Page 40 of Ghost

I was proving my father wrong and making something of my life, and that was all that mattered. I thought I had shit figured out. I was wrong.

A brunette takes the stage at the start of the new song. Her cherry pumps add seven inches to her already long legs. Her black bikini consists of three triangular scraps, and with the flashing lights and backlight, for a second, I swear she’s Paulina, back from the dead.

An apparition of everything that went wrong when I let myself believe the life I chose wasn’t bad for everyone around me.

The girl spins, and her hair fans around her shoulders. Her bangs fall to her eyebrows, and she smiles as the vision fades. She’s older than Paulina was. Curvier. Happier.

My heart races as panic surges through me. I close my eyes and take a deep breath through my nose while clenching my fists.

Then, I let it out.

I count to ten while the girl in my memories runs down the street with her dark hair in pigtails. I watch her grow up—change. Until she’s no longer my best friend. She’s the mangled corpse they left outside the gate to the Twisted Kings property.

Then, I let her go.

Again.

Opening my eyes, I scan the room, not able to shake the tingling on the back of my neck. And when my gaze lands on a figure walking into the club, it’s like I’m manifesting all the reasons I’m so on edge today.

Luna walks into Sapphire Rise with Venom at her side, and I swear the girl bleeds innocence. While all the strippers in the club are dressed up with fake eyelashes and layers of lipstick, Luna’s face is clean. Her hair is still fuzzy from being freshly washed, and she practically floats like an angel toward me.

Her jeans and baggy T-shirt are understated. Yet that sliver of stomach where she’s knotted her shirt is sexier than anything going on around us.

No one in my life has stolen my attention like Luna Cassidy. Still, when her pretty, blue gaze meets mine across the club, I know I should have left her where I found her because if I’m not careful, she’ll share Paulina’s fate.

Venom reaches me first, with Luna trailing a few steps behind him.

“Why the fuck did you bring her here?” I snap at Venom.

I try to remind myself he’s damn good at hiding a body because I really want to kick him out of the club for putting her in danger right now. His flirtations with Luna are one thing, but taking her out of the compound when the man who hired her is trying to get her back has me itching to reach for my gun.

“Prez said you needed a disc with a software update. She asked me for a ride to bring it to you.”

“I need the disc, not her. Are you trying to get her fucking killed?”

I take a step toward Venom, but Luna slips between us, planting her hand on my chest. The heat of her palm and her delicate fingers ground my feet to the earth.

“He didn’t know.” She looks up at me. “I offered to come, and I’m fine.”

Under the club lights, her hair is a deeper purple, and it turns her blue eyes the faintest shade of violet.

Luna presses her lips together. “You promised to show me the new system in action, remember? I figured now was as good of a time as ever.”

“That was before all this shit happened.”

She hitches an eyebrow. “I’m not living my life in fear, Ghost. And I’m sure as hell not hiding at the clubhouse. So here I am, either show me or don’t, but I’m not leaving.”

Luna crosses her arms over her chest, acting so strong when she’s all skin and bone. Fragile, whether she likes it or not.

“What do you need from me?” Venom asks. “Want me to take her back?”

“Just put the disc in the office.” I resist the urge to shove a screwdriver through his temple. “Then go see if Chaos needs help with anything. I’ll let you know when she’s ready to head home.”

Luna’s eyes narrow as Venom stalks off, but she doesn’t break my stare. “You could be nicer to him for bringing me here.”

“He only brought you here because he wants to fuck you, and it’s an easy way to get you alone.”

“Is it a crime for a man to want to fuck me now?”

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