Page 138 of Ghost Hunted

“Exactly.” I kiss her forehead, then tilt her face up so I can kiss her lips. “You can decide at any moment to leave Devil Tower, take a walk outside, go to the college…”

She arches an eyebrow. “Really?”

“Really,” I promise her. “I just… I hope you don’t mind if I walk around with you.” I pause, wondering how to make it sound like I’m asking, not telling. “I don’t want to leave you, that’s all. I love you so much that I don’t think I could spend a single second away from you. Is that okay?”

Her eyes narrow, and I can tell she sees through me, at least to some extent. But then she exhales and smiles. “Okay. Okay, I’ll let you walk with me.”

I realize I’m not really tricking her, but she’s finally beginning to accept that she has to meet me halfway. She’ll never truly be free, but we’re both going to work awfully hard to pretend that she is.

“Come on, baby,” I murmur, pressing my lips to hers again. “I have another surprise for you now.”

46

Lia

“Aurora! I mean, Piper! Oh my god, Piper!”

I rush toward the girl I’d given up hope of ever seeing again. I shot her, after all. My own daughter, and I shot her. Even though I was losing my memory, ever since the Puicin Gang healed me, the vision of what I’ve done has burned into me.

I’d been so sure she’d never forgive me. But now she’s here, in Devil Tower, and I throw myself in her arms.

“You’ve come back to me… Piper, baby… I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…”

She’s crying just as hard as I am. “I’m the one who’s sorry. I never wanted to stay away, but Quill is a controlling asshole, and he wouldn’t let me come back until he was sure you weren’t a thre—I mean, until he was sure you’d really gotten your memory back.”

“I understand,” I murmur, squeezing her to me. “Of course I understand.”

An arm locks around me, and I look up to see Logan hugging us both. “I’ve got my girls back,” he says. “We’re a family again.”

Quill is leaning against the doorway, his usual brooding self. “I’ve decided we’ll stay in Devil Tower for a few days.”

“We’ve decided, you mean,” huffs out Piper.

“Mhm hmm.”

“That’s great. I’m very glad about that.”

I turn to Logan, my heart swelling with gratitude, even though I realize exactly what he’s doing—manipulating me so I have no choice but to stay. Offering me everything but my freedom.

Then my eyes widen when I catch sight of his face. Somehow, I’ve been so focused on my own pain, on my own anger, that I never thought about what he was going through.

His dark undereye circles and pale skin show it clearly enough. He’s suffering. While I’ve been seething, complaining, rebelling, he’s been quietly suffering.

For the first time, confusion muddies the anger I’ve been holding onto.

“Logan,” I murmur, walking over to him and taking his hand.

He blinks at me in surprise, then draws me to him, wrapping an arm around me, before turning his attention to Piper.

“Let’s make sure to see each other more often from now on,” he says, in a light voice I can tell he’s far from feeling. “We’ll visit you in Oregon regularly. Won’t we, Lia?”

“Yes, Logan.” I nestle my head against his chest, the tightness in my heart easing when I look up and see a glimmer of real happiness in his eyes.

“We can even move out there if you want,” he says. “Whatever you want, baby.”

Piper and Quill both turn to Logan in shock. But I merely raise an eyebrow.

“Really? So you’d just up and move if I told you that’s what I wanted?”