26. Ghost

26

Ghost

The second we cross the city border back into Vegas, my hands itch to get back to the clubhouse. It’s been three days since I’ve seen Luna, and I feel like I’m going through withdrawals.

Keeping an eye on her through a camera isn’t the same as holding her in my arms. Now I understand why Steel is in such a shit mood when the club goes on long runs that take him away from Tempe and Austin.

As a club, we have things that need to be taken care of on a daily basis, but my body isn’t currently in agreement. My heart’s aching for her and her big smile, her blue eyes, and her purple hair. I need that girl like I need oxygen, and I’m suffocating without her.

But we can’t go back to the clubhouse yet.

Steel, Havoc, and I take the turn in the opposite direction of the clubhouse, making our way toward the Strip. It’s a weekend, so it’s packed with cars and people. We’re forced to slow to a roll as the sun beats down on us. Our cuts draw the attention of people passing by, and I don’t miss them keeping their distance.

All I need is to check off this final thing, and I can get back to Luna.

Chaos is meeting us at Sapphire Rise, and when we finally reach the parking lot, I pull next to his bike. As the road captain, he’d normally be out of town with us. But given his parole officer will throw him back in prison if he crosses state lines, he’s stuck in Nevada.

While Chaos is anxious to hit the road, I prefer sticking to the clubhouse. Our motel was worse than sleeping in the bunkhouse back at the club, and I’m in desperate need of a shower and a nap. We did the entire eight-hour ride back from New Mexico in one day so we wouldn’t have to spend another day on the road, and I’m exhausted.

“I’ll find Chaos.” Havoc walks into Sapphire Rise first, tying his dark hair in a knot on the back of his head.

Steel beelines for the bar, and I follow him.

“Do you think he’ll show?” I slide onto the barstool next to Steel.

“I think he doesn’t have any other choice but to meet with us, so yes.” Steel flags down the bartender, and she hurries over when she recognizes him. “Water.”

“Make that two.” I hold up my hand.

Her eyebrow quirks at our orders. I doubt many bikers ask for water when they come here, but we still have to make it back to the clubhouse, and I’m beat .

The bartender slides two glasses across the bar. “Let me know if you need anything else.”

Steel takes a long drink, and I turn around, leaning my back against the bar and scanning the room. Everything reminds me of Luna lately, and when I glance at the VIP hall, I can’t help picturing the last time we were here.

Pulling out my phone, I check the cameras at the clubhouse. Luna is sitting in the main den, talking to Tempe and smiling. It calms my nerves that she’s fine with me gone.

Steel stands, and I look over to see Rick Zane walking straight toward us. He owns half the casinos on the Strip, so I’m not surprised to see security on either side of him. But when a couple of bikers wearing Iron Sinners cuts come into view, I slide off my stool. We’re well aware he’s been funding our rivals for some time now, but bringing them into our club is blatant disrespect.

Steel points at the bikers. “If they don’t get the fuck out of my club, this meeting is over.”

Zane smirks. He had to have expected it. But, given his arrogance, I’m sure he wanted to see how far he could push it.

“Leave us.” He glances over at one of the piece-of-shit Iron Sinners before looking back to Steel. “But my security stays.”

“Fine by me.” Steel crosses his arms over his chest as Havoc and Chaos make their way back to the front of the club. “This way.”

Havoc waits for the Iron Sinners to leave the club before leading everyone to the conference room upstairs. Chaos trails the back of the group to keep his eyes on Zane’s men.

They’re smart enough not to do or say anything as we take seats at the table.

Steel and Zane sit across from each other, both waiting for the other to speak. It’s a long silence before Zane can’t handle it anymore.

“Hope you didn’t ask me here just so you can stare deeply into my eyes, Steel.”

“I’d rather put a bullet between them.” He smirks.

Zane shakes his head, adjusting his cufflinks. He’s wearing a suit that costs more than any of the girls downstairs make in a month, so I’m not surprised that he’s unaffected by Steel’s threat. No one gets that much money and power and manages to keep their hands clean.

“Let’s talk then.” Zane smiles like the cocky asshole he is. “How was New Mexico?”

Steel leans forward, lacing his hands together. “Funny you should mention our trip, seeing as no one should have known we were gone.”

“I have my sources.”

“I’m sure you do. The question is, why do you care about old territory, Zane? That’s Road Rebels land now.”

“It’s not the territory I’m interested in.”

“Don’t tell me you’re baiting my allies to switch sides. They’re smarter than the Merciless Skulls were. They wouldn’t be stupid enough to accept your help thinking it wouldn’t bite ’em in the ass.”

“Don’t know what you’re implying. ”

“Yes, you do.” Steel narrows his eyes. “The Iron Sinners were on your books when they pretended to help out the Merciless Skulls last year. Tell me, why did you care about a club operating out of New Mexico? We both know you’re expanding West, not East.”

