Page 49 of Ghost's Obsession

I smile to myself, feeling seen and loved at the same time.

Chapter 16

Ghost

Inever thought I’d be the kind of man renting a limo. But here I am, standing in the lot in front of the Savage Legion clubhouse, wearing a damn tux jacket. I’m watching a sleek black limousine settle into place. Tusk and Tex stand beside me, both tugging at their collars and trying not to look as uncomfortable as I feel. My cut is still in my hand. I was in two minds about wearing it over the tuxedo ‘cause I feel naked without it.

Tex mutters, “Y’all ever wear one of these monkey suits before?”

Tusk snorts. “Yeah, to my cousin’s funeral. Had to borrow a tie.”

I smirk, adjusting mine. “We’re Savage Legion. Las Salinas is our home turf. There ain’t no place in this town where we can’t fit in if we want to.”

Tex shoots Tusk an annoyed look. “This whole thing was your old lady’s idea. Be sure to fuckin’ thank her for me.”

Tusk snorts a laugh. “Yeah, Brittany got wind the women’s shelter was having a charity gala and talked the club officers into throwing their weight behind it. Why the hell shouldn’t we rub elbows with this town’s elite? Storm’s a lawyer, Patch is a fuckin’ doctor, several of us are local business owners.”

I chime in sarcastically, “Real society types. That’s what we are.”

Tex frowns. “The only damn smart thing we did was chip in for the limo, because we damn sure weren’t putting women in floor-length gowns on the backs of our bikes.”

I gasp, “Not tonight, when we want ‘em to feel like queens. Heather’s been through enough fuckin’ trauma to last a lifetime with Carnage. She deserves a night away from it all.”

“I second that statement,” Tusk says firmly.

The limo door swings open, and a prospect hops out to hold it open for us.

“Shit,” Tusk mutters, tilting his head. “We look like fancy fuckin’ movie stars.”

Tex grins. “Then you’re gonna need to turn that fuckin’ frown upside down and pretend to be one for the night. Ain’t no one wants to hang around with a fuckin’ complainer.”

I would’ve thought Tusk would get riled up over being talked to like that, but he doesn’t, ‘cause him and Tex are closer than kin.

Just then, a window slides open upstairs, and laughter comes pouring out. Hearing it makes something tighten in my chest. The woman I love is up there, getting ready with Brittany and Tex’s old lady. They took over one of the upstairs suites to do hair and makeup together. Said it’d be more fun that way.

I don’t know what it is about her, but lately, every time I see her, I get the obsessive urge to stick close. Ever since our talk the other night—when she agreed to be mine, stay with me, and see if we can settle with each other—my need to protect and take care of her has been overwhelming.

As we walk back inside, I realize Tex and Tusk have been trading jibes with each other. I scarcely noticed, straining to hear what was going on upstairs.

A few of the club girls hang around in the common room, eyeing us like we’re ripe fruit or something. Shayla eyes me with a tight smile. “I didn’t know the brothers were goin’ all GQ for this thing.”

Tex doesn’t even glance at her but responds tightly. “Not for the thing. For our women.”

Tusk slaps his shoulder. “Damn right.”

When the club girls get too curious, we head upstairs to check on our womenfolk. The room is piled high with garment bags and shoeboxes. It’s buzzing with perfume and curling irons, where the women have set up camp.

Brittany’s standing in front of a full-length mirror, working on Clara’s curls. Heather’s perched on a vanity stool, legs crossed in nothing but a silky robe and a towel around her head.

She turns when I walk in and smiles. Jesus, seeing her so deeply entrenched in my world makes my fuckin’ heart skip a beat. I’d walk hot coals to keep getting those smiles.

“Delivery service,” I announce, pulling out a bottle of sparkling water.

“You’re spoiling me,” she tells me, reaching out her arms to give me a hug.

“Damn right I am.”

I pour her a glass of sparkling water with fruit. She looks up at me like I hung the moon, all sweet and grateful.

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