by Debra Kayn
"Lay down, Cam." She unhooked her legs from his. "Please."
"Yeah." He squeezed his eyes closed, clearly fatigued, and peeked out of one eye on a grin. "That was good."
She snorted, shaking her head. "Sex could've waited, you know."
"Bull shit." He rolled off her and collapsed on the bed. "Though I think I'll rest for a few minutes."
She kissed him. "You catch your breath, and I'll go wash off and start your breakfast. Do you want a pain pill?"
"No." He ran his hand over his side. "I'm good."
She climbed over him, careful not to bump his upper body, and went into the bathroom. After taking a quick shower, she headed to the kitchen to make scrambled eggs and toast. She hummed while she poured the eggs into the skillet. Grabbing three plates, she carried them to the table and set them out.
The last plate fell out of her hand in Jeremy's spot at the table and clattered against the wood surface. His absence hit her upside the head. Everything about today screamed normal. She woke up with Cam. They had sex. She made breakfast.
She'd pushed the dire need to find Jeremy out of her head. Her throat closed and her jaw opened. God, how could she have forgotten?
The good mood Cam drew out of her in bed vanished. She grabbed the plate and carried it back to the cupboard. What if Jeremy decided never to return?
Legally, Jeremy could leave any time he wanted to because at eighteen years old the state classified him as an adult. She flipped the eggs. Cam wouldn't go to the sheriff's department for help in finding him, because he'd never want law enforcement officials in his business.
Too many people left her life under excruciating circumstances. She'd continue to hope Jeremy made the decision to come back to the house or at least talk things over with her before the Moroad members found him. If she let herself believe Jeremy would never come back, she'd have to accept she'd lost him.
Arms circled her waist. She leaned back into Cam's hard chest, caught herself, and removed the skillet from the stove.
"Stop pushing me away." Cam stepped over and eased himself down into his chair.
"I'm not." She dished up two plates, leaned down, and kissed him. "I'm taking care of you. There's a difference."
"I'm healed. My strength is coming back." Cam picked up his fork. "Where's the toast?"
"I'll make some." Christina stepped around the island and put four pieces of bread in the toaster. "So, you're doing okay after..."
"After I fucked you?" He grinned around a mouthful of scrambled eggs. "Yeah."
"Why don't you go to the doctor and have him check you out." She carried the butter to the table.
"I don't need any doctor to tell me how I'm feeling."
She sighed. "If I were you, I'd go."
"You're not me." He looked up at her. "If you were in my position, I'd make you go to the doctor. But, I'm not you. End of discussion."
The toaster popped. She turned around and muttered under her breath, "What an asshole."
"Are you serving attitude or toast?"
She glanced over her shoulder. "Both."
His brows rose, studying her, and then he shook his head. "Okay."
She carried the plate of toast to the table, taking the spot to Cam's left. Glancing over at the empty chair, her appetite fled and she stood up. "I forgot to make your coffee."
"Sit." He thunked his fist against the table. "Eat."
She slid back onto her chair and picked up her fork. If his bossiness was any indication of his health, he felt better than she imagined.
Cam watched her as he scooped a spoonful of egg on his second piece of toast. She took a bite of egg and chewed. Apparently, her obedience pleased him and he gave his attention back to finishing his food.
His need to command the moment never stopped her from watching him. Even after spending years getting to know each other, he remained an enigma. His club viewed him a man never to cross. Jeremy viewed him as someone to trust and model himself after. She received the gentler and deeply damaged version of Cam's personality.
Only with her had he allowed his different sides to merge, giving her the whole package. She picked up a piece of toast and nibbled the crust. He gave her an irresistible lover, a supportive best friend, and the security of a father.
Cam's cell vibrated and he shifted to his hip and dug the phone out of his pocket, glancing at the screen. "I need to take this."
He left the kitchen. She looked down at her almost empty plate, her stomach rolling. Because of him, she'd eaten more than she had in the last few days. She carried the dishes to the sink, rinsed them off, and loaded the dishwasher.
