Friday

Smiling, I stretched as I opened my eyes to see a beautiful sunny morning. While I wasn't sure what the day had in store for me, I felt better. Lighter, freer in a way. Maybe it was talking to Hawk or maybe it was because I had three new manly men for my club.

Who knew?

All I knew was that Hawk was right.

Yeah. I kinda choked on that, too.

Anyway, he was right.

I couldn't give up now. I'd come too far to just walk away from everything. Besides, even if I lost, I still won because there was no way the brothers would ever win against what I had planned for them.

Tomorrow was D-Day.

Which meant today was setting up and working out every detail.

As King once told me… "no soldier goes into battle without a plan!"

And boy howdy, did I have a plan.

After brushing my teeth and getting dressed, I headed downstairs to find the front doors open and King sitting on the steps.

Curious, I walked over to him and sat down.

"Purdy mornin'."

"Yes, it is."

"Why you out here all alone?"

"Just thinking."

"About what?"

"About how happy I was as a kid growing up here. I loved everything about Rosewood, from every season to all the tourists. There was always something happening. I want my kids to have the same experience I had. Did I ever tell you I grew up in this clubhouse? I didn't have a regular house like you have with your sister and Pyro. My room was upstairs. In fact, Scribe is sleeping in what was my room, until I took over the club and moved into my parents' room. Never really saw the need for a proper house."

"You thinking of having Pyro build you one now?"

"Maybe," he mused, taking a sip of his coffee. "Got Rose now, and who knows what the future will bring? Don't you think a house would be better to raise a family in?"

"Hell no!" I scoffed. "Ain't nuttin' better than the clubhouse. This place is the bomb. Most of the brothers still live here. Hell, Pyro built Gunner and Sarah that big house and they don't even live there. Besides, if it gets too crowded, you've got all those cabins out back that no one really uses."

"That's true." King nodded.

"Cameron!" Sugar shouted for me. "Breakfast!"

Getting to my feet, I slapped my hand down on King's shoulder. "For what it's worth. I don't think Bailey wants a house. She likes it here. If I were you, I'd stay put. I wouldn't wanna upset that Betty."

King smirked. "Roger that."

"How many more we got?" Benny huffed while we lugged more sandbags over to the greenhouse. There was still a lot to do before tomorrow, and I refused to let anything get in my way.

With the brothers on high alert, I wasn't going to leave anything to chance.

"Only a few more," I huffed, dragging another sandbag closer to the greenhouse.

"They are watching us," Benny whispered.

Looking over my shoulder, I shrugged. "Let them."

Leaning against the back of the clubhouse, Enigma, Banks, and Hawk watched us intently, muttering to themselves. When Scribe and Frank stepped out the back door, both men stopped and stared.

I really didn't need the sandbags.

I was using them as a diversion.

Something to throw the brothers off the scent. I knew the brothers were all curious about what I had planned.

But this was war.

Since I considered myself a master strategist, I couldn't just give them what they wanted. That would be stupid on my part, and let's face it.

I wasn't stupid.

Looking at my spiderman watch, I grinned.

By this time tomorrow, I would reveal everything, and then they would understand the deep doo-doo they were in. And may God have mercy on their souls, because this time tomorrow, they would never underestimate me again.

"That was the last bag," Benny declared with a huff, stretching his back as he looked around. "What's next?"

"The mud pit near the far cabin."

"I'll go get the Dawn Liquid detergent."

"I'll go get the hose and meet you over there."

"CAMERON!"

Sighing, I hung my head and groaned. "What does he want now?"

"I don't know, but he looks pissed."

Heading toward the back door, I spotted King standing with his arms crossed over his chest as all the brothers smiled or snickered.

Laugh it up, fuzzballs. Your day of reckoning is coming.

When I was a few feet away from King, I stopped, squared my shoulders, and smiled up at him. "Yeah."

King glared. "Mr. Johnson is here for you."

"Really!" I chirped happily, rushing past King and the others as I made a beeline for the main room. Placing another box on top of another was the Postmaster of Rosewood.

"Good afternoon, Cameron."

"Hi, Mr. Johnson," I greeted merrily as I scanned the boxes. "How many are there?"

"Eight of them. Just like you said."

"Cool!" I said, looking at the boxes and smiled, seeing my name on the label.

"Just need you to sign here." Mr. Johnson smirked, shaking his head as he held out a clipboard and pen. Taking it, I carefully wrote my name. I was still learning cursive, and I wanted my signature to look official. So I took my time, making sure I wrote it perfectly. When I was done, I handed the pen and clipboard back to Mr. Johnson and then shook his hand.

"Thank you."

Mr. Johnson chuckled. "You have a great day, Cameron."

"I will!"

Standing there, I looked at all the boxes and couldn't wait to tear into them.

Tomorrow was going to be the best day ever!

