36. Ghost

36

Ghost

We stop two miles away from the Iron Sinners compound. Our vans idle on a desolate road as we stand in a circle.

“It won’t take much for this to go to shit.” Steel looks around the group. “Even if the Iron Sinners are distracted, it’s their territory. They have the upper hand.”

Havoc hums, pulling his hair back. “We’re outnumbered and outgunned, even with the element of surprise.”

Steel nods. “Chances of not walking back out are high, which means we only go in with a unanimous vote.”

He looks at me, knowing nothing will stop me either way. But hopefully, when I breach that gate, I’ll have my brothers at my side.

“To be clear, killing as many Iron Sinners as we can get our hands on isn’t our mission tonight. We go in, and we get Luna. Then we get her out. We take down whoever stands in our way, but that’s it. The longer we stay, the worse our chances. We’ll deal with the rest of them another day. Understood?”

Everyone nods.

“Let’s vote.” Steel straightens his back.

“I’m in.” Legacy is the first to speak. “We protect our fucking family, or we’re nothing.”

Havoc nods. “Seconded. And even though Chaos is still getting fixed up back at the clubhouse, he said he’d vote to burn the Iron Sinners to the ground if he could. So, we have his vote.”

“You already know where I stand.” I cross my arms over my chest, waiting.

“I say let’s level those fuckers.” Soul grins. “We’ve been too easy on them.”

All around, words of support ring out until the final vote is left with Steel, and I don’t know what he’ll choose. He has to consider the club as a whole, not just my feelings for Luna. If he agrees to this, he might not come home to Tempe and Austin, and I know that’s the last thing he wants.

“We protect our own.” Steel nods. “To the grave. If we don’t do that, then we don’t stand for anything.”

He reaches out to shake my hand, and I take it.

Not too long ago, I broke his trust, but his loyalty to me and our club is why he’s respected by his men. Why any one of us would easily give up our lives to save his. He would do the same.

“One more thing then.” I swallow hard, gripping Steel’s hand. “I want to claim Luna as my old lady. ”

It might not be the best time to bring this vote to the club, but it’s important it happens now. Accepting an old lady is just as important as patching in a new member. It offers her protection if I’m gone. It makes her a part of us.

“This can’t wait until tomorrow because if I don’t come out of this, I need to know Luna will be taken care of.”

Steel nods. “Any objections?”

He waits for anyone to speak up, but they don’t.

Their silence is the most peace I’ve felt in a long time. I might not make it out of this alive, but they’ll make sure Luna is okay regardless.

“That’s settled then.” Steel smirks, releasing my hand. “Let’s go get your old lady.”

Those two words are a balm to my soul, and I wish I’d done it when she could have been standing here to accept that title.

“And let’s put a few Iron Sinners in the ground while we’re at it.” Soul grins.

Everyone is in agreement as we climb back into the vans. The door shuts, and we start to roll forward with the headlights off so we won’t be spotted at a distance.

Pulling out my computer, I start jamming all outgoing signals. We’re walking into Iron Sinners territory, which means they have the upper hand. In the best-case scenario, some of them are out tonight on runs or at one of their strip clubs. The harder it is for them to call for backup if this goes south, the better .

The vans circle around the compound in a wide arc as we make our way to the north side. It’s their most vulnerable border and our only chance.

When we stop at the fence line, I know we’ll have to go the rest of the way on foot. It will make it easier to sneak in, but hell getting out. If they figure out we’re here, we won’t be able to outrun them.

Backup will stay with the vans for a quick getaway, but if they need to intervene, chances are they’ll be too late.

Climbing out of the van, I approach the fence. It’s impossible to hack the Iron Sinners system remotely, but now that I’m in range of their wireless network, I’m able to find a weak spot to break in.

Once I’m in their system, I search for the security network, shutting down the perimeter alarms. Then, I find the camera feeds and send them in a loop so they won’t see us coming. They have half the number we do on our compound, so it doesn’t take long.

I’d like to shut down their entire grid now that I have access, but that will just alert them to our presence.

“Done.” I shut the laptop and set it back in the van. “If they’re keeping her anywhere, it’s probably the outbuilding or one of the member’s rooms.”

It’s nearly impossible to process what they’d do to her in either, but I swallow that down for now.

Steel steps forward. “Soul and I will take a few prospects to the outbuilding. Havoc, I want you with Ghost and Legacy to check the main building. Remember, stay out of sight. The second we’re caught, we’re not walking out of here. ”

“Then let’s not get caught.” Havoc smirks.

