Cambria Chapter 6
I found it hard to believe I was on my way to another state to stay with a motorcycle club.
It was surreal. Shadow and Ryder had spent two nights with me, plus yesterday.
They refused to leave me alone for a second.
The first night, when I discovered they planned to stay with me all night, I tried to tell them no.
It didn’t work. My threat that I only had one bed and they’d have to sleep on the short loveseat didn’t faze them.
They shrugged and said they’d slept in worse places.
When it came time to go to bed, Ryder brought in a bedroll and spread it on the floor.
I felt terrible, and I gave him a pillow and extra blankets.
When I asked Shadow if he needed some, he told me he was staying awake, and he’d take over Ryder’s pseudo-bed when he relieved him.
I had a hard time falling asleep that night.
Yesterday, I spent the day getting things in order to prepare for my departure.
There were some errands around town. A few of them, one of the guys did.
For the two that had to be me, I was escorted by both of them.
By the time we were done for the day, it was late, so we decided to stay the night there.
It was a repeat of the night before, except Shadow slept first.
We got up and, after a quick meal at a diner, since I’d cleaned out my fridge, we hit the road around nine thirty. If we made good time, we’d be at the compound by noon. It was eleven forty-five, and my GPS told me we had about eight miles to go. The closer we got, the more apprehensive I grew.
I didn’t know any of these people I was about to live with for lord knows how long.
Sure, Brae had mentioned them from time to time, but that was it.
While I was thankful that I at least knew Shadow and Ryder, I didn’t know them well.
Less than forty-eight hours of acquaintance wasn’t a lot.
It was this apprehension that had me on my phone with my friend.
“Brae, I don’t think this is a good idea,” I moaned.
“Why not?”
“Because I’m being foisted on a compound full of bikers who don’t know me. And they shouldn’t be burdened with me.”
“You’re not a burden, so shut up with that talk. And they’re helping because I’m family and you’re my friend. They would help anyway if someone innocent like you was harmed by something they did.”
“But Shadow didn’t do it on purpose,” I reminded her. I genuinely believed that to be the truth. He and I had talked about it a couple of times. His remorse was sincere.
“I know that, but it doesn’t matter. Now, no one there will bite, unless you ask them to. There are some very sexy single ones there,” she teased. When I growled, she chuckled and kept talking.
“Alright, where was I? Oh, they’re dolls, and they’ll welcome you. Mom and Jalisa are thrilled to have more female companionship. They say all the testosterone gets to them, and that the bunnies and hangers don’t count. I totally get that.”
Brae had long ago explained to me what club bunnies and hangers were. I was curious to see some, as long as no sexual acts happened in front of me. I liked to keep that stuff behind closed doors.
“Oh God, are you kidding me?” I half-shrieked.
“What?”
“There’s a massive gate in front of us, and a steel wall encompassing, I don’t know how much property. Are those guard towers? Why do they need those? And there’s razor wire along the top. Jesus Christ, what did you get me into, Brae!?” I shouted in alarm.
“Shh, take a deep breath. There’s nothing to worry about. That’s all there to keep you safe. See why I wanted you at a compound? You’d have to be nuts to try to breach it.”
If Ryder hadn’t been behind me, I would’ve thrown my car in reverse and gotten the hell out of there. However, since he was, and I refused to run him over, I crept my car behind Shadow into the Pagans’ compound. Or was it a prison? I shivered.
“I assume you’re inside. Just relax and go with it. If you get too scared, call me. If not, I’ll call you tonight. It’s going to be alright, Cam. I promise you.”
“Okay,” I croaked back before she disconnected.
The inside of the compound was less scary.
There was a large building with bikes parked outside, and further past it, another large metal building.
Behind the first building, I saw rows of houses.
Those surprised me despite knowing they had them where Brae lived.
She told me about them. It gave it a less threatening vibe.
Shadow pointed to an open spot next to the bikes.
I assumed he wanted me to park there, so I did.
He parked his motorcycle further up, and so did Ryder.
I took my time shutting off my car, collecting my purse, and gathering my courage.
By the time I was ready to get out, my door was opened by Ryder.
Shadow was the one to extend a hand. I took it, just for moral support. They were my lifelines.
“You have nothing to be nervous about,” Shadow murmured in my ear.
“What makes you think I am?” I whispered back.
“You look terrified. We promise, they won’t bite. If one tries it, we’ll punch them in the face,” Ryder added. I didn’t think he could hear us.
“We’ll get your bags later. For now, anyone whose home, and it seems some are in, will be in the clubhouse. That’s this building. We told them when to expect us,” Shadow added.
I relaxed when each man slid his arms through one of mine.
They boxed me in, and I felt safe, though I felt safer with Shadow, which was ridiculous.
Ryder was a doll. In a blink, we were at the door, and Ryder pulled it open.
Then, we breezed inside. Not a lot registered other than it was big and had stuff scattered around it.
What had my attention were the people in it.
There were seven men, two women, and an infant.
All eyes landed on me. There was curiosity and cheerfulness on their faces.
The guys guided me over to the man standing next to a younger woman, who I knew had to be Jalisa, and to the baby in her arms, Pandora. Was this Wrath? He exuded an air of command. I was stopped before him.
“Cambria, let me introduce our president, Wrath. And the woman next to him, holding that cutie, is Jalisa, his old lady. And we can’t forget Ms. Pandora,” Ryder declared.
I dipped my head. “It’s a pleasure to meet both of you.
Wrath, I can’t thank you and your club enough for sending Shadow and Ryder for me.
Or for allowing me to stay here. I promise to make my stay as short as possible.
And I won’t be a bother. I hope you know that none of you needed to go to this extent for me,” I rattled off.
His pleasant expression shifted to a frown. I gulped.
“Cambria, it’s our pleasure to meet you.
And you may stay as long as you like. You’re Brae’s good friend.
Brae is my sister. That makes you part of us.
As for not needing to do what we’ve done, that’s ridiculous.
We haven’t gotten started yet. Now, to be clear, we don’t stand on ceremony much, so make yourself at home.
Jalisa is usually harmless unless you piss her off.
I try not to,” Wrath finished with a grin.
Jalisa gave him a satisfied look, then, to my surprise, handed her baby to her daddy before dragging me to her for a hug.
“Thank God, more estrogen. I’m glad to meet you, Cambria.”
“You too,” I muttered.
Next, an older man and woman moved forward. The man had a pained look on his face. “Hello, I’m Rage. I’m the cause of your trouble, for which I sincerely apologize. This is my old lady, Betty, Brae’s mom.”
When I smiled and held out my hand, his face relaxed, and he hugged me.
Then, he handed me over to Betty to be hugged again.
From there, I was caught in a whirlwind of introductions and greetings.
There were handshakes and a few hugs. By the time I was done, I’d met not only Wrath, Jalisa, Pandora, Betty, and Rage, but also Chains, Stitch, Fury, Keno, and Dylan.
I was told the last two were prospects. I knew what those were.
“You must be stressed from packing, the work to get ready to leave your home, and the drive. I think a drink to help you relax is in order. Then, if you would like to take a nap, we’ll show you where you’ll be staying.
Later tonight, we’re all having dinner here in the clubhouse.
You’ll get to meet the rest of the guys then,” Jalisa explained, as she took me away from Shadow and Ryder and guided me to a table.
Betty, carrying Pandora, followed. I let them take me wherever they wished.
I was tired, but my tension had drastically dropped.