Page 8 of Ghost

I sigh when I hear Alto’s voice. I nod, peeling my eyes open enough to see the large house sitting in the middle of nowhere. What I love about their house is that it’s made of storage containers, and it’s huge with big windows that bring in a ton of sunlight.

It’s also very well protected. One button puts the entire house on lockdown if I remember correctly. The windows get covered in bulletproof glass and steel lines the inside of the containers for extra protection from any enemies. They have a gorgeous view of the mountains in the distance and are only a few miles away from the clubhouse.

“Thank you,” I whisper into Alto’s ear as Bane unlocks the front door.

“For what, sweetheart?”

“Bringing me here and not taking me to the clubhouse,” I force myself to say through a twisted tongue. “Daddy would have been so mad at me. I only wanted to be normal. You know, without him breathing down my neck.”

“We know,” Colt says. “It’s why you’re here. We remember what it’s like to be your age.”

I barely get a glance at the open floor plan of the house. It’s my favorite part of it but I’m too drunk to focus, and when we enter one of the guest bedrooms, Colt flips on a lamp in the corner that doesn’t shine too brightly so it doesn’t hurt my eyes.

Bane flips on the fan, and I sigh in relief. “Feels good.”

Alto takes me to the bathroom and helps me brush my teeth. I can’t even hold the damn toothbrush.

“You’re so close to going to bed, sweetheart. Just a little longer,” he urges, shoving the toothbrush over my tongue and teeth.

When he’s satisfied, he turns on the sink and I spit, then I cup my hand under the faucet so the water pools and wash my mouth out.

“So embarrassing,” I mumble, holding onto the counter to try to get to the bed myself. “I’m mad at myself.” My knees buckle when I release the hold I have on the counter and thick arms wrap around my waist to catch me.

“Woah, I got you,” Alto announces.

“I can…I can do it.” I try to push away from him, but the attempts are weak. I don’t have enough energy.

“I know you can. We know you can, but we’re only trying to help. Why don’t you let Colt tuck you in? Bane will go get you something to drink and I’ll make you a snack. How’s that sound?”

Food?

Consider my attention caught.

“That sounds nice. Do you have grapes?”

“I do,” he says.

“I hate grapes,” I tell him. “No grapes.”

Colt laughs, flipping the covers so I can slide into bed.

“You love grapes,” Bane tells me.

I snuggle in the bed and sigh, then rest my head against the headboard. Turning, I look at him through heavy eyes. “I think I’d know if I liked grapes.”

“I saw you eating them two weeks ago.”

“I was a different woman then. That was another time.” I wave him away. “What were we talking about?” I hiccup, covering my mouth.

I’m still horrified.

“Grapes,” Colt reminds me.

I beam. “I love grapes.”

Bane rolls his eyes and Alto chuckles as they leave the room.

“You’re funny when you’re drunk.”