I come back dead on two hours, after leaving Ghost’s cabin with Lethal, to find Whisper stretched out on the couch with Phoenix in the great room, looking fucking beautiful.
Her dark hair has been washed and looks as soft as silk. She’s dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, which looks borrowed from Phoenix, in that it’s got the Ramones on the front. Her feet are up on Phoenix’s lap and they both look comfortable in each other’s company, like they’ve known each other for a long time. I like seeing this.
Lethal and I had trudged through the snow, out into the surrounding woods, to cut down a suitable Christmas tree as a surprise for Whisper.
Don’t know the laws for what we did, and don’t give a fuck. Only care about giving Whisper her first Christmas and making Ghost’s place look cheery with the Christmas spirit.
We’re going all winter-fucking-wonderland for Whisper, which reminds me, I have to remember to ask Drill to throw some cash Cyn’s way, for her and the kid to have a good Christmas, because it will be the last she will be getting from me. Every kid deserves a good Christmas, my unborn child is getting his or her first, and I’m gonna make sure it’s a fucking amazing one for Whisper.
“Hermano, you gotta keep moving, this tree don’t weigh like a feather. You had to pick the biggest one you could find that would fit in the cabin,” he grumbles from behind.
Without realizing, I’d stopped walking to stare at my sweet and wild girl.
I give myself a little shake and resume walking to the corner it will stand in and lay it down on the floor.
It’s a beauty, at least nine feet. Ghost has high ceilings in the great room, so it’s perfect. I’m hoping the other guys get back soon with the decorations. Once we get the tree settled in water, the girls can have some fun with it. This I can’t wait to watch, because it will be like sunshine watching Whisper enjoy herself.
Can’t say I ever had a tree, for the first eleven years of my life, but my adopted parents made up for it. I remember their faces as they watched the broken kid enjoy his first Christmas—something I’ll never forget.
I look over at Whisper to find her sitting upright and staring, her mouth partially open in surprise at seeing a fresh tree… and don’t I like seeing that look on her face and she hasn’t got to the unwrapping presents, yet.
I was in fucking awe of the presents under the tree for me on my first Christmas morning. I had never had any gifts before and I’ll be fucked if I’m not going to do the same for Whisper. We’ve got less than five days until Christmas Day, so I have a lot to organize.
“A Christmas tree?” she sounds like she doesn’t believe what she sees. I know it would have been the last thing on her mind—but now, that look was so worth shoving my exhaustion to the side, and chopping it down for her.
I’m gonna remember this moment for a very long time.
“Figured you never had a Christmas before, so we’re gonna make sure you get your first one with all the trimmings.” Her eyes meet mine and those big browns of hers have almost a childish hopefulness in them. Good girl. I want this to be a distraction for her, help keep her mind off things.
Phoenix looks impressed. “I reckon between the two of us, we could get this tree looking pretty amazing. What do you think, Sara?”
“Will Ghost be all right with us doing this?” Whisper asks hesitantly, like she’s worried Ghost won’t be pleased we’ve brought a tree into his cabin without permission.
Before I can answer, the man himself comes into the room, with a bunch of voices following close behind.
“Ghost thinks it’s a great idea,” he booms, speaking in the third person. “Edge beat me to it… had the same idea.” Brownie point to me. “Got a tree outside, but saw Edge and Lethal carrying one in. Figured got me enough room in my cabin for another tree to be set up somewhere else, so it won’t go to waste.”
He’s dressed in casuals: a thick, red and black plaid button-up, looking more like a lumberjack, layered over a white Henley, warm pants and a knitted beanie. I’m used to seeing him only in black.
“Are all your black clothes in the wash?” I can’t help taking a dig at him. Truth be known, the big guy is looking good with a bit of color on him.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“And I’m choosin’ to ignore you.”
He crosses the room and crouches down beside my girl, resting a big paw by her thigh on his couch. He gives a nod to Phoenix who smiles back.
