Page 9 of Jester

ANGEL EYES

Luca Elmwood/Ghost’s Old Lady/Member

Baby fever isn’t theideal sickness to catch when planning a violent attack on a pervert’s stronghold.

The problem is I’ve lost my cold edge. Though I’ve tried to regain my icy vigilante vibe, my heart blazes hot these days.

Ghost caught my attention immediately. His eyes are sapphires lined with dark lashes and often hidden behind his shoulder-length brown hair. He’s tall, leanly muscled, powerful, and impeccably sexy.

After a few stumbles, Ghost now loves me, and he doesn’t love just anyone. We’re syrupy sweet in our own asshole ways.

Loving Ghost made me open to loving other people. A year ago, Hope was a stranger sold to sex traffickers by her evil dad. I wanted to save her to give myself a purpose. Now, I want Hope to be happy because she’s family.

My fellow women Born Villains are similar to the team I lost when I retired from volleyball. However, with my team, I felt forced to pretend. At the Sanctuary, I can be myself. And what I am now is baby crazy.

I was planning for a kid eight years ago when my sister and her baby girl asked for refuge in my home. A weekend of suffering stole my dream with the same ease as it took the lives of Drew and Abilene. Love offered me a chance to reclaim my old dream.

Though Ghost swore he didn’t want a kid, his resolve cracked once his bestie, Apex—a huge, dark-haired Enforcer and our next-door neighbor—became a dad. First to an abused, redheaded toddler named Amelia. Then, Apex and his woman—the petite, blonde ballerina, Giselle—recently welcomed their daughter, Anna.

Seeing Apex dote on those girls inspired Ghost to reconsider his own abilities. That’s why we’ve been low-key trying for a few months.

But this Texas thing has remained a sore spot. Once I’m pregnant, I can’t go on hunts anymore. After I give birth, I doubt I’ll be willing to leave my child for days or weeks to track and kill assholes.

I had a false alarm this month, leaving me on edge about Texas. When my period showed up, I decided to push Overlord to make his decision. The mission won’t be any easier in a month or a year. We’ve already killed the targets we could. None of those deaths freed the women trapped on the estate where Giselle was once locked away.

“If you die, I’m killing myself,” Ghost tells me the night before we leave for Texas.

I stand in the brand-new kitchen in our slick craftsman-style home. I can’t get enough of this place or how Ghost and I chose everything together.

Despite my good mood, he radiates malice as if we’re under attack. This is our routine since we started hunting together. Ghost starts by telling me how he’ll kill himself if I die. I laugh off his concerns and focus him on how good it’ll feel to end assholes and save people. He pretends not to hear me. By the time we leave, he is sharp and ready to hunt.

“I’m sorry, baby,” I tell Ghost while scooting closer to where he stands near the stove. “I don’t believe in the afterlife, so if you think killing yourself will lead to us reuniting, I don’t figure you’ll get your happy ending.”

“You should stay here while I go to Texas.”

“You know that’s dumb.”

“Fuck off,” he growls as his beautiful, blue eyes narrow.

Running my fingers over our slick countertops, I smile at him. “We picked everything in this house. I can’t even look at the can opener without wanting to explore your naked body.”

Ghost stops glaring at me and looks around. “I don’t want to live in this house without you.”

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