Chapter 11: The Devil's Bargain

EMILIA POV

The ride back to the Iron Serpents clubhouse was the longest of my life.

No one spoke.

The roar of motorcycles was the only sound cutting through the desert night.

Mama C had practically raised me after my mother passed away.

She wasn't just family.

She was the heart of the clubhouse.

And now she was gone.

Ghost's body was tense beneath my arms.

I could feel the anger radiating from him.

Every muscle in his back remained tight as he pushed the Harley faster across the empty highway.

When the clubhouse finally came into view, my heart sank.

The front gate had been blown apart.

Several motorcycles still burned in the parking lot.

Broken glass covered the entrance.

Club members rushed toward us the moment we arrived.

"President!"

"We couldn't stop them!"

Marco jumped off his bike.

"Report."

"About twenty men attacked while everyone was gone."

"Professional."

"Fast."

"They weren't Reapers."

"Black Wolves," Ghost muttered.

"Did anyone recognize their leader?"

"No."

"They took Mama C and disappeared into the canyon."

"They left this."

One of the members handed Marco a black envelope.

Inside was a single photograph.

Mama C sat tied to a chair.

Bruised but alive.

Behind her stood a masked man.

On the back of the photo were five handwritten words.

"Emilia Romano for Mama C."

Marco crushed the paper in his fist.

"They're forcing a trade."

"We're not making one," Ghost said immediately.

"They'll kill everyone."

"They'll kill Mama C anyway."

"You don't know that."

"I know men like this."

"They don't negotiate."

I stared at the photograph.

"I'll go."

Both men turned toward me.

"Absolutely not," Ghost growled.

"You don't get to decide that."

"Actually... I do."

"They're after me."

"People keep getting hurt because of me."

"This ends now."

"No."

Ghost stepped closer until we were almost touching.

"I spent six years trying to keep you alive."

"I'm not handing you over."

"You won't be handing me over."

"I'll be choosing."

"There's a difference."

"Not to me."

"Axel..."

"No."

"End of discussion."

Marco interrupted before the argument could continue.

"Enough."

"Nobody's making decisions tonight."

"We'll regroup and plan."

Ghost reluctantly nodded, though his jaw remained clenched.

Later that night, sleep refused to come.

I wandered onto the clubhouse roof.

The desert stretched endlessly beneath a sky filled with stars.

Footsteps echoed behind me.

"I figured I'd find you here," Ghost said quietly.

"Couldn't sleep either?"

"Not after today."

He leaned against the railing beside me.

"When we were kids..."

"You used to come here whenever life became too loud."

"You remembered."

"I remember everything about you."

Silence settled between us.

"I'm scared," I admitted.

"I know."

"Not for me."

"For everyone else."

"Dad's gone."

"Ryan's dead."

"Mama C's been taken."

"Who dies next because of me?"

Ghost gently took my hand.

"None of this is your fault."

"Isn't it?"

"They want me."

"Then let them come."

"They'll have to kill me first."

Tears filled my eyes.

"Don't say that."

"Why?"

"Because I already lost you once."

"I couldn't survive losing you again."

Ghost slowly pulled me into his arms.

"You're not going to lose me."

"I swear."

"Don't make promises you can't keep."

"This one I can."

He rested his forehead against mine.

"There's something I've wanted to ask you for years."

"What?"

"If none of this had happened..."

"Would you have married me?"

A tear rolled down my cheek.

"Yes."

"Without hesitation."

Ghost closed his eyes.

"I bought a ring once."

My breath caught.

"What?"

"Before I left."

"I planned to ask your father for permission."

"Instead..."

"He asked me to leave."

"I kept the ring."

Slowly, Ghost reached into his pocket.

A small silver box appeared in his hand.

"I've carried it for six years."

He opened it.

Inside rested a simple white gold ring.

"Axel..."

"I'm not asking you to marry me tonight."

"I'm asking you to believe we'll survive long enough for me to ask properly."

I couldn't stop crying.

"I believe you."

He smiled softly.

"Good."

Then he kissed me.

Slowly.

Tenderly.

Like he was trying to memorize every second.

The peaceful moment shattered when Marco burst onto the roof.

"Ghost! Emilia!"

Both of us pulled apart.

"We intercepted another message."

"Already?" Ghost frowned.

"They contacted us by radio."

"What did they say?"

Marco looked directly at me.

"Tomorrow night."

"Old Black Canyon Mine."

"Emilia comes alone."

"No police."

"No club."

"Or Mama C dies."

Ghost immediately shook his head.

"It's a trap."

"Obviously," Marco agreed.

"But we don't have a choice anymore."

I looked between them.

Then quietly made my decision.

Whether Ghost agreed or not...

Tomorrow night...

I was going to Black Canyon.