Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
WEST
“Hex agreed to the plan as a move to get them out of our territory. Meanwhile, we keep surveillance on their money movement.” Styx stands at the front of the clubhouse conference room.
Grayson, Holden, Raze, and I are here discussing a plan to get Camille off Black Feral’s radar.
It killed me leaving her at my place. She’s not alone.
Nora’s with her, and Styx has two members watching the house.
One of them’s a prospect. That makes me nervous.
New blood’s always eager to prove themselves. And that shit can lead to mistakes.
“Sheriff’s been quiet since the town hall meeting righting Nash’s reputation, but we know that won’t last. Our threats will only delay the inevitable,” Grayson says.
I wanted his help, but insisted he keep himself safe and out of it. Should’ve known better. My twin brother’s military past is ingrained in him. As long as the fucker doesn’t get shot again, Laurel will let me keep my balls.
“Would he really risk Ivy releasing all her evidence tying him to Black Feral’s guns and trafficking operations?” Holden asks, leaning on the back wall, arms crossed.
As the go-to shop for MC bike repairs and customization in West Oregon, people assume Holden’s in the MC. He’s friends with many in Forsaken Saints but has no interest in the life. Still, he’s passionate about seeing actual justice right wrongs, no matter the means.
“He gave her what she wanted,” Grayson says. “His arrogance is delusional enough to think she won’t rock the boat and mark him, essentially creating a county-wide scandal.”
“Black Feral isn’t happy about losing their point man for shipping. Shit between those fucker’s ass cheeks is wafting closer and closer,” Raze grunts beside Styx. “I have contacts with their ears on the ground in Silver Lakes. That ex of your sister’s was a convenient excuse to get close to Eden.”
“Hex thinks the same,” Styx’s jaw clenches. Gotta give it to him, he’s holding himself together.
His role in the MC has always mattered to him. I couldn’t understand it when he first became a prospect, but I’ve seen it unfold throughout the years. He was meant for this life.
“Play their game,” Holden suggests. “For now. Give them something they want with an ultimatum. Push them into a corner. Gain access.”
I glance at my phone for the hundredth time, hoping for a text from Nyx.
The more we discuss this mess, the more agitated my body feels being this far away from her.
She’s been staying with me for the last three days.
Asked if she could, which was a no-brainer for me.
She’s worried about bringing MC drama to her parents’ front door.
For now, she’s told her parents that she’s staying at Nora’s, helping with the Festival, and will visit soon.
Styx still thinks she’s back home, in her old room.
This tangled web of lies is giving me stress acid reflux.
The last three nights, we’ve been up late working on the bar’s reno. Aside from the occasional makeout session, we’ve kept to our respective rooms when we say, goodnight. There’s so much on our plates right now, I don’t want to rush us.
“Have you heard from Viper?” I ask.
Styx’s studies me before answering. “As I told you ten minutes ago, brother’s checked in. All is quiet.”
“And they have eyes on Camille? Nora?” I add Nora a beat too late, not wanting to give myself away.
Styx doesn’t answer. An eternity passes before Raze does instead.
“Prospect is in the house with them. Viper’s scouting perimeter.”
I nod, stopping my leg from bouncing off the wall I’m leaning my back and leg on. I avoid Styx’s stare as Grayson chimes in.
“She shot two of their men. They require blood retribution for that.”
I exhale subtly when Styx’s takes his eyes off me and addresses the room. “That’s being handled. Leave that to club business.”
“Do we know where the ex is?” Holden asks.
The back of my jaw tightens. His obsession is dangerous. Sooner or later, he’s going to know she’s back home. I want a picture of that shithead so I can recognize him the moment I see him set foot into town.
“Have a brother looking for him,” Raze states.
My body stands, alert. “You don’t know where he is?”
“Fucker is slippery,” Styx says, tightening his fists. “We had eyes two days ago. Next morning, he didn’t show to work and hasn’t passed by his apartment.”
I do not fucking like the sound of that.
“Trust me,” Styx says, “If he so much as dares to sniff my sister’s way…” Threat is clear.
“I’m riding with three brothers to Silver Lakes tonight,” Raze informs. “See what my contacts know.”
“Keep us updated,” Grayson requests before the meeting is over, and we file out of the clubhouse.
“West.” Holden pulls me aside before I get to my car. I need to see Camille for myself. I’m about to burst out of my skin if I don’t confirm with my own eyes that she’s safe.
“Text me. I gotta get back home,” I tell him, stepping around him but not getting far.
Holden grabs my forearm, keeping me by his bike.
“That,” he says. “That look gives you away, brother.”
I can feel my face harden, no matter how much I try to relax my expression.
“What I saw and told Beckett the other night was a theory. A joke, really, even though my intuition said otherwise. But let me tell you, bro, if that, in there, was you trying to be subtle? You fucking failed.”
“I don’t know what—,”
“Don’t insult my intelligence,” Holden’s voice rasps. “I’m your brother. I’ve been back for some time, making up for lost years, but I know you well.”
My face slackens, hating that Holden still carries guilt from the years he left Eden Ridge and our family to figure himself out. Then we lost our parents. His nomadic personality retired, and he settled back home.
That instantly softens me up. I grab his shoulder and squeeze. “Thank you,” I say. “For looking out for me. There’s nothing to tell yet. I mean, there is, but also, one thing at a time, you know. She just moved back to town.”
“Don’t wait to tell him,” Holden suggests. “Even if what this is, is temporary.”
“It’s not,” I say definitively without meaning to.
His brows rise. Unlike most of us brothers who have the rare gray-green eyes, Holden’s are bright green.
They stare into my soul. As a twin himself, there’s an understanding only twins can get.
With Asher, they’re the second oldest. Asher and Beckett took on older brother roles like a second skin.