Raised voices caught her attention. She walked through the house and out onto the porch.
"You're putting a fucking target on your back." Bear held his hands out to his sides. "You can't expect us to stand around and let him put another piece of lead in you."
"What about the chain?" Meese lit a cigarette. "He knows everything. Are you going to trust him not to get us all killed in a gang war?"
"That's like letting Boo run Moroad inside the Cyclone fence." Johnson spit over the porch railing. "It's fucked up, man."
Cam listened to them all without answering the questions thrown at him. Christina stayed in the open doorway. Had they found Jeremy?
"He owes me and when he shows up, he'll be the one to explain his side. He knows the rules and every member on the outside will have a vote on whether you allow him to work for Moroad or not." Cam snapped his fingers, pointing at Meese.
Meese handed Cam his already lit cigarette. Christina rushed forward and grabbed Cam's wrist, plucking the smoke out of his hand and shoving it at Meese.
"What the hell?" Cam said.
"You can't smoke." She swallowed, needing to change the subject. "Are you talking about Jeremy?"
"Damn, woman," Cam muttered, glaring down at her.
She lifted her chin. "Well?"
"No." Cam mouth tightened. "Merk took me up on my offer. I made the call into my contact. Once he goes to court tomorrow, the club appointed lawyer will make sure Merk walks away."
The air escaped her lungs. She turned and walked toward the door.
"Hey, where are you going?" Cam asked.
She turned around, glanced at the Moroad members crowding her porch, and settled her gaze on Cam. "I'm going to clean. Then I'm going to mow the lawn. Don't anyone get in my way."
"Christina," Cam said his voice deep and demanding.
She ignored him and over her shoulder she said, "Someone move Cam's motorcycle off my grass."
She let the screen door slam behind her. Merk coming back to Federal scared her to death. He remained a threat to her family. She wouldn't give him another chance to kill Cam and by God, she'd never allow him to take Jeremy away from her.
Chapter Ten
A yellow taxi rolled down the dusty, gravel road and stopped at the edge of the driveway to Cam's house. Along with the twenty-six Moroad MC members living on the outside of the prison walls, Cam stood waiting for Merk's arrival. Usually a release from prison called for celebration.
Hard liquor, bon fire, and enough women to ease a man's ache after spending time locked away from society would be on hand. He'd send one of the members to the state pen to deliver an inmate's motorcycle to them and return to the house to party.
There would be no party, no celebration, and no privileges tonight. Merk's freedom came with a price. He'd get no favors until the club okayed his freedom.
One word. One negative vote. Merk would die on the grass in front of his MC brothers.
Merk stepped out of the taxi, nodded at the driver Cam already paid for, and peered at the welcome committee ready to get down to business. Cam inhaled the smoke wafting in the air, and settled into position.
If Merk expected another chance at killing him, he'd be mistaken.
Wearing the jeans and T-shirt he was arrested in, Merk kept his hands at his sides and his eyes on the crowd. Cam refused to step forward.
"We're holding a meeting now." Gunner handed Merk's vest to Stache. "Considering we all know what went down with the judge, we need answers on why you turned rat and shot our president."
"I'll let my president's view of the story stand. I have nothing to say." Merk held Cam's gaze.
"You might want to think about your answer again. I've given them the okay to dispose of you." Cam stepped forward. "Once you're done speaking your side, I'll explain to them why you're back without your shackles and what you're going to do for Moroad. Then we'll put you to vote. If the club votes you out, I'll be the one to put a bullet in your head. If your MC brothers vote to keep you, you're back in on probation."
Merk's mouth twisted and he turned to the others. "I betrayed my president by informing his woman that Cam held out on her, and she'd end up getting hurt."
"Nobody messes with Christina," Bear grumbled.
"You're right." Merk's chin lifted. "I was out of line."
"You shot him because you wanted his woman?" Johnson spit on the ground. "Are you fucking crazy?"
Merk shook his head. "I shot him for misleading her feelings. The Feds showed up and my hand was already dealt. Nobody had to tell me I was going to take the fall for the club. I knew it when I heard the sirens. I shot Cam to protect Christina, because I knew I was going to get locked up for life."
