Page 37

Ghost

H eather’s arms are wrapped around my waist the whole ride back to the clubhouse.

I keep my hands on the handlebars. My old lady is precious cargo, and I won’t risk her life by taking my hands off the handlebars.

She leans her cheek against the back of my cut.

When she’s on the back of my bike holding me tight, my world tilts back into alignment.

We sit there for a minute while I take off my helmet.

That’s when her arms finally slide away.

She doesn’t move to get off the bike until I do.

She still seems rattled from the shitstorm I just pulled her out of back at the candy factory.

She gives a faint smile and that’s when I know she’s still hanging tough.

I guide her in through the back entrance of the clubhouse.

It’s quieter, more controlled, and there won’t be so many eyes on her when she first walks through the door.

Inside, the brothers are high on fighting the good fight and winning.

The Sons of Rage MC brothers linger in the main room, mixing and mingling.

They fit in well with the Legion even though they might be a bit rougher around the edges.

But the second I walk in with Heather, the atmosphere shifts.

This clubhouse runs on a code, and right now, everyone just saw me walk in with my woman.

She’s not wearing my cut yet, but she’s clearly with me, right here tucked under my arm.

No one says it out loud, but they all know I risked everything for her and brought her home. She’s as good as claimed in their eyes.

We barely get six feet in before someone steps into our path.

He’s a tall man with dark hair and broad shoulders, and a familiar jawline.

Jasper. Rock and Queenie’s oldest boy. I clock him before he says a word as Brittany’s uncle.

His old man is named Rock for a reason, because he’s huge like a boulder.

Jasper takes after his old man when it comes to his formidable appearance.

He’s got muscle sitting on top of muscles.

He lifts his hands in a slow, respectful gesture. Not quite a surrender, to be honest, it’s more of a calming gesture. “I come in peace,” he says. “Mostly.”

I don’t answer because I don’t know quite how to take him. He’s an ally, but that doesn’t quite make him a friend to my mind.

His eyes slide from me to Heather. “You must be the one my niece damn near died for.”

I feel Heather tense under my arm. I’m so damn proud of her.

Even after everything she’s been through, my old lady still managed to find her voice.

“Yeah, she jumped my attackers. Beat the hell out of them with whatever she could get her hands on. Unfortunately, they were bigger, stronger, and messed her up pretty bad.”

“That’s what I heard from my mom and dad.” His tone softens. “I’m Jasper. Brittany’s uncle. She said you were solid, that you stood up to them and didn’t fold when the going got tough.”

Heather goes quiet and nods. She clears her throat and speaks again. This time her voice is more strained. “We just got back from visiting her. She’s still in pain but was sitting up and eating fries. If anyone is strong enough to make it through this, Brittany is.”

I shift a little, step in close enough for him to catch the warning in my body language. And Jasper is smart. He gets it pretty damn fast.

He jerks his chin at me, acknowledging my unspoken message for him to tread with care. He’s angry that his niece got injured. But that doesn’t mean I’m gonna let him take it out on the woman I love.

He steps back and lets out a deep breath. “I just wanted to stop by and meet you. Tell you that if you ever need anything, you give Brittany a call. The Sons of Rage take care of our own and their friends.”

Heather relaxes a little. “I definitely consider Brittany my friend. I plan to stay close and make sure she doesn’t want for anything while she heals up.”

I take some of the spotlight off Heather by asking, “How about yourself? Do you have plans to stay for very long? I know Siege told Rock that you are all more than welcome.”

“Queenie and Rock may stay on for a while. I’ve got to get back to the clubhouse.

We’ve got businesses to run. I’m trying to prove I’m fit to be our next club president.

Dad’s talking about stepping down soon. Sons of Rage will need someone with a good head for business, a leader with more spine and less blood on his boots.

I’m not here to shake things up or make any kind of trouble.

Just wanted to say thank you, Heather, for being my niece’s friend and you, Ghost, for helping our club get vengeance on that fucker who messed her up. ”

I hold his gaze. One beat too long. Then nod. “Then you’ll find a friend in me. So far, your crew has been a fuckin’ delight to host. Let’s make a vow to do whatever it takes to keep the alliance between our two clubs going.”

He reaches out his hand, “Brilliant minds fuckin’ think alike, Ghost. You’d have made a hell of a Sons of Rage club brother if you weren’t already with the Savage Legion.”

I can’t help but give him a genuine smile. “You brothers are too wild for me, Jasper. I’ll stick with the Legion if it’s all the same to you.”

He just laughs. “Fucking choirboys.”

I don’t take offense at that. He knows that the Legion step up when needed and we ain’t afraid to fight.

He steps back, and gives Heather one last look, this one full of quiet respect. And just like that, he’s gone.

Heather whispers, “What in the world was that about?”

Gazing down at her, I break it down in a way she can understand. “I think he was trying to say that because Brittany is family and you two are tight enough to fight together, that he considers you part of their family now too. If you want, that is.”

She looks after Jasper and then around at all the other brothers. They’re that extra bit rougher, louder, and more boisterous than our brothers from the Legion. She just murmurs, “I’ll have to think on that one for a while.”

I ask her gently, “Do you want to go upstairs and rest? I know it’s been a long day for you.”

“No, I just want to unwind for a bit first. My mind isn’t quiet enough to relax.”

I can’t really get my head around what she’s trying to say, but I don’t need to.

My job is to give the lady what she asks for.

Therefore, I guide her over to one of the recliners and pull her down beside me.

It’s big enough that she can cuddle up to my side.

I motion for the prospect at the bar to bring us drinks, beer for me and a virgin margarita for my woman.

Having my woman back safe in my arms is a piece of heaven.

Knowing her ex is dead is icing on the cake.

Carnage was a nasty piece of work. Seeing Siege and Rock make short work of him after one of his own turned on him was the sweetest revenge imaginable.

Siege deserved to get in a shot because Carnage killed his old man.

Rock was not going to leave that factory without pumping a bullet into Carnage because of what that bastard did to Brittany.

I don’t care about putting bullets in him, I just wanted him dead.

We all got what we needed to put this shit behind us, especially Heather.

Zen gives me a nod. Rigs gives me a chin jerk. But Siege gives me something more. He hands me a property cut for Heather. Handing me the neatly folded vest, Siege says, “Compliments of Dutch. Hope it fits.”

I reach out and take it, draping it over Heather, who is still snuggled up to my side.

“Thank you, Prez. Tell Dutch I said thanks too.”

“Will do.”

“If you’ll give me time at church, I want to thank everyone for helping me get Heather home safely.”

Siege’s face lights up. “I should be thanking her for bringing Carnage back into our lives. If not for that, I might not have gotten justice for my old man.”

I press my mouth to the top of her head and give her a kiss, as she murmurs, “I’m just grateful it all worked out in the end.”

Siege murmurs a respectful goodbye and wanders off, probably to find his old lady. I tuck Heather’s head under my chin and rest my hand low on her stomach, protectively splayed over her child—the child that I hope to make my own.