Page 11 of Haunted By the Storm
I turn to find Emily standing there, clutching a book to her chest, her big hazel eyes, just like her mother's, staring up at me with unabashed curiosity.
"Emily!" Camryn admonishes, shooting her brother a glare where he stands down the hall.
I crouch down to the kid's level, meeting her gaze directly. "Your uncle's right," I tell her seriously. "I can be scary when I need to be. But you know what?"
She shakes her head, eyes wide.
"I'm only scary to people who deserve it," I say, keeping my voice gentle. "People who try to hurt others. People who don't play fair."
She considers this, her little face screwed up in concentration. "Like bad guys?"
"Exactly like bad guys."
"Mom says there are no such things as bad guys," she informs me. "Just people who make bad choices."
I glance up at Camryn, who's watching our interaction with an expression I can't quite read. "Your mom's a smart lady," I say, turning back to Emily. "But sometimes, people make really, really bad choices, and when that happens, someone needs to step in and make sure they don't hurt anyone."
"Is that what you do?" she asks. "Step in?"
"Sometimes," I say, deciding honesty is the best approach with this perceptive kid. "When I'm needed."
She nods solemnly then holds out her book to me. "Can you read this? Mom says we're going on an adventure, and I always read this when we go on adventures."
I take the book, it’s some story about a princess who rescues herself, and nod. "Sure thing, kiddo. We can read it when we get there."
She beams at me, and something in my chest tightens unexpectedly. I've never been particularly drawn to kids, but there's something about this little girl that gets to me. Maybe it's knowing what she came from, or maybe it's just her inherent brightness, untouched by the darkness of her origins.
"Emily, honey, go with Uncle Blaze and get your toothbrush and hairbrush from the bathroom," Camryn says. "We need to finish packing."
Once the kid is out of earshot, she turns to me. "Thank you for being honest with her. She hates being talked down to."
"Kids usually do," I say, standing back up to my full height. "They're smarter than we give 'em credit for."
She studies me for a moment, then returns to her packing. "So, this clubhouse... There are other children there?"
"Yeah," I confirm. "Ace has twins, though they're just babies. But there's Sera, Ruby, Elouise, and some of the other brothers have kids who visit regularly. Emily won't be the only child there."
This seems to comfort her a bit. "And she'll be safe? Really safe?"
"Camryn," I say, my voice serious enough that she looks up at me. "I swear to you, there is no safer place for your daughter than a being surrounded by a bunch of bikers who would die before letting anything happen to a child. That's a promise."
She holds my gaze for a long moment, searching for any sign of deception. Finally, she nods. "Alright. I think we're about ready."
"Good," I say, checking my watch. "I've got Shadow and Digger outside keeping an eye out, but I'd rather not stay in one place too long right now."
She looks up sharply. "You think Eric's watching the house?"
"I think we need to assume he is," I say carefully. "Better safe than sorry."
She nods again, her jaw set in determination as she shoulders the duffel bag. "Emily!" she calls. "Time to go!"
The kid comes running in, backpack now filled and swinging from one arm. Blaze follows behind with a toothbrush still in its travel case.
"Forgot this," he says, handing it to Camryn.
"Thanks," she says, tucking it into the duffel. She takes a deep breath and looks around the room one last time. "Okay. Let's do this."
Outside, my brothers are leaning against their bikes, scanning the street with practiced casualness that doesn't fool me for a second. They're on high alert.
