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Pippen picked up the phone and took it off speaker phone. “You’re off speaker. Tell me why she left.”

I found myself once again holding my breath. Pippen had turned away, so I couldn’t see his face while Jessie told him why my woman ran, again.

“Ok, yea. I’ll tell him.” Pippen got quiet again. “No, I get it. Tell her I’m sorry.” He disconnected the phone and turned to look at me.

“Well?”

“She was upset and planned to leave town. Jessica ran into her at the diner, and they talked. One thing about Jessica, she may be blunt and socially awkward, but people trust her. They open up to her. She talked Melissa into staying, and when she mentioned the hotel, she talked her into staying at the ranch in one of the cabins.”

“Call Winchester, tell him to get his ass home and stay there until I tell him otherwise,” King instructed, and Colt put his phone to his ear and walked out of the room.

“I need to go.”

“No.”

Looking at my president, I wasn’t sure I heard him correctly. “Why the fuck not?”

“Because I fucking said so. Sit your ass down. You too, Gunner,” King ordered. “Mellie has been through a lot of shit. She needs a break. I’ll call Grayson and make sure she’s in the cabin closest to the house. Winchester will be out there, and I will send two prospects as well.”

“No,” I said.

“Excuse me?”

“I said no. I’m not leaving her out there alone.”

“She needs some time away from the club,” King reasoned.

“She can have it. She can’t have time away from me.” I got up from my seat and walked to the door.

“Ghost, sit your ass down.”

“Sorry, brother. Can’t do that.” I shrugged off my cut and laid it on the table.

“What the fuck are you doing?” King snarled. “Put your cut back on.”

I stood there shaking my head, my eyes on my president. Former president. “I’m out. She’s it. You guys have been giving me shit for months about the woman I couldn’t forget. It’s fucking her. She’s here. I can’t let her go again. I won’t.”

“So, make her your old lady!”

“She doesn’t want to be an old lady! She wants nothing to do with the club. She needs one person in her goddamn life to put her first. I’m that fucking person,” I said, slapping my hand against my chest.

“So you’re willing to give up everything?”

“Damn fucking straight.”

I walked out of church, leaving my cut on the table and my brothers behind me.

For her.

My princess.

My everything.

Chapter Forty-Three

Melissa

There was nowhere to go.