Page 43 of Haunted By the Storm
At the gate, Ace, Mayhem, and Cruz form a solid line, facing outward toward the three men standing beside a black SUV. I approach, positioning myself between Ace and Mayhem, Shadow and Digger falling in behind me. The message is clear: I may be the one they asked for, but I don't stand alone.
"You wanted to talk," I call out to the scarred man, who seems to be the leader. "So talk."
He steps forward, stopping just on the other side of the gate. Up close, the scar on his face looks even more brutal; a jagged line that runs from his left temple down to his jaw, puckered and white against his tan skin.
"Mr. Cantlay sends his regards," he says, his voice carrying a slight accent I can't quite place. "He's impressed with your... enthusiasm for protecting the woman and her child."
"Didn't come out here for compliments," I reply flatly. "What does Cantlay want?"
"To make a deal. Eric Mason owes Mr. Cantlay fifty thousand dollars, plus interest. Mr. Cantlay is willing to forgive this debt in exchange for certain considerations."
I raise an eyebrow. "I'm listening."
"Mr. Cantlay has business interests that occasionally require... diplomatic intervention. The Fury Vipers have a reputation for effectiveness in such matters. He proposes an exchange of services."
So that's the play. Cantlay wants to use the MC as muscle for his loan shark operation. Not an unusual arrangement in our world, but not one we enter into lightly, especially not under these circumstances.
"And if we decline?" I ask, though I already know the answer.
The scarred man shrugs, a casual gesture at odds with the tension in his posture. "Then Mr. Cantlay will be forced topursue his debt by other means. Starting with Ms. Fletcher and her daughter."
A cold rage sweeps through me at the thinly veiled threat, and I feel Mayhem tense beside me, ready to move if I give the signal. But I keep my expression neutral, my voice level.
"Let me make something very clear," I say, stepping closer to the gate. "Camryn Fletcher and her daughter are under my personal protection. Under the club's protection. Any move against them will be considered a declaration of war against the Fury Vipers. Is Mr. Cantlay prepared for that?"
The scarred man's eyes narrow slightly, measuring my resolve. "Mr. Cantlay has many resources at his disposal."
"So do we," I counter. "But unlike Cantlay, we're not businessmen. We don't calculate profit margins or weigh risks against rewards. We're bikers. We operate on principle. And one of our principles is that no one threatens our family."
"The woman is not your family," he argues. "She's not even your old lady."
"She's mine," I state, the words carrying a weight that surprises even me. "And that's all you need to know."
The scarred man studies me for a long moment then nods slowly. "I'll convey your position to Mr. Cantlay. But understand that this places you in a difficult situation. Eric Mason still owes a debt. Someone must pay it."
"We'll handle Eric," I tell him. "Your boss will get his money, but not from Camryn or through threats against her. Tell Cantlay if he wants to maintain his current business arrangements in this territory, he'll back off. Immediately and permanently."
It's a bold claim given that Cantlay operates independently of the MC, but not an empty one. We have alliances, connections that could make his life very difficult if properly leveraged.
The scarred man seems to understand this because after a moment's consideration, he nods again. "I'll deliver your message. But I can't guarantee Mr. Cantlay will be satisfied with these terms."
"Then he can come talk to me himself," I suggest, knowing full well it's unlikely. Men like Cantlay prefer to operate through intermediaries, keeping their own hands clean. "In the meantime, I don't want to see you or any of his other men anywhere near Camryn or her daughter. Are we clear?"
"Crystal," he replies, the word clipped and cold. He signals to his companions, and they begin to retreat toward their vehicle. Before he joins them, he turns back to me. "One more thing. Mr. Cantlay is curious why you're so invested in this woman. What makes her special enough to risk a war over?"
The question catches me off guard, not because I don't know the answer, but because I'm not sure I want to examine it too closely myself.
"That's my business," I say finally. "Not Cantlay's."
He accepts this with a small nod then walks back to the SUV. We watch in silence as they drive away, tail lights disappearing into the night.
"Think they'll back off?" Digger asks once they're gone.
"For now," I say, still watching the empty road. "Cantlay's smart. He'll weigh his options before making a move."
"And when he does?" Mayhem prompts.
"We'll be ready." I turn to Ace. "We need to reach out to Makenna Gallagher, see if the Irish have any leverage with Cantlay. And we need to find Eric. He's the root of this problem, it's time to pull it out."
