Page 3 of Haunted By the Storm
I scroll through my contacts until I find my brother's number. Blaze is my only real family left after our parents died. He's been riding with the Fury Vipers MC for a while now, trying to earn his patch. I don't approve of his lifestyle, but right now, I need the kind of protection only people like him can provide.
The phone rings four times before he picks up.
"Cam?" Blaze answers, the music and voices in the background telling me he's at the clubhouse. "Everything okay?"
Lightning flashes, making me flinch. "No," I admit, my voice breaking. "I need help. Eric's back."
There's a pause, then, "I'll be right over."
"No," I say quickly. "Not tonight. Emily's asleep, and I don't want to scare her. But tomorrow... I need to figure somethingout. He's been watching us, Blaze. He knows where we live, what Emily looks like... He wants to take her."
"That ain't happening," my brother growls, his voice hard with promise. "I'll talk to the guys. We'll figure something out."
"Thank you," I whisper, relief washing over me despite the storm still raging outside.
"Lock your doors, Cam. I'll call you in the morning."
After we hang up, I check all the locks again then peek in on Emily. She's sleeping peacefully, unaware of the danger lurking outside our little sanctuary. I brush a strand of dark hair from her face, so like mine, and press a kiss to her forehead.
"I'll keep you safe," I promise her, my voice barely audible over the storm. "No matter what it takes."
I settle into the armchair in the corner of her room, unwilling to leave her alone tonight. The storm continues outside, each thunderclap making me tense, but I force myself to focus on my daughter's peaceful breathing instead.
Tomorrow, I'll figure out what to do about Eric. Tomorrow, I'll be stronger. But tonight, I keep watch, a sentinel against the storm both outside and the one brewing in our lives.
As lightning flashes again, illuminating Emily while she’s sleeping, I make another silent promise: Eric will never touch her. I'll die before I let that happen.
CHAPTER TWO
storm
The smell of whiskey, weed, and leather fills the air of the clubhouse as I lean against the bar, watching the brothers enjoy their Friday night. Shadow's busy playing pool with Digger, both men arguing over a shot that may or may not have been legal. Same shit, different day.
"Another?" Cruz asks, holding up a bottle of Jack.
I nod, pushing my empty glass toward him. "Keep 'em coming."
He refills my glass with a knowing smirk. "Rough day?"
"Just the usual," I reply, taking a swig. The liquor burns a familiar path down my throat, settling warm in my gut. "Nothing I can't handle."
The truth is, the day's been a fucking nightmare. A deal with one of our suppliers went south, and I spent most of the afternoon cleaning up the mess. Being an enforcer for the Fury Vipers means I'm one of the brothers they call when shit hits the fan. Today, it hit hard.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out, not recognizing the number flashing on the screen. Normally, I'd ignore it, but something tells me to answer.
"Yeah?" I say, pressing the phone to my ear as I move toward a quieter corner of the room.
"Storm? It's Blaze."
I straighten up at the sound of our newest prospect's voice. "Blaze? The fuck you calling me for?"
There's a pause, and when he speaks again, his voice is tight with barely controlled anger. "I need help. It's my sister."
That gets my attention. I've never met Blaze's sister, but I've heard about her. Camryn Fletcher. Single mom. Works at some fancy office downtown. She keeps her distance from the club, which is why I've never laid eyes on her despite Blaze prospecting for nearly a year now.
"What about her?" I ask, moving further away from the noise.
"She's in trouble. Her daughter's father showed up today after years of being gone. He's threatening to take the kid."
