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CHAPTER1
Ghost
The rumbleof Harleys pulling into the lot wakes me. I roll over and squint at the clock—fuck, it’s barely six. My dogs stir, tags jingling as they hop off my bed and pad over to the window, tails wagging.
I swing my legs off the side of the mattress and scrub a hand over my face. I only slept for a couple of hours between visions of hard fists, salty tears, and a frigid barn. The nightmares aren’t new—I’ve had them all my life—but that doesn’t make them any less of a pain in the ass.
The Reapers are back from their run, which means they’ll be making noise in the clubhouse, and it’ll be a while before I can crawl into my bed again.
Not that I mind. I owe the club everything, and if that means a few hours less sleep some mornings, so be it. The Reapers took me in when I had nothing, just a scrawny kid with more terror than sense. They gave me a purpose. A home.
I pull on my cut and steel-toed boots, then head downstairs. The main room of the clubhouse smells of leather and stale beer, same as always. A few of the guys who stayed back last night are sprawled on the couches, women draped over their laps.
“Morning, Ghost.” Slate nods at me, one arm slung around a blonde in a scrap of denim that’s more fringe than shorts. Good for him. “You hear we ran into some Mayhem on the road last night?”
My fingers curl into fists. Mayhem is one of the newer clubs in the region, and they’re stepping on our toes every chance they get. But if those fuckers think they can push into Reaper territory—
“Easy.” Slate’s gaze sharpens. “We handled it. Get your crew fed.”
I exhale, forcing my hands to unclench. Right. My job is here, taking care of the club’s tech and the dogs. No need to go hunting trouble.
“Got it.” I scratch behind Lucy’s ears as she presses against my leg, sensing the tension in my muscles. “C’mon girl, let’s get you and the others some breakfast.”
She trots beside me as we head outside, the rest of the dogs tumbling out of my room to follow. Some of them like to sleep with me, but the rest do their own thing. The first thing I did when I moved into the Reapers’ compound was install dog doors all over the place.
My pack, the only real family I’ve ever known.
The Reapers are my brothers, and I would die for them. But I’ve never felt completely safe or accepted by humans. These dogs, though? Lucy and Pocket and all the other goofy, drooling faces? I trust them with my life as much as I trust the MC, but the dogs are the ones I can tell my secrets to in the middle of the night when I can’t sleep.
I pour the fancy, expensive-as-shit food into the dogs’ bowls, my gaze scanning the perimeter of the fenced-in yard. No signs of intrusion, but I’ll double-check the security cameras once I’m back inside.
Lucy nudges my hand, and I rub behind her ears. “It’s okay, girl. We’re safe.” They look to me to keep them secure in their world. I think they know I feel the same way.
When the bowls are filled, I straighten up with a groan. Getting too old for this shit. At thirty-four, I’m not exactly ancient, but this life ages a man. I roll my shoulders to loosen the tension, then whistle sharply. “C’mon you lot, chow time!”
The dogs swarm the bowls, tails wagging. I snort, shaking my head at their enthusiasm. At least some of us always stay optimistic.
The clubhouse is already buzzing with activity when I walk back in. The smell of beer and engine oil fills the air, a mix that’s as familiar as it is comforting. My brothers are scattered around, some playing pool, others engaged in a heated debate over the latest football game. It’s always like this after a group of us is out overnight—we need to let go of some of that energy before crashing. The noise is deafening, but it’s a sound I’ve come to associate with home.
I make my way to the bar, a few dogs trailing behind me. Brick, our club president, is behind the counter, pouring himself a mug of coffee. He nods at me, a silent greeting that I return. Despite his rough exterior, Brick has always been good to me. He took me in when I had nowhere else to go, gave me a home, a family. But even with all that, I can’t shake off the feeling of being an outsider.
“Where’s Ava?” I ask, referring to Brick’s wife. They’re usually stuck together at the hip.
“Asleep,” Brick says. He holds up his mug. “I’m about to join her, and with any luck, I’ll need this.” He gives me a quick grin, and I roll my eyes, but I smile back at him. He’s completely lovesick, and Ava feels the same way about him.
I take a seat at the far end of the bar, away from the noise and the laughter. The dogs settle around my feet, their bodies a warm, comforting presence. I watch my brothers from a distance, their easy camaraderie a stark contrast to my solitude. I’ve always been more comfortable on the fringes, observing rather than participating. It’s easier that way, safer.
I nurse my coffee, my mind drifting back to the past. The memories are always there, lurking just beneath the surface. The cold, the fear, the loneliness. Dogs saved me then, though, and they continue to save me now.
I glance down at Lucy, her eyes meeting mine. In her gaze, I see understanding, acceptance, love. And for a moment, I feel a little less alone.
The MC lifestyle is a rough one, filled with hard living and harder choices. It’s a world of loud music, late nights, and the constant roar of motorcycles. It’s a world where loyalty is everything, where brotherhood is more than just a word. It’s a world where you have to be tough—ready to fight for what you believe in.
But it’s also a world that I’ve never quite fit into. I’ve always been the quiet one, the one who prefers the company of dogs over people. I’ve always been more comfortable in the silence, away from the noise and the chaos. I’ve found a home here, a family, but it’s a home that I’ve never quite felt a part of.
I watch as my brothers laugh and joke, their voices loud and boisterous. I watch as they clink their beer bottles together, their faces lit up with camaraderie and brotherhood. And I can’t help but feel a pang of envy, a longing for a connection that I’ve never really been able to forge.
I finish my coffee and stand up, my gaze lingering on my brothers for a moment longer. Then I turn away, and the dogs trail me back to my room. Soon I’ll start the day for real, checking the security feeds, dealing with club business, and giving the dogs some exercise. But right now, I just want to hang out with Lucy and Pocket in companionable silence.
