Cambria Chapter 12 #2
Some of the others, those more adept at it, were working on creating my new background.
The Dark Patriots’ help had been enlisted.
They would handle it until Everly and Smoke returned and could do the fine-tuning.
The others and I were covering up as much as we could of my current life, taking down sites and posts, and paving the path for my demise.
The internet might’ve hurt me, but it can also help.
The crumbs were being laid for when the time came to “kill” me.
It would be all over the internet when the time came.
And the “other Cambria” was already built and had a whole life generated.
That Cambria was from Portland, Oregon. My new persona was Mariette Cambria Aubert. I was a dual French American citizen.
I thought making me that would complicate things, but I was assured it would make things easier.
I attended school in France for most of my life.
Luckily, I had taken French in high school and college.
I could speak it well enough to make it seem feasible.
The Patriots were astonishing me with their capabilities.
With all that in the works and my engagement to Shadow in place, the club was excited. The topic of conversation in the club and with the old ladies was about coming up with ideas for our wedding. I felt better about suggestions and help. I was grateful and happy, though nerves were still present.
A knock at the front door startled me. I hadn’t expected it.
Going to see who it was, I found Dylan standing there.
He had mail in his hands. The mail for everyone on the compound came to a large mailbox outside the gate.
One of the prospects was tasked with emptying it daily and delivering it to the mailboxes at each house or to the prospects’ rooms. Dylan, as the only prospect left for now, was the only one doing it.
However, he’d never knocked before. I noted he was frowning.
“Hi, Dylan. What can I do for you? Is everything okay?” I asked him.
“Hi, Cambria. I’m here to deliver the mail.
As for whether everything is okay, I hope so.
As I was sorting everything, I couldn’t help but see the return address on this letter.
I thought it best to hand it to you. Waiting doesn’t feel right to me,” he explained as he held out the envelope in question.
“Alright, let me see what this is. Here, let’s sit down for a minute. Can I get you anything?” I asked, pointing to the outdoor furniture.
“Thanks, but I’m good,” he answered as he stood there.
I realized why he hadn’t sat down when I offered him a seat.
He’d been waiting for me to go first—such manners for a biker.
I took the envelope from him and glanced at the return address.
A gasp escaped, and my heart began racing.
My hands shook as I read it. The words that jumped out at me were G.
Brooks, High Desert State Prison, Nevada.
“Cambria, do you know who this is from?” Dylan asked.
All I could do was nod my head. There was a buzzing in my ears.
If Dylan spoke, I couldn’t hear a word of it.
I kept staring at the letter, re-reading those awful words.
It vaguely registered that he was moving around next to me.
The warm October day from a minute ago had now turned cold.
I shivered and wrapped my arms around myself to try to get warm.
My stomach churned. I wondered if I’d end up puking all over the porch.
I had no clue how long I sat there, in a daze, before the sound of a motorcycle engine shook me free of the stupor I was in.
I blinked a couple of times after I lifted my head to look toward the gate in the distance.
Catching sight of a motorcycle entering, I knew immediately who it was.
Racing toward the house was my man. Even at this distance, I saw the grim set of his mouth.
He wasn’t happy. I looked over at Dylan.
“You told him, didn’t you?” I accuse.
“Damn right I did. If I’d known it would cause the reaction it did in you, I would’ve held onto it until Shadow was home and slipped it to him. I’m sorry. I swear I never meant to shock you.”
“Dylan, stop, please. You had no clue it would. Do you know anything about me and my history?”
“I’ve heard whispers that Cambria isn’t your real name. You have an ugly past, and that Shadow and others are attempting to find someone and make you safe.”
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that he didn’t know more.
Even as a prospect, unless he was involved directly in a conversation or asked to do something associated with it, he might not know anything.
As I spoke to him, Shadow’s bike’s engine stopped.
By the time I finished listening to Dylan’s answers to my questions, my old man was pounding up onto the porch.
Shadow bypassed Dylan, who stood and stepped out of the way.
I was wrapped in a bear hug. Peace began seeping into me.
“Christ, Twilight, you’re pale as a ghost. Sit. Dylan, will you go inside and see if you can find her something to drink? Anything will do as long as it has sugar in it.” My man’s words suggested a request, but his tone made it an order.
“Sure will. Be back as soon as I can,” Dylan said before rushing to the door, then inside.
Shadow kept his arms around me as he guided me back to stand in front of my abandoned chair.
He sat, then brought me down on his lap.
It was one of our favorite ways to sit together.
I shivered and burrowed my face into the hollow between his shoulder and neck.
I inhaled his comforting scent. My upset stomach settled a bit.
Shadow’s hand swept down my hair. I’d left it unbound today.
“Give me the letter,” Shadow demanded.
I held it up, and he took it away. I watched him read the return label just as I had.
“Son of a bitch! I hoped Dyl was wrong when he texted me to say he had delivered a letter that had scared you. Fuck, how the hell did that sick bastard figure out where you are? I see you didn’t read it. Why don’t you let me do it for you?” he offered.
Some of the raw panic slipped away. I always felt safe when Shadow was with me. I shook my head after lifting it, so I met his gaze.
“You can read it, but I need to know what it says. No reading, then keeping the details to yourself. I’m sorry I reacted the way I did. I won’t fall apart again.”
At that moment, Dylan returned with two bottles of water and three cans of different sodas. “Here’s what I found. Can I get you anything else?” the prospect asked.
I shook my head. “Thank you for these.”
“Thanks, Dylan. Why don’t you head back to the clubhouse? I don’t want to keep you from your duties.” Shadow kindly dismissed him.
Dylan seemed to hesitate, then he gave my man a chin lift. “Sure thing, Shadow. Let me know if there is anything I can do. Cambria, take care.”
“Thank you, I will,” I replied.
Shadow let him get out of earshot before he turned over the envelope and tore it open.
He unfolded two sheets of paper. Even after all these years, I recognized Garen’s handwriting on those pages.
He had a very distinct writing style. I let Shadow read it first. The way he inhaled sharply and then his body tensed told me whatever was in it wasn’t good.
He had it read in a matter of a few minutes.
“Do you want me to summarize it, and then you can read it later? Or do you want to read it now?” he asked.
I debated. I knew I had to read it, but my heart wasn’t sure if I could do it at the moment. “Tell me the gist and then I’ll read it in a while.”
“It’s full of him gloating that he found you.
He says a ‘friend’ told him where you were hiding.
He says a bunch of things about your days being numbered.
He swore that you would pay for betraying him.
As your father, you owed him your allegiance.
He says to get your affairs in order because he’s got a surprise coming for you.
Oh, and that no biker gang can keep you safe. ”
While none of it surprised me, it did make my stomach churn more. A whimper escaped before I could choke it down.
“Cambria, look at me,” Shadow requested.
It took strength to do it. I couldn’t hide my apprehension, even though I wanted to project a strong image to him. Rage burned in his gaze.