"Jesus Christ." Jacko laughed. "Are you saying you fell in love with Cam's chick?"
Cam swung his gaze to Jacko. "Respect."
"Sorry." Jacko held up his hands. "You fell in love with Christina?"
"I have no excuse. Cam came home. I started drinking. My past started messing with my head, and whether I started believing my own thoughts or not, I failed to put the club first. If you're looking for me to give you an excuse for what I did, I can't. I'll take my punishment."
"You don't drink," Johnson said.
Merk dipped his chin. "You're right. I try to stay away from drinking, because I don't know when to stop. I spiraled down."
"They've heard enough." Cam turned to his men. "Before I put Merk up for vote, I'll explain why I provided the evidence to get him out of prison."
Cam walked the line of men and returned to stand beside Merk. All eyes were on him, waiting for him to wash their brother of any crimes. Nobody liked to take out a member. However, no one would back down from doing his job.
"I need Merk to find Jeremy." Cam held up his hand to stop the questions. "The kid ran off, because he overheard Merk and me talking. Jeremy's not my kid. He's not my blood. I had fake DNA papers drawn up, presented them to the Silver Valley courthouse, and gained custody of someone else's kid. Jeremy found out I wasn't his real father and he took off."
"Shit," Bear whispered. "The boy worshipped you."
"Doesn’t matter the reason he ran. Jeremy broke the oath he took when he patched into Moroad. We take him out." Willy pointed toward town. "If one word gets out about the gun chain, we'll all be spending the rest of our lives in prison. I'm not going back, because some kid had a big mouth."
"I agree." Rash took off his T-shirt and tucked the end in his back pocket. "Moroad has continued to succeed, because we don't bend the rules. Every member knows it's all or fucking nothing. Jeremy pledged his life. We can take his life."
To speak up, Cam would weaken the club's decision. To bring another version of the story would leave his men questioning his role in leading the club. He forced himself to accept what the men were saying and let them express their anger.
Mayor, a recent release who had sat on death row and only walked out because Cam killed Judge Cranley, bargaining for his partition, rubbed his whiskered jaw. "I say we take out the kid and Merk. I don't forget."
"Son of a bitch." Meese ran his hand through his hair. "Each one of us took a pledge. Think of the club first. We need to keep everyone tight."
"Right." Cam shifted his weight off his bad knee. "In light of the new information, I'll explain how Merk's release comes into play. I've pulled a favor to get him out. That's on my back, not the club."
"What can't we do for you that Merk can?" Bear asked.
"I'm getting to that, Bear." Cam widened his stance. "Merk is Jeremy's blood uncle. Some of you might remember Merk's sister Roni. She hung around the club about twenty years ago."
"Roni?" Jacko frowned. "Yeah, she was best friends with Sarah."
Cam nodded. Of course, Jacko would remember. Ever since Los Li kidnapped Sarah and hauled her off to Mexico, Jacko remembered every single detail about his girl to try and find her. Unfortunately, it was too late. Sarah died staying loyal to Jacko and the club.
"Nineteen years ago when Merk got locked up, I agreed to send money to Roni on Merk's behalf while he was in prison. I continued to send money to Roni for sixteen years, until the envelopes started coming back unopened. I never questioned why Roni refused the money after accepting it for so long. That was Merk's business, not mine," Cam said.
"But you knew about Jeremy?" Bear asked.
"No. Again, she was Merk's sister and not my concern. Merk never said anything to me about his family and I only fulfilled a favor," Cam said.
Jacko shook his head in disbelief. "Yet, you ended up with Merk's nephew?"
"When I decided to bring fresh blood into the club by nabbing a foster kid on the verge of adulthood, Jeremy fit our need. His mother had died, and I knew her name as Veronica Aldridge, not Roni Tarmerk. She was a single mother with a bad drug habit. The kid would be better off with Moroad. It wasn't until I got locked up this last time that I figured out Veronica Aldridge was Merk's half-sister Roni and she went by a different last name."
