Chapter 4
1102 Words
BROKEN CHROME
Chapter Four
Home of the Iron Saints
Part One
The Iron Saints Motorcycle Club wasn’t just waking up.
It was mobilizing.
Emma stood on her grandmother’s front porch as the first light of dawn broke over the Georgia pines. One by one, motorcycles rolled into the yard, their engines rumbling like distant thunder. Men wearing black leather cuts climbed off their bikes, exchanging quiet words with Ghost before taking positions around the property.
Some were young.
Some were old enough to have gray in their beards.
Every one of them carried themselves with quiet confidence.
For the first time in her life, Emma realized something she’d never understood when she was younger.
These men weren’t playing biker.
They lived this life.
Ghost hadn’t slept.
Neither had she.
He stood beside his Harley with a map spread across the seat while Jax, Ace, and three other members studied it.
“We’ve got two roads leading in,” Ghost said. “Ace, I want checkpoints on both.”
“You got it.”
“Bishop’s bringing another six brothers.”
“When?”
“Within the hour.”
Emma wrapped her arms around herself.
The entire scene felt unreal.
All of this…
Because of her?
Ghost looked up and caught her watching.
“You should eat.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“You haven’t eaten since yesterday.”
“I said I’m not hungry.”
His expression remained calm.
“You don’t have to like me.”
“I don’t.”
“But you’re still going to eat.”
Despite everything, she almost smiled.
Some things never changed.
Ghost had always been impossible to argue with when he’d already made up his mind.
Grandma Ruth opened the front door carrying a tray of biscuits.
“I made breakfast.”
Jax’s face lit up.
“Miss Ruth, marry me.”
She laughed.
“You’re about forty years too late.”
“I would’ve waited.”
Ghost shook his head.
“Don’t encourage him.”
Emma watched the exchange in disbelief.
The hardened men surrounding the house suddenly looked… normal.
They teased one another.
Thanked her grandmother.
One of them even blushed when Grandma insisted he take another biscuit.
It didn’t fit the image she’d carried for ten years.
Ghost noticed her expression.
“We’re not monsters.”
She looked at him.
“I never said you were.”
“You’ve been thinking it.”
Before she could answer, the sound of another motorcycle echoed up the driveway.
Unlike the others, this rider came in fast.
Too fast.
He barely shut the engine off before jogging toward Ghost.
“Prez.”
Ghost met him halfway.
“What happened?”
The younger man—maybe twenty-three—looked exhausted.
“We found him.”
Ghost’s face hardened.
“Alive?”
The younger biker hesitated.
“Barely.”
Emma couldn’t hear the rest of the conversation, but she saw Ghost’s shoulders stiffen.
Whatever he’d just learned…
…it wasn’t good.
A few moments later, Ghost walked toward her.
“We’re leaving.”
She frowned.
“Leaving where?”
“The clubhouse.”
“No.”
“It wasn’t a request.”
Her temper flared.
“I’m not moving into a biker clubhouse.”
“You aren’t moving in.”
“It sounds like I am.”
“You’ll stay until I know it’s safe.”
“I already told you—”
“I know what you told me.”
He lowered his voice.
“And I’m telling you your grandmother’s house isn’t secure anymore.”
Emma glanced toward Grandma Ruth.
“I can’t leave her.”
“She isn’t staying.”
Emma blinked.
“What?”
Grandma smiled gently.
“I’ve already packed.”
“You… packed?”
Ghost nodded toward the house.
“Jax’s wife is taking Ruth to her place.”
“I don’t need a babysitter,” Grandma protested.
“No,” Ghost agreed.
“You need somewhere no one expects you to be.”
Emma looked between them.
“You two planned this?”
Grandma reached over and squeezed Emma’s hand.
“Honey… sometimes letting people help isn’t weakness.”
Emma sighed heavily.
“This is insane.”
Ghost smiled faintly.
“Welcome to my world.”
⸻
An hour later, Emma found herself sitting behind Ghost on his Harley.
She hadn’t ridden on a motorcycle in ten years.
The last time…
Her stomach twisted.
Ghost handed her a spare helmet.
“You remember how.”
She accepted it without speaking.
As she climbed onto the bike, she hesitated.
“I have to hold on?”
“If you’d rather fall off…”
She rolled her eyes before wrapping her arms carefully around his waist.
The second her hands touched him…
Every memory she’d fought to bury came rushing back.
Late-night rides beneath summer stars.
His laughter.
His warmth.
The way he’d always reached back to squeeze her hand at red lights.
Ghost started the engine.
“You okay?”
No.
Not even close.
“I’m fine.”
He didn’t believe her.
But he nodded anyway.
The Iron Saints pulled onto the highway in formation.
Ghost rode at the front.
Jax and Ace flanked them.
The remaining bikes spread out behind like a moving shield.
Emma rested her forehead against Ghost’s back for just a second.
She hated how familiar it felt.
She hated even more that, for the first time since returning to Blackwater…
…she felt safe.
⸻
Twenty minutes later, the Iron Saints clubhouse came into view.
It wasn’t the rundown biker bar Emma remembered.
Someone had rebuilt it.
The large brick building sat behind a tall black iron fence.
Security cameras covered every entrance.
A massive steel gate slowly rolled open as they approached.
The Iron Saints weren’t hiding anymore.
They’d built a fortress.
Ghost parked near the front entrance.
As Emma removed her helmet, dozens of eyes turned toward her.
Some curious.
Some sympathetic.
Some openly surprised.
Ghost climbed off the bike and offered her his hand.
She looked at it for a long moment.
Then…
She took it.
Only for balance.
She told herself that was the only reason.
Ghost didn’t comment.
Instead, he led her toward the clubhouse doors.
Above them hung a carved wooden sign.
IRON SAINTS MC
LOYALTY. HONOR. FAMILY.
Emma stared at the final word.
Family.
Ten years ago, she’d believed that family had stolen the man she loved.
Now…
She was about to step inside the very place that had changed both of their lives forever.
And somewhere inside those walls…
…the truth about the night Ghost never came was waiting.
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