Holden stood back and like Nash, observed a lot. He sees more than most.
“What the fuck is in the water these days?” he asks, seriously.
Taken completely by surprise, I laugh. Cause he’s right. I thought the same shit at one point. One by one, my brothers are meeting the last women they’d expect to turn their world upside right. I guess I’m the next victim.
And fuck, does that shit make me giddy. And also anxious.
“I need to get back to her,” I tell him.
“Be careful,” he says, sternly. “This shit’s serious. Those fuckers are vile pieces of shits. I don’t want them anywhere near our family.”
“Agreed.”
He nods, pats my shoulder, and gets on his bike.
Driving back up the mountain toward home, I take stock of the emotions running like a million fire ants up my veins. I’m eager to hold her, kiss her, cocoon her in our bubble while we eat fried bologna sandwiches.
I pull in, and relief sends a warm wave through my blood. Viper’s leaning on his bike in my driveway. His focus, vigilant.
“Thank you,” is all I say.
He nods once and goes back to keeping alert of our surroundings.
Viper, whose actual name is Hudson Wilder, came to Eden Ridge not long ago with a darkness surrounding him.
Turns out, he’s ex-Black Feral. There’s a story there.
He keeps to himself, deep in the mountains just outside of Hunter property.
Styx is protective of him. Doesn’t allow anyone to question Viper’s loyalty to Forsaken.
I open my door and rush to the open living space. Nora’s in the kitchen, serving herself Hunter whiskey, which normally, I’d fuck with her about stealing, but my breath, heart, and body all stop dead when my eyes lock on Camille’s.
It fucking kills me that I can’t pull her into my arms right now.
“Styx said you were on your way. That when you got here, I should escort his sister to their parents’ place,” the prospect informs.
Like hell.
“Actually,” Nora steps in, “I’m taking her to my place. She’s staying with me. I’ll drive her. We have Festival shit to discuss tonight. So you’re relieved of duty, prospect.”
The kid shifts his feet. He can’t be more than nineteen. Kid’s gonna have an aneurysm if we don’t alleviate his fear of going against club Enforcer.
“I’ll have Viper text and confirm the change,” I give him an out. If I suggest he call Styx himself, he’d probably shit himself. And in my living room. That area rug cost me a fortune.
Kid nods, pretending he’s not nervous. Only, it’s October, my back doors are open, letting in the cool evening air, and the kid’s sweating.
Once Viper confirms and Styx calls Nora, who then argues as only a reluctant MC princess would, the cover is set. The MC leaves, and it’s finally just the three of us.
Nora tucks the whiskey bottle under her arm.
“You’re welcome.”
“Leave that, Graves.” Honestly, I could give three shits. Let her steal my entire stash.
I rush over to Camille, and we collide. I hold her head against my chest. Her small, delicate hands grip the back of my jacket.
“He didn’t kill you,” she exhales against my chest.
“I was more worried about you, Nyx.”
“Goodness. You two are fucked. Good luck,” Nora calls out, but neither Camille nor I move.
The door opens, then shuts, and the crackle of the fireplace, the soft whistle of mountain breeze, and evening animals play the backtrack to this moment.
Leaning back, I cup her cheek and finally get my mouth on those lips.
The world turns and settles as it should again.
In this moment, with her in my arms, no one’s risking her safety, her brother isn’t kept in the dark about what we are becoming to each other, and life is only a series of memories—wonderful, blissful memories, with the promise of better to come.
“Update me,” she says when the kiss ends.
“They have a plan. This week, we focus on that.”
“And my part? Am I just to sit here like a damsel in distress while the men handle things?” The way she deepened her voice in mockery when she said, men, have me grinning.
“Hero, I’m serious. I’m not going to sit, crocheting in a corner while the men I love put themselves in danger.”
My body locks and breath stalls. So does hers.
“You know. Cause, we’re like family. Familial love, of course,” she backpedals.
She’s not wrong. There is love there. Growing up together, me being so close to her brother, she’s an integral puzzle piece of my past. Now, why did I want her to mean something else?
I crave for it to be true, which is crazy.
It’s too soon. I blame the Huntresses. Their love for my brothers is infectious.
“Whatever helps you sleep at night, Nyx,” I tease, giving her an out. “Now, I’m starving. Plotting against scary biker men stirs one’s appetite.”
“Cute, Hero. Real cute,” she deadpans. “But, actually, I’m cooking tonight. My treat.”
I face her and grin, leaning against the counter. “By all means. I most definitely won’t stop you.”
“You’re such a ham,” she chuckles, grabbing ingredients from the fridge.
“Everything in there is safe,” I remind her. “I did groceries this morning.”
“I saw,” she smiles over her shoulder. “I trust you.”
Damn. That means everything.
“They delivered the panels for the wall before the meeting,” I let her know as I sit on the barstool. I love watching her move.
“Oh, my God. I’m so excited to see them in person. Can we go by after dinner?” she asks, eager.
I laugh, “Nyx. It’s nine o’clock. I think it can wait till morning. We’ll head in first thing.”
“Oh, alright.” She’s so damn cute.
I love seeing her in her element. It’s discovering a whole new facet of this amazing woman.
Beckett and Asher are practically done with the structure.
With Camille installing these intricate dark bronze panels on the entire back wall, it cuts my brothers’ job in half.
They won’t need to cut up stacked logs on the wall to match the rest of the bar.
Tomorrow, I gotta head to the distillery. I’ve been stalling, not wanting to leave her side, but Nash is on my ass to finish up and decide on this year’s Harvest Brew for the bar.
Her ex being MIA makes me nervous. And pissed as hell. That pissant causes any more trouble than he already has, and I’m going to introduce my foot to the inside of his throat.
This remarkable woman feels like mine. No one fuck’s with what’s mine.