Page 56 of All Our Ghosts

I peer back at him until his steps match my own and he’s walking with me, “what do you mean?”

“I saw the way he looked at you,” the tips of his fingers reach out, pointing to his bike, “a man like Nash doesn’t look at women like that very often. Whatever happened last night changed him.”

I shake my head with a laugh, “I don’t know if I–”

“Trust me sweetheart, I’ve seen him with the Lunas around the club. They ain’t nothin’ more than something for him to do.” Dex lifts his helmet from the seat and holds it out for me, “and I sure as shit haven’t seen him storm off the way he did with one of them either.”

I slip the helmet over my hair before climbing onto the bike behind him, “you think I can get through to him?” I ask over his shoulder.

Dex peers back at me, “I think if anyone can it’s you, just gotta find him first.”

I nod as my hands grip the sides of his vest. I have to hold on to that hope that Holden will listen to me, just… give me the chance to tell him the truth because now, I’m not so sure if I can handle him not being around.

KADENCE

Riding with Dex feels different. His movements are swift, careful and cautious, whereas riding with Holden feels freeing. Up until Watson pulled us over, I had a moment of bliss with him. The anger that flows through me from my mother’s constant betrayal, the worry that Jeremy will find me…all of it vanished in a fleeting moment of happiness. And as such is life, it was ripped from me at the hands of the man I fear the most.

Dex doesn’t talk much to me on the drive. I’m fine with that. There isn’t much else I can say that hasn’t already been said and I can’t bear another sad look from the men who have inadvertently sworn to protect me. Something I know I don’t deserve.

“We’re here,” his voice booms over the sound of the engine as he pulls into a gravel parking lot.

I glance up at the flashing lights and neon sign that readsMoon. I can’t help the chuckle as he cuts the engine and lets me climb off first. Ofcoursethe Hell Hounds have a strip club called Moon. It’s a little on the nose, but I appreciate it.

He helps me unbuckle the helmet, setting it down on the seat as I take a few steps towards the door. Dex’s fingers wrap around my elbow, stopping me from going any further as I turn to him.

“Marlowe should be in the back,” he urges. “Find her first, don’t go lookin’ in any rooms.”

My brows knit together. “Why?”

His hand drops to his side as the gravel crunches under his boots. “Because if you see something bad, I’m gonna have no choice but to drag you outta here and I really don’t want to do that.”

I stare at him for a moment before the realization hits me. He’s talking about Holden, that if I see him with someone else, that it’ll stir something up.

Dex nods at the apparent look on my face. “Go straight through, it’s the last door on the left. I’ll check the rooms and if–”

“If you find him, leave him,” I say with conviction, squaring my shoulders.

It’s his turn to furrow his brow as he stares back at me, “Kade…”

“Leave him Dex,” I cement. “If this is the first place that he runs to… then he wasn’t who I thought he was.” It scares me how fast I’ve made the decision, but after everything, I need to find my worth, and it isn’t in someone who runs from their problems into the arms of someone else.

“Then we’ll both relish in the fact that we’re wrong about him.” He steps towards the doors, flicking his head towards the velvet paneled entry. “C’mon sweetheart.”

I suck in a breath and nod, steeling myself for what I might or might not find. I follow him as he pushes through the door. The overwhelming stench of smoke, disinfectant, and overly floral perfume surrounds me as he leads me through the club. I recognize the blonde currently spinning around the centerstage, her gaze landing on the two of us. Jane narrows her eyes when they focus on me before a vicious grin spreads across her lips. The nerves I forced down outside return as I cast my gaze forward, ignoring the laugh that bubbles through the club.

I feel the warmth of Dex’s hand land on my back, “Ignore’m,” he whispers before pointing down a long corridor. “That’s where you’ll find Marlowe. Ask her if she’s seen Nash. If he’s been here, she’ll know.”

I nod, trying my best to hear him over the music thumping around us. Dex nods once before moving down a second corridor, leaving me. I take another deep breath, pushing the nerves back down before making my way down the hallway. There are doors on either side and sounds that definitely prove the girls here are good.

I take another step before a door to my right opens, and a redhead stumbles out of the room, giggling and moving to wipe her mouth with dark-painted nails. I recognize this woman too. Our eyes meet as Layla shuts the door behind her, leaving whoever is in the room.

“What areyoudoing here?” She asks bitterly, straightening herself up.

“Just trying to find Marlowe,” I say, attempting to move past the woman who had stumbled the same way into my apartment with Holden.

Layla lets out a venomous laugh. “Lookin’ for a job? What? Cole already get tired of you being at the shop?”

I narrow my eyes at Layla. “No, he didn’t. I’m looking for Marlowe and Holden.”

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