Legacy chuckles, pulling out his gun. “Good plan.”

Stepping through the fence, we slowly split off. I watch Steel and Soul disappear into the darkness as we circle to the main clubhouse.

The Iron Sinners are partying, which is good news because it means they’re distracted.

During the van ride here, we studied the layout of the compound from satellite images to give us a vague map to follow. Havoc takes the lead, with Legacy at our backs as we circle until we’re at the side where the members’ rooms are situated. He finds an empty one and signals us over.

“This is the best entry point.” He grabs the cracked window and peels it open.

Legacy climbs through it first, followed by me and then Havoc. Once I’m in, I pull out my phone to scan the network again. Their security feeds are still looping, including the cameras in the hallway. I can’t see what’s happening live, so I don’t know if anyone is out there.

“There’s going to be too many rooms to check them all.”

“We don’t have to.” I tap back into the network and go to the surveillance archives.

Pulling up the footage from earlier tonight, I find Luna being brought into the compound in a truck. She stumbles when she’s dragged out of it, and it’s clear she twists her ankle, but the man dragging her doesn’t notice.

He takes her inside, and I watch as she is brought to Titan. They talk briefly before the man pulls her down the hallway, and my chest burns when the bedroom door closes behind her.

“Last door on the left. That’s where she is.”

I pocket the phone, and Havoc nods, moving to the door. He peels it open, holding his gun to his chest as he looks out.

“Clear.”

Legacy and I follow Havoc out of the room and down the hall as fast as we can. Voices and screaming come from behind the closed doors, and I’m tempted to set fire to the clubhouse on our way out.

Rushing to the room Luna is in, we pause at the door, listening for anything on the other side. Then Havoc slowly turns the handle, and we shove our way through.

We sweep into the room one by one. My gun is ready, and I’m relieved there’s only one person in here with her. I aim for his head as Havoc shuts the door and locks it.

“Back the fuck up,” I say through gritted teeth.

The man stiffens, taking a step back and turning to us, grinning. He has one hand at his side while the other has his gun pointed at Luna.

“Marcus?” Tears spill from her eyes the second her gaze connects with mine. “You shouldn’t have come here.”

Like there’s anywhere else I would be. “I’ve got you.”

The man chuckles at my reassurances. “You must be the man who’s been fucking my woman.”

I take a step forward but pause when he presses the barrel of the gun to Luna’s temple .

“I told you to hand her over, Ghost. You didn’t. My baby doll had to find me all on her own. She knows where she belongs.”

“Take your fucking gun off her,” I command through gritted teeth.

“Why? She’s ours now. Our little animal we’re going to tame.”

Looking down, I see she’s shackled to the ground, and my gut sinks. He chained Luna, and the metal is rubbing her skin raw.

“Brave of you to come here. I’ll give you that.” He sneers.

Luna looks up at him. “Steven—”

He shoves the gun harder against her temple. “I told you don’t call me that. I’m Grimm now.”

That must be Steven’s road name.

“I’m sorry,” Luna cries, and I hate that he’s making her apologize. “Please don’t do this.”

“Don’t worry, baby. I’m going to set you free from them once and for all.”

Grimm reaches into his pocket to get out his phone, and I know we’re out of time. The second he alerts Titan to the fact that we’re here, they’ll storm the room. Havoc and Legacy must think the same because we all move in unison.

Havoc circles the left, and Legacy goes right, but I relax the arm holding the gun and reach for the knife in my back pocket. Shots will tip the Iron Sinners off .

Grimm watches the three of us circling fast and has no choice but to drop his phone as Legacy lunges for his arm.

With Grimm distracted, I make my move, but I’m too late.

His gun goes off, and Luna flinches.

My world stops as I wait for her to fall to the ground, but she doesn’t.

I sink my knife into Grimm’s jugular, and blood pours over my hand. For a second, I think he missed, and this is over.

But then I see Legacy slump to the ground next to me.

“Legacy?” I call out, but his eyes are dimming. “Stay with me, brother.”

Grimm smiles as he watches the scene unfold. As he sees whatever look crosses my face when Legacy falls.

I pull the blade out and drive it into an artery this time, finishing him and shoving him to the ground. Torturing him isn’t worth wasting time that needs to be spent helping Luna and Legacy.

