Page 19 of Knot So Sweet (Leather and Lace #1)

Chapter 18

Ghost

C andi's scent turned sour as soon as the front door of the Den burst open. Her fresh jasmine and lilac scent curdled with fear. I tugged her into my chest protectively, a low purr emanating deep within me as I watched the three Hounds stride into the bar: Jordan, Travis, and Dare.

The one I hated the most was Jordan, the kingpin’s son. His father was responsible for so much carnage, spreading pain like a wildfire through our lives. If I couldn’t get to Titus, I’d settle for his offspring. Jordan’s arrogant swagger, that gleam of malice in his dark eyes—it fueled my rage.

He needed to be put down like the rabid dog he was.

The way Candi trembled, her eyes fluttering shut, broke something inside me. It wasn’t about revenge right now; it was about making sure she was safe. I held her close, leaning into her hair, murmuring into her ear, so only she could hear me.

"You’re safe with me, princess. None of them will fucking touch you." She sucked in a sharp breath, her vibrant blue eyes rimmed with coal, looking so vulnerable, so scared. I hated it.

Hated how these men reduced my sassy omega to a shell of herself. Whatever they had done to her, whatever fears they had ignited, I would make sure they paid in blood.

If Chaos were here, he wouldn't have it any other way.

"Hello, sweet tart . Did you miss me?" Travis's dark voice mocked.

Candi stiffened again in my arms, her body going rigid for just a moment before she stepped out of my hold, narrowing her eyes at him. My gaze was intent on the culprit of her fear.

"Travis," she spat, her voice dripping with venom. "I thought I smelled a wet dog."

I flicked my gaze to hers with a smirk. That’s my girl.

"Still feisty, are we, Candi?" the beta beside Jordan chuckled, leaning against the bar with an arrogant grin. Candi shot daggers at Dare, arms folded defiantly across her chest.

"Shut the fuck up, Dare," she shot back, her tone laced with fire. "Always hiding behind your masters. Step the fuck up to me and say it to my face. I'm not the weak little omega from high school anymore."

I frowned at that.

She went to school with these strays?

I could only imagine the horrors she must have endured back then. Were they why she refused to bond with a pack? I scanned the two alphas more calculatingly, trying to pinpoint exactly what they did to my girl, so I could punish them for it.

Dare cackled, and my teeth clashed at the irritating sound. "I don't know if I believe you. Let's see if you squirm just like you did back then." He mocked her in a high-pitched voice, "Please stop!"

"Don’t hurt me," Jordan added, and both Hounds' laughter echoed, cruel and taunting. They were using a memory dredged up to cut her deep.

My blood boiled.

Candi’s face flushed, a mix of anger and humiliation flaring beneath her bravado. I could see her trying to steel herself, the pain of that past threatening to unravel her resolve. I stepped in closer, a protective growl rumbling in my throat.

"Enough," I warned, feeling my fists clench at my sides.

But Dare continued, relishing her discomfort. "What’s the matter? Don’t like the reminder of your weak moments? You think you’ve grown stronger, but we all know the truth. You’re still just a scared little bitch trying to play in an alpha’s world."

Says the fucking beta.

Dumbass.

Candi’s expression hardened, fire igniting in her vibrant blue eyes. "I’m no one’s bitch, Dare. Not anymore. You think you can waltz in here and taunt me about the past? You have no idea what I'm capable of."

"Yeah? And what’s that? Hiding behind this slug here?" Travis intervened. "You really think he has any power here?" He gestured dismissively at me, his smirk only growing wider. "You’ll always be at the mercy of the Hounds. Just like your mother was."

Candi stiffened beside me. "Leave," she said, her voice steady, though I could sense the tremor beneath. "I’m not afraid of you or your pathetic threats. You don’t get to dictate my life, Travis."

Pride swelled inside me at how brave she sounded. She was a warrior, and I would make sure she knew it.

"Is that so?" Travis folded his arms, mirroring her stance with an arrogant smirk playing on his lips. I stepped forward, positioning myself between her and the Hounds, ready to defend her against whatever these strays had in mind.

"You think you can protect her, slug ? She’s a big girl. She can handle herself."

My blood boiled at the challenge, but I forced myself to remain calm. I wasn’t about to let some stray taunt me. "Get out," I growled.

