Chapter 4 #2
"It was once an old factory," I explain. "We converted it. Now it's home."
Camryn's grip on the door handle finally relaxes a bit as she takes in the high walls and security measures. "It does look secure," she admits.
I pull up to the gate, and the prospects immediately straighten when they see me in Camryn’s car. The newer recruit, Mitch, approaches my window.
"Storm," he greets with a nod. "Everything good?"
"Fine," I say shortly. "Open up."
He signals to the other prospect, who manually slides the heavy gate open.
I drive through slowly, giving Camryn and Emily a chance to take in the compound.
The main building stands in the center, with a large parking area for bikes and cars.
There's a separate garage for repairs and a smaller building that serves as our gym and training area.
The whole place is surrounded by a fifteen-foot wall topped with security wire.
"Where do all the motorcycles live?" Emily asks, eyeing the row of bikes parked in front of the main building.
"Right there," I tell her, pointing. "That's where the brothers park when they're here."
"Can I sit on one?" she asks eagerly.
"Emily," Camryn warns, but I cut in.
"Maybe later, kiddo, if your mom says it's okay and one of the brothers is with you to make sure you're safe."
This seems to satisfy both of them, and I pull into an empty spot near the entrance.
The front door swings open as we arrive, and Ace steps out, his imposing figure filling the doorway.
Behind him, a few other brothers are gathered, curious about our new guests.
I called Ace before we left. I wanted him to know what was happening and give him the heads up about them staying.
I also said I’d fill him in on the possible danger that Camryn and Emily could be in once I was back at the clubhouse.
"Here we go," I mutter, shutting off the engine. "Ready for this?"
Camryn takes a deep breath. "As I'll ever be."
I climb out and move around to help Emily from her seat while Camryn gets out on her side. The kid sticks close to her mother as we approach the clubhouse, her earlier excitement tempered by the intimidating sight of several large, tattooed men watching their arrival.
"Ace," I greet our president with a nod. "This is Camryn and her daughter, Emily. They'll be staying with us for a while."
Ace steps forward, his expression serious but not unkind. "Welcome to the Fury Vipers clubhouse," he says, his voice deliberately gentler than usual. "You'll be safe here."
Camryn lifts her chin, meeting his gaze with surprising steadiness. "Thank you for having us," she says formally.
"Uncle Blaze works here," Emily pipes up, seemingly determined not to be intimidated.
A smile cracks Ace's stoic expression. "He sure does, little lady. He's a good man, your uncle."
"The room upstairs ready?" I ask, eager to get them settled before too many questions start flying.
"Yeah. Eda and the girls fixed it up when they heard you were bringing them in," Ace confirms. "She's waiting up there to show them around."
I nod gratefully. Having the old ladies involved will make this whole situation a lot smoother. Camryn might be more comfortable around other women.
"Come on," I say, gesturing for Camryn and Emily to follow me inside. "Let's get you settled."
The main floor of the clubhouse is cleaner than usual.
Someone must have ordered the brothers to tidy up.
The usual empty bottles and overflowing ashtrays are gone, and the space smells more like cleaning products than booze and smoke.
A few brothers are playing pool in the corner, and they nod respectfully as we pass.
I lead the girls upstairs to the second floor, where several rooms line a long hallway. Most belong to brothers who need a place to crash, but we keep one ready for situations like this. It's not fancy, but it's comfortable and private.
Eda is waiting by the door, her petite frame a stark contrast to her husband's massive build. She smiles warmly when she sees us.
"You must be Camryn and Emily," she says, stepping forward to greet them. "I'm Eda, Ace's wife. I've got everything set up for you."
Camryn visibly relaxes at the sight of another woman. "Thank you so much. This is all happening so fast..."
"I understand," Eda says with genuine sympathy. "It can be overwhelming. But I promise you're in good hands here." She crouches down to Emily's level. "And you, young lady, are going to love it here. We have several other children who would be thrilled to have a new friend."
Emily, still clutching her mother's hand, offers a small smile. "Do any of them like princesses?"
Eda laughs. "Sera is obsessed with them. I think you two will get along just fine."
