Page 19 of Ethan's Sky

He thinks I left him alone. It’s the real reason he hates me.

I don’t think he really believes the rumors or that I was the cause of Emily’s death. Deep down, he knows I would never be those things. I’d never put Emily in danger.

But he’s too hurt to care.

“If you only knew the truth.” The words are out before I can catch them. Though they weren’t said loudly, I can still feel Gabe’s eyes when his head snaps to look in my direction, glaring.

“What was that?” he asks, but I don’t repeat myself.

“She’s telling the truth. George told her to come here.” Ghost speaks from behind me. He’s not my uncle. In this moment, he’sGhost, the man the club calls to make people disappear, and he’s letting Ethan know he’s not fucking around by his tone.

“Why the hell would George have called you right before he died? Unless you had something to do with his murder. Is that it, Sky? Did you get yourself in trouble? Is George another victim in your fucked up game?”

“You son of a bitch!” Ghost roars as he pushes past me, grabbing Ethan by the collar of his shirt, and swinging. His fist collides with Ethan’s face, and pandemonium ensues in the common room.

Gabe and Mack pull Ghost off Ethan. Ethan takes a shot while he’s subdued only to be wrestled to the ground by Eli and Walker. Xander takes his stance in front of me, guarding me from the chaos. I reach around him, wanting to get in between them all and put an end to this idiocy. Hawk reaches his arm across my chest holding me back.

“Stay out of it, Sky.”

“Fuck you! Let me go!”

Cash hears me shouting and moves from the pile of fists and bodies flailing to where I’m being blockaded.

“Come on, Sky.” Cash takes my hand. “You’re leaving.”

I’m suddenly frozen in place, lost to the memories and why this is happening.

“Come on Sky. You’re leaving,” Daddy says. “It’s the only way.”

“I have to tell Ethan, Daddy. He’ll think something terrible happened to me. He needs to know what really happened. He deserves to know the truth.”

“He can’t know, Sky. He’s going to have to believe you ran away like everyone else will. It’s the only way.”

“He’ll hate me.”

“Sky!” Cash shouts my name, but I’m still stuck back there.

Of all the times I wish I wasn’t right.

Her death isn’t on your hands.

No. Hers isn’t, but…

“If I ever say or text the words, Skyfall, you get your ass back to Gabe immediately. Don’t ask questions. Don’t make any unplanned stops. You follow the plan to a ‘T’ and get your ass home. Promise me, Butter Bean. I need to hear the words.”

“I promise, Daddy.”

“That’s enough!” I shout over the crowd. The entire room stills. All heads turning to meet my gaze.

Ghost is being held by Gabe, Mack, Declan, and a prospect I don’t recognize. While Ethan has Jake, Gus, and Caleb holding him back with Walker and Eli standing in the middle in case one of them gets loose.

Jesus. This went fucking swell didn’t it.

“You’re right, Ethan. The club may not owe me, but everyone here loved my Daddy. They offered to give him a proper burial and honor him and his friendship to the people of this club. Blame me for whatever you must to make things easier for yourself, but don’t expect me to stand here and have you disrespect my father’s memory.”

I move to leave but am stopped by Cash’s hand on my stomach.

Damnit! Can’t a girl get a dramatic exit for once? The testosterone filling this room is enough to shrink my ovaries.

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