Page 45 of Ghost Hunted

“I don’t want to talk.” I turn toward him. “I want my baby.”

“Shh, ghost girl. It’s fine. I told you I was going to fix you. Everything’s fine. I’ll find your baby. Now, put that down, okay? I love you, Lia.”

I blink at him. “I don’t know who you are.”

He pauses, stiffening. “I understand. I’m someone who loves you very much. Please put down the bazooka.”

I blink again, the fog in my brain making me want to throw up. “What… what…” My voice breaks. “What bazooka?”

“Lia…” He takes a step toward me, and I glance down at the heavy object I’m holding. What the hell is that? Where did I find it? How long have I been holding it?

Fuck!

A hand reaches around me to grab the heavy object away, while another hand latches onto my hair, jerking it backward.

“Ahhh!”

I don’t know why it hurts so much. But once I start screaming, I can’t stop. My entire scalp burns, tears leak out of my eyes, and I hunch over on the ground, feeling like I’m going to pass out.

“Please! Please! Don’t! Stop!” cries a girl.

A girl’s name slices through my mind. Jane.

But no, it’s not her. Who’s Jane?

“Piper!” I gasp, rising up and latching onto my redheaded daughter. And then my eyes follow hers to the bandaged guy repeatedly kicking the hoodie-wearing one as the latter lies on the ground.

Logan.

“Logan,” I stammer, and he stops at once, turning to me.

I read relief in his eyes, though I can’t understand why. I sink into his arms, crying. “Why were you doing that? Why were you beating up Quill?”

“Baby. Baby.” He hugs me to him. “I love you so much. I’m going to fix you.”

Behind him, I see Piper kneel beside Quill, crying.

“Why were you hurting him?” I ask him. “You made our daughter sad, Logan.”

“I’m sorry.” He kisses me. “I’m very sorry, Lia.”

His arm still around me, he leads me toward Piper. She’s crying, still crouched over Quill. His face is bloodied and bruised and he’s… smiling.

“Don’t cry, cricket,” he tells her, blood dripping from his mouth as he speaks. “I’m not hurt at all.”

“Stop it, Quill! You’re bleeding!”

“Need a Tylenol, Quill?” asks Logan.

“Nah, I’m fine. Just taking a nap.”

“Uh huh.” Logan turns to me. “See? Everything’s okay, Lia. I’m going to put you back to bed, and I’m going to stay with you, okay?”

He presses his lips to mine again.

“Logan, she was going to shoot you!” protests Piper. “Quill saved your life, and you beat the shit out of him!”

Logan turns glowering eyes at my daughter. “She is your mother, Piper. And I will beat the shit out of anyone who lays a finger on her.”