Travis and Jordan exchanged a look, and Travis nodded before Jordan swaggered toward us. My gaze locked on him as he rounded the opposite end of the bar, reaching under the cash register and lifting up a baseball bat.

The moment he brandished it, a hush fell over the bar, tension crackling in the air. Candi’s breath hitched beside me, and I could feel her anxiety radiating like heat. It reminded me of the first time I had to face the Hounds—when Vaughn lost his mother, Everly. I was twenty, over a decade ago now, and I could still see the pain in his gaze when he told me what Titus had done.

My best friend had never fully recovered since.

Everly had been a strong omega, but the Hounds saw her as a plaything and killed her when they grew tired of her. Losing Everly was what had pushed Viper to form the Steel Serpents. He promised to raise his sister's son and anyone who needed protection from the Hounds.

Honor. Protection. Loyalty.

Three things these strays knew nothing about.

Everly's death had widened the rift between us, and that divide would only deepen with each omega affected by the Hound's cruelty.

Jordan banged the metal bat on the bar top, the sound forcing me back to the present. "Now, this can go the easy way or the hard way," he taunted, tapping the bat lightly against his palm. "Give us our dues to continue allowing you to own the Den in our territory. Or…" He shrugged, letting the threat hang in the air between us.

Dare cackled again like a damn hyena, and the beta was starting to really piss me off.

"You don’t own shit anymore, Jordan," Candi shot back, her voice steady and fierce. "This is mine. Not the Hounds, but mine ."

I shifted my stance, ready to pounce if necessary, my protective instincts flaring at her defiance. I knew the history between us and the Hounds; they were drug slingers, pushing the Heat drug that had cost us Chaos and now they were trying to scare Candi.

I would not let that happen.

I might not have wanted to be here in Hound territory, but now? Now I would do anything my princess asked of me.

Anything.

That included taking out the trash.

"Last chance," I warned.

Jordan shrugged as if he didn’t give a damn, then turned to the wall of liquor bottles. With a swift swing of the bat, he racked it across one of the shelves, sending glass shattering at our feet. Candi flinched, the sound echoing in the tense air like a gunshot.

"Oops," he sneered, feigning innocence. "Guess you’ll have to clean that up if you want to reopen the club."

The anger boiling inside me was almost overwhelming, and I stepped forward, fists clenched, ready to unleash hell. "You’re crossing a line, Jordan."

His gaze shifted back to me, dark eyes glinting with menace. "And what are you going to do about it, Ghost? Play the tough guy? You think that’s going to scare me? You're here alone. No line of slugs at your beck and call to back you up."

I kept my eyes locked on him, every muscle in my body tense. "I don't need backup to take out the trash."

Candi moved slightly in front of me and I growled, not liking to see her in the line of fire.

"This is my home. You think you can waltz in here and dictate terms? You’re delusional. Leave, Jordan. Now."

Jordan’s expression darkened, and the bat swung casually at his side. "It’s time you learn your place, Candi. At my feet."

He stepped forward, brandishing the bat like a weapon. Candi’s breath hitched, and without thinking, I surged protectively in front of her, using my shoulder as a shield. The bat connected with a dull thud, a jolt of pain shooting down my arm like fire. I grunted at the impact, but stood my ground, fully absorbing the hit. The sting only fueled my resolve; I wouldn’t let her be hurt.

I promised her. I promised Chaos.

He laughed, a harsh, cruel sound that grated on my nerves. He swung again, but this time I was ready. I caught the bat mid-swing, the cold metal biting into my palm as I yanked it from his grasp. With a flick of my wrist, I tossed it aside, watching it clatter against the wooden floor.

"You touch her, I'll kill you."

"You can't fucking touch me. Or my father will come for your little club."

"Maybe, but I don't give a shit what your daddy does to me in retaliation." A grin took over my face and Jordan faltered. "It will be worth it," I growled, taking a step closer, fists at the ready.

Darin and Travis moved to flank Jordan, trying to close in like vultures. I shot Darin a look that promised pain if he dared to intervene. The scrawny beta knew he didn’t stand a fucking chance against me, and it showed; his face turned a ghostly shade of white as he took a step back.

"This is our territory. You’ll regret coming here!" Travis snarled, his face twisted with fury. In an instant, he charged at me, swinging a wild punch that barely grazed my cheek. I didn’t flinch; instead, I countered with a quick jab to his ribs, relishing the satisfying crunch as he staggered back, breathless.

