Page 53 of Haunting Phantom
“I won’t, Prez. I promise. I’m just so lost without her. I know Eve’s probably fuming over there because she’s hearing this, but I love Autumn, probably more than I ever did her.”
A tear escapes down my cheek just as Damien comes up behind me, placing a comforting arm around my shoulder.
“He doesn’t mean it, Dollface.”
“Yes, he does!”I yell, but instead of getting angry, I bury my face in his chest, allowing his cut to wrap around me like a comfort blanket.“He hates me now. I saved his life and he still fucking hates me.”
Autumn picks that moment to enter the clubhouse, dressed in a sexy little angel costume that has the men drooling.
Her eyes dart around the building, then stop on Phantom, tears already misting in her eyes.
Amber is with her, along with her son, who excitedly runs towards his dad, throwing himself in his arms. “Hi, Daddy!”
The way Drac holds him is endearing, he loves that damn kid, you can see it in the way his eyes light up the longer he hugs him.
“I thought you didn’t want him around the clubhouse?” Drac questions, giving Amber a deep kiss when she and Autumn stop at the table.
“He wanted to show you his costume.”
“Show me your costume, buddy.”
He places Giovanni down, then the kid poses, showing off his little leather jacket and his long-clawed gloves. He’s wearing a red and green striped shirt beneath, and a black fedora on his head. There are a couple of fake bruises on his cheeks, and he grins. “I’m an Elm Street Rider, just like you, Daddy. Mommy says that the scary guy was the first Elm Street Rider, but I made her get me the leather jacket too.”
Drac chuckles. “You look amazing. My little Giovanni Krueger.”
“Hey, isn’t that what you call my grandpa?”
Drac nods. “It is. That was his nickname.”
Giovanni beams. “Mommy, did you hear that? I got the same name as Grandpa Krueger.”
“We’re gonna go out trick-or-treating for a bit. I just wanted to bring him by before we head out.”
Drac grins. “You sure you don’t want to stick around? I could take advantage of that little devil costume you’re wearing.”
She giggles when he tickles her side. “Maybe later. You have fun here with your club.” She gives Phantom a painful smile. “I hope you’re feeling better, Phantom.”
Autumn doesn’t say a word, just blinks at him, shifting uncomfortably.
“You could do something good here, Eve,”Krueger encourages.
She’s vulnerable right now. Halloween weakens her too. It’s enough to leave the door cracked enough for me to speak to her.
“I’m sorry,”I whisper, hating the way Blake’s looking at her.
She hears me. I can see it in the way her eyes widen, but she doesn’t acknowledge me.
“He would’ve never hurt you like that if it wasn’t for me.”
Her hand awkwardly covers her throat, a faded mark still lingering. That night still haunts her, much like it does him.
“He’s lost without you,”I continue, even though each word is painful and damaging.
“Let him be lost,” she whispers, so I can hear her.
“Autumn, please. I’ve never seen him like this before. He needs you in his life. You…”The words stall in my throat, burning my esophagus like I just drank battery acid.“You’re his person.”
Her eyes widen, and her gaze slowly moves to him, who hasn’t stopped looking at her since she entered the room.
