Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 66962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
He smiled. “I’d love one.”
I got us each a beer and turned off the television. “I really am fine.”
“You haven’t come to see the foals in days.”
“Part of my agreement with Grant was that I could spend as much time as I needed to alone in my cabin.”
Ghost didn’t say a thing,
“I should have known Grant was going to try to force me to get out as much as he could.”
Ghost smiled. “Like his tactic of sending his little brother to bother you on a regular basis.
“So why isn’t Rogue here himself?”
“You haven’t been responding to his calls.”
“I’ve texted him, but I didn’t feel like talking.” And that was my mistake. A call might have calmed him down.
“He’s worried about you.”
“Why?” I wanted to make him say it.
“Because of Carlo.”
“I don’t want to run into him at the barn. Why is that such a big deal?”
“That’s not the big deal.” Ghost looked away and took a deep breath. “I’m so not the right person for this.”
If he was about to say what I thought, then no he wasn’t, but I trusted him with my life. If he hadn’t been manipulated into joining the FBI, he would have been by Grant’s side when he came after me.
“Rogue was fucking vague, saying he wouldn’t break a promise, but he implied there was something between you and Carlo.”
I raised my brows. “Something between us?”
Ghost sighed. “Rogue thinks you fucked him.”
I closed my eyes and pressed my hand to my forehead.
“Damn. He was right, wasn’t he?” Ghost asked.
“I know it sounds bad, but it’s not what you think.”
Ghost held up his hands in a posture of surrender. “If you think for a second that I’m judging you after I was sneaking around with Rogue, you’re very wrong.”
“Carlo was my prisoner.”
Ghost shrugged. “I’ve heard a lot worse.”
“Yeah, so have I, but that doesn’t mean I want someone to think…”
“You found a hot guy. You fucked him before you turned him in. Sounds like a porno but not like anything I should judge you for.”
I realized then that Ghost, and likely all the other men here who’d known me in the marines, trusted me more than I trusted myself.
“I shouldn’t be involved with anyone. I’m a mess,”
“I know men who are a hell of a lot more fucked up than you who get with a different woman or man every night. You don’t have to stay locked up here. No one expects that.”
He was right. “I don’t know what to do now.”
“You want to see him again?”
“I… Maybe.”
Ghost smiled. “He wants to see you.”
“How do you know?”
“He asks about you every day, multiple times a day.”
Shit. No wonder Rogue suspected something was going on. Carlo had told me he wouldn’t say anything when I threatened him, but he had to know I wouldn’t hurt him for real, right? He must after the other day in the woods.
“I have no idea what to do. I’m not in the right place to start something, not something real, like the rest of you guys have.”
“You think I was ready when I started shit with Rogue?”
“You were sane at least.”
“Was I? Am I now?” I started to protest, but he held up a hand. “I know you went through hell, and you have demons I don’t even want to imagine, but if we waited around until we were sure we were stable after what we’ve been through, then we’d be alone for the rest of our lives.”
I frowned. “You said you weren’t good at this.”
He shrugged. “Rogue is a romantic. After long enough with him…”
“Right.”
“Just don’t throw away a chance at happiness. You don’t want to regret what you didn’t do.”
“I don’t want to regret what I actually do either.”
Ghost tilted his head and studied me. “Will you, though?”
When Carlo was gone and I was alone again I would, but I’d regret not seeing him again more.
Ghost gestured toward the TV. “Why don’t you turn that back on?”
I took a swig of my beer and did as he said. I crocheted while Ghost sipped his beer and focused on the screen. It made me remember how much I appreciated being with someone and not talking.
12
CARLO
After days of waiting for Blade to turn up again, it was time for me to take the lead. I headed to the barn after breakfast, needing something to do while I formulated a plan. While Rogue was showing me how much hay to give the horses who were in their stalls, I decided to get some information. “Does Blade ever come to the barn?”
Rogue studied me for a moment. “Were you hoping he’d turn up today?”
“Yeah. I thought I’d see him again before now.”
“You do know most people would advise you to leave him alone. He’s been through a lot in the last few years.”
I frowned. Rogue was usually all for making bad decisions, at least that’s the impression I’d gotten from listening to the others talk. “What happened to him?”