Chapter Four

As dinner came to an end, Shadow felt a pang of sadness. He wished he could prolong the moment just a little longer.

There was something about Camilla that intrigued him, something he couldn't quite put into words. He wanted to get to know her better, to unravel the mysteries that surrounded her.

Shadow knew he had only scratched the surface. After disposing of their food wrappers and drinks, Shadow turned to Camilla.

"Good night and sweet dreams, Camilla," he said.

"Same to you," she replied.

As he turned to leave, he heard the soft sound of her footsteps behind him. Curiosity piqued, he halted, turning back to face her.

Before he could utter a word, Camilla surprised him by reaching out and grasping the collar of his leather jacket. Standing on tiptoe, she pressed her lips to his. Shadow felt a rush of emotion flood through him, igniting a fire that burned brighter than any he had ever known.

He tugged her close, resting his hand on the curve of her spine. When he pushed his tongue down her throat, she sucked down hard on it. His pants felt unbearably tight. All he wanted to do was drag her to bed, put his mouth and hands to work, and hear her whimper, but Shadow held back.

Shadow reluctantly released Camilla from their kiss, his heart pounding in his chest as he fought against the overwhelming desire to stay by her side.

"You already thanked me earlier," Shadow said, voice harsh.

Camilla bit down on her lower lip, searching his face for something—reassurance, perhaps.

"Was I … no good?" she asked hesitantly. At that moment, wearing nothing but that robe, she looked incredibly vulnerable to him.

"Not at all," Shadow told her. "But you've been through hell. The last thing I want to do is take advantage of you."

Shadow reached out and gently tucked a stray strand of hair behind Camilla's ear, his touch lingering against her skin for a fleeting moment. Despite what he felt toward her, he knew he had to respect her boundaries and give her the space she needed to heal.

It was hard to tear himself away from her and leave the room, but with a heavy heart, Shadow finally forced himself to step back. He flashed her a strained smile, before he turned and left.

Shadow rode back to the MC clubhouse in a somber mood. Today's events had also left him exhausted. He wanted to unwind with a couple of beers at the bar before calling it a night. He had already ordered his drink when Rooster tapped him on the shoulder.

" Breaker wants to see us," Rooster told him.

Nodding in acknowledgment, Shadow took a sip of his beer before following Rooster to Breaker's office.

He couldn't help but wonder if Breaker would be angry with them for getting sidetracked from the original mission. It was a distinct possibility.

As they approached Breaker's office, Rooster knocked on the door.

"Come in," Breaker's voice called out from within.

Well, at the very least, Breaker still sounded sober.

Breaker listened intently as Rooster and Shadow recounted their version of the events that transpired during the mission.

His expression remained impassive, but his piercing gaze seemed to bore into Shadow as he spoke.

"By not sticking to the mission objectives, your actions might've led to the death of yourselves and others, if the Reapers' reinforcements had arrived," Breaker said.

It was a harsh reality check, one that Shadow had anticipated, but it still stung to hear it spoken aloud. Shadow knew Breaker to be fair, but he also knew their actions had put everyone at risk. However, he firmly believed they had made the right choice in rescuing the women, even if it meant deviating from Priest's orders.

"We took a risk," Shadow admitted. "But it paid off. Rooster and I might've questioned Priest's authority, but if he found the women first, he would've done the same and rescued them."

Breaker raised an eyebrow at Shadow's bold assertion.

"That's your stand?" he asked.

Shadow nodded firmly. If given the chance, he would make the same decision again without hesitation.

As he defended his actions to Breaker, his thoughts drifted to Camilla. He wondered if she was sleeping peacefully in her room or if the traumas of her past haunted her dreams. Her words echoed in his mind, particularly the comment about being accustomed to bad men. It struck a chord with Shadow, leaving him with a lingering sense of unease. What had she meant by that?

"Very well, I'll take your words into consideration, but for now I need to put you two on probation," Breaker said.

Beside him, Rooster let out a low groan of frustration, but Shadow remained composed, accepting the consequences of their actions.

"Since you two were prospects, it's been hammered into your brains that we follow a certain chain of command in the club," Breaker reminded them.

Shadow wasn't disappointed by Breaker's decision. In fact, he respected it and understood the necessity of holding them accountable for their actions. If Breaker let this incident slide, it could set a dangerous precedent within the club. The other bikers might think it was okay to question authority. Shadow and Rooster needed to be set as an example.

"I understand the reasoning for your actions, but my decision is final," Breaker concluded.

It was a dismissal, and Shadow and Rooster exited the office. Rooster looked slightly dejected, and Shadow couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for dragging him into this mess. Shadow gave his shoulder a pat.

"Come on, let me treat you to a beer," he suggested, hoping to lift Rooster's spirits.

They ended up having a few drinks and playing cards with the other bikers. But as the night wore on, exhaustion crept in, and soon they found themselves bidding farewell to each other and making their way to their respective rooms.

