Page 50 of Haunted By the Storm
"That's what Storm said," I note, pouring coffee for us both.
"He's right. When Digger and I got together, I realized that being here has given not only me more brothers, but has given us women a family."
I consider this, remembering how easily Blaze accepted the MC lifestyle; how natural it seemed for him. "I never thought of it that way," I admit. "Blaze finding family here, not just brotherhood."
"That's exactly what it is," she says, her eyes softening. "Family. With all the dysfunction and drama that implies, but family nonetheless. When you join an MC, either as a brother or an old lady, you're never alone again."
"Old lady," I repeat, testing the term. "Is that what I am now? Storm's old lady?"
"That's up to you," she says carefully. "And to Storm. It's not a label that gets applied lightly. An old lady is a brother's partner, his equal, his other half. It means something in this world: protection, respect, commitment."
"Commitment," I echo, the word weighted with implications. "We haven't exactly discussed the future in those terms."
"But you've discussed it?"
I nod, thinking of our conversation this morning. "In vague terms. We’re taking it slow, figuring things out day by day. It's all so new, and with everything else going on..."
"I understand," Tavia assures me. "There's no rush. But Camryn, I want you to know something: Storm isn't the kind of man who does anything halfway. If he's let you in, if he's showing you and Emily who he really is, then he's all in. Whether he's said it explicitly or not."
Her words settle over me, confirming what I've sensed but haven't quite articulated to myself. Storm isn't playing at this relationship, testing the waters. He's committed, heart and soul, in a way that's as terrifying as it is exhilarating.
"That scares me a little," I confess. "The intensity of it all. I've never felt anything like this before; never let anyone get this close to me or Emily."
"It should scare you," she says frankly. "Love always does, especially when it comes with complications like ours. But, Camryn, speaking as someone who fought her feelings for a biker for far too long, take it from me: sometimes the scariest choice is the right one."
I study her face, seeing the wisdom born of experience and the contentment of someone who made that choice and found happiness despite the complications.
"Thank you," I say sincerely. "For checking on me, for the advice. It means a lot."
"That's what friends are for," she says, reaching across the table to squeeze my hand.
As she leaves and I go to check on Emily, I find myself thinking about the word family, and the way the MC has wrapped around us, protective and caring despite the danger that brought us here. Storm, Blaze, Effie, Eda, all the others, they've become something more than friends, more than protectors.
They've become family.
And as complicated, dangerous and unexpected as that might be, I'm beginning to think it might be exactly what Emily and I have been missing all along.
CHAPTER TWELVE
storm
"It's done."
Ace nods, taking in the information with his usual stoic calm. Around the chapel table, my brothers wear expressions ranging from satisfaction to grim acceptance. We've been workin on this for days; calling in favors, leveraging connections, applying pressure where needed.
"Cantlay agreed to the terms?" Digger asks, clearly surprised. Men like Cantlay rarely back down, especially not when money is involved.
"Not exactly," I admit, leaning back in my chair. "But Makenna Gallagher made him an offer he couldn't refuse."
Shadow chuckles darkly, understanding the implication. "The Irish really came through on this one."
"They did," I confirm. Makenna's intervention had been decisive, a mixture of financial incentives and threats that made it clear to Cantlay that pursuing Eric's debt through Camryn would cost him far more than the fifty grand he was owed. "Eric's debt has been transferred to the Irish. They'll collect from him directly."
"And Eric?" Mayhem asks, voicing the question on everyone's mind.
"Being handled," I say simply. No need to elaborate on what that means. The brothers understand Eric won't be bothering Camryn or Emily ever again. Whether he leaves town voluntarily or in a body bag depends entirely on his next move.
"So it's over," Ace states, a statement rather than a question. "Camryn and the kid can go home."
