Page 54 of Ghost

“I give him an hour before he’s too drunk to walk.”

Steel laughs. “I doubt he’ll last that long. He started drinking at one, and his tolerance is shit since he got out of prison. Speaking of, I better join them while Chaos is still responsive.”

“You coming, Luna?” Tempe asks as Steel snags her hand.

“I’m good. I’m going to get a drink, but I’ll find you later.”

She smiles, disappearing into the crowd, and I know that’s probably the last I’ll talk to her tonight.

I’ve made my appearance.

I’ve put on my show.

Soon, everyone here will be too wasted to know what’s up and what’s down, and they won’t be worried about what I’m doing.

I’m on a mission, and nothing is distracting me from that tonight.

Ghost steps into the room, and for a man who stays in the shadows, his presence is deafening. He stands in the doorway between the main bar and the hallway that leads to the ranked members’ rooms. His height has him towering over almost everyone here, giving me a clear view of him above everyone else.

As if he senses me, his eyes find mine across the room, and a shiver runs the length of my spine.

He holds my gaze for a moment, and I wonder if I’m imagining the silent challenge in them. But the second I blink, he looks away, moving through the crowd to meet up with the rest of the Vegas Twisted Kings, who are taking a shot and cheering to Chaos’s freedom.

Ghost doesn’t usually drink, but given the circumstances, he downs one. The room erupts, and it’s so loud that they drown out whatever speech Steel is giving.

It’s parties like this that scare most people away from club life, but to me, it’s home.

My life has never been quiet or comforting. Between the revolving door of foster families and the constant uncertainty that brought, I’ve experienced more loneliness than stability in my life. And I’ve seen more bad than good.

But here, in the eye of this Twisted Kings storm, I belong. I’ve found people who don’t judge me. People who make me feel like I can be whoever I want.

Unapologetically.

Spinning around on my barstool, I face the bar, and Venom is already sliding a drink across it for me. It’s a gin and tonic—my favorite.

Usually, this is when he would flirt or ask me to meet up with him later, but instead, he continues down the bar. He must have noticed something between me and Ghost at Sapphire Rise because he’s been quieter since then.

Glancing over my shoulder, I find Ghost through the crowd. His back is to me, and even that is breathtaking. His broad shoulders are strong, and his tattooed arms are on display in his tight T-shirt and Twisted Kings cut.

I think about how Tempe and Lyla are walking around with their men’s names on their backs tonight. I never wanted that, so why do I feel bare all of a sudden?

“Hiding from me?”

I look over to see Reaper walking up with a smile. He stops between me and Ghost, and I spin on the barstool to face him.

“If I am, I didn’t do that great of a job, did I?”

“Guess not.” He plants his hand on the bar, caging me in.

Last time he was in town, I made the mistake of kissing him, and when he looks me over, I’m pretty sure this time he’s after more.

“You’re looking lovely as always.” Reaper’s blue eyes scan my outfit. “Are you gonna finally let me get you that drink this time?”

“Already got one, sorry.” I tip my glass up.

“Something else, maybe?”

I could say yes.

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