" Thanks for the drink, Shadow," Rooster said.

As Shadow stumbled upstairs, his limbs heavy with fatigue, he couldn't help but feel grateful for the familiar comfort of his room.

With a sigh, he kicked off his boots and collapsed onto the bed, the mattress offering a welcome respite to his tired body. He didn't even have the energy to peel off his clothes, opting instead to let them remain where they were as he drifted off into a deep slumber.

In the darkness of his room, the image of Camilla lingered in his mind, her face hauntingly beautiful as she appeared in his dreams.

In Shadow's dream, he found himself standing on the edge of a vast ocean, the waves crashing against the rocky cliffs below. The air was heavy with the scent of salt and brine, and the sound of the sea echoed in his ears like a haunting melody.

As he gazed out at the endless expanse of water, he saw her standing on the shore, her figure illuminated by the soft glow of the moon. Camilla.

She looked like some forgotten goddess. Her long hair billowed in the breeze, and her eyes were full of warmth. Camilla smiled at him and Shadow was a goner. Shadow felt a magnetic pull, drawing him closer to her.

He hesitated, torn between the safety of the shore and the allure of her presence. But in the end, he couldn't resist her call. With a sense of exhilaration and trepidation, he plunged into the dark waters.

****

As Shadow stirred awake, the remnants of his dream clung to his mind like cobwebs. The unnerving dream ended with Shadow, washing up on a sandy beach with Camilla.

He could still feel the sand clinging to his skin as he rolled on top of her. She had smiled up at him in invitation as he pressed his aching cock against her slick pussy. As he kissed her, he entered her and she felt amazing and warm. A perfect fit.

" Just a dream," he muttered to himself.

Besides, Camilla might not even be ready for that. Fine with him. Shadow could be patient when it came to Camilla. He needed to know her plans first, though.

If she wasn ' t ready to contact her family and friends, he could convince her to stay in Hanging Grove for a little while. Here, he could keep a close watch on her.

Shadow would certainly make sure no one would bother or hurt her again.

Sitting up groggily, he rubbed his eyes and felt the stickiness of sweat clinging to his skin. With a grunt, he dragged himself out of bed and stumbled into the shower room. Under the spray of hot water, the fog in his mind began to clear. As he scrubbed away the grime of the previous day, he found himself formulating a plan.

Camilla's face flashed in his mind, and he remembered her wearing the motel's robe the night before. It struck him that she probably didn't have any belongings of her own. Once out of the shower and dressed, Shadow resolved to do something about it. He would ask some of the old ladies in the clubhouse if they could spare some clothes for Camilla and the other women.

Maybe Rooster would lend a hand too—since he had plenty of free time like Shadow. He made his way downstairs, the scent of brewing coffee greeting him. After grabbing a cup in the kitchen, Shadow joined the other bikers in the common area, his mind still focused on his plan. He spotted Rooster chatting with a few other bikers.

He approached his friend. " You free today?" Shadow asked him.

Rooster scratched his head. " I guess I am. What ' s up? "

Shadow filled him in. Rooster nodded in agreement, offering to help however he could.

Together, they approached some of the old ladies in the clubhouse, explaining the situation and asking if they could spare any clothes for Camilla and the other women.

The women were more than willing to help, and soon they had a pile of donated clothes ready to go. With the clothes sorted, Shadow and Rooster headed out to grab breakfast for everyone.

As they rode to the nearest diner, Shadow realized he wanted to make sure Camilla felt safe, even in this unfamiliar environment.

After grabbing breakfast, Shadow made a quick stop at a nearby store to pick up a cheap cell phone for Camilla. He knew it wasn't much, but it would give her a way to contact him—or anyone else—whenever she needed.

They then returned to the motel with their supplies. As they parked their motorcycles in the parking lot, they were surprised to find Priest and a prospect already there, deep in conversation. He was guessing that meeting with Breaker last night was just for show if Priest was here. Unless Breaker sent him. No, Priest was probably here of his own accord.

"We're arranging transports for Elena and Mary," Priest explained as he glanced up from his discussion. "They made contact with their family yesterday, and they're going home today."

Shadow nodded in understanding. It was good news, knowing that some of the women would be reunited with their loved ones soon. The selfish part of him was a little relieved Camilla had been reluctant to contact anyone.

Noticing the clothes and breakfast supplies, Priest nodded in approval.

"Good call. Hey, Ernie," Priest acknowledged the prospect who had accompanied him. "Help them distribute the food and clothes."

" Sure thing, Priest," Ernie replied.

As Priest excused himself, Rooster turned to Shadow with a grin.

"Go see your girl. Ernie and I can manage here," he said, clapping Shadow on the back.

"Thanks, Rooster," Shadow replied before making his way to Camilla's room.

What if she was no longer there? Shadow realized she could've snuck off the night before and … no. He was probably overthinking things. He knocked on her door and waited.