"Okay, so the kid is his nephew. He's still a deserter." Bear's lip curled. "You can talk in circles, but the fact remains. Merk shot his president. His nephew left the club. All I see is a huge fucking cleanup within the club to get rid of the weaknesses."
Cam held up his hand. "By law, Jeremy's my son."
Willy grunted. "Bull shit. He's not your real son." "
Cam walked across the lawn and stood in front of Willy. "Take this as your first warning. Speaking out again will dock your pay for the next two weeks."
Willy dipped his chin in acknowledgement. Cam walked back to stand next to Merk. He preferred to keep Merk in sight and not give him the opportunity to shoot him in the back.
"Club rules state family will be protected at all cost, even our freedom," Cam said. "Because Jeremy is Merk's blood relative, we need to bring Jeremy back and let him face Merk. That means if Merk stays in the club, the take down order comes off Jeremy until he answers to Merk."
Cam gritted his teeth as a murmur went through the crowd. He hated handing over the power to Merk. Giving him any part of Jeremy's future sat wrong with him. Christina was the reason he decided to seek Merk's help.
He risked the future of the gun chain, his men, his freedom, his life. He promised her he'd bring Jeremy home alive, and that's what he'd do.
"Take a few minutes to discuss your thoughts." Cam looked at Merk. "Your trailer's open. Go inside while they talk it over. If you're looking for your extra guns to come out here and finish the job of killing me, I've locked them up in the house. Depending on the vote, you'll either get them back or you won't."
The muscle along Merk's jaw twitched, and he walked off without saying a word. Cam wandered over to the porch steps and leaned against the railing where he could keep an eye on his men and make sure Merk stayed inside the trailer. Behind him in the house, Christina sat waiting for him to come inside and inform her of the outcome of the vote.
If he lost her love, there wouldn't be a fucking thing he could do to get it back. He could spend the rest of his life keeping her locked in his damn bedroom, but what they had would never be the same. She might as well be gone if he broke every connection she had with him.
Split between his men, Christina, and doing what the club dictated put him in a precarious position. He constantly shifted ideas, plans, and actions to walk a better path. Life had
a way of making it impossible to achieve the level of goodness Christina set for him. He spent most of his time behind bars. He had a profile on him with the feds a mile long. Everywhere he went people walked the other way. That's how he liked living his life, but for Christina, she worried and wanted better for him.
He'd insisted he had things under control with the club, but the vote was out of his hands. He'd played against the rules, bent stories, and instigated a plan bigger than he realized. His confidence in his MC brothers playing into his favor waned. The kid's life was at risk.
His kid.
He'd worked the system to gain custody, and he wasn't going to give up the fight. Whatever it took, he'd make sure Jeremy stayed with him and Christina.
The Moroad members walked over to Cam. He took in the solemn expressions and the firm set of shoulders facing him. The muscles in his upper body flexed, proving once again his weakness. He regained more of his strength back each day, and yet his body still showed him he wasn't immune to the power shift going on in his front yard.
"Hell of a situation, Cam." Gunner took out his smokes. "From our standpoint, we had our president shot, his life threatened by our vice president, and a member who deserted the club. Our security and livelihood is threatened. Several of us are one-step away from serving a life sentence or getting the death penalty. We need to protect our freedom and doing so bends us over to get ass raped by our president."
Cam breathed through his nose, unwilling to give anything away. He needed to step in and sway the vote, but doing so would cause more damage to the moral of the club.
"We talked over the news of Jeremy being Merk's blood. While we think Merk's shit move toward you and his position is enough to put a bullet in his head, Jeremy's one of our own," Stache said.
"Club comes first." Bear grunted.
The pressure in Cam's chest eased. He nodded.
"We'll allow Merk to go after Jeremy and bring him back as long as two riders are with him at all times." Gunner glanced at the others. "We're not going to give Merk or Jeremy the chance to leave or fuck over our president again. They'll both return and we want another vote once their present and accounted for. Only then will we decide on how to handle their membership from here on out."
