GHOST: An Evil Dead MC Story (The Evil Dead MC Series Book 5) (28 page)

It was Blood’s turn to huff out a laugh. “Right.”

Ghost watched Blood’s eyes move around the property, eying the dark corners, scoping out possible attack routes. “If that isn’t for me, then you must be expecting trouble.”

It wasn’t really a question, so Ghost didn’t answer it.

Blood plopped down in the chair next to him, reached his hand inside his cut and dug something out of his inner pocket. A moment later, he dipped his head, and a lighter flared as he lit up. Holding the joint out to Ghost, he offered, “Here, you look like you could use this.”

Ghost took it, inhaling long and deep.

Blood eyed him, his eyes squinting through the smoke he exhaled. “I remember the last time we smoked a joint together, one of us had just pissed off a woman.”

Ghost cocked a brow, his lungs expanding. “One of us? That was all you, bro.”

Blood grinned, knowing the truth of Ghost’s words.

Ghost remembered that night. It had been at the beach. They’d all been down at the Gulf Coast. Blood had pissed off Skylar, and the two had had words. Ghost couldn’t help but smile at the memory. She’d been a little spitfire that night, all teeth and claws. Kind of surprised the hell out of him, since he’d thought of her as a scared little kitten back then. She’d proven them all wrong.

“So this time it’s your turn, huh?”

“Guess so,” Ghost admitted. “Apparently, I’m not always the smartest tool in the shed.”

Blood snorted. “Tool being the operative word.”

“Fuck you.”

“Luckily, she seems to have smarts enough for both of you,” Blood teased.

“Smart enough to walk out that door.”

“What’d you do?”

Ghost shook his head. “Just something I did years ago comin’ round to bite me in the ass.”

“You want to talk about it.”

“Fuck no,” Ghost spat.

Blood grinned. “Thank God.”

“Asshole.”

“Hey, we both know I ain’t Dr. Phil.”

Ghost looked at him and chuckled. “No shit.”

Blood huffed out a laugh.

“Was there a point to this visit?” Ghost asked.

“Yeah, came to tell you the Devil Kings found their snitch.”

“Oh really?”

“Yup. Got all sorts of info out of him. Having a meeting about it.”

“What time?”

“Now.”

***

Ghost took his seat at the scarred wooden table in the dimly lit room that was crowded with his brothers, a room that wasn’t damaged by the carnage from the attack. The common room of the clubhouse was currently in a state of remodel, plywood boarding up the gaping holes.

Butcher looked over at him. “Nice of you to join us. Think maybe next time you could answer your damn phone, so I don’t gotta send a man clear out there to get you?”

Wasn’t the first time his President had reprimanded him for something. Wouldn’t be the last. And right now, the mood he was in, he really didn’t give a shit. He caught the smile on Shades’ face as he tried to hide it. Then his eyes slid to Blood, who stood against the wall, his arms folded. The man winked at him and blew him a kiss.

Ghost made a kissy face back at him.

Judging by the laughter in the room, the rest of his brothers enjoyed it, which only seemed to infuriate his President even more. He slammed the gavel down.

“Knock it off! And come to fucking order!”

The room got quiet. Ghost’s eyes moved around the room. Even Undertaker was there, which meant the New Orleans Chapter was going to play a part. How big remained to be seen.

“Most of you have already heard. DKs found their snitch. Guy named Mugs. Ran the Georgia Hell’s Harvesters before the DKs patched them in. From what they got outta him, Florida’s half crazy. His men are getting more and more leery of him. Seems their VP was trying to cut a deal with Mugs behind Florida’s back. Trying to pull Mugs from the DKs, get him the fuck out of there. Deal was, if Quill did that, Mugs gets his men to throw in with Quill in a bid for the Jacksonville Chapter. Seems the VP has ambitions.”

“Balls, too, if he was thinking to take the newly patched over Hell’s Harvesters out from under the Devil Kings.”

“None of ‘em were too happy with that deal. Seems if they gotta swing one way or the other, they’d all rather swing toward the Death Heads.”

“Great.”

“So, this guy was going to pull his whole crew and move ‘em down to Jacksonville.”

“Seems Quill promised him the VP position.” He shrugged. “A lot more power than he was ever gonna see with the DKs.”

“And how does all this bullshit work into our plan?”

He grinned. “Perfectly.”

“So, you’re sayin’, we take out Florida, it falls right into Quill’s plans?”

“Yup. He steps into the President’s position without having to make a move.”

“You think the Death Heads are gonna let us take out the fucking Jacksonville Chapter President and let it slide? No fucking way.”

“I’ve got some news on that,” a deep voice said.

