Chapter 2: Back to Desert Ridge

EMILIA POV

I barely slept that night.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw two different faces.

David's, twisted with guilt as I walked away.

And Axel's.

The boy who had become my first love before disappearing without a single goodbye.

Now, after six years, I was going to see him again.

I wasn't ready.

The sun had barely risen when Sofia knocked softly on the guest room door.

"Coffee," she announced.

"And I packed sandwiches because I know you won't remember to eat."

I managed a weak smile.

"What would I do without you?"

"Probably starve while having an emotional breakdown."

Despite everything, I laughed.

It was exactly what I needed.

After breakfast, I packed the last of my belongings into my suitcase.

There wasn't much left of my life in the city anymore.

The engagement was over.

The apartment belonged to David now.

The future I had planned had disappeared overnight.

Maybe coming home wasn't just about saying goodbye to my father.

Maybe it was also about finding myself again.

At exactly nine o'clock, a black Harley-Davidson rolled into Sofia's apartment complex.

The deep growl of the engine echoed through the parking lot.

I froze.

Even before removing his helmet, I knew.

Only one person rode like that.

Axel Cruz.

Ghost.

He climbed off the motorcycle slowly.

He was taller than I remembered.

Broader.

His leather cut bore the Iron Serpents emblem across the back.

A faded scar ran from his jawline to the side of his neck.

Black tattoos covered both muscular arms.

His dark hair was slightly longer now.

Older.

Harder.

Dangerous.

He removed his helmet.

Those gray eyes met mine.

For several long seconds...

Neither of us moved.

"Emilia," he finally said.

His voice was deeper than before.

Still capable of making my heart forget how to beat.

"Axel."

Silence settled between us.

Sofia looked from one of us to the other.

"Well... this is awkward," she muttered before disappearing inside.

Ghost slowly walked toward me.

"I'm sorry about your father."

"Thank you."

"Marco asked me to bring you home."

"I figured."

Another uncomfortable silence.

Six years of unanswered questions stood between us.

"Your car?" he finally asked.

"I'll drive."

"Marco wants you with me."

Of course he did.

My brother never trusted anyone else when it mattered.

Ghost picked up my suitcase effortlessly and secured it onto the back of his bike.

"Ready?"

No.

Not even close.

"Let's go."

The motorcycle roared to life.

As I climbed behind him, memories flooded back.

Sixteen years old.

Sneaking onto the back of this same motorcycle.

Wrapping my arms around Axel's waist.

Believing nothing could ever separate us.

Now my hands hesitated.

Ghost looked over his shoulder.

"Hold on."

"I won't let you fall."

His words hit harder than he probably intended.

You already did once.

I wrapped my arms loosely around his waist.

His body instantly tensed.

Then we were moving.

The city slowly disappeared behind us.

Hours passed beneath endless highways and desert skies.

Neither of us spoke much.

Finally, Ghost broke the silence.

"Marco told me about your fiancé."

"Ex-fiancé," I corrected.

"Sorry."

"Don't be."

"He wasn't worth it."

Ghost tightened his grip on the handlebars.

"No."

"He wasn't."

"You knew?"

"About him cheating?"

"No."

"But any man willing to lose you isn't very smart."

Heat rushed into my cheeks.

I quickly looked away.

"You don't get to say things like that."

"Why not?"

"Because you disappeared."

The motorcycle slowed slightly.

Ghost remained silent.

"Six years," I continued.

"Not one phone call."

"Not one message."

"Nothing."

"I know."

"Do you?"

"You broke my heart, Axel."

He said nothing.

Only accelerated again.

The silence that followed hurt even more than words.

By late afternoon, the familiar sign appeared.

"Welcome to Desert Ridge."

The small desert town hadn't changed.

Dusty roads.

Old diners.

Gas stations packed with motorcycles.

Everyone seemed to recognize Ghost.

People nodded respectfully as we passed.

Some looked surprised to see me.

Others whispered.

"The Romano girl is back."

Eventually the Iron Serpents clubhouse came into view.

The large brick building stood exactly as I remembered.

Motorcycles lined the front lot.

Club members stopped talking as Ghost parked.

Every eye turned toward me.

I slowly climbed off the motorcycle.

The heavy clubhouse doors opened.

Marco walked out.

My older brother looked exhausted.

His beard had grown longer.

Dark circles rested beneath his eyes.

The moment he saw me...

His tough expression disappeared.

"Em."

He pulled me into a crushing hug.

For the first time since Dad's death...

I cried.

"I'm sorry," Marco whispered.

"I should've protected him."

"It wasn't your fault."

"It feels like it was."

He stepped back.

"Come inside."

"Everyone's waiting."

The clubhouse felt strangely empty without my father.

His favorite chair sat untouched.

His coffee mug still rested on the bar.

No one had dared move it.

Mama C hugged me tightly.

"Your daddy loved you so much, sweetheart."

"Even after you left."

I nodded, unable to speak.

Across the room, Ghost quietly watched me.

Always watching.

Always silent.

Just like before.

Later that evening, Marco called a private meeting.

"The Reapers declared war," he announced.

"Dad's murder wasn't random."

"They want our territory."

"They're going to regret it."

Every club member nodded.

"Ghost," Marco continued.

"Until this war ends..."

"Emilia doesn't leave your side."

"She's your responsibility."

Ghost didn't hesitate.

"No one touches her."

"I swear it."

Marco looked directly at me.

"Stay close to him."

"You may hate him."

"But he's the only man here I'd trust with your life."

Ghost finally looked into my eyes.

There was something there.

Guilt.

Regret.

Something dangerously close to longing.

I quickly looked away.

Because the biggest problem wasn't whether I trusted Axel anymore.

It was whether I trusted myself...

To stay away from the only man I'd never truly stopped loving.