Page 57 of The Ghost of Rage's War

Ghost should have fuckin’ called Drake and given him the info. He regretted wasting his time on the face-to-face encounter.

Yeah, sure, Drake was coming off of the search and rescue. Ghost could tell it had taken its toll, but Drake was an ass. Ghost was seriously re-considering his loyalty to Rage. While he’d not been as hostile as their last meeting, there were still negative emotions in Drake.

Drake’s warning about Ghost attending church seemed dire. Was Rage going to take his patch? Blacken his ink? Somehow, Ghost couldn’t muster the energy to care. Rage wasn’t acting as he had expected, and maybe he’d given them too much credit. Ghost thought they’d have matured and grown, but petty shit still bogged them down. So be it. Hell,it was three a.m., and Ghost should have been home hours ago.

But no, Drake had made him wait while he showered and did some stuff and then threatened him with church. Like Ghost didn’t have somewhere to be or someone to protect. Ghost’s promise to Carmelle had been broken. This hadn’t been a quick trip. Carmelle would be frantic. Ghost couldn’t even text her because she didn’t have a phone.

His gut clenched as he considered how worried and frightened she’d be.

Ghost saw headlights in his mirror. Three in the morning, and somebody headed in the same direction as him? Too coincidental. Ghost killed his lights and throttled his bike. Dangerous at the best of times. In the pure darkness with only the moon to guide him, sheer suicide.

Ghost had intimate knowledge of the roads, just for this reason, and there was a turning coming up. He’d take it and see what happened. Moments later, Ghost slowed, took the exit, and kept a steady pace, looking for those lights. When they reappeared, he cursed. There were now two of them.

Shit, there had to be a tracker on his Harley Fat Boy. The safe house was not an option. They’d follow him right there. Anderson was also off limits, as he’d be watching Carmelle and the children.

Ghost had been expecting this ever since he stepped foot onto Rage. He long suspected Fury had permanent eyes on them. How, he wasn’t sure, but Ghost was certain it wasn’t family or an old lady.Ghost throttled his bike, putting his lights on. There was no point in breaking his neck because he was being tracked.

Ghost ran through his options; the other clubs were out. By the time they opened their gates, the unwanted guest would be on top of him. He took an exit heading to the interstate; Ghost chose to ride right up to RCPD’s doorstep instead.

The hunt continued as Ghost hurtled towards his target. As he flew through the streets of Rapid City, the two cars kept pace with him. Suddenly, he heard a shot and then a blinding pain raced through his back. Ghost jolted and hit the brakes, but too late. His motorbike shook, and Ghost went down underneath it.

Man and machine skidded along the rough surface of the road until they stopped. Ghost lay unconscious under the bike as the vehicles slowed briefly and then sped off.

Carmelle

Ghost wasn’t home, and dawn had broken. I headed for the bedroom. Ghost had drummed the plan into me. Should he disappear, I was to take the girls and head for a back-up safe house. I hurried upstairs and hauled bags out of the closet. My hands were shaking as I opened the small safe, shoved one gun into a bag, and put the other in my waistband. I wasjust about to start packing when I heard bike pipes.

My shoulders slumped in relief, and I rushed down the stairs and through the front door. I skidded to a stop as panic rushed through me. That was not Ghost. Two hulking men climbed off Harleys and held their hands up as I pulled the gun from my waistband.

“Go away.”

“Carmelle, I am—”

“Leave or I’ll kill you. I’m not going back to that shithole,” I yelled.

Realisation crossed over their faces. “We’re not Fangs,” the first announced.

“You ain’t welcome…”

“I’m Chance Michaelson,” the slightly shorter of the two said, holding my gaze.

“Michaelson?”

“Arrow, your dad, was my uncle. You and I are cousins, honey,” Chance explained.

“We’re here to help. Anderson phoned us,” the second guy added. “I’m Bear, his VP.” Bear tilted his head towards Chance.

“What do you want? Where’s Ghost? Don’t move! I don’t trust you!” I yelled as Chance stepped forward.

Chance looked worried, and then his face softened. He opened his mouth to speak, but a car sped into view and skidded to a halt.

“Inside now, all of you!” Anderson snapped as he jumped out.

Anderson was dishevelled.

I didn’t obey but kept my gun aimed at them. “Where is Ghost?” I gritted out.

“Ghost was shot last night. He’s alive, Carmelle, but having surgery. We need to get you inside,” Anderson replied harshly.

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