Ghost (Satan’s Fury MC: Little Rock #3)

4. Whitney

Whitney

I had no idea how long I’d been lying there wide awake, staring at the ceiling. It felt like days. I’d tried to sleep, but every creak, every little groan had me tossing and turning. We were miles away, but my mind kept racing with what-ifs and the lingering fear that Dylan would find us. I was terrified that he would try and finish what he’d started.

I glanced down at Toby and sighed when I found him sleeping peacefully. For a brief second, it was like nothing had happened, and then, I spotted the bruises on his arms. Guilt washed over me, and it was all I could do to keep myself from sobbing. I loved him so much, and I hated that I’d gotten us into this mess.

“I love you... I love you so, so much.”

I carefully brushed a strand of hair from his forehead, and his eyes fluttered open. “Hey, Mom.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“It’s okay. I’ve been awake.” He closed his eyes and rolled to his side. “I’ve just been laying here.”

“Something on your mind?”

“I guess.”

“Wanna talk about it?”

“How long are we gonna stay here?”

“I don’t know... but it won’t be forever.” I ran my fingers through his hair. “I just need to figure out a plan.”

Dylan sighed and mumbled, “I hope it’s soon.”

Heartbroken that I had caused him so much pain, I leaned down and landed a quick kiss on his forehead. “I promise I will get us out of here as soon as I can.”

Over the next few days, we kept to ourselves and barely left the room. We needed the time to decompress and face our new reality. Once or twice a day, one of the guys or one of their girlfriends would bring us food and check on us.

They didn’t ask questions, didn’t push. They just made sure we were okay. It was the little things—Ghost nodding at me without a word or that girl Bridget leaving an extra treat for Toby. It was those little acts of kindness that slowly made me feel like maybe, just maybe, we’d be safe here.

We’d been there for almost a week when there was a knock at the door.

Thinking it was one of the guys bringing more food, I ran my fingers through my hair and said, “Come in.”

The door eased open, and Toby leaned into me when a man I’d never seen before stepped inside the room. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with a commanding presence, much like Viper’s. He was fierce but attractive, with salt and pepper hair and a neatly trimmed beard.

A kind smile slipped across his handsome face as he said, “Good morning.”

“Good morning,” I replied with a nervous edge.

“Hope I didn’t wake you.”

“No, sir. You didn’t. We were awake.”

“Good.” His eyes skirted over us both. “You two settling in?”

“We’re doing okay.”

“Good. Glad to hear it. I’m sorry I haven’t been by sooner, but I wanted to come by and introduce myself.” There was kindness in his eyes as he smiled and said, “I’m Preacher.”

“Hi, Preacher. It’s nice to finally meet you... Viper had a lot of great things to say about you and your club.”

“Glad to hear that.” He had an air of confidence that could only come from a man with a great deal of power, but it didn’t feel threatening. Instead, I felt like we were in safe hands as he explained, “He filled me in on you two as well, and it sounds like you’ve had a time of it.”

“Yeah, you could say that.”

“Well, I plan to put an end to all that.”

“I’m not sure that can be done, but I would appreciate you trying.” I glanced down at Toby, “We both really appreciate you letting us stay here for a while. It means a lot.”

“No problem. Just glad we could help.” As he turned back for the door, he added, “You don’t have to stay couped up in here. You can get out when you get ready. There’s a full kitchen and a family room with a couple of TVs and pool tables just down the hall.”

Toby’s eyes lit up. “Pool tables?”

“Yes, sir. Pool tables and dart boards. There’s even a couple of PlayStations and X-boxes in there, too.” Preacher’s gaze softened slightly as he looked at Toby. “You’ll have to check it out.”

“Okay, sounds good.”

“Alright, I’ll leave you to it.” Preacher’s voice had a warmth to it now. “There’s lunch in the kitchen. You can come down whenever you’re ready. The guys know to give you both space, so you won’t be crowded.”

“Thank you, Preacher.”

