Page 27 of Ghost

“So the silent, brooding protector thing...”

“It’s all for you.”

“But why?”

“You’d have to ask him that, but I’d guess he doesn’t even realize how intense he’s coming off.”

My gaze drifted toward the window. Ghost was standing near the clubhouse entrance with his arms crossed, scanning the area. “I have to admit, being here has definite advantages.”

Bridget tilted her head, her grin widening. “Like what?”

“I’ve spent so long looking over my shoulder, and now, we have all these guys looking out for us, and I don’t have to worry so much.”

“They definitely have a way of making a girl feel safe. It’s one of the reasons I stick around—that and they have amazing parties.”

“Yeah, I wouldn’t know anything about that.”

“But one day you will.” She giggled. “I’ll look forward to that.”

“Look forward to what?” Antonia asked as she walked into the room.

“I was just telling Whit about the wild parties the guys have.”

“Oh, yeah. There’s no doubt that they know how to have a good time.” Antonia poured herself a cup of coffee, then came over and sat down next to me. “So, how have you been doing?”

Before I could answer, Bridget stood and grabbed her basket of laundry. “I’ll leave you girls to it.”

“You don’t have to rush off.”

“It’s okay. I really need to get this done.” She gave me a wink. “I have a shift later tonight.”

“Okay. I’ll catch up with you later.” Once she was gone, I turned back to Antonia and asked, “So, what brings you out today?”

“Memphis needed to talk to Preacher, so I decided to tag along. I wanted to see how you were doing.”

“That was very thoughtful of you... I can honestly say that things have been going pretty well. I’ve been going a little stir-crazy, but it’s nothing I can’t manage.”

“I bet. It has to be hard to be so couped up all the time.”

“It’s really not that bad. I kind of like it. It gives me a little stability and all that.”

“I get it.” She took a sip of her coffee before asking, “Does that mean that the dreams have gotten better?”

“Yes and no.” I’d mentioned the dreams when we first met. I’m not sure why I thought to open up to her and Jenna, but they were so easy to talk to. I found myself telling them things I never thought I would share. “Not quite as frequent, but I still have them from time to time.”

“And the bad one?”

“Yeah, I’m still having it.” I didn’t like to think about it much less talk about it, but I found myself confessing, “I try not to think too much about it. I know I can’t change any of it, but I just can’t stop thinking about the look in his eyes when he said he was coming back for me.”

It wasn’t just the look in his eyes that spooked me.

It was what he said that rattled me to the core.

His grip on my throat tightened as he yanked me close and warned, ‘I’ll be back for you. You know I will, and when I do, you will be mine. Once and for all.’

Antonia tried to reassure me by saying, “He was throwing out empty threats.”

“I don’t know. He’s got the means to make good on them if he wanted to.”

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