Page 57 of Rogue’s Reckoning

"Yeah, and I'm the one paying for them!" I shout, shoving him hard.

Ghost stumbles back a step but doesn't retaliate. "Rogue, you need to calm down. This isn't helping anyone."

But I'm too far gone to listen to reason. All the pain and guilt I've been carrying for years comes pouring out in a torrent of rage. "You don't get it, Ghost! I met my daughter today. Myfucking daughter! And I'm a stranger to her because of what we did!"

Ghost tries to put a hand on my shoulder, but I shake him off violently. "Brother, I understand you're hurting?—"

That's the last straw. With a roar of fury, I swing at Ghost. My fist connects with his jaw, sending him staggering back.

For a moment, shock flashes across Ghost's face. Then his expression hardens. "Alright," he growls. "If this is what you need to get your head straight, let's go."

What follows is a brutal, no-holds-barred brawl. We've sparred before, but this is different. This is years of pent-up anger and guilt being released in a flurry of fists and grunts of pain.

I manage to land a solid hit to Ghost's ribs, but he retaliates with a punch that sends me crashing into a table. We grapple on the ground, trading blows, neither of us willing to back down.

Finally, exhausted and bloody, we both collapse on the floor of the clubhouse. For a few moments, the only sound is our heavy breathing.

"Feel better now, asshole?" Ghost pants, wiping blood from his split lip.

I grunt, wincing as I sit up. My eye is already swelling shut and I can taste blood in my mouth. "Not really," I admit.

Ghost lets out a humorless laugh. "Good. Maybe now you'll listen to reason."

I lean back against the overturned table, suddenly feeling every one of my twenty-eight years. "I fucked up, Ghost," I say quietly. "With Willow, with Wren. I don't know how to make it right."

Ghost sits up with a groan, his hand going to his ribs. "You start by getting your shit together," he says bluntly. "Drinking yourself stupid and picking fights isn't going to win Willow's trust back or be good for Wren."

I nod, knowing he's right. "I just... I look at Wren and I see everything I've missed. It kills me, man."

Ghost's expression softens slightly. "I get it, brother. But you can't change the past. All you can do is be better going forward. For Wren's sake, and for your own."

We sit in silence for a while, both lost in thought. Finally, Ghost speaks again.

"You know, when Natalia told me she was pregnant, I was terrified," he admits. "Thought I'd make all the same mistakes my old man did. But then I realized, I get to choose what kind of father I want to be. So do you, Rogue."

His words hit me hard. He's right. I can't change what happened, but I can choose who I want to be for Wren now.

"I want to be someone she can be proud of," I say softly. "Someone Willow can trust with our daughter."

Ghost nods approvingly. "That's a good start. Now you’ve just gotta put in the work to make it happen."

I push myself to my feet, offering Ghost a hand up. "Thanks, brother," I say sincerely. "I needed that ass-kicking."

Ghost grins, then winces as it pulls at his split lip. "Anytime. But maybe next time we can skip the physical part and just talk, yeah?"

I chuckle, feeling lighter than I have in weeks. "Where's the fun in that?"

As we start cleaning up the mess we made of the clubhouse, I realize Ghost is right. I can't change the past, but I can shape the future. And for Wren's sake, I'm determined to be the best version of myself possible.

It won't be easy. I've got a lot of demons to face, a lot of trust to rebuild with Willow. But for the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m on the right path.

SEVENTEEN

WILLOW

"Mama, I like your friend Rogue," Wren chirps happily. "He's fun! When can we see him again?"

I force a smile, trying to keep my voice steady. "Soon, Little Bird."

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