“No problem.” He looked at me for a moment, and there was something in the tone of his voice that led me to believe him when he said, “You’re safe here. We’ll make sure of that.”

“That means a lot to me... It means a lot to us both.”

He gave me one last nod, then stepped out of the room. “Food goes fast around here. You might wanna go grab you some before it’s gone.”

“We’ll be down in a minute. Thanks!”

Preacher’s gaze lingered on us for a second longer, then he turned and closed the door behind him. Toby glanced up at me with a spark of hope in his eyes. “I like him.”

“I like him, too.”

“You think he meant what he said?”

“I don’t think he’s the kind of man who says things he doesn’t mean.”

“Yeah, I don’t think so either.” He eased the covers back as he said, “I’m gonna take a shower.”

“Okay. I’ll find you some clothes to put on.”

He nodded, then hopped down from the bed.

Seconds later, the bathroom door closed, and the shower was running. Knowing he wouldn’t be long, I sifted through our bags until I found him a clean outfit, then eased the bathroom door open and placed them on the sink. While he finished up, I changed and brushed my hair. I didn’t bother with putting on makeup. With my black eye and busted lip, there was no point.

When Toby came out of the bathroom, he was dressed, and his hair was already brushed. My boy was pumped about the pool tables, and that tickled me. After what he’d been through, it did my heart good to see him excited about something.

I, on the other hand, wasn’t exactly excited about leaving the room. We were told that the men of Satan’s Fury were good guys who would look out for us, and I wanted desperately to believe it. But I didn’t know anything about the club or the men in it. I had no idea what we would find when we left the room, and that made me a bit apprehensive.

I took a deep breath, trying my best to gather my nerve, then opened the door. Toby stuck his head out, and once he saw that no one was around, he stepped out and started walking down the hall. He hadn’t gotten far when he stopped and peeked inside one of the rooms. He glanced back at me as he whispered, “Hey, they really do have pool tables.”

I hurried over to him and peered inside the family room, and it was even bigger than I’d expected. There were TVs lining the walls—each one playing something different, and there were two pool tables off to the side and several dart boards. A couple of bikers were sitting around the room, each with a beer in hand, and the sound of their laughter rumbled through the room.

It was a far cry from anything Toby had ever seen, and I could see the awe in his eyes as he scanned the room. “Wow. It’s so cool and just like Preacher said.”

"You wanna check it out?"

He glanced around at the various men, and his earlier excitement was replaced with fear. He was still staring at them when he shook his head no. I understood his apprehension. Neither of us were used to being around so many men, especially men like these. They were bikers. They carried a weight about them—ominous and fierce. They certainly weren’t like his friends’ dads or his coaches at school.

A part of me just wanted to run back to our room, but as I stood there listening to their quiet banter and wholesome laughs, I found them a little less threatening. I continued watching them, and it was clear that they were enjoying themselves. They all seemed comfortable and relaxed with one another, like they were with family at home.

Comfortable and relaxed were two feelings that had become foreign to me over the past year. It seemed like I was always on edge, and I felt a little jealous as I stood there watching them.

One of the men was busy racking up the balls when Goose glanced over in our direction, and his face softened when he spotted us standing in the doorway. He smiled at Toby as he called out, “Hey, kid. You wanna play a round?”

Toby immediately shook his head, turning him down.

“You sure?” Goose pushed. “We won’t bite.”

Toby hesitated, then looked up at me and asked, “Can I?”

“Of course.” I was just as apprehensive as he was, but there was something about Goose’s smile that set me at ease. “I’ll be right here waiting.”

He didn’t move.

He just stood there staring at Goose and the others.

His doubts were getting the best of him until Goose gave him one last nudge, “Come on. I’ll even let you break if you wanna.”

Toby nodded, then darted over to the table.

Goose chuckled as he handed him a pool cue, showing him how to hold it. I walked over and sat down on the edge of the sofa, watching as my bashful son took his first shot at pool. As I sat there watching him, I was torn between relief that my precious son was having fun and the ever-present anxiety gnawing at the back of my mind.

