Chapter Eight #4
Ace walked toward the door with everyone following close behind but stopped at the end of the hallway.
“You want me to call him in?”
Him. Cross clenched his jaw.
“No.” She narrowed her gaze. “Not yet.”
But soon. Secrets didn’t stay hidden forever.
Fuck!
*
The ride back to Killcreek from Lawry was longer due to all the construction on the highway. Certain parts of their state were expanding. Not theirs though. Killcreek and the surrounding area would remain untouched. They’d see to it.
They pulled into the parking lot after eleven.
With the amount of cars, trucks, and bikes, it was clear the brothers who’d stayed behind were partying.
Usually, Cross would be up for it but not tonight.
He’d take a page from Ghost’s book and retreat to his room.
He had too many thoughts, and some doubts, running through his mind.
As they started up the stairs, the door opened, and Cleo and Ghost walked out.
She immediately greeted Wraith. It was still strange to see them together as a couple. It had been a long time coming, but was new for everyone. Knox would’ve liked this.
“Did we interrupt a date, Ghost?” Gent asked.
“Walking her to her car, asshole.” Ghost gave him the middle finger while Cleo slapped his arm. Wraith didn’t even react to Gent’s taunting.
“I thought you’d be back a lot sooner,” she said.
“Got held up at Inez’s.”
Cleo smiled. “Oh, how is she?”
“As pleasant as ever.” Gent snorted. “Not hanging with your new bestie?”
Addison was the last topic Cross wanted to hear about. The woman had already consumed too many of his thoughts. He was eager to be rid of them. Is that so? He could have easily been done with her forever a few hours ago. Instead, he made the decision to let her stay. This woman was a mindfuck.
He and Ace passed the group, about to enter the house, when Cleo spoke.
“She’s working tonight.”
Cross stilled, slowly looking at Ace, who shared the same expression. What the fuck? Cross spun around and headed straight to Cleo with Ace at his side.
“What did you say?”
Cleo blinked and glanced up at Wraith. If she was hoping he’d step in, she was wrong. His jaw hardened.
“She’s working? Where?” Wraith asked.
Cleo cleared her throat, shifted on her feet, and forced a smile. Uncomfortable would’ve been putting it mildly.
“Cleo.” Ace growled.
“Um, yeah, so we were at Barry’s having lunch, and since he can’t work with his cast, and the girl behind the counter was really struggling, Addison made a drink for a customer, and well, Barry offered her a job. She’s a bartender back home, ya know.”
What. The. Fuck!
“You know about this?” Ace asked Wraith.
“No.” Wraith growled.
“Well, it just happened. I didn’t have time to tell you.”
“She’s here for a few days and gets a job?” Ghost asked the same question on everyone’s mind.
Cleo cleared her throat. “She’s actually staying for a month.”
“A fucking month?” Cross couldn’t contain himself.
It was one thing to allow her to stay for a few days, a week tops, but an entire month? Not fucking happening.
“She leaves by the end of the week,” Cross said, leaving no more room for argument.
“But her rental is booked for the month.”
“I don’t give a shit. She’s gone.” He glanced up at Wraith. “By the end of the week.”
“But why?”
“She doesn’t belong here, Cleo,” Ace said.
“She won’t bother you, I promise.” She swallowed hard, and Cross noticed her hands begin to shake. “Addison felt really bad about the meeting with everyone, and she completely understands your hostility, uncomfortableness” —she pointed to Cross— “And you being extremely cruel, mean, and rude.”
Excuse me? Cross felt the blood pulse through his veins and his muscles tightening. He balled his fists, glaring at Cleo.
She held up her hands. “She gets it, Cross.”
“What does she get?” His tone was harsh, and he could feel Wraith’s glare, but he kept his eyes locked on Cleo.
“Her presence is a reminder of what you all lost. You said she was only standing there because Knox died. She knows that, agrees with you, and understands your anger and resentment. She gets it, Cross, and she feels bad that her being here upsets you all. She even said she’d make a point of not running into any of you again. ”
Fuck. Cue and Ghost were right.
“Well, that’s gonna be a little fucking hard, darlin’, with her working where we hang out,” Gent said.
Cleo bit her lip, sheepishly glancing between the brothers. “I hadn’t thought about that. But I can get her schedule and tell you when she’s working so you don’t go there.”
Gent burst out laughing. “So now we gotta work around her?”
“N-no, that’s not” —her eyes welled— “It’s not what I meant. All I’m saying is she can stay without getting in your way.”
“No, Cleo,” Ace said, shutting her down.
“Please, Ace. She’s not a bad person.”
“No one said she is,” Wraith said, trying to calm his woman down.
“But you’re treating her like she is. She didn’t do anything wrong.
If she hadn’t gotten Knox’s heart, someone else would’ve.
Maybe not someone as kind and sweet as her.
Someone who wouldn’t make an effort to come see me.
I might not even be a thought for that other person.
Neither would Knox. She knows so much about him because she asked me.
” Cleo’s voice cracked. “Because she cares, and she’s grateful to him.
Why can’t you see that?” Tears streamed down her cheeks.
“One of the first things she said to me when we finally met was that Knox’s heart was a gift and she’d never take that for granted. ”
Fuck.
Cross was on an emotional rollercoaster. Between everything he felt and everything she’d said, he wasn’t sure how to feel or what to do. Maybe it was time to have a sit down, just the two of them.
“She’s working now, right?”
Cleo sniffled. “Until closing.”
Cross didn’t say another word. He turned, pulled out his keys from his pocket, and headed toward his bike. When he heard the gravel crunching behind him, he glanced back to find Wraith following him and Cleo on his heels.
“I’ll ride with you.”
“No,” Cross said and mounted his bike. He looked back as he reversed and caught Cleo in his peripheral vision. She was standing near a car beside Wraith. The brother would respect his wishes. And Cleo was forced to.