Chapter 17: Into the Wolves' Den

EMILIA POV

When I finally woke up, everything around me was silent.

My head throbbed from whatever drug they'd used.

My wrists were tied behind a heavy wooden chair.

Cold stone walls surrounded me.

The room looked more like an underground bunker than a prison cell.

A single light bulb hung from the ceiling.

The metal door opened.

Victor Kane walked inside carrying two cups of coffee.

"Good morning," he said calmly.

"I was beginning to wonder when you'd wake up."

"Go to hell."

"I've heard that one before."

He placed one cup on the table in front of me.

"You're wasting your time," I said.

"Ghost will find me."

"I certainly hope he tries."

"Why?"

"Because then I'll finally kill the only man who's ever stood between you and your destiny."

"My destiny isn't with you."

"We'll see."

Victor opened an old wooden box.

Inside were photographs.

Most of them showed my biological father, Damian Kane.

Some were nearly thirty years old.

Others showed him standing beside Vincent Romano.

"They really were brothers," I whispered.

"Until Vincent betrayed him," Victor replied.

"That's a lie."

"Is it?"

"Vincent stole you."

"Vincent saved me."

"Saved you from your own family?"

"From becoming like this."

Victor sighed.

"You're stubborn."

"Just like Vincent."

Before he could continue, someone knocked urgently.

"Boss."

"We've got movement outside."

Victor smiled.

"Looks like your biker finally arrived."

Meanwhile...

GHOST POV

The Black Wolves' compound sat hidden deep inside an abandoned mining valley.

Armed guards watched every entrance.

Searchlights swept across the cliffs.

Ghost lowered his binoculars.

"They're expecting us," Marco whispered.

"Of course they are."

"How many?"

"At least sixty."

"Maybe more inside."

Marco looked at the gathered Iron Serpents.

"A frontal assault will get us killed."

"Then we don't attack from the front."

Ghost unfolded an old blueprint.

"This mine has emergency escape tunnels."

"Most collapsed years ago."

"Most... not all."

"You still remember them?"

"I helped build some of them when I worked security here."

Marco nodded.

"What's the plan?"

"Half the club creates a distraction outside."

"I'll go underground."

"Alone?"

"Too many people make noise."

"Ghost..."

"I'm bringing her home."

"No matter what."

Marco studied him for several seconds before extending his hand.

"Bring my sister back."

"I will."

Ghost disappeared into the darkness beneath the cliffs.

Inside the compound...

Victor stood near the doorway.

"Your Ghost is predictable."

"He'll come through the tunnels."

My heart skipped.

"How do you know?"

"Because someone inside the Serpents told us."

"Impossible."

"Trevor was only one of them."

"There are others."

"You're lying."

"Am I?"

He leaned closer.

"Trust is such a fragile thing."

"Soon you'll stop trusting everyone."

Suddenly...

The entire compound shook violently.

An explosion echoed outside.

"They're here!" someone shouted.

Sirens began blaring.

Victor smiled.

"Right on time."

He turned toward me.

"Let's see how much your Ghost is willing to sacrifice."

Outside, the Iron Serpents attacked the main gate.

Motorcycles charged through clouds of dust.

Gunfire erupted from every watchtower.

Marco led the assault from the front.

"Push them back!"

"Keep firing!"

Every Black Wolf focused on the battle outside.

Exactly as Ghost had planned.

Deep beneath the compound...

Ghost silently moved through narrow tunnels with a pistol in one hand and a combat knife in the other.

He eliminated two guards without making a sound.

A third never even saw him coming.

Then he reached a heavy steel door.

Voices echoed from the other side.

One belonged to Victor.

The other...

"Emilia."

Ghost quietly checked his weapon.

One full magazine remained.

He took a slow breath.

"Hold on," he whispered.

"I'm coming."

He reached for the door handle.

At that exact moment...

A cold voice echoed behind him.

"Going somewhere, Ghost?"

Ghost slowly turned around.

Standing in the tunnel was Cole Mercer.

The scar-faced Black Wolves commander.

This time...

He wasn't alone.