by Kasey Krane
There was a dull aching throb at the base of my skull. This shower was supposed to help, but now I felt like I needed something else. I needed another drink.
***
No, I didn’t usually think about what else I would do if I wasn’t here, where I might have been if it wasn’t for Iron Thunder. I had a different life now, sure, but that wasn’t how I started off. Where do troubled orphans end up?
Before I joined this MC, I hadn’t pictured a life where I would wake up in the morning, drag myself out of bed, get on a bike and have somewhere to be. Have people who relied on me. Have a business to run and decisions to make.
I didn’t think very much of my life or myself.
Then I met Drax.
Actually, he met me.
I was a kid, but a kid with balls. Drax was drinking over at Denny’s, a dive bar they used to hang out at in the old days. I managed to steal Drax’s keys and was going to ride his bike away into oblivion. The funny thing was, I didn’t even plan on selling it or anything. I just planned on using it to ride away, to get out of that dump of a life. I didn’t get very far.
In fact, I didn’t even fuckin’ get on the bike before I felt Drax’s hands on my shoulders, yanking me back. I thought I was done for then.
And maybe I would have been if it wasn’t for the way I was willing to stand up and face the music. Now when I look back at it, I can’t help but laugh at how idiotic I must have looked like to Drax. Chest puffed up, eyes blazing, chin thrust up, but I was nothing more than a ratty orphan teenager trying to be a big man.
Drax could have punched the living hell out of me but instead he just glared at me, almost like he was confused.
“You have a fuckin’ death wish?” he growled. I still remember the words.
“Depends.”
“On fuckin’ what?”
“How I die,” I replied. Drax still looked confused for a second but then his eyes started clearing and his lips started curling, and I realized he was going to break into a smile.
He clapped his hands on my shoulders again. The keys to his bike were still hanging off my forefinger. He let out a big laugh and started pushing me in the direction of the bar.
“You hold onto those keys but come inside and have a beer with me like a man first.”
I could’ve run away, but I didn’t. Something about this guy told me he was going to change my life.
So, yeah, no matter how pissed off this makes me—this whole bloody disaster with the Silver Knights, and having Crash here in our cellar—I will always do whatever Drax needs me to do.
I was right; he did change my life. Now I was the Vice President of one of the most powerful motorcycle clubs in New York, and I owed it all to that man.
***
Drax was supposed to be up in his room, asleep and resting. He’d been injured badly in the showdown with Crash, but now I could see the door to his office open. I figured he was inside, so I walked in.
Drax was poring over his diary. I’d never personally read it but knew this was where he wrote out his plans. He didn’t notice when I walked in, so I had to clear my throat.
“How’s the place looking?” he asked, finally meeting my eyes.
I shrugged and pushed my hands into the pockets of my jeans.
“We’re overrun with strippers!”
He sat back in his chair and let out a sigh.
“You know, Ghost, most guys wouldn’t say that with as much resentment as you. Especially since you don’t have an old lady breathing down your neck.”
He smirked and I did too. He had a point.
“But we have shit to do.”
“So you don’t want to get distracted, is what you’re saying?”
“I’m not distracted by them.”
Drax threw up his hands in the air and laughed, then the stitches on his side hurt and he winced and cleared his throat, hoping I hadn’t heard him.
“I just want to figure this out. Like, what are we doing with Teasers? We have a shipment arriving in a few days. Are the Silver Knights laying low for some time? Who the fuck knows?”
Drax nodded but said nothing. He was thinking. Now I was curious to know what he’d been scribbling in his diary.
“And what are we doing about Crash?” I asked. I tried to keep a neutral tone. I didn’t want him thinking I was trying to push him into a decision. Mary-Beth was probably pushing him enough.
“I don’t fuckin’ know,” he hissed and rubbed a hand over his face. “There’s something going on with him. He’s fucked up.”
I nodded, knowing what Drax was talking about. Despite my limited interaction with Crash, I could see there was something different about him. His eyes were bloodshot and crazed, and he wasn’t drunk.
“Heroin?” I said, voicing my thoughts aloud. Maybe I’d spoken too soon.
Drax was staring at me hard. He clenched his jaws and took in a deep breath.
“Yeah, maybe. Those are my thoughts exactly.”
An MC’s President with a drug problem was bad news. It was exactly the sort of shit that could get you killed and bring down the whole MC. Except, Crash wasn’t just any other MC President, was he? He was also Mary-Beth’s brother.
I opened my mouth to say something. I was going to suggest going down there and beating the truth out of him through whatever means necessary. But before I could, the office doors flew open and Mary-Beth walked in.
“MB!” Drax exclaimed. We both thought she was going to reprimand him for being back here, working, when he should have been upstairs in his bedroom, resting.
“It’s Eagle. Something’s happening with Eagle,” she said, banging the door shut behind her.
“What are you talking about, babe?” Drax asked, standing up. She glanced at me and then at him.
“There’s a girl out there. One of the strippers from Teasers. Her name is Mercy, I think. She said something about Eagle and…and…Crash…and drugs…oh my God!” Mary-Beth broke down in bitter sobs and Drax lunged at her, pulling her into his arms and holding her close.
It was weird seeing him this affectionate, and obvious to me that their relationship had grown and evolved over time. He was the kind of man who gave his old lady hugs now.