“Fuck.” Havoc rushes to the door. “There’s no way they didn’t hear that gunshot.”

He grabs a dresser and slides it in front of the door, starting a barricade.

“Marcus,” Luna cries, trying to reach for Legacy, but the chains stop her. “He took the bullet for me.”

“I’ve got you. I’ve got him.” My head fogs, and it all feels like lies as everything starts spinning out. “Stay with me, brother. ”

I grab the keys to the shackles and handcuffs off Grimm and undo Luna’s wrists and ankles.

“You okay, beautiful? Did he hurt you?” I tug the shackles from her wrists and grab her tear-stained cheeks.

Her blue eyes blink up at me. “I’m okay. We need to help Legacy.”

Releasing Luna, I rush to Legacy, and his eyes blink open.

“It’s nothing.” He grunts, trying to sit up.

Luna takes one of his arms and I take the other while blood pours out of the bullet wound in his leg. His face pales, and he gets heavier in my grip.

“He doesn’t look good, Marcus.”

No, he doesn’t. But I don’t want to say that out loud for Legacy’s sake.

Or maybe it’s for mine.

I can’t lose my brother.

“We have company,” Havoc says as pounding starts on the door. “Lots of company.”

I pull out my phone, and it barely registers my fingers because they’re coated in blood. Opening the network, I shut down the signal blocker so I can call Steel.

He answers on the first ring, out of breath. “Outbuilding was empty.”

“We found her, but Legacy got hit. We need Patch.”

“Start the van,” Steel shouts, and I’m relieved to hear he’s already out. “We’re gonna drive to you, but I need you to meet us as far out as you can, and we’ll pray to fuck nothing takes the tires out.”

“Got it. ”

I hang up and look at Havoc. “We need to get him out of here. Steel’s headed our way.”

“Let’s go.” Havoc crosses the room to Legacy. “Ghost, get her out. I’ve got Legacy.”

Luna is in shock as she sits back on her heels with blood on her hands. She doesn’t blink until I pull her up into my arms.

“Marcus—”

“Focus on me. I’ve got you.”

“But Legacy—Bea.”

“Luna.” I grab the sides of her face. “Havoc’s got him. We need to get out of here now. Can you do that for me?”

Her entire body shakes as she nods, and I help her stand, carrying her weight as we walk to the window. I jump out first to help Luna climb outside, then assist Havoc with getting Legacy through next.

“I’m good.” Legacy hangs weakly at Havoc’s side as he finds his footing in the dirt.

Adrenaline is keeping him going, but the second that stops, I don’t know what kind of condition he’ll be in.

My brother took a bullet for my girl. He’s saved my life and now hers. I can’t lose him over this.

“I’ve got him.” Havoc steadies Legacy, helping him limp. “Get Luna.”

“I’m okay.” She shakes her head. “You don’t need to help me.”

“You hurt your ankle, and we need to run.” I don’t wait for her to argue as I pick her up.

The four of us rush away from the clubhouse, and beside me, I sense Legacy fading .

Gunshots ring out in the desert, but they miss us in the darkness.

The second the van comes into view, I pick up my pace. A prospect swings the van around, and Steel and Patch jump out to help us. The doors are barely shut when a bullet hits the side, just missing us.

I don’t relax until the tires hit pavement, and we disappear into the night, hoping the Iron Sinners are too wasted to track us down.

“How is he?” Steel asks, kneeling over Legacy.

Patch has him spread out on the floor of the van, and all the color has drained from his face. The second we stopped, his adrenaline tanked, and he passed out.

“Not good.” Patch applies pressure on the bullet wound. “We’re gonna need a hospital.”

“They’ll ask questions,” Havoc warns.

“And we’ll figure out how to answer them.” Steel’s jaw tenses. “We do what we need to do to save him.”

Patch nods, yelling new directions for the prospect to take us to the hospital.

Luna starts shaking beside me, and I pull her closer.

“You’re safe now.” I tip her chin up, brushing her tears away. “They can’t hurt you here.”

“I’m sorry.” Her fingers clench on my cut. “I thought I could stop this. It’s all my fault. What happened to Legacy—”

“It’s on them, Luna. Not you. They’d have come for you either way. You’re safe, and that’s all that matters. You’re home now. ”

She curls against me, shaking with her sobs. With one arm, I hold the love of my life, and with my other, I hold my brother’s hand.

My family is together.

My family is whole.

So long as Legacy can pull through this.