Page 14 of Ghost

But I wasn’t.

I couldn’t stop tracking his movements from the corner of my eye, curious about who he was and desperate to know more about him. Ever since that first moment I was face to face with Ghost, there’s been an undeniable pull. And even after I told myself I was coming to Vegas for business, I knew the truth.

I’m here because of him.

Ghost might show me breadcrumbs of attention, but I eat each one like a full meal. Desperate to ease the hungering ache inside me.

“Did you know?” I ask Ghost again, tears burning behind my eyes.

Ghost doesn’t answer, and it occurs to me that maybe I’m not the only one who is in trouble. While Steel seems surprised, Ghost isn’t.

Ghost knew, and he never told them.

He lied for me.

The Twisted Kings are his life. His family. His loyalty is with them, so why would he do that?

“When’s the last time you heard from the person who posted that job?” Steel asks, ignoring my pleas to Ghost and continuing his interrogation.

I shake my head. “A year ago. Eleven months, maybe. I argued with them for a while about payment, since I did my part trying, but eventually, I gave up. I haven’t heard anything from them since.”

“So, you were still talking to them when you came here?”

I swallow hard. “I guess. Yeah.”

“Did they know where you were?”

“No. I never shared my whereabouts with my employers. It was better that way in case either of us got caught.”

“So no one outside of this club knows you’re here?”

I shake my head. “No one knows.”

It’s mostly the truth. No one knows I’mhere, at the clubhouse.

Rider knows I live in Las Vegas, but I’ve never told him my exact location. Technically, we’re on the outskirts of town.

Glancing at Ghost, I think about the number of times I’ve vented to Rider about this man. I’ve never called him by name, but I had to get it out somehow. Being around him wasn’t enough. Watching him wasn’t enough.

While I mean nothing to Ghost, I’ve been obsessed with him since the first time I met him.

Look where it got me. Alone and stepping in a pile of shit as always.

“Good.” Steel taps the table. “That’s good.”

“Am I in trouble?” I’m scared to ask, but I need to know. “Do I need to leave the clubhouse?”

Steel might be understanding with his men, and he might be known for protecting people who need it, but I’m not Tempe. I don’t have his heart wrapped around my finger. He doesn’t owe me anything.

“No.” Steel shakes his head. “We voted before bringing you into the room and agreed that so long as your story aligned with what we’ve been told, there was no reason for that. But you do need to understand this raises questions.”

“I understand.” I swallow hard.

“Luna.” Steel leans forward, fixing his gaze on me. “I’m giving you my club’s trust right now. We all are. I’m giving you that because you’ve proven yourself to us and been there for us during some challenging times. But if I find out you’re lying or keeping something from me—no matter how small it is—you aren’t going to like the outcome. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

“I do.”

He nods. “Then go get some sleep. In the morning, I need you to sit down with Legacy to go over everything you remember. What accounts they wanted; what information they were after. Every little detail is important.”

---