Ghost and the rest of them turned to look. Undertaker leaned against the wall, his arms folded, his face in the shadows until he pushed off the wall and stepped forward into the glow of the light that hung over the table.

“Got some informants on the Louisiana-Texas border. Word out of Texas is the Death Heads were thinking about sending in their Nomads to Jacksonville. Lookin’ to clean house. Seems their meeting with him in Sturgis opened some eyes to how fucking crazy the guy’s becoming.”

Butcher’s eyes connected with Undertaker’s, and he nodded. “Good news. Seems we’ll be savin’ ‘em a trip.”

Undertaker nodded.

“You gonna join us for this little party?” Butcher asked.

Undertaker grinned. “Wouldn’t miss it, old man.”

Butcher grunted out a laugh. “Look who’s talking.”

It took them another hour to work out the details.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

Tink pulled her beat up old Rambler down the alley, stopping behind the clubhouse gates. Jessie yanked the door handle, looking over at her.

“Thanks for the ride. And for letting me stay with you.”

Tink peered out through the windshield. “I’d go in with you, but I’ve got to get to work.”

“I’ll be fine.”

“You sure?”

Jessie nodded.

Yammer approached the car, leaning into the doorframe and peering in at Tink. “Hey, doll. Ain’t you stayin’?”

The prospect was a shameless flirt when it came to Tink. A factor that Jessie had already learned was a stupid move. Especially when Hammer seemed to have already staked a claim to her. One Tink was quick to deny, a little too vehemently it seemed to Jessie. Someday maybe she’d get the full story on those two.

Tink gave the man a sugary sweet smile. “Sorry, wish I could, but I’ve got to work, Yammer. But Jessie here can stay. Let her in, will ya?”

“Sure thing, Tink. Maybe I’ll see you later tonight, after you get off work?” he asked hopefully.

“Maybe,” she replied, waving her fingers as Jessie climbed out and shut the car door. Then she pulled away.

Yammer looked over at Jessie. “She sure is somethin’, huh?”

Jessie smiled. “She sure is.”

Then he unlatched the gate and let her in.

She glanced around the yard. It seemed very quiet. There were only three bikes parked, and none of them were Ghost’s. She moved to the back door and let herself in. It took her a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dim lighting. When they did, she spotted Boo behind the bar, and one man sitting on the other side, hunched over a drink. He was one of the older members. A man named, Boot.

He turned to look over his shoulder as she approached.

“He’s not here, darlin’.”

She took the stool next to him. “Do you know where he is?”

Boot blew a stream of smoke at the ceiling, and eyed her. “Maybe.”

Boo walked over; his palms on the bar, he asked her, “Can I get you a drink, Jessie?”

Before she had a chance to answer, Boot told him, “Set her up with a whiskey.”

Boo connected eyes with her, then moved off to do as he was told.

“Maybe I don’t like whiskey,” she said.

“Maybe you’ll drink it anyway.” He downed his own drink.

“O-kay,” she replied softly.

“Thought you ran off?” Boot asked her.

“I’m back.”

“I see that. Question is, for how long?” He swiveled on his bar stool to face her, leaning his elbow on the bar.

“As long as Ghost will have me, I guess.”

“What makes you think Ghost wants you back?”

“What makes you think he doesn’t?” she countered right back.

Boot chuckled. “Heard you were a feisty thing.”

“Maybe that’s what he needs.”

“What he needs is a woman that’s not gonna lie to him. A woman that’s not gonna run at the first sign of trouble.” He arched a brow at her.

“He lied to me, too.”

“Yeah, heard he did. Also heard he
forgave
you. Way I heard it, you didn’t give him the same courtesy.”

Her chin came up. “Maybe I deserve that. Maybe I’ve made some mistakes—”

He laughed. “
Maybe?
”

“Okay, I have. We both have. I forgive him now. It just took me some time to come to terms with what he did. Can’t a person realize they fucked up and change?”

“Sometimes.” He eyed her. “You grow up all of a sudden?”

“I guess you could say that.”

“And what’d you learn?”

“I guess I realized that there are consequences. That my actions hurt people, hurt Ghost.”

“Well, good for you.”

“Where is he, Boot?” She searched his eyes.

“You in love with him, honey?”

She took in a breath, not wanting to tell him. That was between her and Ghost. Not anyone else’s business, especially not one of his brothers. But the man seemed determine to put her to the test. Maybe this was all part of seeing if she was good enough for one of his brothers.

“If you must know, yes, I am.”

He studied her, apparently waiting for more.

She huffed out a breath and gave him more.

“He makes me feel secure. I may never completely stop being bratty, but I won’t ever lie to him again. I’m not afraid to let him in anymore, to see all my flaws, mistakes and all. I can’t lose him now.”