“How are you feeling, sweetheart?” He’s talking to Whisper.
Grrrrrr! Sweetheart?
“Much better thank you.” She’s looking worried like she’s done something wrong as she starts fidgeting a little, her bandaged hands no longer relaxed.
I start walking towards them, my girl’s uncomfortable and I want to fix what is worrying her. I’m trying to give her space and not smother her with protection, which is what my inner caveman is drawn to do.
Her reaction doesn’t slip past Ghost. “Hey, darlin’, what’s got you lookin’ like you want to bolt?”
“I’m so sorry, but we took over your bathroom and Miss Catherine is resting in your bed, and we used a few of your towels without permission and—”
I reach her and crouch down next to Ghost. I fucking loathe the mindfuck she’s been put through, and watching her regress from the woman I met in the bar—to this—cuts deep. Nobody should ever feel anxious over normal shit like this.
“Whoa there darlin’, you can use whatever you want in my place. Mi casa es su casa. My house is your house. You were gonna have my room anyway. The last thing you need to be worryin’ about after everything you’ve been put through is me getting mad at you for anything. These men and Phoenix have been in my home for near on three weeks and nobody has to ask my permission for anything, and they don’t. I opened my house up to everyone here. There is a mutual respect for what is mine, the same as if I was in Edge’s home. Everybody pitches in and helps without being ordered about. The time you’re here, you and Miss Catherine will be the only ones being waited on hand and foot, it will be a pleasure, and not a chore. Don’t think you’ll get any objections from anyone here.” He squeezes her arm reassuringly.
Grrrrr!
Ghost looks at me sideways and raises both brows at me, like he actually heard me, then looks back to Whisper. “You understand me, darlin’?”
“Yes.” She lowers her lashes. “Thank you.”
Ghost lifts her chin so she’s looking at him. “My pleasure, darlin’.” And before my inner caveman can get his grouch on, he’s letting it go.
“Could someone please check on how Miss Catherine’s doing? She looks like she’s been through a lot with Edge.”
Sweet.
So fucking sweet is my girl.
“I’ll do it,” Ghost says, getting to his feet.
The rest of my brothers are fanned out behind us and her eyes are twitching about watching them. I don’t say anything, because she’s got to get used to these men.
“Babe, how ‘bout the guys and I set about organizing the trees into water tubs, and if my instructions were played out, the bags they brought in should be filled with decorations. You and Phoenix can sort through them and decide what you want on the trees while we work and what you want hung about the great room. Deal?”
“Sounds good,” she says softly.
I can’t help myself and lean forward cupping the back of her neck and plant a gentle kiss on her forehead. I inhale slowly, smelling her shampoo. Not apples, like in the bar in Connard, but still sweet. I hear the little hitch in her breathing and then I let her go.
“New beginnings, babe, you don’t need to do what you don’t want to. If you want to go have a sleep now with Miss Catherine, you can decorate the tree tomorrow, that’s cool, the trees ain’t going anywhere. No pressure.”
“No!” she says a little louder. “I would like to decorate the tree. It will keep my mind busy. We can save the other tree for me and Miss Catherine to decorate when she’s well rested. It was what we were going to do in Connard together, anyway.”
Sweet, so fucking sweet, after everything she’s been through.
“Edge, where’s Slade?” Phoenix is getting used to having the man close by.
Slade is the only man not in the great room, because he’s been keeping an eye on the monitors in the surveillance room. Ghost’s got cameras outside and although we’re not expecting any surprises, because all minions are dead, we’re just staying alert and cautious.
“Security duty, I hear everybody is on rotation until we leave.”
“Smart idea,” she replies and then excuses herself to grab a couple bottles of water for the two of them and to gather all the bags the men brought in.
This allows us a little privacy.
“How’s the nausea now, babe?”
“It’s still there,” she admits, “But I don’t feel like I’m going to puke. I’m trying to ignore it the best I can at the moment because I don’t want to miss out on a thing today,” she says. The intimacy of this conversation isn’t lost on the both of us.
