Page 40 of Claimed By The Club
Time slips in the steady rumble of the motorcycle. For a short while, I let go of the fears about betrayal and the whispers that hound me. I focus on the desert horizon, the warmth of Viper’s presence, and the knowledge that Frost and Ghost stand behind me, each in their own way. Maybe it’s enough to see me through.
Because despite the doubt and paranoia swirling, I can’t deny the sense of belonging that’s taken root in my chest. Even with the Reapers looming and a mole in our midst, I feel more connected here than I ever did in my old city life. And if these men accept me—flaws, drama, and all—maybe I won’t have to run after all.
For now, the road stretches ahead, offering a temporary reprieve. But as we ride, I can’t shake the thought of what awaits us back at the clubhouse. Accusations, secrets, and simmering tensions that might snap at any moment. In the distance, the desert sun glares, a harsh reminder of the unforgiving reality we face. Still, I tighten my arms around Viper and hold on, determined to find my place in this world—no matter who tries to drive me away.
14
GHOST
The moon’s glow seeps through the clubhouse windows, casting faint stripes of light across the hall floor. We’re well past midnight, but an uneasy energy grips me too tightly for rest. Each time I shut my eyes, images of suspicious faces and whispered rumors dance in my head. The talk of a traitor has everyone on edge, and Sierra most of all.
I slip through the quiet corridors, doing one last sweep before trying to catch a few hours of sleep. At the far end of the hallway, a soft glow spills from the makeshift office. My pulse quickens. We’ve all warned Sierra to pace herself, but she’s been pushing hard—managing finances, smoothing tensions among the members, pushing expansions for Bluelight. When the rest of us crash from the day’s stress, she stays awake, her determination refusing to let exhaustion win.
The office door stands ajar, allowing a narrow slice of light to escape. I nudge it open and find her hunched over a scuffed desk, shuffling papers and tapping at a battered laptop. She looks up at the faint creak of the hinges.
“Ghost,” she says softly, voice raspy from lack of sleep. “Is everything okay?”
I step inside, closing the door behind me. “I could ask you the same thing. It’s late.”
She exhales, shoulders slumping. “I couldn’t sleep. Might as well get work done.”
I study her face, noticing the shadows beneath her eyes. “You should rest. Pushing yourself too hard isn’t helping anyone.”
She lifts a shoulder in a half-shrug. “Yeah, well… it’s hard to turn my brain off. Rumors, traitor suspicions, Reapers around every corner. I feel like I’m caught in a web I can’t untangle.”
Pressure builds behind my ribs at the raw vulnerability in her voice. She’s been carrying too much weight alone, despite me, Frost, and Viper trying to shield her. I cross the small space and settle on the corner of the desk, arms crossed loosely over my chest. “You’re not alone. You’ve got us.”
Her gaze drifts, lingering on a pile of receipts. “That’s what scares me,” she murmurs. “I see the tension in church meetings, the gossip from groupies. I worry I’m tearing the club apart. And the traitor… what if all this is my fault?”
A flare of protectiveness surges inside me. “Don’t say that. The Reapers and their allies have it out for us regardless. You’re a catalyst, sure, but you didn’t cause the betrayal.”
She takes a shaky breath, nodding. Silence stretches. The overhead lamp buzzes softly. I glance around the cramped office—walls lined with half-empty shelves, dusty corners lit by flickering fluorescents. Everything about this place feels temporary, like the peace we have might break at any second.
“Sierra,” I say quietly, voice thick with concern, “I’d rather fight for you than let you go.”
She blinks, startled. “You would?”
I inhale, forcing myself to speak feelings I’ve kept buried. “I’ve lost people. I won’t lose you too. If we have to lock down the compound, chase the Reapers across the desert, or flush outthis traitor by any means necessary—I’ll do it. I’d rather go down swinging than watch you walk away.”
A faint tremor moves through her shoulders as she sets the papers aside. Her eyes glisten with emotion she’s struggling to contain. “I don’t want to run anymore,” she confesses. “But I feel so guilty. You, Frost, Viper… you put yourselves at risk for me.”
I reach out, hesitating before resting my palm against her cheek. The softness of her skin jolts me. “It’s not a burden,” I say, voice gentler than usual. “We care about you. We do this because we want to.”
She leans into my touch, eyes drifting shut for a moment. Then she looks up, curiosity shining behind her weariness. “Ghost, can you tell me something about yourself? You’re always so silent, so guarded.”
The question hits me, unexpected and raw. I seldom talk about my past, even with the guys. But the vulnerability in her gaze tugs at my resolve. My hand drops to my thigh, and I glance at the dingy floor, gathering the courage to share.
“I grew up in a small town. Parents argued constantly. When I was fifteen, I ran away, convinced the world had nothing good left for me. Ended up on the streets, did some stupid stuff, fell in with a rough crowd.” My jaw tenses, memories stirring like restless ghosts. “Eventually, I landed in a juvenile program. That’s where I learned to fight—to defend myself. Got into military. After that, I drifted until I met Renegade Cross.”
She remains quiet, absorbing every word. “They became your family?”
I nod, swallowing thickly. “Yeah. Frost and Viper saw me at my worst. Pulled me in, gave me a reason to stick around. The club turned me from a stray kid with a penchant for violence into something… stable, I guess.”
She lifts a trembling hand, brushing my shoulder. “You’re more than just muscle, you know. You’ve saved me more times than I can count.”
My chest tightens. “I’m trying to save you again—keeping watch for the traitor, making sure the Reapers don’t blindside us.” My hand finds hers. “But if you think you’re dividing us, you’re wrong. This club had cracks long before you arrived. You might actually help us come together in a new way.”
Her eyes mist. “Thank you,” she whispers, voice catching. “I just… I appreciate you trusting me enough to tell me that.”
