Page 32 of Property of Buck
“Both,” Ghost admitted. Buck snorted softly despite himself, and Ghost was happy to see the human side of him right now. He needed Buck to be more than just rage wrapped in muscle and leather.
Ghost moved closer until he stood directly beside him at the table. “Listen to me carefully, brother.” Buck looked him over slowly.
“We go in smart.” Ghost’s voice dropped lower. “Not suicidal.” Buck’s jaw flexed, and Ghost knew exactly what Buck wanted to do. He wanted to storm the warehouse, break Eli’s spine with his bare hands, and carry Wren out personally. And honestly, Ghost wanted the same thing. The problem was that Wren wasn’t the only hostage anymore. There were other girls in there, too.
Ghost rested both hands on the war table and leaned closer. “If you lose your shit in there, people will die.” Buck stared at him in silence but nodded.
“Fine,” he growled.
Ghost narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “That sounded fake.”
Buck actually smirked faintly. “That’s because it was—just a little bit.”
“Jesus Christ,” Ghost grumbled.
The war room door opened behind them, and Reaper stepped inside, carrying two rifles across his shoulders. “We’re loaded.” Buck stood immediately, and there it was again, the shift in the room. It seemed to sharpen around him when he moved. Every King straightened instinctively as Buck grabbed his kutte and shrugged it over broad shoulders. He was anatural-born leader, even if he hated taking that position when Gorgon was away.
Ghost watched him carefully while something warm and painful twisted in his chest. God, he loved this man. The realization should’ve terrified him more than it did. Instead, it just felt honest now.
Buck looked over at him suddenly. “What?”
Ghost blinked. “You got that whole rugged warlord thing going on right now.”
Buck looked unimpressed. “We’re about to raid a trafficking operation.”
“Exactly.” Ghost grinned. “Very masculine. I’d give you a ten outta ten on the sexy scale.”
Reaper made a deeply exhausted sound. “Can you two flirt after we stop the human traffickers?”
Ghost pointed at him immediately. “See, he gets it. This is flirting.” Buck rolled his eyes and grabbed extra magazines from the table, but Ghost caught the faint redness creeping up his neck anyway. The emotionally constipated bastard was embarrassed.
Outside, snow blasted across the yard while trucks lined up near the gates. Kings loaded into vehicles wearing black tactical gear beneath leather kuttes while engines rumbled low in the darkness.
Ghost climbed into the passenger seat of Buck’s truck while Reaper and three others loaded into the SUV behind them. The moment the gates opened, Buck hit the gas hard enough to fishtail across the frozen road.
Ghost braced a hand against the dashboard. “You know, if we survive this, I’m definitely making fun of you for falling in love during a gang war.”
Buck kept his eyes on the road. “You’re literally in love with the same woman.”
“Yeah, but I’m coping with humor.” Ghost glanced over at Buck. “You’re coping with murder.” Buck didn’t deny it as silence settled between them for several miles while snow hammered the windshield.
Buck spoke quietly. “You really think she chose us?” Ghost looked over at him, and he could see the real fear underneath everything else. Buck wasn’t afraid of losing the fight. He was afraid of losing Wren.
Ghost leaned back against the seat slowly. “Brother, that woman agreed to be with two outlaw bikers after twenty-four hours and looked calmer than she had all week after agreeing to be ours.” He smirked faintly. “Yeah. I think she chose us.” Buck swallowed hard.
Ghost softened slightly. “You scared?”
Buck laughed without any humor behind it. “Terrified.” The honesty of it punched Ghost straight through the chest because Buck Lawson never admitted fear. He could be bleeding and broken and never be afraid, but throw Wren into the mix, and she cracked him open effortlessly.
Ghost reached over suddenly and grabbed the back of Buck’s neck hard enough to hold his attention, and Buck glanced over at him. “We’ll get her back,” Ghost said quietly. “Then we can both tell her. We can finally make her ours, and I’m never letting her out of my sight again.”
Buck frowned slightly. “Tell her what?”
Ghost grinned slowly. “That we love her, dumbass.” Buck looked horrified, and Ghost started laughing immediately.
“Oh my God, you haven’t even realized you’re planning forever with her yet, have you?” Ghost asked.
“Shut up,” Buck mumbled.
