Page 2 of Ghost

Sliding into the driver’s seat, I grip the wheel tightly, my pulse racing. Freedom is just a few feet away. But before I can crank the engine, a shadow falls over the hood of the car. I look up, and there he is. Ghost. Arms crossed, leaning casually against the side of the open bay door, his smirk infuriatingly smug.

“Uh, hey there, hot stuff!” I stammer, trying to play it cool. “I was just headed down to the Piggly Wiggly to get some… buns. Yeah, buns!”

His eyebrow arches and the corner of his mouth twitches like he’s fighting back laughter. I wonder if this man ever really breaks? Bet it would be a fun rollercoaster ride.

“The Piggly Wiggly in town closed down ten years ago, and the next one ain’t for at least a hundred miles,” he drawls, his voice deep and gravelly, sending a shiver down my spine. “Where ya really goin’, Bunny?”

The nickname is his weapon of choice, and damn if it doesn’t hit its mark every time. I’m caught, and we both know it. Sighing, I drop the pretense, my hands gripping the steering wheel tightly as I finally admit the truth.

“My girl’s settled,” I say softly, refusing to meet his eyes. “It’s time for me to find some adventures of my own. At least for a little while.”

For a moment, he’s silent. His tone is low and quiet when he finally speaks, but it cuts through me like a knife.

“You weren’t gonna say goodbye?”

Guilt churns in my gut, and I wince. I’ve been wrestling with that decision for days, but I know myself. If I’d tried to say goodbye, I never would’ve been able to leave.

“If I’d done that,” I whisper, my voice trembling slightly, “I’d never go.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I see his expression soften for just a heartbeat before his mask snaps back into place. He’s a fortress, just like me, and for a moment, I wonder what it would take to break down those walls.

“Well, there’s one problem with your plan,” he says, his tone lightening slightly.

“What’s that?” I ask warily, my heart thudding in anticipation.

“How am I supposed to kidnap that fine ass and drag you back home with me if you run off like that?”

His words catch me completely off guard, and a surprised laugh bursts out of me. It’s the kind of laugh that comes from deep in your belly, the kind you can’t hold back even if you try.

“Guess you’ll just have to give chase, Sugar Lips,” I tease, my confidence surging as I throw the car into gear. “I ain’t gonna be an easy catch.”

Without waiting for his response, I slam my foot on the gas, the tires kicking up gravel as I speed out of the garage. My pulse is racing, adrenaline pumping through my veins as I glance in the rearview mirror. Ghost is standing there, arms crossed over his broad chest, watching me with an amused smirk that’s equal parts frustrating and thrilling.

As the compound fades into the distance, I can’t help but smile. This isn’t the end. Not by a long shot.

“Ball’s in your basket now, big guy,” I murmur, my fingers tightening on the wheel. And God help me; I can’t wait to see what he does next.

Chapter Three

Ghost

I stand here chuckling at my little bunny and all her fire. Damn, the fire behind those baby blues. I want it unleashed and raising hell. I want to clear the path as she sets the world ablaze. I put a new toothpick in the side of my mouth, a nasty habit I picked up after quitting smoking years ago. Even that was before I spent those years in that cage. Still, this one seems harder to kick, and I have a feeling it will only get worse with the hell this woman will try to put me through. Try being the keyword. For some reason, when it comes to Tizzy, I want the loud, I crave the enthusiasm. I feel like since I’ve met her, I want to live and breathe her and all her charisma.

I amble to my ride, throwing my leg over and kicking back the kickstand. I rev up my bike three times, knowing my team will hear and know I’m out. From the moment I saw my woman, my life, my purpose, my very being, has shifted. It's all circling around her. Before we even made it to this party-turned-shit-show today at my son-in-law's compound, I told my team I would be out of commission for a while. I’m not taking on any more cases until I have her locked down. Technically, I'm off the clock and off the grid for the next three months. That should beplenty of time to chase my little mouse and get her, willingly, all to myself.

“You sure about this, boss? I ain't never seen you chase after some tail. Risk your life, identity, and the club for a woman,” my VP, Omen, asks from the dark corner of the garage, not surprising me like he probably wishes he could. Truth is, I clocked him the minute he set his eyes on me. We all live in the shadows and get used to them. I’ve just lived there longer and barely know any light anymore. The one sliver seems to want to run, but I would love a good chase.

“She's gonna be my old lady, brother. Put respect on her name,” I all but snarl back.

Without another word, I take off after her.

I smile as I roll out to my next and probably most important (and did I mention crazily unpredictable) mission of my life. What Tizzy doesn’t know is she has me, all of me…

Death Grip.

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Four Weeks Later:

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