Page 48 of Steel

“All done.” I jump as someone stops at my side, and when I turn, I see Ghost looking down at me.

He’s so quiet, I never hear him coming. And even when he’s in the room, it’s almost like he isn’t.

“What’s done?”

“The cameras at your house. We’ll know if anyone else shows up from here on out.”

“Thanks.” I’m not sure why he’s reporting to me when I didn’t ask him to do it.

“Hey, Ghost.” Luna smiles, the faintest blush climbing her cheeks when she breaks the silence. For all of her usual confidence, she looks nervous for the first time since I met her. “I gathered all the footage you were looking for from Sapphire Rise. It’s in a drive for you.”

“Thanks, Luna.” He nods.

They stare at each other for a moment, and I feel like I’m standing in the middle of something. But then Ghost’s phone pings, and it splits his attention. He pulls it out, glancing at the screen. Then he disappears in Jameson’s direction without another word.

Luna watches him leave, gnawing at the inside of her cheek.

“What was that all about?” My eyebrows pinch.

Her focus snaps back like she’s coming out of a trance. “What? That? Nothing.”

“Nothing?” I repeat, smiling and taking another sip of my beer.

Luna sighs. “Really, nothing. Ghost is Ghost.”

“Meaning?”

“He wouldn’t notice me if I danced around naked in front of him.”

“I highly doubt that.”

She frowns. “I’m serious. Any girl who’s tried with him has been shot down.”

“Haveyoutried?”

She takes a sip of her beer, not answering.

“I take your silence as a no.”

“I don’t want to make it awkward. Ghost is the one who brought me in here. He helped me during a tough time, and now he’s mentoring me through my tech classes.” She sets her beer down on the bar, dragging her thumb through the condensation. “These guys get a bad rap for the things they do, but they do a lot of good as well. Like taking me in when I needed it and giving me a place tocrash so long as I helped around the clubhouse. It’s not just bikers and prostitutes like the world seems to think. We’re a community. I can’t risk losing it over a little crush. If Ghost wants something, he knows where to find me.”

“I respect that.” I lift my beer, and she clinks hers against it. “Now give me some of that confidence, please. I could use it.”

“Like you need confidence.” Luna slides closer, nudging me on the arm. “I heard you nearly knocked Steel on his ass when you met him. You’re a badass, Tempe.”

My face pinches. “Let me guess, Ghost told you that?”

“Don’t worry, he’s not a gossip.” She takes a drink. “He just tells me things.”

“Because hedoesn’tlike you.”

Luna smirks, glancing over at Ghost for a split second before turning back to me. “That’s beside the point. Ghost said you’re tough as nails, which is a lot coming from him. How did you learn to fight anyway?”

“Self-defense classes in high school.” I wave my hand up to the gash that cuts through my eyebrow. “My mom didn’t always have the best taste in guys. After one did this, I figured I should learn how to stick up for myself if she wasn’t going to.”

Luna stares at my scar, almost looking like she sees herself in it. “Maybe sometime, you can teach me a few things. If you don’t mind, that is. These guys look out for us, but they won’t always be there.”

“Of course.” I squeeze her hand.

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