Page 28

CHAPTER 27

GHOST

I’m not going anywhere.

“She’s gonna be okay.”

I glare at Jackyl, who’s finishing up with Ember’s stitches. Seventy-six of them to be exact. It’s killing me that he’s seeing her naked, but I know it’s the only way for him to do his job.

“Stop it, Parker,” Mom chides from the bed on the other side of the room. “She’s in good hands.”

Of course, she is. I wouldn’t let Jackyl touch her if I thought otherwise. Doesn’t change the fact that I hate everything about this entire situation.

“She’ll probably sleep for a while, what with the sedative I gave her before tending to her injuries,” Jackyl states. “Why don’t you go get cleaned up?”

Glancing down at myself, I take in my blood-stained clothes and wince. “I’m not leaving her.”

“Okay, then can I at least bring you something to change into?” he asks. “You stink, and quite frankly, if she sees you like this when she wakes up, Ember’s gonna freak.”

“Fine.”

He turns to Mom. “Mrs. West, can I get you anything? How’s your pain level?”

“No thank you, dear. And I told you, I have no pain.”

When I arrived at the house earlier, I saw Ben in the driveway, gunshot wound to the chest. He was beyond help, so I raced inside to find Ember and my mom. I heard Mom first, in the bathroom. After untying her and removing her gag, she told me that Em was being held in the master bedroom.

I’ve never been so scared in my entire life. Not knowing what I was going to see in that bedroom. It was simultaneously better and worse than what my imagination conjured up.

Ember was alive, but a naked man was on top of her, and her body was bloody and battered. I didn’t think after that. I couldn’t. I reacted like any man would, needing to kill the motherfucker who hurt her.

Little did I know, it’d be my mother who would have that honor. No matter… he’s dead and can’t hurt either of them ever again.

Crow also reassured me when he told me that Miguel Cruz and his two sidekicks were dead, and that Journey, Poker, Screamer, and Python were out tracking down the rest of the dealers Cruz gave up just before drawing his last breath.

The threat is gone, to the club, and to my family. All that remains is the threat to my sanity while I watch and wait for Ember to recover.

And to give you an answer to your proposal.

“She’s going to say yes.”

I whip my head around and stare at my mom. “How can you be so sure?”

“Because she loves you,” she says simply. “The time wasn’t right before, but it is now.”

My throat clogs. “Mom, I thought…”

“Come here, sweetheart.”

I look at Ember, ensuring myself that she’s still sleeping, and move to sit in the chair next to my mom’s bed.

“I know what you thought,” she tells me. “You thought the worst, and honestly, short of us both being dead, I’m not sure it could’ve gotten much worse. But it didn’t. We’re both here, and so are you. Hold on to that.”

“I’m trying.”

“Now, I’ve only got one question for you.”

“What’s that?”

“Does she make you happy?”

I nod. “Unbelievably happy.”

“Then stop worrying. All will work out as it it’s meant to.”

After imparting that bit of wisdom, she shoos me away, saying she wants to get some sleep. Time passes in a blur. Jackyl brings me clothes, Addison and Wren come in to check on all of us, Poker brings food. The world around me continues to spin while I’m stuck, frozen in place as long as Ember’s eyes remain closed.

I rest my head on the bed next to her, and I must doze off because I jolt awake when something touches my hand.

“Parker?”

“Em!” I exclaim, grabbing her hand without thinking. I withdraw when she winces at the contact. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I just… Fuck, you’re awake.”

She tries to smile, but her face is swollen and bruised. “Thirsty,” she croaks.

I turn around to grab a bottle of water on the stand next to the bed and hand it to her. She needs help to take a few sips, and I gladly oblige. I’d do anything for her.

“How are you feeling?” I ask after returning the water to the table.

“Like I’ve been hit by a Mack truck.”

I cringe at her description. “I’m so sorry I didn’t get there sooner.”

“But you got there. We’re all alive. That’s all that matters.”

“It never should’ve gotten that far.”

“Stop it,” she sasses. “Let it go, please. Because if you don’t, I won’t be able to.” I open my mouth to reply, but she adds, “I’m so tired.”

I lean forward and kiss her lips gently. “Get some rest, Em. I’m not going anywhere.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

“Mmm.” She licks her lips. “Parker?”

“Yeah?”

“I’ll marry you.”