Chapter 7: Forbidden Nights

EMILIA POV

The captured Reaper was tied to a chair in the clubhouse basement.

His face was bruised, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Marco stood in front of him with crossed arms while Ghost leaned silently against the wall.

The atmosphere was thick with tension.

"Talk," Marco ordered.

"Who sent you?"

The man laughed weakly.

"You'll all be dead before the week's over."

Marco's fist slammed into his jaw.

"Wrong answer."

Ghost finally stepped forward.

"You said your president wants Emilia alive."

"Why?"

The Reaper spat blood onto the floor.

"You'll find out soon enough."

"When she belongs to us."

Before Ghost could react, Marco grabbed his shoulder.

"Enough."

"He isn't talking."

"Lock him up."

"We'll deal with him later."

Ghost reluctantly nodded and followed Marco upstairs.

I waited outside the basement door, anxiety twisting inside me.

The moment Ghost saw me, his expression softened.

"You shouldn't be down here."

"I wanted answers."

"So do we."

"Did he tell you anything?"

"Nothing useful."

"Only that you're important to them."

"Important how?"

"We don't know yet."

That uncertainty frightened me more than anything else.

Late that evening, the clubhouse finally settled into silence.

Most of the members were asleep after taking turns guarding the property.

Ghost insisted on checking the perimeter himself.

Unable to sleep, I quietly followed him outside.

Moonlight covered the desert in silver.

Ghost stood near the fence, rifle resting over one shoulder.

"Couldn't sleep?" he asked without turning around.

"How did you know I was here?"

"I'd recognize your footsteps anywhere."

I smiled despite myself.

"Still showing off?"

"Only a little."

We walked together toward the old garage where we used to hide as teenagers.

The building hadn't changed.

Dust covered the workbenches.

Dad's old toolbox still sat in the corner.

"Remember this place?" Ghost asked.

"How could I forget?"

"You taught me how to ride your motorcycle here."

"You crashed it into a fence."

"Twice."

"Three times," he corrected with a laugh.

I laughed too.

For the first time since Dad died...

It felt genuine.

Ghost leaned against the workbench.

"I've missed hearing you laugh."

The smile slowly disappeared from my face.

"You don't get to miss something you walked away from."

His eyes filled with regret.

"You're right."

"I deserve that."

"I was angry for a long time."

"I know."

"I hated you."

"I know that too."

"But the worst part..."

"Was never stopping loving you."

Silence filled the garage.

Ghost slowly stepped closer.

"Emilia..."

"Don't say anything unless it's the truth."

"It is."

"I've loved you since you were seventeen."

"I loved you when I left."

"I loved you every day I was gone."

"And I still love you now."

My heart pounded painfully.

"You broke mine."

"I know."

"Can you forgive me?"

"I don't know."

"Then let me earn it."

"Every day."

"For however long it takes."

His voice was barely above a whisper.

"Even if it takes the rest of my life."

I looked into his gray eyes.

There was no lie there.

Only love.

The same love I'd seen six years ago.

Without thinking, I reached for his hand.

Our fingers intertwined naturally.

As though they'd never been apart.

Ghost slowly lifted my hand to his lips.

He kissed my knuckles gently.

"I've dreamed about this for years," he admitted.

"So have I."

His other hand brushed softly against my cheek.

"Tell me to stop..."

"And I will."

I couldn't.

Instead, I closed the distance between us.

Our lips met softly.

The kiss was slow.

Careful.

Filled with six years of longing.

Ghost's arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer.

My fingers slipped into his dark hair.

The world disappeared.

No war.

No Reapers.

No pain.

Only us.

When we finally pulled apart, neither of us spoke for several seconds.

"I've wanted to do that since I came back," Ghost confessed.

"You waited long enough."

"I was trying to be honorable."

"That sounds exhausting."

He laughed quietly.

"You have no idea."

Suddenly, footsteps echoed outside the garage.

"Ghost?"

Both of us stepped apart instantly.

Marco appeared in the doorway.

His sharp eyes moved from Ghost to me.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah," Ghost answered calmly.

"Just checking the garage."

Marco studied us for a long moment.

Then he nodded slowly.

"Good."

"Because we have another problem."

"One of our supply trucks never reached Phoenix."

"The driver disappeared."

"The Reapers are making their move."

"Tomorrow morning we're riding out."

"All of us."

Ghost nodded.

"I'll be ready."

Marco looked directly at me.

"Em..."

"You're staying here."

"Absolutely not."

"I'm not hiding anymore."

"You don't have a choice."

"Actually," Ghost interrupted quietly.

"She might."

Marco frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"If the Reapers want Emilia..."

"Keeping her locked inside the clubhouse only makes her a target."

"Then what's your plan?"

Ghost looked at me before answering.

"She rides with me."

"I can protect her better if she's beside me than if she's waiting here alone."

Marco stared at both of us.

Then something crossed his face.

Suspicion.

"You two better not be hiding something from me."

Neither Ghost nor I answered.

Because the truth was written all over our faces.

The forbidden love we'd buried six years ago...

Had finally come back to life.