I chuckled darkly, a thrill rushing through me. I loved to fight, and with everything going on lately, I hadn’t had a chance to burn off steam at The Ring, the gym Viper owned on the northeast side of town. The adrenaline surged through my veins, igniting a fire I hadn’t felt in too long.

I missed this.

"Come on, you pussy ," I taunted as Travis toppled over, clutching his probably broken rib.

"That’s enough," Hux’s voice boomed from behind me. He stepped into the room, adjusting his cufflinks with an air of authority as he casually approached Jordan.

The tension in the room shifted immediately. Pixie came to stand beside me, his eyes scanning over me to ensure I was alright. He raised an eyebrow in silent question, and I gave a curt nod, though my shoulder throbbed painfully from where I’d taken the hit.

Still, it was nothing compared to the thought of that bat hitting my princess. I couldn’t give a damn about my own pain. As long as she was safe, I’d be fine.

"You need to pay your dues, Hux," Jordan sneered, his voice laced with challenge.

Hux stroked his beard, an amused smirk curling on his lips. "No. I don’t think we do. But you might want to leave if you don’t want to deal with the authorities. The new security system my man Pixie just installed has already dispatched them."

As if on cue, the distant wail of sirens cut through the silence.

The three Hounds exchanged glances, their bravado evaporating in an instant before they bolted toward the front door. Travis, the last one out, paused and shot a look at Candi.

His eyes roved over her, and I felt a growl building in my chest, threatening to spill out. "This isn’t over, sweet tart. I’ll see you soon," he spat, before slipping out the door.

The moment the door closed behind them, the room fell into a heavy silence, the tension still thick in the air. Glass and liquor littered the floor from the chaos, but Hux’s sharp blue eyes were locked on me, assessing. There was something eerily similar in the way Candi’s eyes could hold the same intensity.

"You good?" he asked, and I nodded stiffly.

"Good. But you and Pix need to leave."

"Fuck no. I’m not leaving her," I growled, my voice low and rough, brimming with unspent fury.

"Ghost," Pixie said quietly, a warning lacing his tone. He was reminding me of the stakes here, of the bigger picture. But I wasn’t hearing it. All I cared about was making sure Candi was safe. The thought of leaving her, of her being vulnerable for even a second, was unthinkable.

"I’m. Not. Leaving. Her," I repeated, my voice unyielding.

Hux let out a frustrated sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose as if trying to keep himself from snapping. "Fine, Ghost. You can stay. But at least go out back and let me deal with Sheriff Bradshaw."

Relief washed over me, but it didn’t lessen the ache in my shoulder. The adrenaline was starting to wear off, and the pain flared, sharp and unforgiving. I winced, instinctively grabbing my elbow to ease the pressure.

Pixie, ever the hawk, noticed immediately. His brows furrowed in concern. "Let’s go, son. I’ll take a look at that shoulder, see if Doc needs to check it out."

I barely heard him. My focus was locked on Candi, who stood across the room, uncertainty etched on her face. I couldn’t leave without knowing. With a low growl, I crossed the room in three swift strides, cupping her face in my hands. The softness of her skin sent a rush of warmth through me, but my heart pounded with uncertainty.

"Do you want me to leave?" I asked, my voice quieter, softer, as I searched her eyes. The thought of leaving crushed me, but if she asked, I would go. I would do anything for her.

As I studied her face, a whirlwind of emotions surged within me—fear, protectiveness, love. What if she really wanted me gone? The idea twisted in my gut like a blade.

What if she thought she’d be safer without me? I couldn’t stand the thought of leaving her, but I knew I couldn’t force my way into her life. The Hounds were still out there, a threat looming over us, and every instinct screamed at me to stay by her side, to protect her.

But there was that nagging thought, the one that questioned whether my presence might put her in more danger. What if by staying, I was taking away her choices?

Was it selfish to want to stay? Maybe. But I’d die for her if I had to. And if she asked me to go, if she truly believed it would make her safer, I would. No matter how much it hurt.

It was her choice. Just like Viper said. And I would honor it. If she wanted me gone, I’d leave. But if she wanted me to stay, I’d stay.

I’d do anything she asked of me.

Anything.