Page 66 of Ghost's Obsession

Leading me by the ropes on my wrists, he drags me over to a radiator, shoves me down onto a mattress, and straps my ankle to a radiator pipe using a zip tie and a carabiner.

He paces in front of me, one hand clenched around a cheap burner phone, the other twitching weirdly at his side, like he’s full of nervous energy.

The more he paces, the happier he gets, “Bet you never thought in a fucking million years that I’d be able to track you down and take you back from that loser you were shacked up with, did you?”

Even if I didn’t have tape across my mouth and could speak, I wouldn’t have justified that with an answer.

Between being strapped to the pipe, with my ankle burning from the zip tie, and the incredible thirst I’m experiencing, I don’t know how much longer I can take this without losing my mind.

It’s Grime who finally comes over, takes off the gag, and cuts the ropes on my hands. I’m just so angry and frustrated that I slap him right across the face.

He just laughs and drops a bottle of water in my lap and a one-pound box of candy. His eyes go to Carnage, who’s scrolling on his phone, and he whispers, “Eat, if not for yourself, then for your baby. You never know when you might get another chance.”

“Well, fuck.” That was a fair warning that Carnage is not to be trusted to take proper care of me. When Grime walks off, my eyes dart back to my ex who’s still pacing the floor like a madman. I unscrew the lid from the water bottle and take a long gulp, then eat a handful of the candy-coated nuts. They’re sickly sweet, but at least it’s something in my stomach.

Carnage stops in midstride and holds his phone up. There is something about his smile that’s unsettling. It’s too wide, almost giddy.

“This is it,” he states triumphantly. “Moment of truth.”

I don’t know who he’s calling, but I have a sick feeling in my stomach about who I suspect it may be. Carnage isn’t the kind of guy to leave a girl in the dark, so he puts the phone on speaker. It rings once, then I hear the man I love answer.

“Talk,” Ghost says, his voice low and steely.

Carnage’s whole face lights up. I get the distinct feeling this call means something to him that the rest of us can scarcely understand.

“Look who picks up on the very first ring. Guess I have something you want,” Carnage says in a teasing voice. It’s clear that he’s having the time of his life.

I flinch when Ghost replies, “We found Brittany. It’s gonna take close to thirty stitches to close up the wounds on her back. You hauled my woman out of there kicking, screaming, andfighting you every step of the way. You think destroying a good woman, like Brittany somehow makes you a man?”

Carnage keeps talking back, far too pleased about besting them to care who got hurt. Me? I’m devastated to hear about the extent of my friend’s injuries. I keep seeing that final glimpse of her on the floor, covered in blood.

“How about you? Whoever heard of a member of the Savage Legion all gussied up in a tux, strutting about at a fuckin’ gala? That was the stupidest shit I ever saw in my whole life.”

When Ghost doesn’t respond, I get the feeling that maybe they were starting to think what I already know—I’m too much trouble. Zoning out for a second, I just keep telling myself that isn’t true and Ghost would never abandon me.

Carnage’s voice rises, grabbing my attention again. “And you had my woman on your arm that night at the gala. She looked damn good that night, if I say so myself. She looks good in anything, but that fancy dress that showed off the baby growing in her belly—my baby—sealed the deal. I knew I had to have her back.”

Walking over, he held up the phone so Ghost and I could see each other. His expression is stony at first but then falters and it breaks my heart. “Look how sweet and quiet she is now that she’s back with me? Even got her to cry a bit for me.”

“What the fuck do you want, Carnage? Why did you do this?”

“I want the Savage Legion back.”

Siege’s voice rang out. “Yeah? Well even an unpredictable, ignorant fucker like you has to know that’s never gonna happen.”

“Oh right,” Carnage snarls. “I got stripped of my cut, named and shamed. Thrown outta the club I helped to build for what? Supportin’ our club president at the time? Wanting more than back breaking work for low pay? Butch tried to make something out of the Legion and you just couldn’t fuckin’ stand that, could you?”

Rigs’ voice rings out, clear and strong. “Butch was the kind of man that only a damn halfwit would follow. And let’s not forget, you helped Butch kill Claw and betrayed your club brothers to the fucking Hellfire Hounds MC.”

“Claw was old and weak, but he clung to the gavel like no one else was capable of leading.”

“He was murdered by the very man he betrayed his club brothers for. That fact alone proves he was unfit,” Rigs replies.

“That’s all ancient history. We’re living in the here and now. And I’ve just proven that I can steal any woman I want, right out from under your nose when you’re on lockdown and hunting me with every brother in the club. Call yourself a fucking leader?”

Siege’s angry voice comes over the line. “We’re not handing the Savage Legion over to your dumb ass. Why don’t you tell us what’s next on your wish list in exchange for Ghost’s old lady?”

Carnage chuffs out a laugh. “You ignorant fucks want to call me a dumbass when you couldn’t even tell that I was just messing with you about wantin’ to run your pansy-ass club.”

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