Page 13 of Haunted By the Storm
"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 goingto 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."
