Page 32 of Ghost

I force a smile, looking back at him. “To my room. Wouldn’t want to makeyour jobharder.”

I push through the crowd, and the number of people in the room has easily doubled in the last twenty minutes. I can’t breathe through the pot and cigarette smoke, and now that I’m walking, the alcohol is swimming through my bloodstream.

My head spins as I slip past the prospects guarding the hallway that leads deeper into the clubhouse.

I need water.

Air.

Space.

The compound has never felt so small until this moment.

“Luna.” Ghost’s voice makes me jump.

I didn’t hear him following me with the music blaring, and when I spin around, he’s right behind me.

“You’re following me now?” I glare at him.

“I didn’t say you had to leave.”

“That’s the problem. You don’t say much of anything.”

He steps closer, and I tip my head back to look up at him. His blue eyes burn with something fierce I’ve never seen.

“What?” My voice stutters, and I hate it.

“You shouldn’t be wandering around alone tonight. It’s not safe.”

“Not safe.” I laugh. “And whose fault is that? You’re the one who brought me here, remember? You’re the one who didn’t tell me the shit I’d gotten myself into a year ago so that I could fix it back then. You’re the reason I’m in this mess.”

He dips his hands in his pockets, looking down at me. He’s standing close enough that I can smell his leather cut. I can feel his body heat. I can hear the deep sigh as he looks me over.

“You’re right. And now I’m fixing it.”

“By keeping every guy in a five-foot radius away from me? We both know I’m not doing shit with Venom, or any of the guys here for that matter. So, I don’t need you scaring them off.” I cross my arms over my chest, gettingthe urge to push back to see what he’ll do about it. “Or maybe I should…”

His jaw ticks. It’s so slight that I almost miss it.

But I don’t miss the slow, rough grinding of his teeth as he processes my comment.

Stepping closer, I tip my chin up to face off with him.

Ghost is the one who’s been lying to me. He’s the one who brought me here because he just couldn’t help himself. He might not want to admit why he did it, but every second that passes, it becomes clearer.

He lied to his club to protect me.

He won’t let me work with anyone but him.

He scared off Venom at the bar.

He might not want to admit what’s changing, but I need answers. And I’m going to get them even if it takes me pissing him off to do it.

Squaring off with him, I narrow my eyes. “I can’t just fuck anyone, can I, Ghost?It’s not safe. So maybe I’ll give Venom a chance after all.”

“Luna.” My name is a threat, rumbling in his chest.

“That’s not against the rules, is it?” My voice pitches as I continue to double down. “A girl has needs. And there are plenty of options walking around.”