Page 110 of Monster Mania

“Because of everybody,” he corrected. He shoved his hands into his pockets. “Foster homes taught me nothing lasts.”

“Ghost,” she whispered his name, but he needed to get the rest out.

“Then Levi died,” he said. She stepped closer. “I decided if I didn't love anybody, I couldn't lose anybody.”

“How'd that work out for you?” she asked.

“Like shit.” She smiled. Ghost looked at the bag. “You do the same thing.” Her smile disappeared. “You keep everything packed because if you leave first, nobody gets to take anything from you.”

Angel looked down. “Maybe.”

“I don't want you to leave.” Her eyes lifted to his. Ghost wasn't good at this. He could interrogate a man. Hell, he could kill one. He could ride into another club's territory and stand in front of bullets. But this was terrifying. “I don't know how to do normal.”

Angel laughed softly. “Have you met us? None of us are normal.”

“Good point,” he said.

“I don't need normal,” she insisted.

“What do you need?” he asked.

She thought about it for just a few seconds. “You.” Ghost's heart stopped, and then she looked toward the doorway. “And him.”

Jackhammer grinned. “Damn right.” Angel rolled her eyes.

Ghost stepped closer. “Then stay.”

She looked at the duffel. “No running?”

Ghost touched her face. “Only if we're running with you.”

Her eyes filled. “Joining me in my bad decisions is incredibly unhealthy of you.”

“Probably.” Jackhammer walked over to them. “We can give therapy a try.” Angel laughed, and then she looked at the bag. Ghost waited her out, not wanting to pressure her. He didn’t give her an order, but wanted her to have a choice.

Angel walked over to the bag and unzipped it. Ghost held his breath as she pulled out a shirt, opened the dresser, and placed the shirt inside. Jackhammer smiled, but Ghost didn't. He couldn't because his chest hurt too fucking much. Angel pulled out another shirt, then jeans, underwear, and socks. Piece by piece, the bag emptied. Finally, she reached the bottom. There was nothing left. Angel stared inside the bag, and then she folded the duffel and placed it in the closet. Angel closed the door, and when she turned around, Ghost was standing directly behind her.

“You stayed,” he whispered.

She smiled. “I stayed.” He kissed her. It wasn’t desperate or hungry like their first night together. Instead, it was slow and careful. He was making her a promise that Ghost didn't have words for. When he pulled away, Angel rested her forehead against his. “Was that a forehead-kiss upgrade?” she teased.

“Don't ruin it,” he grumbled. She laughed. Jackhammer wrapped his arms around both of them, and Ghost groaned.

“Seriously?” he grumbled.

“Group moment,” Hammer said.

“I hate group moments,” Ghost insisted.

“No, you don't,” Hammer countered.

Angel looked between them. “You know what I want?”

Ghost raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“To go to a Halloween party,” she said.

Jackhammer laughed. “You nearly get murdered, and that's what you're thinking about?”