Page 108 of All Our Ghosts

“Don’t you fucking dare say what I think you’re going to.” I turn on my heel pointing at him. “Don’t.” I stare at my friend who’s slowly turning into a stranger. The realization hits me like a sack of bricks and it feels like all of the air in my lungs is suddenly sucked from me. “That’s why she was on Highway Two,” I say glaring at him. “She was going to the bridge.”

Cole stares back at me before nodding.

“She was on Watson’s route that night,” I state as the puzzle pieces start to fall into place. “No one fucking knew why she was out there,” I say, “no one except you.”

Cole’s eyes gloss over, pain etches into his features as he stares back at me. How the fuck am I supposed to sit here, standing across from him when he’s the reason my sister ended up on that highway that night. Ended up dead in a ditch. Rage clouds my vision as I shove passed Cole.

“Where are you going?” Cole yells.

“To find my girl and fucking leave this shit hole!” I yell back. I hear Cole’s boots behind me and shake my head, “Fuck off, O’Neil. I’ll do this run for the club and then–”

“Then what? You’ll actually be out this time?” He bites.

I throw on my helmet and shake my head. “For a whole month, you told me shit wasn’t my fault. You watched me drink myself blacked out, you watched me lose my fucking self and you still couldn’t tell me the fucking truth. I don’t owe you shit right now.” I start my bike. “We aren’t coming back with you guys, figure out how to protect this club on your own, Cole. You said you were done.” I curl my lips and shake my head. “I’m fucking done.”

I rev my bike lurching forward and riding to the gate, leaving my best friend behind me. There’s only one person in this world I need, and right now, she’s the only thing that’s keeping me from killing the only other person who I thought I had.

My hands grip the handlebars harder than I need to and it does nothing to ease the ache and anger spreading through my body. I know Blake and Kadence wouldn’t go far from the Skull’s compound and it doesn’t take long for me to spot the van parked outside of a row of boutiques.

I park next to it just as they stumble out of a small leather shop. Kadence is now wearing a dark green worn leather jacket. If it weren’t for the sun beaming down on them, I wouldn’t have noticed it isn’t black. My presence catches Blake’s attention first. She nudges Kadence and points to where I’m parked.

She smiles at me, bright and wide, just like I figured she would, but as they draw closer to me, her smile fades. It’s like no matter what’s going on we’re always able to sense the other one. Always aware of how the other is feeling. Fuck, she looks happy coming out of that store and I’m determined to keep her happy. For as long as she’ll let me.

“Everything cool?” Blake asks, shoving the bags into the van. I shake my head. “Fuck.” She curses.

“The others are headed back. I’ll go with you back to the compound, make sure you get there and then I’m taking Kadence out of here.” My gaze flickers to my girl as she steps up to me. Her fingers wrap around my chin as she searches my eyes.

“What the hell happened?” Blake asks.

“O’Neil can fill you in,” I say, not breaking my gaze from Kadence.

“That bad?” She whispers, assessing my reaction as she usually does.

“Worse.” Is all I can say before handing her her helmet. My eyes meet hers again and I know the emotions I’m swallowingare hiding in my eyes. “Just get on the bike,” I say softly, whispering, “please.”

She searches my eyes one last time and nods, pressing her lips to mine. “Whatever you need.”

“Thank you.”

Kadence takes the helmet from my hands and shifts it over her hair before climbing on the back behind me. Her arms circle my waist as we wait for Blake to climb into the van and I follow her back to the compound. We watch her drive through the gate and as soon as it closes I flip my bike around and drive. I’m not sure where I’m going or how long I’ll ride to get there, but as soon as she squeezes my torso gently, my hand finds hers, covering them.

She intertwines our fingers and rests her chin on my shoulder. I don’t give a fuck where I go. As long as she’s riding behind me I have everything I need, right here in my grasp.

COLE

Holden's exhaust fills my nostrils as I watch him peel through the gate. I wasn't planning on telling him the truth. Ever. It was a secret that was meant to die with me. Even if it kills me every time he calls me brother. I don't deserve the title. I haven't since that night.

Watching him with Kadence grows harder and harder each day. Reliving every fucking haunted memory I have of Becca while watching them grow closer. I'm not angry that they're together. I'm angry that I don't have that anymore. That picking Becca up in my arms isn't an option. No matter how much her touch haunts me or how her peach and cinnamon scent still lingers in my bedroom.

Everything is falling apart and no matter how much I'm told it's not my fault, I know it is. Everyone is relying on me. Everyone looks to me for answers. I never asked for that. I never asked to be President of a motorcycle club at twenty. Barely a kid myself and still falling for a girl who was forbidden to me. I don't know if I can handle the pressure anymore.

“Will you quit it?” Her laugh echoes through the shop. “We’re going to get caught.”

Becca’s arms wrap around my neck after failing to shove me off of her. I laugh and bury my face into her neck, nipping at her collarbone. "I thought you weren't going to wear these dresses to work anymore," I mutter against her skin, taking in her scent. Peaches mixed with motor oil from being in the office all day.

"I don't remember making such a deal," she says in a breathy voice as my lips graze the column of her neck. "I do remember you telling me that if I wore one again, you'd murder every man that looked at me."

I growl. "I haven't done enough murdering today then."

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