Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
camryn
The room is nicer than I expected.
When Storm said we'd be staying at the clubhouse, I'd pictured something out of a crime movie: dark, dingy, with questionable stains on the carpet and the lingering smell of stale beer.
But this space is clean and surprisingly homey, with freshly painted walls, comfortable furniture, and even a few framed prints of motorcycles hanging in the living area.
"The bathroom's through here," Eda says, leading us to a door across the room. "We stocked it with toiletries. Let me know if you need anything else."
Emily trails behind us, her eyes wide as she takes everything in.
I can tell she's tired from the day's excitement, but she's putting on a brave face.
My stomach twists with guilt. She shouldn't have to be brave.
She should be at home, following her normal routine, not hiding out in a biker clubhouse because her biological father has suddenly decided he wants to insert himself into our lives.
"This is really thoughtful," I tell Eda, gesturing to the fluffy towels and new toothbrushes arranged on the bathroom counter. "Thank you for going to all this trouble."
She waves off my gratitude. "It's nothing. We take care of our own here."
I want to point out that we're not "their own", that we're strangers who've been thrust into their world by circumstances beyond our control, but I bite my tongue. She's being kind, and that's not something I can afford to reject right now.
"How long have you been with the club?" I ask instead, following her back to the living room.
"About eight years," she says. "Ace and I met when the club rescued me from a bad situation." She glances at Emily, who's wandered over to examine a shelf of DVDs in the corner, and lowers her voice. "I had an abusive father who didn’t like losing his control over me."
Cold dread washes over me. "I'm sorry. That must have been terrifying."
She nods, her eyes reflecting an understanding that only comes from shared experience. "It was. But Ace and the brothers made sure he never bothered me again. That's what they do: protect the people they care about, no matter what."
I want to believe her. I want to believe these intimidating men with their leather cuts and tattoos are the heroes she's painting them out to be. But I've spent too long looking over my shoulder, building barriers around my daughter and myself, to trust so easily.
"I should probably get Emily settled," I say, suddenly needing some space to process everything. "It's been a long day."
"Of course," Eda says, heading toward the door. "There's food in the refrigerator, but if you're hungry, there's always something cooking downstairs. And the brothers are always around. If you need anything, just ask."
I manage a smile. "Thank you again."
Once she's gone, I sink onto the sofa, the enormity of our situation finally hitting me. We're hiding out in a motorcycle club. I've agreed to pretend to date a man I barely know; a man whose road name is Storm, of all things,and somewhere out there, Eric is looking for us, planning God knows what.
"Mom?" Emily's voice breaks through my spiraling thoughts. "Can I watch a movie?"
I look up to find her holding a DVD case—some animated film I don't recognize. "Sure, honey. But just one, okay? It's getting late."
She nods solemnly and brings me the case. I help her set up the TV, grateful for the distraction. Once she's settled on the couch, I take the opportunity to explore the renovated room more thoroughly.
The second bedroom is set up for Emily, with a twin bed covered in a colorful quilt and a small nightstand. Someone has placed a stuffed animal, a fluffy white rabbit that looks new, on the pillow. The gesture brings unexpected tears to my eyes.
The main bedroom is simple but comfortable, with a queen-sized bed, dresser, and a window overlooking the compound below.
A knock at the door pulls me from my thoughts. I check on Emily, who's engrossed in her movie, before answering.
Storm stands in the hallway, his massive frame filling the doorway. He’s still wearing a black t-shirt that stretches across his broad chest and dark jeans that hang low on his hips.
"Hey," he says, his deep voice sending an involuntary shiver down my spine. "Just wanted to check in, make sure you're settling okay."
"We're fine," I say, stepping back to let him in. "Emily's watching a movie."
He nods, following me into the living room. Emily looks up at his entrance, her face brightening.
"Storm!" she exclaims. "Did you come to watch the movie with us? It's about dragons!"
A small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. "Maybe for a few minutes, kiddo. I need to talk to your mom first."
Emily nods, returning her attention to the screen, where a cartoon dragon swoops across a mountain range. Storm gestures toward the kitchen, and I follow him, keeping Emily in my line of sight.
"We've set up round-the-clock security," he says, keeping his voice low. "Two brothers outside at all times, plus cameras on all entrances. No one gets in without us knowing about it."
