Page 18 of Banshee
“I am. Thank you.”
She studied me for a few minutes, and I wondered if she would ask. I knew I had revealed something with how quickly I accepted what she’d done. But finally, she moved back to her chair.
“Okay, let’s talk about how you’re feeling about all this.”
I spent the next hour talking about how I felt about Greg’s death. We outlined some steps to move toward that would help me get back to the person I was before. Only I wasn’t sure I wanted to be her anymore.
I was no longer Irene, the youngest daughter of Kronos. I wasn’t kidding when I told Banshee she was gone. But Aspen wasn’t exactly me either. I didn’t know who I was. But maybe Haizley could help me figure that out.
We agreed I was ready to drop my sessions down to a few days a week, rather than every day. But I wasn’t quite ready to venture out beyond the safety of the clubhouse walls.
I wasn’t sure I ever would be. Here I could hide. From my husband, from my family. From my life.
No one but Banshee knew who I really was. Here, I could be anyone. I didn’t have to be the youngest daughter of the Gods of Mayhem president. I didn’t have to be Zeus’ little sister. Nor did I have to be the baby sister of the missing girl.
The cherished daughter.
The wanted daughter.
No, here I could be Aspen Winters.
A nobody.
I never thought that being a nobody would be so wonderful.
Chapter Six
Banshee
The old ladies had convinced Aspen to leave the clubhouse. It was the first time since she’d moved in. The motherfucker who raped her was dead, thanks to Gunner’s old lady. She’d shocked the shit out of all of us when she called Gunner instead of the sheriff.
I didn’t want Aspen in town, though. The Death Dogs were an hour away, and while they hadn’t made any move toward us, the fact that they pulled up stakes and moved the whole damn club was a huge red flag.
If they weren’t here for Aspen, why else would they be here?
I kept my eyes on her tonight. It was purely for protection. I may or may not have threatened a few guys who were staring at her. They didn’t know I’d heard them talking. Heard them discussing the best way to separate her from her friends.
Now they knew.
She was so beautiful. The smile on her face as she laughed with the others took me back to the first day I saw her. When she came barreling out of the house, carefree and wild.
I wanted her to be that girl again. The one who felt safe and protected. The one who had her whole life ahead of her, and the possibilities were endless. Not this scared, quiet little mouse who kept to herself.
The night was cut short when Haizley, of all people, got into a catfight with Penelope Ridgefield. Penelope had been after Gunner for years. And apparently, she and Haizley had a history.
Following Aspen out of the bar, I grabbed her arm when she reached for the handle on Gunner’s vehicle.
“You’re with me, baby girl.” I led her to my bike.
“Banshee, what are you doing?”
“I’m taking you home.” Placing the helmet on her head, I swung my leg over and held out my hand, waiting for her to take it. She crossed her arms over her chest, making no move to climb on.
“Get on the fucking bike, Aspen.”
“No.”
“Aspen,” I warned. I wasn’t in the mood to play games. All fucking night I’d watched men leer at her. I wanted every fucking person in this town to see her on the back of my bike, pressed up against me.
