Page 28 of Haunted By the Storm
"The best fun! Can I play with Sera and Ruby all day? Please?"
I glance at Octavia, who gives me an encouraging nod. "If it's okay with Octavia, then yes, you can play for a while. But at some point we need to do a little schoolwork."
Emily's face falls slightly at the mention of schoolwork, but she recovers quickly. "Okay! But can we do the schoolwork after the volcano?"
"Deal," I agree, unable to resist her enthusiasm.
As the girls return to their game, Octavia approaches with a fresh cup of coffee. "They're getting along well," she observes.
"Thanks to you," I say gratefully. "It's good for her to have other kids around, especially now."
Octavia nods in understanding. "Children need normalcy, even in abnormal situations." She hesitates, then adds, "I hope you don't mind my asking, but... how are you holding up? Really?"
The genuine concern in her voice catches me off guard. It's been a long time since anyone other than my immediate family showed such interest in my wellbeing.
"I'm..." I start, then stop, unsure how to answer. "I'm taking it one hour at a time," I finally say. "I’m trying to keep it together for Emily."
"And for yourself?" she presses gently.
I shrug. "I haven't gotten that far yet."
She touches my arm briefly just as Effie comes to join us, the gesture both comforting and understanding. "When you do, remember you're not alone. All of us, Eda, Effie, Seri, and I, we've been through our own versions of hell. We get it."
"Eda mentioned something like that," I recall. "About all of you having bad situations in your past."
Effie's expression turns wry. "That's one way to put it. Let's just say these men didn't come into our lives because everything was sunshine and rainbows."
The parallel to my own situation isn't lost on me. "How did you know?" I ask, lowering my voice so the children can't hear. "How did you know you could trust them? That they weren't just trading one kind of danger for another?"
It's the question that's been haunting me since we arrived at the clubhouse. These men might be protecting us now, but they're still outlaws. Still dangerous. Still living outside the rules that govern normal society.
Effie considers my question seriously. "I didn’t," she admits. "Mayhem and I met when we were young. We fell madly in love and our relationship was everything, until it wasn’t. I loved him deeply, but I couldn’t trust him for a while because he wasstupidly trying to protect me. But never, not ever, have I felt unsafe and neither will you."
Her words resonate deeply, striking a chord I didn't realize was there. That's exactly how Storm makes me feel. Challenged, yes. Unsettled by his intensity, definitely. But never unsafe.
"They live by a different code than most people," Effie continues. "But it's still a code. Loyalty, protection, family—those aren't just words to them. They're a way of life."
Before I can respond, the sound of motorcycles starting up outside draws our attention. Through the window, I see several bikers preparing to leave, Storm among them. His face is set in grim determination as he pulls on his helmet, exchanging brief words with Shadow before mounting his bike.
"Where are they going?" I ask, unable to hide the concern in my voice.
Effie follows my gaze. "Club business, probably. They don't tell us everything."
A knot forms in my stomach as I watch Storm and the others ride out through the gates. There's only one piece of club business that would involve Storm right now:Eric.
"They'll be back soon," Effie assures me, misreading my expression. "In the meantime, why don't we set up that volcano experiment the girls are so excited about? It might help pass the time."
I nod, forcing a smile for Emily's benefit when she looks up excitedly at the mention of the volcano. But as I help gather supplies, my mind remains on Storm, wondering what exactlyclub businessentails and whether he'll return with blood on his hands.
And the most disturbing part? I'm not sure how I feel about that possibility.
The day goes quickly, with me occupied with the children’s activities. The volcano experiment is a resounding success, creating a foamy eruption that has all three girls shrieking with delight. We follow that with a drawing session, then a movie in the clubhouse's surprisingly well-appointed media room. Through it all, I maintain a cheerful facade for Emily's sake, but my attention keeps drifting to the window, watching for returning motorcycles.
By the time evening comes round, there's still no sign of Storm or the others. Emily, exhausted from a day of play, falls asleep during dinner, her head nodding forward onto her plate until I scoop her up and carry her upstairs to bed. She barely stirs as I change her into pajamas and tuck her in, just mumbles something about dinosaurs before falling back into deep sleep.
Alone now, with no need to pretend, I pace the room restlessly. The silence feels oppressive after a day filled with children's laughter. Thunder rumbles in the distance, another storm is approaching, and I wrap my arms around myself, fighting the familiar dread that rises with each rumble.
I consider seeking out Octavia, Effie, or Eda for company, but they're likely busy with their own families. Besides, I don't want to appear as needy as I feel. Instead, I decide to brave the clubhouse's main room, hoping the distraction of other people will keep my mind off both the approaching storm and the absent bikers.
