Page 5 of Monster Mania

She climbed out of bed, wrapping the sheet around herself. “I need my clothes.”

Jackhammer sat up. “Why?” Her eyebrows arched, and he immediately realized how that sounded. “I mean, where are you going?”

“Home,” she said. That single word bothered him more than it should have. Last night was just a one-night deal. It was what they had all agreed on, and Angel had made it perfectly clear that she didn’t want anything more with either of them. He had agreed to it, too, and so had Ghost. Apparently, his dick had signed the agreement while his heart hadn't bothered reading the fine print.

“You hungry?” he asked.

Angel stopped gathering her clothes. “What?”

“Do you want some breakfast?” Jackhammer asked. “That's usually what people eat in the morning.”

“I know what breakfast is,” she hissed.

“Then why'd you ask?” Jackhammer asked. She studied him suspiciously, and Jackhammer sighed. “It's eggs and bacon, Angel. Not a marriage proposal.”

Ghost made a choking sound behind him, and Jackhammer turned. His best friend was grinning like a fucking idiot. “What?” Jackhammer asked.

“Nothing,” Ghost said.

“I swear to God, Ghost,” Jackhammer started. Angel laughed again. Damn it. For some reason, he wanted to keep making her do that.

“I can't,” she said.

The humor disappeared from Jackhammer's face. “Why not?”

“I have things to do,” she lied.

“Like what?” he asked, calling her on her lie. Her expression changed—barely, but Jackhammer caught it. Angel was hiding something. He'd spent too many years around liars, criminals, and men trying to keep secrets from their own brothers not to recognize the signs.

“Things,” she repeated. Ghost sat up, and Jackhammer glanced at him. His friend had noticed it too, but neither of them pushed her—not yet, at least.

Angel dressed quickly, refusing to look at either of them while she did it. By the time she pulled on her boots, Jackhammer already hated the idea of her walking through that door. He stood and pulled on his jeans. “I'll walk you down,” he offered.

“You don't have to,” she insisted.

“I know I don’t have to. I want to,” he insisted.

She stared at him for a second. “Fine.” Ghost stayed behind, but the look he gave Jackhammer said they'd be having a conversation as soon as Angel left. Jackhammer wasn't looking forward to it.

He followed Angel downstairs. Monster's Madhouse looked like a completely different place in the morning. Empty beer bottles littered the tables. Chairs were turned sideways. Someone had left a bra hanging from one of the ceiling fans. That was a story that Jackhammer didn't want to know. The only person behind the bar was Monster. Their Prez stood with a coffee mug in one hand, staring at a plastic skeleton sitting on a barstool.

Jackhammer stopped. “What the fuck?”

Monster looked over. “Morning.”

“Why is there a skeleton at my bar?” Jackhammer asked.

“It’s my bar,” Monster reminded.

“You know what I mean,” Jackhammer grumbled.

Monster pointed at the skeleton. “That's Larry,” he said. Angel snorted, and Jackhammer looked at her. She covered her mouth. Monster nodded toward Angel. “Who's your friend?”

“Angel,” Jackhammer breathed her name. Monster's eyes moved from Angel to Jackhammer, then toward the stairs.

A slow smile spread across his face. “No,” he Prez breathed.

Jackhammer knew that look. “Don't.”