Page 103 of Ghost

I’m sitting in the clubhouse studying. My hair is up, and I’m wearing my glasses. There’s not a drop of makeup on my face, and I wonder why, of all the images Ghost must have of me, he chose to print this one out.

One where I’m not even looking up at the lens.

A knock comes at the door, and Venom peeks in. “You all good?”

“I’m fine.” I straighten up in Ghost’s chair.

“Sorry to interrupt, but they have me doing rounds every hour.”

Steel doubled security at the clubhouse after the ATF raid, so I’m not surprised by Venom’s orders.

The feds didn’t find anything, but the entire club is on edge after they violated their space, and I’m sure they have their reasons.

Venom starts to close the door.

“Hey, can I ask you a question?”

He pauses, and I can sense his hesitation. My evolving relationship with Ghost has really changed my friendship with Venom. Prospects are careful when it comes to things that belong to ranked members—especially their women. Venom probably doesn’t want to step on any toes by being too friendly with me.

I don’t have a property patch on my back, but Ghost has made it clear I’m off-limits. And Venom respects that by keeping his distance.

“Of course.” Venom pauses in the doorway.

He won’t turn me down because he wouldn’t want Ghost to think he’s being rude to me.

“Do you have a family outside of the club?” I ask, tucking the pictures away in the drawer and leaning back in the chair.

Venom shakes his head. “Not anymore. Why?”

“I was just curious.”

In all the conversations I’ve had with Venom, we rarely talked about anything serious. He would flirt, and I would laugh. We talked about whatever trouble the prospects were getting into or the ridiculous bets Soul was making with fellow members.

“Is that why you wanted to become a Twisted King? Because you had nothing else to live for?”

I understand why so many of the men joined when they were young, given this life appeals to anyone interested in operating outside the lines of law enforcement. But Venom doesn’t give me that impression. Even if he enjoys himself, I have a feeling he came here for more reasons than that.

Venom props his forearm up on the doorframe. “I guess so. Everyone wants their life to mean something, right? Mine didn’t out there. But here, I think it could. Plus, it’s as good of a family as any. We outcasts gotta stick together. You get it.”

“I’m not a member.”

“Member or not, you’re part of all this, Luna. I see how you take care of people around here. You were one of the first people to welcome me. You make it feel like a home.”

“You think so?”

“I know so.” Venom nods. “Ghost is lucky to have you.”

“Thanks.”

He smiles, grabbing the door. “Open or closed.”

“Closed.”

“Night, Luna.”

“Goodnight.”

Venom shuts the door, and I glance in the drawer again. The picture of me is on top now, and I wonder if Ghost feels like I make this place feel like home too.