“Babe, I need you to be comfortable if you can with talking to me. Not saying I deserve it, but I’m hoping we can be straight with each other. If you aren’t feeling good, just tell me.”
She clears her throat a little. “I’ll try.”
“That will be good enough for me.” For now. “I’m here for you and not to apply pressure, but I want you to understand you can tell me if the walls are coming in too close and I will push them away for you.” I’m learning how to be this Edge and I want to be him for her, only for her. “You hear what I’m saying?”
“I think so.”
Phoenix comes back with water bottles and dozens of bags, halting any further private conversation.
I turn to the rest of the room where my brothers are making themselves busy with the tree. I can hear discussions on the best way to get it onto a stand and into water, and some will be outside putting up colorful, festive twinkly lights around the gutters.
Ghost reappears beside me. “Miss Catherine is out. She’s not gonna wake-up for a few hours.” He speaks to Whisper. “Thought you and Miss Catherine might like the second tree in the master bedroom where you can look at it at night. I gather you and Miss Catherine are gonna share my bed—”
I appreciate Ghost giving his bed up for Whisper and Miss Catherine, doesn’t mean I like hearing him say the words ‘share my bed’. The only bed I want her in is mine.
“—got the perfect corner for it and it’s not as big as the one Edge cut down.”
He just earned some brownie points with the smile Whisper gives him. She fucking loves that idea.
He turns his attention to me, and motions for me to follow him, drawing me across the room and out of Whisper’s earshot.
“Good to see you made it back; although you’re a little late on the twenty-four hours. Noticed Miss Catherine’s face looked like it’s gone a few rounds with a fist. Care to explain?” Ghost’s not at all happy about not being notified.
“I’ll fill you in on all the details later, Miss C hasn’t got around to telling Whisper what she’s been up to yet, and I don’t want her hearing anything now and ruining her afternoon.” I keep my tone low, with my back to Phoenix and Whisper. “In a nutshell: she managed to get kidnapped on a lunch date with a friend. Joel helped me to find her, convincing a satellite to cooperate, or I might not have made it in time to save her from imminent death.”
His head jerks backwards hearing Miss Catherine was kidnapped. He transfers his balled fists onto his hips as he stares me down, a whole lotta thoughts rolling about in that mocha-chocolate head of his until finally he speaks. “So it was a good thing you stole evidence and went lookin’ for Miss Catherine,” Ghost says, not a question, just a fact.
“Yes. If anything had happened to Miss C—” We both know why I don’t finish that sentence, because Whisper would be in a lot worse shape mentally, than she’s in now. “I have it from the cocksuckers’ mouths she would have been dead.” I give Ghost a solemn look.
“Cocksuckers!” he spits out quietly, keeping his back turned to Whisper. “They are deceased?”
I nod. “Won’t be granny bashing again.”
“No backlash from Whisper?” he queries.
“Separate situation, had to do with her granny friend, Pearllene. Miss C was in the wrong place at the right time to be nabbed by two fuckers, she was a bonus passenger. I was expecting to be back within twenty-four hours, but shit went south. All tracks covered, nothing will come back on any of us, especially Whisper.”
Ghost takes what I’ve said in his stride—knows it to be gospel. “You and Boxer sorted out your grievances?” he asks, cocking an eyebrow my way.
“Nope, not yet, he’s taking a long nap.” The way I say long isn’t lost on him.
Ghost shakes his head. “Somethin’ I should know about?”
“This one’s all on Doc.” I hold my palms up in front of me. “Boxer got any beef, it won’t be with me on this one.” And I can’t be fucked fighting the dirty grin that spreads across my face.
Upon seeing my dirty grin, Ghost looks down at his feet and grunts out, “Fuck…this should be fun.”
“I don’t doubt it will be,” I reply, knowing the shit hasn’t even begun to hit the fan yet, but I’ll be ready for it.
