first good jolt of the morning.
When Ghost took a breath, before he addressed them all, and laid terror at their feet, she gave herself a moment to look at Carter, and to appreciate the view: a simple, good old-fashioned ogling, just because she could, just because he was beautiful, and he’d kissed her last night like he couldn’t keep his hands off of her.
Though the interior of the clubhouse was always dim, his hair seemed to glow wheat-gold under the can lights. He wore a white t-shirt with very short, tight sleeves that showed off the lean, muscled beauty of his arms, naturally tan from riding and working out. Through the open halves of his cut, she could see the way the shirt clung to his chest, and flat stomach. He still had an athlete’s build, some lucky trick of genetics, freshly-honed again, from helping the high school quarterback.
She appreciated all of him, in her indulgent moment of scrutiny, but it was his face that captured, and then held her attention. Still all clean lines and perfect angles; aristocratic bone structure that belied his origins, and those long-lashed, stunning blue eyes. The faint, lingering softness of boyhood had gone, though. His jaw was sharp, his eyes shadowed, guarded, serious in a way they’d never been growing up. And, right now, he looked like a Lean Dog. At the coffeeshop, even at her house last night, he’d looked like Carter, well-known and well-liked. Now, though, something about his face, and his gaze, and his stance labeled him irrefutably as Dog.
It wasn’t unattractive.
“Alright,” Ghost said, and it was time to focus on murder.
~*~
For all the ways that Ghost could be a Neanderthal, a throwback to the original, post-war one-percenters, he had fairly progressive views on the role of women within the club. Up to a point. He told the old ladies the truth that morning: about what happened in Texas, about Luis’s threat to Candy, about Allie and Nicole, and Jimmy. About the kids at the high school and their anti-Dog sentiments. No doubt all of them had heard all or most of the details piecemeal, from their husbands and from each other, but it was good to get everyone in the same room, and all on the same page at once. Easier to look out for one another and act in concert.
Like a team meeting when he’d played ball, Carter reflected. Everyone knowing everyone else’s objectives could only help game play.
He was mostly preoccupied with mental prep for the part he was to play, but partway through the meeting, he spotted Leah sitting next to Ava, and started. He’d planned on calling her later, and giving her a rundown, but someone had invited her here, to be part of the family meeting.
As Ava’s best friend? he wondered.
Or as his old lady?
The thought didn’t panic him – but his pulse gave a hard bump.
He caught her gaze, and she smiled, small and quick. He smiled back.
“Everyone needs to be on high alert,” Ghost said. “I won’t say lock yourselves indoors, or camp out here – this isn’t a full lockdown. I know you’ve all got responsibilities – Emmie can’t leave the farm.” She nodded in response. “But we have to play things smart. Never be alone, and I want everyone to be armed at all times. Ladies, you’ve got conceal carry permits, and I expect them to be in your wallets. Have a gun within reach at all times. If something looks fishy, call someone; don’t assume everything’s okay. There’s no such thing as being paranoid right now.”
Everyone nodded; everyone looked sober, and serious, and steel-edged.
When the meeting adjourned, Ghost turned to him and clapped him on the shoulder. “When are you headed over to the school?”
Not here’s when you’re going, but when are you going? That bit of autonomy floored him.
“In a couple hours, probably. Elijah was going to gather up the team, and as many friends as he can. I’m supposed to wait for his text.”
Ghost nodded. “Good. Take someone with you when you go – leave him in the parking lot if you don’t want to spook the kids, but no one travels alone.”
“Yes, sir.” They were all probably going to get tired of hearing those words before it was all over, though Carter knew they were necessary.
Conversation picked back up, the dull roar of lots of overlapping voices, and Carter went to find Leah.
She’d gotten up from her chair, and stood beside one of the room’s support columns,