Page 35 of Ghost

I watched as Sophia reached out and sifted her hands through his hair. “We’re fine,” she reassured him.

Banner’s head nodded and he stood, finally taking in the destruction. His eyes turned into dark pools of rage and his jaw clenched so tight I heard his teeth grind.

“Who did this?” he growled. His eyes widened when they landed on me. “Who hurt you? Ghost!”

“Men... came in and started wrecking the place,” I told him.

“Ghost!” Banner shouted again. “Where the fuck is he? Goddamnit, Ghost, your girl is hurt.”

The sound of glass crunching under booted feet grabbed my attention, and when I lifted my head, the world tilted on its axis. Ghost stood in the doorway, a look of horror on his face.

“Where the fuck did you go?” Banner snapped.

“Fuck off,” Ghost growled, shoving his brothers aside and kneeling down next to me. “I went upstairs.” His eyes shoot daggers at his brother. “Where my girls were supposed to be.”

“I’m sorry.” I started to feel guilty. Payton could have been hurt, or worse.

Ghost traced a finger across my cheek and tucked my curls behind my ear. His hand slid under my chin and lifted my face higher so he could inspect the damage. “Fuck, baby. No,” he shook his head, “don’t do that. Don’t apologize.”

My eyes closed and I grimaced when he touched the split in my lip.

Nova stepped forward with Payton still clutched to her chest and explained what had happened. “Two men came in and threw their weight around. They kept talking about the club sticking their noses where they didn’t belong.”

Ghost’s jaw clenched. “They say anything else?”

Nova bit her lip and looked over at Banner, then nodded.

“Well?” Haze grunted.

“They… said things.” Her eyes turned glassy.

“Spit it out!” Kane snapped from across the room.

Haze let out a menacing growl and the room went silent. My brows hit my hairline when I saw the way he was looking at the club’s treasurer. Good Lord, he was scary.

Kane threw up his hands. “Fine.”

“Need to know, darlin’,” Ghost tried again.

“They kept hinting at,” she swallowed then whispered the word, “rape.”

The dangerous energy in the room went electric, the violence almost palpable. Ghost’s eyes came back to me, and I watched in a little bit of awe as he compartmentalized what he’d just heard.

“Let's get you patched up, baby. Nova, bring Payton.” Being careful of my body, he lifted me from the floor and into his arms.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“For what?” He looked down as he carried me up the steps to the loft.

“Taking care of me.”

There was a lot going on and I knew his club needed him, but he chose to focus on me instead. That meant something. Sophia’s words from earlier echoed in my mind. She was right. Ghost was a good man and would make me happy if I gave him the chance.

His grasp tightened and I cried out from the pain. I’d done something to my back when I hit the floor.

“I’m sorry, baby. Hold on.” Loosening his hold, he set me on the counter and lifted my shirt.

“Fuck! Banner, call Doc! She's gonna need stitches.”

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