Before I can open my mouth again, he’s back in front of me, grabbing me like I weigh nothing and throwing me over his shoulder. The breath punches out of me. One second I’m standing, the other I’m upside down, staring at the pavement in disbelief.
“What the hell are you doing?” I shriek, fists pounding against his back. It’s like hitting a brick wall.
“Stop.” The single word comes out menacing enough that I actually do. “Taking you somewhere safe. Just for the night.” His tone is absolute. Like it’s decided. Like I don’t have a say in this.
I’m too stunned to fight back.
He dumps me onto the back of a bike and swings into the saddle in front of me. I'm still so stunned that I don't squeak a word of protest before the engine roars to life and we’re flying down the road. My hands latch onto his cut out of pure survival instinct, fingers digging into leather as the wind howls around us.
I don’t know if I should be relieved or scared shitless when he finally parks in front of the Vultures’ clubhouse. I barely register the brothers lounging outside, their eyes tracking us as he practically drags me off the bike and marches me inside. There’s music, smoke, the smell of booze, but it’s all background noise.
My brain slowly comes back online after he steers me into a room and the door clicks shut behind me. I stare blankly around. Mind still racing. Heart still pounding.
"I almost got bitten by a snake," I mutter, mostly to myself.
The guy just grunts.
I whirl on him, arms crossed. “Are you part of the club? Did Bones put you up to this? You’re not one of Ria’s guards, are you?”
“Yes. No. No.”
I blink. “Oh, please speak less. Those are just too many words.” My arms fly up in frustration. “What’s your name?”
He taps a finger to the patch on his cut.Myth.
I snort, half in disbelief. “Myth? That’s the stupidest road name I’ve ever heard.”
He sighs like he’s already over my shit. “Sleep now. Answers tomorrow.”
And then he just… leaves and shuts the door behind him. Leaving me with more questions than I can count.
I groan, rubbing my hands over my face. Then I call Ria. She picks up on the first ring — she's fine, she knows what happened, she'll be here tomorrow.
I don’t want to sleep, but the adrenaline drains fast. My limbs turn heavy, and before I know it, I’m passed out on the mattress.
When I wake up, the first thing I see is a shadow by the door. Big. Brooding. Arms crossed over a chest that I know all too well. The breath dies in my throat. My soul threatens to leave my body.
“Hello, Adora,” Ghost greets me, voice dead.
21. Numb
Ghost
It took a whole fucking day to claw my way out of the nightmare Ria buried me in.
Three days later, I still saw echoes of it. Shadows of myself twisted into a monster. Adora’s corpse. Her dead eyes peeking at me from every corner. It numbed me straight to the bone.
Don’t think that was supposed to happen.
Maybe Ria overdosed me. Maybe my mind finally snapped. Either way, I don’t care. Not anymore.
I’ll give her credit though. She did in a few hours what five years behind bars couldn’t.
But at least the numbness came with clarity. Stripped everything down to what actually mattered, what I could still do right, even now. Even after everything. So I packed light and left the clubhouse days ago. Didn't bother telling anyone.
Got a job to do. The first name on my list? Reggie Evans, Adora's father.
I crack my neck, roll my shoulders, feel the joints pop with a satisfying snap, and continue walking down the darkened hallway. Steps slow and light.
