Broken Chrome

Chapter 3

BROKEN CHROME

Chapter Three

The Devil at the Gate

The roar of engines rolled through the pine trees like distant thunder.

Emma’s heart pounded as Ghost pushed her through the front door.

“Lock it,” he ordered.

“I—”

“Emma.”

Something in his voice silenced every argument.

She twisted the deadbolt into place with trembling hands.

Outside, motorcycles sprang to life.

Jax’s deep voice echoed across the yard.

“They’re slowing down.”

Ghost glanced through the edge of the curtain.

“Three trucks.”

Ace moved beside him, speaking into the handheld radio clipped to his vest.

“South entrance covered. No movement yet.”

Ghost nodded once.

“They’re testing us.”

Emma swallowed.

“What does that mean?”

He didn’t take his eyes off the window.

“It means they’re trying to see how many men I brought.”

“You think they’re here for me?”

“I know they are.”

A knot formed in her stomach.

Outside, headlights swept across the front of the house.

The beams lingered on Grandma Ruth’s porch before continuing down the gravel road.

No one got out.

No one shouted.

No gunshots.

The trucks simply kept driving.

Emma frowned.

“They’re leaving?”

Ghost didn’t answer.

His jaw remained tight.

“They wanted us to know they were here,” he finally said.

“That’s all.”

Silence settled over the room.

Then…

Buzz.

Ghost’s phone vibrated.

He looked at the screen.

Every trace of color disappeared from his face.

Emma stepped closer.

“What is it?”

Without speaking, he turned the phone toward her.

A photograph filled the display.

It had been taken only moments earlier.

The angle was from the road.

It showed Grandma Ruth’s front porch…

…and Emma standing in the doorway.

Across the bottom of the picture were six chilling words.

NOW WE KNOW WHERE SHE SLEEPS.

Emma’s knees nearly gave out.

“They’re watching us.”

Ghost slipped the phone back into his pocket.

“They’ve been watching since you crossed the county line.”

“How?”

“I don’t know yet.”

“But I’m going to find out.”

There was no anger in his voice.

Only certainty.

The kind that made her believe whoever was responsible wouldn’t enjoy being found.

⸻

Grandma Ruth appeared from the hallway wrapped in her robe.

“I suppose nobody’s sleeping now.”

Ghost immediately softened.

“Sorry, Ruth.”

She waved him off.

“You boys hungry?”

Emma blinked.

“Grandma…”

“What?”

“There are armed bikers outside.”

“I noticed.”

“And you’re asking if they’re hungry?”

“They’ve probably been riding half the night.”

Ghost couldn’t help smiling.

“I forgot how you are.”

“I raised half this club.”

Emma looked from her grandmother to Ghost.

“What?”

Grandma shrugged.

“When you boys were teenagers, somebody had to feed you.”

Ghost chuckled.

“She made the best chicken and dumplings in three counties.”

“You stole half of them.”

“I was a growing boy.”

“You were a bottomless pit.”

For the first time that night, everyone laughed.

Even Emma.

The tension eased…

…if only for a moment.

⸻

An hour later, Ghost walked through the quiet kitchen carrying two mugs of coffee.

He placed one beside Emma.

“I remember.”

She looked at the cup.

“Two sugars.”

“You always hated black coffee.”

She stared into the mug.

“You remember how I take my coffee after ten years?”

“I remember everything.”

His answer was so quiet she almost missed it.

Emma looked away before he could see the emotion threatening to surface.

“I don’t need protecting.”

“I know.”

“I’m serious.”

“So am I.”

She sighed.

“Ghost…”

He leaned against the counter.

“Do you remember the county fair?”

She frowned.

“What?”

“The Ferris wheel.”

“I remember.”

“You were terrified of heights.”

“I wasn’t terrified.”

“You cried.”

“I absolutely did not.”

“You squeezed my hand so hard I couldn’t feel my fingers.”

“I was seventeen.”

“You threatened to punch the operator.”

She laughed despite herself.

“I did not.”

“You absolutely did.”

Silence settled between them again.

Gentler this time.

Ghost smiled faintly.

“I missed hearing you laugh.”

The words caught her completely off guard.

“You don’t get to miss me.”

“I know.”

“You made your choice.”

His smile disappeared.

“I did.”

“And I’d give anything to take it back.”

Before Emma could answer, Ghost’s phone rang again.

He looked at the caller ID.

“Bishop.”

Ghost answered immediately.

“What’ve you got?”

Emma watched his expression change with every passing second.

“No.”

A pause.

“Who confirmed it?”

Another pause.

His jaw clenched.

“I’ll be there.”

He ended the call.

“What happened?” Emma asked.

Ghost hesitated.

Then he looked directly into her eyes.

“Someone broke into the clubhouse.”

“What did they steal?”

“Nothing.”

“Then why—”

“They weren’t looking for money.”

His voice hardened.

“They were looking through the old records.”

Emma frowned.

“What records?”

“The ones from ten years ago.”

A chill crept over her skin.

“The night I left?”

Ghost nodded.

“Someone wants to know exactly what happened.”

Emma crossed her arms.

“So tell me.”

His blue eyes held hers.

“I can’t.”

Anger flared instantly.

“Still hiding behind secrets?”

“I’m trying to keep you alive.”

“I’m tired of hearing that!”

Ghost stepped closer.

“So am I.”

His voice rose for the first time.

“You think I enjoy this?”

She refused to back down.

“You had ten years to explain.”

“I couldn’t.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“I couldn’t.”

“What’s the difference?”

His shoulders sagged.

“The difference is… people died.”

Emma’s anger faltered.

“What?”

“I buried brothers because of what happened.”

She stared at him.

“You’ve never told me that.”

“I’ve never told anyone.”

His eyes drifted toward the dark window.

“And if I tell you now…”

He swallowed hard.

“…I’ll put a target on your back that’s bigger than the one already there.”

Emma looked at the man standing before her.

The arrogant biker she’d hated for ten years…

…suddenly looked exhausted.

Haunted.

Like he’d been carrying something far heavier than guilt.

⸻

Outside, Jax knocked twice on the back door.

Ghost opened it.

“What is it?”

Jax held out a small brown envelope.

“Found this tied to the mailbox.”

Ghost frowned.

“There wasn’t anybody out there.”

“They must’ve dropped it while we were watching the road.”

Ghost carefully opened the envelope.

Inside was a single photograph.

Emma’s breath caught.

It was old.

Faded.

The edges were worn.

She stepped closer.

It was a picture of her and Ghost.

Standing beside his motorcycle.

She was laughing.

His arm was wrapped around her waist.

Someone had written across the picture in black marker.

SHE WAS ALWAYS YOUR WEAKNESS.

Ghost’s hands tightened around the photo.

The paper crumpled beneath his grip.

There was something else inside the envelope.

A folded note.

Ghost unfolded it slowly.

Only five words were written across the page.

This time… she’ll watch you fall.

Ghost went completely still.

Emma had never seen him look afraid before.

Not real fear.

Until now.

He handed the note to Jax.

“Get Ace.”

Jax nodded once.

Ghost’s voice became cold.

“Call every patched member.”

“Tonight?”

“Tonight.”

“You think it’s starting?”

Ghost looked toward the darkness beyond the porch.

“No.”

His eyes narrowed.

“I think it already has.”

As motorcycles roared to life outside and Iron Saints began arriving from every corner of Blackwater, Emma realized one terrifying truth.

Coming home hadn’t reopened an old love story.

It had awakened a war..