I hang back, letting Eda take over. She gives them a tour of the room, which is basically a room that’s been changed to a two-bedroom unit with a small living room. It's simple but has everything they need.
"I brought some extra clothes for Emily in case you didn't have time to pack everything," Eda tells Camryn. "Sera's a bit younger, but they look about the same size."
"That's incredibly kind of you," Camryn says, genuine gratitude in her voice.
I clear my throat. "I'll let you get settled. I need to talk to the brothers about security arrangements."
Camryn turns to me, a flicker of apprehension crossing her face. "You're leaving?"
"Just for a bit," I assure her. "I'll be back to check on you. My room's right down the hall if you need anything."
She nods, some of the tension returning to her shoulders. "Alright. Thank you, Storm. For everything."
I shift uncomfortably under her gratitude. "Just doing what needs to be done."
Eda gives me a knowing look, which I choose to ignore as I head back downstairs. The brothers are gathered in the main room, and I can tell by their expressions they're burning with questions.
"Alright," I say, dropping into a chair at the table where Ace, Shadow, and Digger are already seated. "Let's figure out how to handle this mess."
"First," Ace says, leaning forward, "what exactly are we dealing with here? Blaze said something about her kid's father causing trouble?"
I fill them in on the basics, keeping my voice low enough that it won't carry upstairs. "The guy's a rapist who knocked her up when she was sixteen. Now he's back, claiming he wants to see the kid. He’s been watching their house, making threats."
Shadow's expression darkens. "Sounds like someone needs to be taught a lesson."
"Yeah, but we gotta be smart about this," I caution. "The guy's not just some random asshole. He's Emily's biological father. If we handle this wrong, it could get messy legally."
"Since when do we care about legal?" Digger asks, brow raised.
"Since there's a kid involved," I reply firmly. "We go in guns blazing, and Camryn could lose her daughter. We need to play this carefully."
Ace nods in agreement. "So what's the plan? She stays here while we figure out how to make this Eric guy back off permanently?"
"That's the general idea," I confirm. "But there's more to it. Blaze thinks we need to make it clear she's under our protection in a way this guy can't miss."
"Meaning?" Shadow prompts.
I take a deep breath. "I'm gonna be posing as her boyfriend; make it look like she's with me in order to give this asshole something to think about before he tries anything stupid."
The brothers exchange glances.
"That's a lot of commitment for a woman you just met," Digger observes.
I shrug, trying to appear more casual than I feel. "It's just for show. Besides, Blaze asked for my help specifically. You know I don't turn down a brother in need."
Ace studies me for a moment, then nods. "Alright. The club will back your play. The woman and child are under our protection as of now."
"I want a rotating watch on them at all times," I say. "And we need to dig into this Eric's background, find out what he's really after."
"You think it's more than just wanting to see his kid?" Shadow asks.
"Men like that don't suddenly develop paternal instincts after eight years," I say darkly. "He's got an angle. I want to know what it is."
The brothers nod in agreement, and we spend the next hour hammering out security details and researching plans. By the time we finish, I'm feeling more confident about our ability to keep Camryn and Emily safe, but the larger question of how to permanently remove the threat still hangs over us.
"One more thing," I say as we wrap up. "Camryn's scared, but she's tough. Don't treat her like she's fragile. She won't respond well to that."
"Noted," Ace says. "And the kid?"
"Smart as hell," I say, unable to keep a small smile from my face. "And surprisingly resilient. Just... be mindful of what you say and do around her."
Digger chuckles. "So basically, behave like actual human beings for once."
"Exactly," I agree.
As the meeting breaks up, I find myself heading back upstairs, drawn by an inexplicable need to check on my new charges.
I tell myself it's just responsibility, the weight of the promise I made to keep them safe, but deep down I know there's something more going on here.
Something about Camryn Fletcher has gotten under my skin in a way no woman has in a long time.
Maybe it's her quiet strength, or the fierce love she has for her daughter, or the way she looks at me like she's trying to figure out if I'm a threat or a savior.
Whatever it is, I need to get it under control. This arrangement is about protection, nothing more. The last thing Camryn needs right now is another complication in her life.
And the last thing I need is to care too much about a woman who's only letting me into her life because she has no other choice.