Boot reached for his glass.

She frowned
.

Was he totally unaffected by her words?

“Please, Boot, tell me where he is so I can tell
him
that.”

“You’re too late.”

She felt herself literally deflate inside. “What?”

No, she couldn’t be too late.

“They pulled out an hour ago.”

“Pulled out where?”

“Club business.”

“Boot, tell me. Please. If anything happens to him because of me…”

“He went to kill Florida…because Florida is trying to kill you.”

“Oh, dear God, no.” She stared unseeing over his shoulder.

Boot took another drag off his smoke, his eyes forward. “So, maybe his feelings for you are mutual. Nothing says love like a head on a spike.”

She knew he was joking. He had to be, right? He wouldn’t literally…
Eww
. She grabbed his arm. “He’s not alone, is he?”

Boot turned to look at her then. “Fuck no, darlin’. Got three chapters from two different states with him. And that’s just
our
guys. Your friends in the DKs are joining in the fun, too.”

She frowned. “Why are you telling me all that?”

He stubbed out his cigarette and turned to look at her. “Maybe I got a feelin’ you’re gonna be an Evil Dead ol’ lady one day. Time to see if you can keep your mouth shut.”

Her mouth dropped open.

“That is, if your man comes back alive.” He grinned and slid her drink towards her. “Here, bottoms up, darlin’. Looks like you could use this.

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

The men squatted down and observed the house. It was a small ranch style home buried back in the poor section just north of Commonwealth, on the northwest side of Jacksonville. The neighborhood was wooded, and Ghost was sure Florida liked it that way. Kept the noisy neighbors from seeing anything.

“The house is a ratty shithole.” Hammer observed.

“Probably let it go to hell after his ol’ lady died,” Shades ventured a guess.

“How the hell do you know that? This may be the best it’s ever been,” Griz joked.

His brothers chuckled.

“There’s nothing behind it, just more woods and a sludge pond. The DKs got all streets in and out covered. Gulf Coast Chapter has the back covered,” Shades advised them.

“Nearest neighbor is that house half a block down. JJ just went in dressed like a gas company guy. Told ‘em there’s a gas leak in the neighborhood, and that they needed to evacuate. Might be an explosion,” Ghost informed Shades.

“Oh, there’s definitely gonna be an explosion,” Hammer replied with a grin.

“Make sure he ain’t got no dogs. I hate killin’ animals,” Griz grumbled.

“He got any dogs back there?” Shades said into his two-way.

“Nope,” came the crackly reply.

He looked over at Griz. “Happy?”

“What, I like dogs, shoot me.”

“Maybe later.”

They moved in, closing on the front of the house. Ghost slid to the wall and rose up, peeking in the picture window.

“Looks like no one’s home.”

“Should I knock?” Blood offered sarcastically a moment before he opened fire on the door, the burst of firepower busting the doorknob and lock all to hell.

Shades gave him a barely tolerant expression. “A little dramatic, are we?”

He grinned. “Ding-dong, Avon calling.”

The men moved inside.

“Do your thing, and be quick about it,” Shades snapped at Heavy.

“It’s gonna take a minute. Riggin’ this to look like a gas explosion is tricky, boss.”

“Well, we ain’t got all day.”

Ghost lifted his chin. “Search the place. May find something of use.”

A moment later Griz walked back down the hall hefting an assault rifle.

“Back room’s like an arsenal. Check out this M249 SAW. Be a shame to blow all this shit to kingdom come.”

Blood walked in the room. “There’s a safe in the bedroom wall, but its locked tight.”

Shades’ radio crackled with a low voice. “We got a rider comin’.”

It was Reno’s voice, one of the DKs posted out on the road.

Shades put the two-way to his mouth. “Just one?”

“Yeah, just one.”

“Is it Florida?”

“Yeah, but we got a problem.”

“What’s that?”

“He’s got a chick on the back.”

The men all looked at each other.

Fuck.

Ghost didn’t have a problem killing Florida. He wouldn’t lose one moment’s sleep over it. But he didn’t kill women.

“Collateral damage,” Blood grunted.

“We’re not killing an innocent woman,” Shades growled at him.

Blood shrugged. “Your call. But how the fuck you gonna pull this off now?”

“You got sixty seconds. He’s turning into the neighborhood,” came the voice of a different lookout, one posted at the end of the street.

Shades looked over at Heavy. “You done?”

Heavy shoved some tools in a small black kit and jumped to his feet. “Yeah, let’s get the fuck outta here.”

They dashed out the back door, across the yard and into the wooded tree line at the back of the property. Then they squatted down and watched.