Relief washes over me, though I try not to show it. "Thank you. I know this is a lot of trouble—"
"It's not trouble," he cuts me off. "It's what we do."
There it is again, that same assertion Eda made. It's what they do. As if taking in a terrified single mother and her daughter is just another day in the life of an outlaw motorcycle club.
"Have you heard anything about Eric?" I ask, unable to keep the fear from my voice.
Storm's expression darkens. "Not yet. We're looking into him, trying to figure out what he's really after."
"What do you mean, really after?"
He leans against the counter, crossing his arms over his chest. "Men like him don't just show up after eight years wanting to play daddy. There's something else going on."
The thought sends a chill through me. "What else could he want?"
"Could be money. Could be revenge for something. Could be he's just a sadistic bastard who gets off on causing fear." He shrugs. "We'll figure it out."
I wrap my arms around myself, suddenly cold despite the warmth of the room. "I just want him gone. I want my life back."
Storm's eyes soften slightly. "You'll get it back. I promise."
I want to believe him. But promises are easy to make and so much harder to keep.
"I should check how the security system installation is going at your place," he says, straightening up. "Will you be okay here for a bit?"
I nod, though the thought of him leaving sends a spike of panic through me. "We'll be fine."
He studies me for a moment, his blue eyes seeming to see right through my brave front. "I'll be back in an hour or two. If you need anything, anything at all, just ask any of the brothers. They all know you're under my protection."
Under his protection. The phrase should make me bristle; I've spent years taking care of myself and Emily with no man's protection required, but instead, I find it oddly comforting.
"Okay," I say simply.
He hesitates, like he wants to say something else, then just nods. "I'll see you later, then." He turns toward the living room. "See ya, kiddo. Enjoy your movie."
Emily waves without looking away from the screen, completely absorbed in her dragons. Storm gives me one last look before heading to the door, his footsteps surprisingly quiet for such a large man.
Once he's gone, I lean against the counter, exhaling slowly.
Being around Storm is... intense. He fills the room with his presence, making it hard to think clearly.
And there's something about the way he looks at me, like he's trying to figure me out, that makes me feel simultaneously exposed and protected.
It's unsettling.
I shake off the feeling and return to the living room, settling on the couch beside Emily. She immediately snuggles against me, her small body warm and trusting. I press a kiss to the top of her head, inhaling the sweet scent of her shampoo.
"Mom?" she asks, her eyes still on the screen.
"Yes, baby?"
"Are we on vacation?"
I consider how to answer. Emily knows something is wrong. She's too perceptive not to. But I've tried to shield her from the worst of it. She doesn't know about Eric or why he's a threat. She just knows we're staying somewhere new for a while.
"Sort of," I finally say. "It's more like an adventure. We get to stay here with Uncle Blaze's friends for a bit."
She nods, accepting this explanation. "I like Storm. He doesn't talk to me like I'm a baby."
"That's good," I say, surprised by her assessment. "It's important that people respect you."
"He respects you too," she says with the matter-of-fact confidence of a child. "He looks at you like you're a queen."
I nearly choke. "What? No, he doesn't."
She shrugs. "That's how the dragon looks at the princess in my book, like she's the most important thing in the whole world."
I'm saved from having to respond by a knock at the door. Carefully extracting myself from Emily, I go to answer it, half-expecting to find Storm has returned early.
Instead, a young woman stands in the hallway, smiling warmly. She's petite, with long dark hair and striking green eyes.
"Hi," she says. "I'm Effie, Mayhem's old lady. I brought some dinner for you and Emily."
She holds out a casserole dish that smells incredible. My stomach growls, reminding me we haven't eaten since breakfast.
"That's so kind of you," I say, taking the dish. "Please, come in."
Effie steps inside, her gaze immediately landing on Emily. "Hello there," she calls. "You must be Emily. I'm Effie."
Emily pauses her movie and turns to regard our visitor. "Hi," she says shyly. "Do you live here too?"
"We stay sometimes," Effie explains, moving closer. "But I live close to the clubhouse with my husband, Mayhem. He's one of the bikers like your Uncle Blaze."
Emily's eyes widen. "Is that his real name? Mayhem?"