“S’ppose we got a cabin to transform into a magical wonderland, better get to it.” Ghost sounds a little too interested.
I go to say something smart-ass, but decide to hold it in. The guy may not have any family to warrant sticking a tree up in his own corner once a year.
“What?” The guy is perceptive, saw me think twice about my words.
“Nothin’. Let’s do this.”
And then the BFF walks in with Joel carrying another tree with loads of bags of Christmas cheer.
“Lincoln,” Whisper breathes out on a sigh. Almost like she needed him to be able to breathe freely and if the guy’s face doesn’t light up like a thousand-watt bulb when he hears her say his name.
He looks her up and down appreciatively. “Whisper, good to see you awake and looking so well.” They share a mutual strong bond.
As they lay the tree down, she frowns a little at the name he calls her, but doesn’t correct him.
“Looks like we aren’t the first to think about a tree,” Joel laughs when he sees the busy room, which is starting to resemble a small forest, as trees are being put onto stands. Three trees should definitely keep Whisper’s mind occupied.
“You can never have enough trees,” the BFF states, pulling a silly face at Whisper, which gets a giggle out of her.
Yeah, these two are tight. No awkward abyss between them.
“We’ve got three now,” Whisper says, almost excitedly, but still holding back from letting herself feel too happy, like it could be taken all away from her.
The BFF walks over and sits down beside her. “You’re looking really well, honey.” She instantly relaxes into him, allowing him to put his arms around her shoulders, drawing her against his side.
Grrrrr!
They are comfortable together; it’s a very natural thing for them to do. I drag my eyes away from the two of them, for some reason it doesn’t help knowing Lincoln is gay, and his boyfriend watches them totally at ease with their behavior. The caveman in me isn’t so easily convinced.
I was one night. He’s been there from the start of her freedom.
“Yo, Edge.” Joel has wandered over to me, folding his arms across his chest. “This is Linc and Whisper and how they are easy around each other. You and me got a problem if you don’t settle your inner caveman thoughts down, because you look like you want to rip his arm off, and that isn’t okay with me.”
Well look who is showing his balls to me. Might look like a geek, but he’s packing some brass ones down below.
“She’s letting go for him, letting him see her as she was before she got taken, and that’s a good thing. You want some of that—I get it—but they have history, you two don’t, you have a hook up.”
No shit Sherlock!
“We can all see you’ve claimed her, Lincoln knows that, but she doesn’t, because she hasn’t had that before. She’s only known love with the three most important people in her life, and that has been a hard path to walk. She trusted in nothing bad happening to her along the way with them… even though it did. She only knows what feels good, and easy feels good to her damaged soul right now. You gotta let her have that, Edge, until she’s ready to confront the complicated feelings she undoubtedly has for you.” He slaps me on the shoulder. “Be wise my friend… and you are my friend.”
I grunt a non audible reply, because he’s right. Whisper needs ‘easy’, she deserves it. At the moment, we’re complicated as all fuck.
When you think Joel is finished with his speech, he keeps right on going. “Lincoln shouldn’t be on that leg of his, therefore this gives me the perfect excuse to have him off it. You can show your girl what a bunch of men can do to a fancy ass cabin in the middle of a snowy postcard haven. Lincoln can only ever be the BFF, just remember that, and plus, that man is mine,” he says, without hiding the desire in that last word.
“I hear you.” And I do. Another thought enters my mind. “Saw my bank balance looked healthy when I booked the flight back to Alaska with Miss C. You have anything to do with that?”
“Don’t know what you’re talking about.” He tries to hide his smile from me by rubbing his hand over his mouth.
“Thank you. You know I wasn’t expecting to ever see that ‘event money’ again. She was worth every cent. I would’ve paid double.”
“Still don’t know what you’re talking about… and Merry Christmas.”
I shake my head trying to hide my own grin.
“Merry Christmas—friend.”