“Just a knick. I’m good. You’re the one that needs a bandage.” He pointed at her forehead.
She reached up to touch her head, pulling her hand away and seeing the blood on her fingers. Before she could comprehend that, Ghost bent and scooped her up in his arms carrying her to the bar that, surprisingly, was still standing. He sat her ass on the bar top and nodded toward the hall.
“There’s a first aid kit in the closet.”
Blood moved off to get it.
Ghost ripped a piece of the bottom of his tee shirt off and pressed it to her forehead.
“Ghost, your shirt. You ruined it.”
“Think that fucking matters? Look around, sweetheart. The place is blown to shit, and you’re worried about my shirt?”
Blood chuckled. “Maybe she got knocked in the head.”
She glared at him. “I’m fine. It’s just a scrape.” Then she looked at Ghost with a pouting face. “I didn’t even get to fire off one round.”
Ghost and Blood burst out laughing.
CHAPTER TWENTY TWO
After a long day of dealing with a fire department and police department that responded to the gunfire and explosion, then getting the prospects started boarding the place up, as well as a long meeting that involved a phone call to the DKs to set a meeting for retaliation, Ghost finally brought Jessie home, and she was so happy to be there.
They were out on the terrace, watching the planes land as the sun set. He stood behind her, his arms folded around her shoulders. His mouth at her ear, he said softly, “When that blast went off today, I thought I’d lost you. Never been so scared in my life.”
She nodded, reaching up to squeeze his forearm, feeling safe in his arms. “Me, too. We were all so lucky. I’m so grateful no one was hurt. I’d feel responsible. I feel to blame for all of this.”
“No, babe. You’re just an excuse, a pawn. Hatred between clubs is deep and goes back a long way. You did nothing to start any of this.”
“Still, I feel like maybe I shouldn’t have come here. I wanted to find you, but I’ve been nothing but trouble to you.”
He turned her around. “Look at me. That’s bullshit. Get it out of your head. I’m glad you came. Glad you found me. And I don’t want you to worry. We’re gonna take care of this. Understand?”
She looked up into his eyes, and his strength melted into her. She nodded, “I know. I just wish I’d told you everything right away. Maybe things would have been different. Maybe none of this would have happened.”
“You don’t know that, brat, so don’t drive yourself crazy wondering what if.”
She nodded, but it was easier said than done. “I just want you to know there’s nothing else. There’s no more secrets. I promise I won’t ever keep anything like that from you again. Do you believe me?”
He searched her eyes. “I believe you, Jess.”
“Good. Thank you.” She went into his arms, pressing her head against his chest and felt his hand at the back of her head. He kissed the top of her head, holding her. And then she heard his voice, soft and serious.
“There’s something I need to tell you. Something I’ve wanted to tell you for a long time.”
She nodded, perhaps knowing what was coming. He was going to finally tell her that big thing that he said would drive her away when he revealed it. Well, at least after her talk with Skylar, she felt a little more prepared and hoped she handled it well.
“Okay,” she whispered.
“Do you want to sit?”
She shook her head, her hair brushing across his jaw. She felt him take in a long, slow breath.
“Jessie, I’ve been lyin’ to you about something, and I need to come clean.” He blew out a breath. “Shit, it’s so hard for me to tell you this.”
“Just say it, Ghost,” she encouraged in another whisper, her head still buried against his chest.
He blew out another breath. “I’m the one that talked Robert into that recruiter’s office.”