“Then where will I go? I don’t have any family to take me in.” Her shoulders deflate in sadness. God damn her father to hell.
“You’ll come home with me. I have the room and the means to keep you safe until we catch your father and all those who are involved. You aren’t safe out there on your own right now.” Low blow, I know. What I don’t tell her is I plan for her to fall in love with me, so when this is all said and done, she won’t want to leave. I’m a selfish bastard when it comes to Scarlett, and I want her in my home with me. She’s been mine from the moment those innocent green eyes looked my way. I’ve seen the way she looks at me, so I know she feels something for me, but I know she’s scared, so I’m going to have to take my time with her. I also don’t tell her we had the prospects pack all of her shit, and theyare currently putting it in my house right now. It’s best to ease her into this.
She looks me in the eye, and I can see the internal war she’s having with herself about all this. She’s so used to doing everything on her own that she doesn’t know she has people who are willing to help her. I don’t move or hardly breathe as I wait for her answer. The wait is killing me, but I will give her the time she needs to come to terms with this. All I want to do is take her home so she can get some proper rest because God knows how long it’s been for her since she’s been at peace.
She opens her mouth, and I hold my breath. “Okay, Ghost, I will come home with you.”
Three
Scarlett
Oh, Lord, what did I just agree to? By the smile on Ghost’s face, he likes the idea of me staying with him, and a part of me deep down likes it as well. From the first time I met Ghost, I thought he was insanely hot. The true definition of a bad boy. Six foot five, short black hair, and blue eyes that seem to see everything. Tattoos that cover most of his arms, hands, and up to his neck. Add in the fact that he’s the VP of The Lost Saints MC, and, yup, he totally does it for me. But then I remember the situation I’m in. Why would he want someone who is literally broken with nothing to offer him? Nope, nothing can happenbecause he deserves better than me. For now, I will let him help me until I can get back on my feet. So, as much as it sucks, I will keep my crush to myself and hope I don’t make a fool out of myself.
My face goes crimson thinking about Ghost that way. “I’m glad, babydoll. I promise you won’t regret it.”
Before I can say anything, there’s a knock on the door and it opens, revealing Joker, who winks at me. “Are you up for a few visitors, Tinkerbell? There are a few people out here who are driving me nuts. I mean, I can send them away if you want me to.” He gets a mischievous smirk on his face, making me smile.
“Move your ass, BFG, and let us see our girl,” Savannah yells as she practically shoves Joker out of the way, making me giggle.
Savannah, Hailey, Madison, and Willow come racing to my bedside. They all hug me, being mindful of my injuries. My body is killing me right now. I feel as though I could sleep for a week.
Savannah pulls back while wiping her tears, her own bruises starting to heal from what she had just gone through. “Girl, don’t scare us like that again.”
Hailey grabs my hand, with tears swimming in her eyes as well. “Why didn’t you tell us what was going on? We would have helped you.”
Each tear that falls because of their concern for me is a fresh wound, a relentless reminder of my powerlessness as I frantically wipe them away. “I just didn’t want to burden anyone with my problems. I’ve been on my own for so long dealing with this. That's all I knew. He made me feel like this was something I deserved, like it was my fault his life fell apart after my mom walked out on us. That’s when he changed, and ever since then, he has become someone I didn’t recognize. At first, it just started with his cruel words, then when he hit me for the first time, I knew he wasn’t my dad anymore. He became someone Ifeared, never knowing how far he would take it. I honestly thought that today he was going to kill me. And now he’s out there waiting for his moment to get me again and sell me to God knows who.” I break down in gut-wrenching sobs as the girls wrap me in their arms, holding me, whispering reassuring words, letting me know I’m no longer alone.
We break apart after someone lets out a growl that shakes the walls. “The fuck I will let that happen. He’s going to have to go through me to get to you,” Ghost says, looking pissed off. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look this angry.