It was too much.

Too soon.

We should’ve stayed in the room.

But Toby’s laughter broke through the tension in my chest, and for a moment, just a moment , I let myself breathe. I leaned back so I could watch as Goose and the others bantered back and forth with Toby. They were being so nice to him, and it caught him a little off guard. But he played along, and it wasn’t long before he relaxed and really started enjoying himself.

They played a full game, and as soon as he was done, he rushed over to me and whispered, “That was awesome!”

“It looked like you were having a good time.”

“I was.” He was smiling ear to ear as he said, “Goose is the coolest.”

“I’m so glad.” It was getting late, so I suggested, “How ‘bout we go grab a bite to eat, and you can tell me all about it.”

He nodded, then followed me out of the family room. When we got to the kitchen, I was surprised to find that it was massive. There were two long tables in the center of the room that sat at least thirty people, and there was a triple sink and an enormous fridge. The countertops were cluttered with plates, cups, and a couple of half-empty beer bottles.

Despite the chaos, there was a certain warmth to it that made it inviting. I opened the fridge, rummaging through it until I found the container of leftover spaghetti, and placed it in the microwave. “So, tell me about it.”

“It was awesome.” His voice was full of excitement as he told me, “I got three balls. And I would’ve gotten a fourth one, but I hit it too hard.”

The microwave beeped, and I pulled out the container. I stirred it a bit, then put some on a plate, handing it and a fork to Toby. Without waiting for it to cool, he dove in. I made myself a smaller portion, and after taking a few bites, the messy room started getting to me.

I didn’t want to overstep, but at the same time, I felt compelled to do something. So, I started with the empty beer bottles. I tossed them in the trash before moving on to the dirty dishes. And while I cleaned, Toby talked.

And he talked some more.

“He showed me how to hold the stick.” He moved his fingers into a funny shape as he said, “He told me it was all about balance.”

“Um-hmm.”

“I was leaning over to make a shot and almost knocked over his beer. The guys laughed, but not in a mean way. They were really cool about it.”

“Well, that’s good.”

“Yeah, they’re all real nice. They said I could come play with them any time.”

“That’s great. Maybe Goose can show you a few more tricks.”

“Yeah! He said if I practice, I could get as good as him.” Toby’s grin stretched from ear to ear as he told me, “And one day, I’ll...”

His words trailed off, and Toby’s chatter came to an abrupt halt when Ghost stepped into the room. Clearly intimidated, he lowered his head and went back to eating his spaghetti. It was disappointing to see that his excitement had been dampened by Ghost being there, but I couldn’t exactly blame him. Ghost’s presence filled the room like a looming cloud, heavy and dark, and it caused an immediate shift in the air.

I tensed, clutching the plate I was washing a little tighter as his cold, piercing blue eyes made their way over to me. I could feel the weight of his stare as he stepped over to me and said, “You don’t have to do that.”

“It’s the least I could do.”

“Hmmph,” he grumbled as he made his way over to the fridge. His long hair was pulled back, which made his blue eyes seem even more intense, and he was wearing his cut with jeans and boots. His keys and change rattled in his pockets as he moved, and I found it both daunting and comforting at the same time.

Toby was completely entranced as he watched Ghost pull out a bottle of water from the fridge and shut it with a solid thud. “You two been getting any sleep?”

Even though he didn’t look at me as he spoke, I knew the question was directed at me, so I answered, “We got a little. It’s going to take a bit to get our schedules back on track.”

“You and me both.” He opened the bottle and took a drink before glancing over at Toby. “Heard you took Goose for a spin on the pool table.”

Toby nodded, and his voice was barely a whisper as he muttered, “Uh-huh.”

“Did you beat him?”

“No, but I’m gonna keep practicing.”