“It’ll be fine. We’ll figure this out. Crash is here now,” he said while he glared at me.
I knew what I had to do. One of us needed to talk to this chick, Mercy.
“My poor brother…I knew it was Eagle. I knew he was creepy and weird. His own VP!” Mary-Beth was still sputtering as she tried to speak, and Drax was gently stroking her head, trying to reassure her. I backed up to the door.
“I’ll get back to you guys when I know something,” I said as I left the room.
“No. Get her here! I want to talk to her myself,” Drax growled after me.
Mary-Beth wasn’t really clear. Most of what she said was shrouded in sobs and tears. I wasn’t sure what she was talking about either, so we needed to clarify it with this Mercy.
I walked down the corridor, heading for the common room area where most of the chicks from last night were hanging out now. These girls all looked the same to me. I walked up to the bar where Sophie was serving drinks behind the counter.
“Which one of these is Mercy?” I asked and she looked up at me inquisitively.
“All you boys are feeling twitchy tonight,” she said and chewed on her lip, leaning toward me.
“I’m not going to fuck her,” I growled and the smile on her face got even wider. “Which one?” I growled louder and she rolled her eyes.
“She’s over there. The blonde. Sitting by herself.”
I turned to look and saw her across the room. I recognized her straight away as the girl from last night, the one who’d screamed in fear when the shots started ringing. I’d had to grab her by her waist and pull her down to the floor so she wouldn’t get hit by the bullets whizzing past.
And I hadn’t thought about her since then.
I’d got kinda busy.
I stood at the bar for a few extra seconds, just drinking her in. I wanted to fuck her, but not now. Right now, I had shit to do. So, maybe some other time.
Want more of Ghost? Get it here!
About Kasey Krane
Kasey Krane is a tattoo artist living in the beautiful (and hot) state of Texas. She enjoys drawing but writing has recently become a new passion for her. Especially when it's too damn hot to do anything outside. Whiskey neat is her drink of choice and she's never met a truck she doesn't like. Enjoy her bad boys, she sure does.
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More Books by Kasey Krane
Bolt (Iron Thunder MC #1)
Flash (Iron Thunder MC #2)
Drax (Iron Thunder MC #3)
Ghost (Iron Thunder MC #4)
Spike (Iron Thunder MC #5)
Rogue (The Black Cobras MC #1)
Cash (The Black Cobras MC #2)
Patch (The Black Cobras MC #3)
Bones (The Black Cobras MC #4)
Bishop (Dead Legion MC #1)
Judge (Dead Legion MC #2)
Knight (Dead Legion MC #3)
Luca (Sinful Shadows #1)
Eli (Sinful Shadows #2)
Ace (High Rollers MC #1)
Rook (High Rollers MC #2)
Spade (High Rollers MC #3)
About Savannah Rylan
Savannah Rylan is a romance writer that spends most of her time writing and reading with her cat, Gris. When not penning the next great American novel, (HA), you can find her on the beach with a drink in her hand or at the gym testing out some strange new position. Yoga, obviously. She lives in Southern California with her husband and Gris, the true love of her life.
You can join her mailing list here!
Check out her website!
More Books by Savannah Rylan
Box Sets
The Bad Disciples MC Box Set
The Road Rebels MC Box Set
Marked Skulls MC Box Set
Dead Souls MC Box Set
Dead Souls MC: Prospects Box Set
Black Hornets MC Box Set
The Lost Boys MC Box Set
Series
Link (Dragon Riders MC #1)
Bowser (Dragon Riders MC #2)
Ash (Dragon Riders MC #3)
Knuckles (Dragon Riders MC #4)
Sly (Dragon Riders MC #5)
Declan (The Callaghan Mafia #1)
Brody (The Callaghan Mafia #2)
Gael (The Callaghan Mafia #3)
Flynn (The Callaghan Mafia #4)
Cage (Dead Souls MC: Prospects #1)
Bear (Dead Souls MC: Prospects #2)
Saint (Dead Souls MC: Prospects #3)
Ryker (Dead Souls MC: Prospects #4)
Toxin (Dead Souls MC: Prospects #5)
Texas (The Lost Boys MC #1)
Stone (The Lost Boys MC #2)
Bronx (The Lost Boys MC #3)
Notch (The Lost Boys MC #4)
Jace (The Black Hornets MC #1)
Maverick (The Black Hornets MC #2)
Duke (The Black Hornets MC #3)
Colt (The Black Hornets MC #4)
Thor (The Black Hornets MC #5)
Jagger (The Black Hornets MC #6)
Knox (Dead Souls MC #1)
Grave (Dead Souls MC #2)
Brewer (Dead Souls MC #3)
Rock (Dead Souls MC #4)
Diesel (Deal Souls MC #5)
Girth (Marked Skulls MC #1)
Rodeo (Marked Skulls MC #2)
Abe (Marked Skulls MC #3)
Oz (Marked Skulls MC #4)
Dash (Marked Skulls MC #5)
Hawk (The Road Rebels MC #1)
Talon (The Road Rebels MC #2)
Snake (The Road Rebels MC #3)
Fox (The Road Rebels MC #4)
Gunner (The Bad Disciples MC #1)
Hunter (The Bad Disciples MC #2)
Tank (The Bad Disciples MC #3)
Glock (The Bad Disciples MC #4)
Marco (The Bad Disciples MC #5)