Just like Reno had said, Florida rolled down the street with a blonde ridin’ bitch.

“You got a plan, boss?”

“I’m thinkin’. Feel free to throw an idea out there if one comes to you.”

“We separate ‘em. Only solution.”

“Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking. Hammer, you and Heavy take the left—”

Ghost grabbed Shades arm. “No. Let me do this. I brought this down on the club, I need to fix it.”

“You sure, Ghost.”

“Yeah.” He stood and jogged to the back of the house, hiding around the corner as Florida pulled in the drive. He waited until they climbed off the bike.

The men watched from the trees as their brother took up his position.

Blood looked over at Shades and whispered, “She’s gonna be a witness.”

Shades looked back at Blood. “Give him some credit, Blood.”

Blood grinned.

Ghost peered around the corner. Florida took the lead, just like Ghost knew he would. No holding open doors and ladies first, and all that shit for
that guy
. He made the bitch trail behind him.

Ghost had a split second to move before they’d be inside. He jumped around the corner, catching the blonde with her foot on the step. He slammed the butt of his gun down on her head, and she dropped like a rock.

Florida, who was halfway in the door with one foot inside turned, saw Ghost and bolted inside.

Ghost jumped over the woman’s slumped body and dashed after him. Apparently Florida had been caught without a weapon. Well, surprise, surprise.

The big man scrambled backwards, stumbling down the hall, taunting Ghost.

“You ain’t got the fucking guts, son. You know who the fuck I am?”

Ghost’s finger itched to pull the trigger, but he couldn’t put a bullet in the man. The plan was to make it look like a gas explosion. Couldn’t have the body turning up with bullet holes in it, now could he?

Florida kept backing up down the hall. Ghost knew where he was headed, that fucking back room with the arsenal of guns in it. But Florida didn’t know Ghost knew about that.

He couldn’t let him reach that room. This would quickly degenerate into a firefight, not just with him, but with all of his brothers. This entire fucking problem was because of him, because he’d given Jessie protection, and that act had come with all this baggage. Baggage that Ghost needed to handle. Because the last thing he wanted was one of his brothers getting shot because of his bullshit. He had to be the one to end this. And he had to do it now. Florida had about three more feet, and he’d be in that room.

“You the one that took my Rose?”

That question would have thrown Ghost if Jessie hadn’t already told him all about that shit.

“Yeah, ol’ man, I took your Rose. What are you gonna do about it?”

Florida spit at him, “You the one that took her to the DKs? Think I didn’t know about that? I know all about that. I know all of it.”

“Maybe you need to worry about what
I
know.”

“You don’t know shit.”

“I know your own VP was setting you up.”

That had the man frowning.

“I know your club was five minutes from sending in their nomads to deal with your fat ass.”

The man was two inches taller than Ghost and had about a hundred pounds on him, with big beefy hands. When Ghost thought about those hands running over Jessie, manhandling her and pawing at her, he saw red.

It was time to make a move. Another step and Florida would be at the door to that arsenal.

Ghost bum-rushed him, slamming him up against the hallway wall where he fell to the floor, framed pictures crashing down around him.

When Florida saw the picture of his beloved Rose, the glass all smashed, he went over the edge.

“My Rose. You broke my Rose.” He grabbed up the picture, hugging it to his chest. “I’ll fix it, Rose. I’ll put you back together.”

“You’ll meet her soon enough, old man.” Then Ghost slammed the butt of his gun into the man’s skull, and he slumped back against the wall, the framed picture falling into his lap. Ghost’s eyes fell to the picture, and goddamn if she wasn’t a dead ringer for Jessie.
Holy fuck. The old guy was right.

His brothers burst in the door as Ghost stepped back, standing over Florida with his gun still in his hand.

Shades moved to stand next to him, looking down at the man. His eyes, too, fell on the photo, and then he looked at Ghost.

Ghost lifted his eyes to meet his. “Yeah, I know. Dead ringer, huh?”

“That’s fucking weird as shit, man.”

“I know. Gives me chills.”

“Let’s get the fuck out of here.”

Ghost nodded, ready to get home. He suddenly needed to hold Jessie. He had to find her and make her see that they belonged together. Hell, they always had. And he was glad that she’d been smart enough for the both of them and had come looking for him in Sturgis. He’d always be grateful she’d had enough guts to do that.

Ghost looked back. “The girl?”

“The guys dragged her out into the yard, out by the tree line. When the place goes up, she’ll be far enough away. Saw you hit her, she never saw it coming. She’ll think it was the explosion that knocked her out. Good thinking, by the way.”

“I have my moments.”

Shades grinned and slapped him on the back. “Let’s light this place up and go home.”