“Let’s just say I was protecting my interests.”

“You mean the interests of the Iron Sinners. They’re the ones who picked up trafficking routes and resources after the Merciless Skulls fell. They even got themselves a new tech specialist to try and level the playing field between our clubs.”

“I wouldn’t know,” Zane says. “Maybe you should check with Titan if you’re so interested in day-to-day biker operations. I’ve got more important things to worry about.”

“See, that’s the problem, Zane. Titan is on your payroll. So, while you sit in your casino and pretend to have your hands out of this, we both know you don’t. It’s your money, and you’re not stupid enough to give him unilateral control over that. He might think he’s still in charge. But we both know you’re the one calling the shots. You keep the Iron Sinners funded, and they help protect your dirty interests.”

“My businesses are above board. Ask the city.”

“I’m not interested in the politicians you pay to let you get away with shit. I’m more curious why you’d waste so much money funding a losing battle. Until I realized something.”

“Enlighten me.” Zane smirks.

“You and your Iron Sinners didn’t fund the Merciless Skulls to help them win against the Road Rebels. If you did, your inside man wouldn’t have made it so easy for us to hack their servers and drain their bank account. You wanted them to lose it. You wanted the club to fall. Did they know that?”

Rick Zane taps the table, not answering.

“I think that’s a no,” Havoc answers for him.

Steel hums. “If the Iron Sinners were always going to let the Merciless Skulls lose to the Road Rebels, why send them there? To draw us out?”

“Always thinking it’s about you…” Zane’s eyes gleam. “Do you want to know the difference between real business and your little club, Steel? I can see the big picture—the future—while you’re still focusing on the past. I see possibility, while you’re staring at a loss. I grow, and you shrink. Eventually, that will be how I crush you.”

“So that was the plan—to grow. You did all this to absorb the Merciless Skulls? There are easier ways to do that.”

Zane’s eyes gleam as he sits silent.

“Unless…” Steel shakes his head. “Titan didn’t want to look like a traitor to his allies by overtaking a friendly club. You helped them start a war they’d lose so we would show up and take them down for you.”

“When someone falls, someone wins, Steel. You should know that. And you should be thanking me. From what I heard, you picked up a pretty little hacker for all your trouble. Has she been getting along with your men?”

At the mention of Luna, I reach for my gun, slapping it on the table and aiming it at Zane. His security guards immediately make a move, and two barrels are aimed at me. My finger itches to pull the trigger, but Steel holds up a hand.

“Not here, Ghost.”

I know he’s right. Killing Zane in a Twisted Kings strip club will bring nothing but heat. He’s too rich and connected. Still, it takes everything in me not to pull the trigger.

“Interesting that you’re fond of her. Titan has a friend who wants her back.” Zane taps the table, and my finger tenses on the trigger. “I couldn’t care less what happens to the little hacker. Pussy isn’t worth this much trouble. But for the sake of your club, it might be easier if you hand the cunt over in a show of good faith.”

My teeth clench. “You can tell your friend she’s where she belongs now, so he can fuck off with that request.”

Zane crosses his arms over his chest. “And here I thought we were at this table to negotiate.”

“I never said this was a negotiation.” Steel stands up, planting his hands on the table. “I’m here to make you a one-time offer.”

“This should be interesting.” Zane smirks.

“Cut off your funding to the Iron Sinners, and once we burn those pieces of shit to the ground, we might actually let you walk away from this.”

We won’t, but Steel has to let him think it.

Zane stands up, facing off with Steel. “It’s good to see you’ve got a backbone. At least more than your father ever did. He was too afraid of war because he knew better than to go after me or my interests. ”

“You’re going to burn with the Iron Sinners if you don’t walk away from this. And that’s if they don’t turn on you first. Titan isn’t loyal to anyone but himself, no matter how much money you throw at him to clean up your messes.”

“Titan is a puppet. Just like you’re going to be. The Iron Sinners are one link in a very long chain. I don’t need them to get to you. You’re going to stop fucking with my plans one way or another.”

Zane’s phone chimes, and he glances down. His eyes gleam when he reads the message.

“Speaking of, consider this a warning.” He tucks it back in his pocket. “It’s always good meeting a formidable champion on the battlefield, Steel. But Vegas is mine. Not yours. And not Titan’s. Remember that.”

Zane turns and leaves with his bodyguards trailing him, but his threats loom heavy in the room.

“I don’t like the sound of that.” I cross my arms over my chest.

Havoc shakes his head. “Me either.”

My phone dings, and I pull it out, hoping it’s Luna. Instead, I’m met with a notification from one of my perimeter sensors. I open the app, and every single one on the East side is going off.

“What the—”

Steel’s phone rings, and I meet his gaze as he answers it.

“Who?” he asks the person on the other end of the line.

I flip my phone around, showing him the feed. “The ATF.”