“That’s good. Glad to hear that.” Ghost’s mouth twitched, almost like he was amused. “You got some fight in you. Gonna need that.”

Toby nodded again, more eager this time, and I could see the tension in his shoulders start to subside. Ghost turned and headed for the door.

The room remained silent until he disappeared down the hall. When I was certain he was gone, I let out the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

I had no interest in men—not after everything I’d been through with Dylan. I’d built walls so high that it was hard to even imagine letting someone in again.

But there was something about Ghost that caught me off guard.

There was no denying that he was attractive. He had the whole tall, dark, and handsome thing going for him. But it was more than that. He was strong and fierce, and he had this eerie calm about him, which made me wonder if anything ever got him rattled. I was still staring at the doorway when Toby whispered, “Ghost is scary, huh?”

“I’m sure he’s not so bad once you get to know him.”

“Maybe.” He picked up his plate and brought it over to me as he said, “But there’s no way he’d ever be as cool as Goose.”

“I’m not sure anyone could be as cool as Goose.”

“You’re probably right.”

Toby chuckled, and the sound of his laughter warmed my heart. I had no idea what the future held for us, but for the first time in a very long time, I felt hope—and that was something I thought I’d never feel again.

I tried to hold onto that hope as we finished cleaning the kitchen and made our way back to our room. We watched some TV, and it wasn’t long before we’d settled in for the night. Even though he’d slept for the better part of the day, Toby fell asleep pretty quickly. I was exhausted and wanted to do the same.

But as soon as I closed my eyes, I felt the memories creeping back in. It had been days. They were just as fresh as they were the first night. I tried to push them from my mind, but it wasn’t long before I heard, “There’s my girl.”

It was just a dream.

It was just in my head.

But my breath hitched when I remembered the sight of Dylan standing at the bottom of my front porch steps with a sinister smirk. It was hard to believe that I ever cared for him, but I did. I thought he was a good man who was going to love us and take care of us.

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

“Dylan... What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you. I wanted to make sure you were okay,” he drawled, his voice dripping with false sweetness.

But I knew what lay beneath it—rage, cruelty.

“You need to go, Dylan. I don’t want you here.”

“Don’t be like that. I just want to talk.”

He started up the steps, and each click of his heel was a reminder of every bruise and every broken bone that he’d given me over the past year. I wanted to scream, to call for help, but the words stuck in my throat.

When he reached the top step, he lunged forward, grabbing my arm like a vice, making sure I couldn’t get away from him. “Please, Dylan.”

“Please what?” He leaned in, and with his mouth inches from my ear, he growled, “Please let you go? I already told you! You’re mine, and I’m never letting you go.”

I could smell the stench of alcohol and sweat that clung to him like a second skin, and it made my stomach churn. I tried to yank my arm free from his grasp, but his fingers just dug in deeper, making it impossible to get away from him. I looked up at him and pleaded, “Please don’t do this.”

“You did this!” His nostrils started to flare, and I knew what was coming. I lowered my head and winced as he roared, “You left me! You didn’t even tell me. You just packed your shit and ran!”

“You know why I left.”

“Because you found yourself another guy to fuck over! Bet he’s in there right now, but I’ve got news for him and anyone else you might have holed up in there. You’re mine! I’ll kill you before I let anyone else have you.”

“Please, Dylan,” I cried. “I just...”

My heart pounded in my chest. He hadn’t made a move yet, and I could already feel the impact of his hand on my face, the sharp, stabbing pain of my wrist crumbling beneath his grip, and the utter helplessness. He raised his other hand, and I braced myself, eyes squeezing shut, waiting for the inevitable blow.

I jerked awake, and my heart was racing as I shot up in bed. My breath came in ragged gasps, and with the strange bed and furniture, it took me a minute to remember where I was. I was safe. I knew that, but the fear was still there. It lingered, just like the cold sweat that clung to my skin.

Damn. Even in my sleep, there was no escaping him.

I couldn’t help but wonder if I would ever truly be free of him.