, with Ghost watching from the sidelines, I walk down to join Ghost.
“Is he dead?”
“Not yet, but there’s still plenty of daylight left to kill him and bury the body. Did you have a hand in this, too?” I squint at him because I like Ghost and hope he was as far removed as possible.
“Everyone was involved in it, Doc. You are highly thought of, and no one wanted anything to happen to you. Hell, Pattie jumped at the chance to play you and keep you safe. I don’t think any of the brothers have ever seen her so excited or animated about anything, ever.
I think we may have released a closet serial killer.
She was so hyper from seeing Fury’s father launched backwards by both barrels, she hasn’t shut up about wanting to do it again.
” Ghost laughs at the memory, and that forces a smile to my lips.
I can’t see Pattie in that light, but his description alone lightens my mood.
“It should have been me, not Pattie, who took the risks. I won’t let that happen again.” I take more deep breaths, and the sound of blood pumping through my ears begins to recede.
“Fortunately, Fury only has one father, so it shouldn’t ever be a thing in the future, but if it does, I’ll make sure that you are the first in the firing line. How’s them apples?”
“Deal. I’ll sleep better tonight knowing that.” I look at Ghost who has his eyebrows damn near disappearing into his hairline. “What’s that look for?”
“If you expect to get any sleep tonight, you’d best think again.”
“Why? What’s happening tonight?” Now I’m worried all anew.
“It’s not my place, but I’ll let the cat out of the bag. Fury had the all clear from your Dr. Tom, so you won’t be getting a wink of sleep after he gets you home.”
“Oh. OH! Well, let’s just keep that to ourselves then. I may mess with him later, just to get a bit of payback.” I have an evil grin on my face, and then Ghost gives me a nudge.
“How and when did that happen?” He nods to where Spirit and Mateo are sitting together on the grass.
“It was a sort of slow burn that happened really quickly. I don’t know that either of them was exactly aware of what was happening between them, but it was very sweet to watch.
Spectre certainly played a part, and I swear the little shit knew exactly what he was doing, too.
” I smile as I watch them, and even from behind them, you can see they are at ease with each other.
“What do you think Thorn will make of it?”
“Shit. I think I’ll leave it to Fury to break the news. He seems to be better at communicating with my son than I am. He’ll make a good father. A better one than I’ve been, that’s for sure.” Ghost shakes his head.
“You knew I was behind you when you said that, didn’t you?” Fury’s voice booms from behind us.
“Hell, I must be losing my touch. I never heard you there.”
“Well. I’m ready to go home, and not to the practice house either. I want my own home, my own bath, and my own bed. What happens to those two? Do we take Mateo with us, or leave him here?”
“Let’s take him with us, and then he gets to surprise Salem when he turns up back here on his old hog.”
“She’s not Salem anymore, Ghost. He’s closed that chapter of her book and opened a new one for her.”
“She’s Wraith, at last?”
“Wraith? No. She’s Spirit, and she’s embraced it wholeheartedly. Mateo said the MC already had a Wraith, so he came up with Spirit after we followed her through the woods. I think he nailed it. The harsh name of Salem that her mother gave her doesn’t suit her anymore.”
We tell Mateo that we are leaving soon and then give them a few minutes alone.
When he comes to the pickup, he is not alone.
It isn’t Spirit that is with him, though.
He bends down, gives Spectre some petting, and then tells him to go home.
Spectre sits his ass down and watches as we drive away.
I still see him sitting there as we near the end of the drive.
As we turn onto the main road, I look back and he is gone.