AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The man I’ve heard so much about, the man I’m pinning all my hopes on, leads me to a relatively quiet corner. “You want a beer?” he asks. His gaze is guarded but not unkind.
“Oh, no thanks,” I say. “I’ll just…I’ll just get right to it.” I take a deep breath, gathering my thoughts. “I need your help. There’s a dog fighting ring operating in the area. Down near Packwood. I’ve heard about the work you do, the dogs you’ve saved. I’m hoping you can help me save these dogs too.”
Ghost’s face remains impassive, but I see a flicker of something in his eyes. Concern, maybe. Or perhaps it’s just the reflection of my own desperation. He studies me for a moment longer, his gaze intense. “And who exactly are you?”
“I work with Pierce County Animal Services, but I’m not here through them. I do some, uh, side work on my own.” He lets his eyes travel my body again, slower this time, and smirks when he reads my shirt. “Cute,” he says flatly.
I notice two dogs weaving through the crowd, their eyes fixed on Ghost. One is a large, sturdy-looking female with a blue-gray coat that gleams even in the low light. The other is a little smaller, with a patchy black and a limp that doesn’t seem to slow him down. They come to a stop at Ghost’s side, their eyes never leaving his face.
“These are my dogs,” Ghost says, his hand dropping to stroke their heads. “Lucy and Pocket.”
I crouch down to their level, extending a hand for them to sniff. “Hello, Lucy. Hello, Pocket,” I say, my voice soft and high—my ridiculous dog voice isn’t something I can control even in serious situations. But Ghost doesn’t seem to notice. He’s watching them with a faint smile. They sniff my hand, their tails wagging slightly. I can see the trust in their eyes, the love they have for Ghost.
“I need your help,” I repeat, standing up to face him again. “These dogs need your help.” I pull out my phone, showing him the photos I took through the window. The stacked cages. The blood-stained cement floor. Ghost’s face hardens as he looks at the photos, his jaw clenching. When he leans in for a closer look, I catch his scent—leather and motor oil and something that’s just his. I have to force myself not to stare at him.
“I can’t do it without your help,” I say softly.
Ghost is silent for a long moment, his gaze fixed on the photos. Then he looks at me, his eyes hard. “All right.”
Relief floods through me. “Really? You will?”
“I said all right,” he repeats, and I can’t help it—I dive in for a quick hug. He sucks in a breath and freezes for a moment, and I take a quick step back. “Sorry,” I say, blushing furiously. “I’m just—thank you.” Before he can change his mind, I’m gone.
CHAPTER3
Ghost
I watchas Ellie leaves the clubhouse, her shoulders squared and her head held high. I've agreed to help her, but I'm determined to keep my distance. I've learned the hard way that getting involved with people only leads to pain. Dogs are different. They're loyal, they're honest. They don't let you down.
Ellie's different, though. She's passionate, determined. She's willing to walk into a biker clubhouse and ask for help because she believes in her cause. I can respect that. But I can't trust it. Not yet.
The next day, Ellie's back. She's got a plan, she says. She wants me to take the lead, to use the MC's resources to help her rescue the dogs. I shake my head, crossing my arms over my chest. "I told you, I'll provide muscle. That's it. I'm not getting the MC involved, and I'm not forming some Scooby Doo team with you."
She looks taken aback, but she doesn't back down. "Ghost, these dogs need us. They need you. You have the resources, the manpower. We can save them."
I can see the desperation in her eyes, the determination. It mirrors my own, the same drive that's pushed me to save as many dogs as I can. But I can't let myself get drawn in. I can't let myself trust her, not when I know how much it hurts when that trust is broken.
"I'll help," I say, my voice firm. "But I'm not leading this. I'm not getting the MC involved. You can take it or leave it."
She looks at me for a long moment, her eyes searching mine. Then she nods, a determined set to her jaw. "Fine," she says. "But we're doing this. For the dogs."
And just like that, I'm in. I'm helping Ellie, working with her to save these dogs. I tell myself it's for the dogs, not for her. But as I watch her walk away, her head held high and her heart on her sleeve, I can't help but wonder if that's really true.
Ellie's words echo in my head, a constant reminder of the mission at hand. The dogs. The dogs in danger. The dogs who need us. Her passion is contagious, stirring something within me that I've tried to keep buried. But as much as I want to help, I can't shake off the nagging feeling that people only serve themselves.
My anger flares, a hot, burning sensation that starts in my gut and spreads throughout my body. I'm angry at this woman for pushing me, for making me feel things I don't want to feel. But more than that, I'm angry at myself. Angry for wanting to give in, for wanting to believe that maybe, just maybe, this time will be different.
The memories of my past rise and fall within me, a vicious cycle of hope and betrayal that I can't seem to escape. I've been here before, I remind myself. I've trusted, I've hoped, and I've been let down. Over and over again.
But Ellie doesn't back down. She stands her ground, her eyes filled with determination and resolve. She's strong, stronger than anyone I've ever met. And her idealism, her belief in the goodness of people, it intrigues me. It makes me want to believe again, even though every fiber of my being is screaming at me to run, to protect myself from the inevitable pain that comes with trust.
The images of the dogs, their eyes filled with fear and pain, it's too much. I can't ignore it. I can't turn my back on them, not when I know I can help. So, against my better judgment, I agree to take full leadership of the rescue mission. I tell myself it's for the dogs, not for Ellie. I'm doing this for them, not for the woman who's risking everything to save them.
But as I watch Ellie's face light up with relief and gratitude, I can't help but wonder if I'm lying to myself. If maybe, just maybe, I'm doing this for her too.
As the days pass, I find myself spending more and more time with Ellie. We're planning the rescue, coordinating our efforts, and somehow, in the midst of all that, my walls start to crumble. It's not a sudden collapse, but a slow erosion, a gradual wearing away that I don't notice until it's too late.
Ellie's passion, her kindness, it stirs something within me. Something that's been dormant for a long time: hope. It's a dangerous thing, hope. It makes you vulnerable, opens you up to pain. But being near Ellie feels…it feels like something I've been missing without even realizing it.
