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CHAPTER 14

EMBER

And you care because?

“Hi, is this Ember?”

It’s two in the morning and this bitch doesn’t know for sure who she’s calling? And why is she calling from Ghost’s phone? I roll over and rest my arm over my eyes, blocking out the light from the hallway that I always leave on for Mrs. West.

“Who’s this?” I ask.

“My name is Meri, and I’m here at Ballinger’s with Ghost.”

My entire body tenses at her words. It makes sense, since it was his name that popped up on my screen, but still. Is this some sort of joke? “Good for you.”

“Oh, no,” she says with a laugh. “It’s not like that. I’m the bartender here, and he’s drunk as shit.”

“And you called me because?”

“Well, because he needs a ride home, and he didn’t want me to call one of his brothers.”

“Did he ask you to call me?”

“No, but he?—”

“He won’t like that you called me.”

Do I like that she did?

“Based on the glare I’m getting at the moment, I gathered as much.” She pauses, mumbles something to Ghost, no doubt, before continuing. “Look, I can drive him home when I’m done here, but the clubhouse is a half hour in the wrong direction.”

I sigh. Ghost and I have managed to avoid each other since the day I started working for me… mostly. Everything has remained very brief and professional. He comes to give me my day off, and the second he shows up, I’m out the door. The same thing happens when I return, but in reverse. It’s like he can’t stand to be around me.

I should be grateful, happy that he’s not reading more into this whole situation than is there, but I find that all I am is… sad.

“You said you’re at Ballinger’s?” I finally ask.

“Yep.”

Sighing, I throw the covers to the side and get out of bed. “Give me twenty, and I’ll be there.”

“Thanks, bye.”

Meri disconnects the call as if she’s afraid I’ll change my mind. Hell, I probably will… over and over again until I have no choice but to follow through because he’ll be right in front of me.

Before I get dressed, I send a text to one of the emergency numbers Ghost left for me in case I couldn’t get a hold of him.

Me: I’m so sorry to bother you, but I just got a call from the bartender at Ballinger’s. Ghost told me to call/text if I ever needed anything. I’m afraid to leave his mother alone while I go get him. Any chance you could pick him up?

I stare at my phone as three bouncing dots quickly appear, signaling a response.

Crow: Hi Ember. You can always call/text if you need something. Day or night. I can’t go get him though bc I’m tied up with club business. I’m sure his mom will be fine.

Me: Not sure I should take that chance.

Crow: Can you take her with you?

Me: It’s 2 in the morning!

Crow: I know. Look, I’ll send a prospect to sit on the house while you’re gone.

Me: Can’t the prospect pick him up?

Why is he making this so hard?

Crow: We don’t have a vehicle available at the moment for that and based on the fact that he needs a ride, I’m guessing he won’t last on the back of a bike

Me: Fine. How fast can the prospect get here?

I start to get dressed as I wait for his reply. It takes a bit longer than the others, which fuels my annoyance. After several minutes, my phone dings.

Crow: Ben should be there in 10. Mrs. West will be okay by herself for a few. Go ahead and leave.

Grudgingly, I type out one last text.

Me: Thanks

It takes me a few more minutes to gather my purse and grab a bottle of water. Dumbass is probably gonna need something to drink that’s not booze.

And you care because?

Unease settles in my gut as I drive down the street, away from the house, but the rumble of a motorcycle reaches my ears when I turn to head further into town. Good, Ben must be close. At least I can worry a little less about Mrs. West.

Now I can focus all my worry on myself and the stupid man I’m playing designated driver for.