“He’s going to have to go through all of us. Your family, and we take care of our own,” Blade, who is just as pissed off, says, stepping forward as the others nod their heads.
Looking around at each individual, each of them willing to go to war for me, I realize that this is what a true family looks like — not of blood, but a bond that could never be broken.
It’s at that moment that a piece of my heart weaves itself back together. “Thank you,” I whisper as new emotions clog my throat. I let out a yawn, making everyone laugh.
Joker steps forward, checking my pulse and blood pressure once again. Right now, this isn’t the Joker I’m used to. I don't think I’ve ever seen him this serious. “Okay, I think that’s enough excitement for you today, Tinkerbell. You need your rest. Ghost, I want you to wake her every few hours, and you can give her some Tylenol for the pain and make sure she eats something. You know the drill. Now, Tinkerbell, all you have to do is rest, and within a few days you should start to feel a little better. If anything happens, call me.”
Once he takes off the blood pressure cuff, I grab his hand and squeeze, letting him know how much I appreciate him. He really is the big brother I always wanted. “Thank you, Joker, for everything.”
He winks at me and smiles. “I've always got your back, Tink.”
Ghost steps forward and, without saying anything, has me up in his arms, making me squeak. “Let’s get you home, babydoll, so you can eat and rest.”
I wrap my arms around his neck as he walks toward the door. “Ghost, put me down. I can walk.”
He looks down at me and gives me a boyish smile. “Yeah, not happening, babydoll. I like you just where you are.”
My face goes crimson as I can hear everyone laugh behind me. I lift my head and can see everyone giving me smiles and the girls giving me thumbs up. I send them a small wave and decide to say, screw it and lay my head on his shoulders. If Ghost wants to carry me, I’m going to enjoy this moment for however long it lasts.
Before I know it, we are outside heading towards his truck. He holds me up with one hand and opens the door, placing me in the seat. He reaches over and buckles me in. I hold my breath as his hands skim my front, the slight contact making me shiver. Not in fear, but something else entirely. Ghost is someone I can’t figure out. He’s quiet and brooding, yet the way he looks at me makes me believe he wants something more from me. I just can’t figure out what. What will happen when this is all over and my father is caught? Self-doubt creeps in that he’s only doing this because he feels sorry for me, and I can’t help but think he will send me packing when it does happen. I sigh at my thoughts. It's just as well anyway, because what would someone like Ghost want with someone like me? Someone who doesn’t know how to love because she was never taught to love herself. I don’t just have to heal the wounds on the outside. It’s the ones inside that hurt the most, when my brain tells me I’m not worthy enough.
Before I know it, Ghost has my door open, making me look around. I was so lost in my thoughts; I didn’t even realize we had reached hishouse, which I have to say looks absolutely beautiful on the outside. Big picture windows, I know, will let in the natural light. A wraparound porch with big comfy chairs, and the best part is he has a swing chair. I wouldn't mind sitting in it while reading a book. I can’t wait to see what it all looks like in the sunlight.
Ghost turns my head towards him so I’m looking into his eyes. “Are you with me, Scarlett?”
“Yes, sorry, I must have spaced out.” I take my seatbelt off as he once again lifts me into his arms.
As he walks up the stairs and unlocks his door, he looks down at me with a fierce look in his eyes. “You have nothing to be sorry for, Scarlett. You’ve been through hell and back for so long with no one knowing, so you're allowed to space out. If you need to yell, scream, or cry — whatever you need to do — you do it. Wanna break some shit to get your anger out? Have at it? Just know I will be here with you through it all. I’m here for you, Scarlett, hell, the entire club is. I would burn this entire world to the ground just to make sure you stay safe. Your father and everyone who has had a hand in putting you in harm's way are as good as dead when I get my hands on them. You're mine, and I will always take care of you. Too soon? Don’t give a shit, but I will give you all the time you need to get right with that. However long it takes, Babydoll, I’m not going anywhere.”