Page 28

Ghost

I watch Halle take on the entire fire department as they clean up after her. I really shouldn’t find that crazy young lady so amusing, but I know she never means any harm. I’m just glad the kids were on the other side of the compound.

I scan the busy yard for the other tiny little woman sneaking around here. Her name says it all… Tizzy. She sure turned my life into one from the minute I saw her running from that mansion, bullets clipping at her small heels. Her beautiful, blond, bouncing hair whirling around like a halo. My life stopped for the second time in my life, the first being the day my baby girl Piper was born.

My heart has never stopped beating like that. I’ve also never hesitated on a mission or lost footing, all three of which happened as I caught sight of her. I let her walk away that night for two reasons. One was that I needed her as far away from that danger as possible, and two, I needed to get my ducks and my team in line. I was making plans and arrangements. I wanted her, and I was going to go full fucking throttle until I for her. Showing up today, ready to make my move, I never would have guessed — granted, I should have thought of it — Halle would blow the damn place up. How is she still unsupervised?

I’m still looking for my woman when my son-in-law and president of the Reckless Omens walks up to me.

“Got to know. What happened to the Irish?” he asks.

“Not going to get into all the details, but I will say our family is safe. No more looking over your shoulder. My team took care of it.” I know he wants to argue. It’s in his nature as a protective husband and father to be involved in this. Unfortunately, I won’t sell out my team or our informant inside the mob family to cause more harm than good. Instead of arguing, he sticks his hand out for me to shake.

“Thank you, Devin. I’ll never be able to repay the debt I owe you,” he says.

“Just take care of my baby girl and that grandson of mine, and we’ll call it even.”

After that, he leaves to find my baby girl, wrapping her up in his arms. I’m so happy for my sweet girl. She’s got the life she’s always deserved. That thought has me looking around again for a big blonde bouncing… hair.

When I find her, I can’t help the low chuckle that falls from my lips. She’s got the keys to one of Grease’s extra shop cars and is sneaking around to the driver's doors. I quickly but silently make my way up to the car. As she gets in and closes the door, I tap on the window. I want to smile as she winces, but then brings her beautiful baby blues to mine, slowly rolling down the window.

“Uh, high there, hot stuff! I was just headed down to the Piggly Wiggly and getting someone… uh, some more.. buns. Yeah, buns!” she stutters out. Again, I hold in my laughter.

“The Piggly Wiggly in town closed down ten years ago, and the other one ain’t for at least a hundred miles. Where ya really going, Buttercup?” I ask her. She sighs before answering.

“My girl is finally settled. It’s time for me to find some adventures. At least for a little while.”

“You weren’t going to say goodbye?” I know she thinks I’m talking about Lyra but I really mean me.

“If I had to do that, I’d never be able to leave,” she nearly whispers.

“Well, there’s one problem with your fleeing.”

“What’s that?” Her eyebrows draw down in confusion.

“How am I supposed to kidnap you and drag you back home with me if you run off on me?” I smile as she draws in a deep breath. Then she bursts out into the most beautiful laughter I’ve ever heard.

“Guess you’ll just have to give chase, Sugar Lips. I ain’t gonna be an easy catch.”

And with that, she steps on the peddle and hauls ass out of the compound, spinning gravel on the way and taking my heart right along with her.

I put a new toothpick in the side of my mouth, a nasty habit I picked up after quitting smoking. I walk slowly to my ride, throwing my leg over and kicking back the kickstand. I rev up my bike three times, knowing my team will hear and know I’m out. Then I take off after her.

I smile as I roll out to my next and probably most important (did I mention crazily unpredictable) mission of my life. What Tizzy doesn’t know is she has me, all of me…

Death Grip.

The end…. For now