Page 89 of Monster Mania

Hammer laughed. “We didn't say anything.”

“You're plotting,” she said.

“Always,” Ghost said.

“Whatever you're thinking, stop,” she insisted.

“Too late,” Ghost breathed. Angel rolled her eyes, but she couldn't stop smiling. For the first time in seven years, she wasn't wondering where she'd go next. She wasn't thinking about packing or planning another escape. She was thinking about Halloween and about two impossible men and about unpacking the duffel she'd sworn she'd keep packed. Maybe she'd even use the damn dresser.

Angel rested her head against Jackhammer's shoulder. Ghost's fingers remained tangled with hers. The SUV pulled away from the barn, away from Raven's Hollow, and away from twenty-five years of secrets. For once, Angel didn't look behind her—she looked ahead, and for the first time in a very long time, staying didn't scare her nearly as much as leaving did.

JACKHAMMER

Jackhammer didn't sleep, but Angel did, eventually. She'd fought it for the first hour of the drive.

Every time her eyes closed, they'd snap open again. She'd look out the window at Ghost, Jackhammer, and the road behind them. It was like she needed to make sure everything was still where she'd left it. Finally, exhaustion won.

Her head rested against Jackhammer's shoulder. Her legs were stretched across Ghost's lap. Ghost had one hand wrapped loosely around her ankle—possessive bastard. Jackhammer would've given him shit about it if his own arm wasn't wrapped around Angel's shoulders. They were both fucked—completely and hopelessly fucked, and Jackhammer didn't give a shit.

He looked down at her with her dark hair spilling across his chest. Her face looked softer when she slept—younger and more peaceful. Considering everything she'd learned tonight, she shouldn't have been able to sleep at all. Her mother hadn't abandoned her; she'd been murdered. Her father hadn't been her biological father, but he'd known that, and he’d chosen Angel anyway. Shadow hadn't betrayed her the way she'd believed; he'd died trying to lead her toward the truth. The Nomad Knights president she'd spent seven years running from was sitting zip-tied in the SUV behind them. And a man she'd barely remembered from childhood had walked into a barn and announced he was her biological father. Jackhammer would've needed a bottle of whiskey and a fucking week to process half that shit. Angel had cried, yelled, asked questions, and then she'd climbed into the SUV between him and Ghost and fallen asleep. Trust—that was what it was. She trusted them enough to sleep, and the realization hit Jackhammer harder than it should have.

He glanced toward Ghost as he stared out the window. “You good?”

“No,” Ghost said.

“Same,” Hammer said.

Monster looked at them through the rearview mirror. “Beautiful conversation.”

“Drive,” Ghost said.

“I am driving,” Monster insisted.

“Then do it quieter,” Ghost grumbled. Monster flipped him off without taking his eyes off the road, and Jackhammer smiled. Angel shifted against him, and every man in the SUV went silent so she didn’t wake up.

Monster glanced into the mirror again. His voice was quieter when he spoke. “What are you two gonna do?”

Jackhammer knew exactly what he meant. “About?”

Monster rolled his eyes. “The woman sleeping across both of you.”

Ghost looked down at Angel's legs. “Keep her.”

Jackhammer snorted, and Monster shook his head. “You keep saying that like she's a stray dog.”

“I like dogs,” Ghost defended.

“That's not helping.” Jackhammer looked down at Angel. “We need to ask her what she wants.”

Ghost's gaze moved to him. “What?”

“We ask her what she wants,” Hammer repeated.

“Obviously,” Ghost mumbled.

“No.” Jackhammer shook his head. “I mean really ask her.” Ghost frowned. Jackhammer had spent half his life pretending he didn't want things, because wanting something gave another person power over you. Cassie had taught him that, Marlene had reinforced it, and Ellie had finished the lesson. Every woman he'd ever loved had left for different reasons, but they had the same result. He'd gotten damn good at acting like it didn't matter until Angel walked into Monster's Madhouse. Now it mattered—a lot.

“We don't tell her she's staying,” Jackhammer said.