King cleared his throat, getting my attention.

Slowly turning, every brother in the club, including Priest, was present as they all looked directly at me.

"Want to tell me what's in the boxes?" King asked.

"No."

King narrowed his eyes, then inquired, "Where did you get the money, Cameron?"

"Can't tell you."

"Can't or won't?"

"Both?" I shrugged, smirking.

"Scribe, open a box."

"You can't!" I shouted, throwing my arms out protectively. "They are addressed to me. It's against the law to open someone else's mail!"

Scribe stopped and looked at King. "He's right."

"I don't give a damn. I want to know what's in those boxes."

"What's going on?" My sissy chose that exact moment to walk in with Milo in her arms, along with Bailey and Jamison.

"Oh!" Jamie smiled, looking at the boxes. "They're here. I'll go find Benny and get the wagon."

"And hurry," I muttered. "'Cause King's on the warpath."

"Hold it right there, Jamison!" King ordered. "Do you know what's in the boxes?"

Jamie gulped, looked at me, then Bailey, before nodding. "Yes, sir."

"What's in the boxes, son?"

"Can't tell you. It's manly business."

"Those boxes aren't going anywhere, Cameron, until you tell me what you ordered and who paid for them," King demanded firmly as Jamie ran out of the clubhouse.

My sissy frowned, then handed Milo over to Pyro while Bailey looked at all the boxes, and when her eyes scanned the shipping label, she started laughing.

"Oh, this is priceless."

Oh shit.

She knew what was in the boxes.

"This isn't funny, Cupcake. I want to know where the kid got the money to buy whatever it is he bought."

Staring at Bailey, I wondered if she would rat me out.

Then the unthinkable happened.

Because right in front of everybody, Bailey leaned over and whispered so only I would hear, "I want in."

I smarted, smiled, then nodded.

Rubbing her hands together, she smiled as she moseyed over to King, running her finger down his chest. "Where is Rose?"

King gulped. "Taking a nap."

"Good." Bailey grinned, grabbing his hand, walking him toward his office.

Rolling my eyes, I turned away from the brothers when Jamie and Benny rolled our wagon through the front door. Not wanting to waste another minute, the three of us got to work, loading every box into the wagon. And when we were done, I looked back to see the brothers glaring at me.

Blowing them a kiss, I saluted. "Suckers!"

Benny, Jamie, and I spent the rest of the afternoon going through the boxes, taking inventory, and then deciding which ones we wanted and which ones we were going to let the brothers use. In the end, Jamie, Benny, and I chose the biggest, figuring that since most of the brothers were technically trained Marines, and they had the tactical advantage.

We needed every logistical advantage we could get.

Because no matter how many times I ran the numbers, it all came down to me and King.

And let's face it.

He was way bigger than me.

It was close to dinnertime when we finished setting everything up. I was proud of what we'd accomplished. While I was still worried about the little things, I knew there was nothing more I could do.

Only time would tell if I'd covered all my bases.

Heading back inside, I passed my sissy and a few of the other Bettys cooking up a storm. Okay, maybe I should clarify. Sugar was cooking, while my sissy and a few others kept Sugar company.

I loved my sissy, but the Betty couldn't cook shit.

She burned things.

Like water.

It was a wonder Pyro and I weren't skin and bones.

"Dinner will be in an hour, Cameron," Sugar said, putting a casserole looking dish in the oven. "Go find Ben and make sure the both of you are cleaned up."

"Yes, ma'am."

Walking out of the kitchen, I passed King's office when I heard him say, "Get in here, Cameron."

Hanging my head, I groaned, turned, and walked into the man's office.

"Whatever you think I did, I didn't."

Leaning back in his chair, King smiled. "And what is it you think I think you did?"

Shrugging, I flat-out refused to answer that question.

More importantly, I was trying to figure out if it was actually a legitimate question? It was confusing as hell, but I was almost positive it wasn't.

"Take a seat, son."

"Sugar told me I had to clean up."

"You can do that after. Now sit."

Shrugging, I took a seat.

"What did you do today?"

"Stuff."

"I see." He grinned. "I remember those days. Stuff was always on the menu."

"Then we're good," I smarted, getting to my feet. "Nice talk."

King growled and pointed to the chair. "Sit down."

Taking my seat again, I sat.

"I thought we could talk."

"About what?"

"The brothers know you're planning something, kid. I'm not sure if you noticed or not, but all of them are cagey around you."

I smirked at that.

"I had noticed."

"As a president of a motorcycle club, it's always good to keep your crew on their toes, however it's not good that they fear you. You need to garner their respect."

"That include you?" I challenged.

King nodded.

"Then explain to me why you don't trust me."

"Excuse me?"

"This summer. You shackled the knuckle draggers to me. Why?"

I knew he wouldn't tell me the truth, but I had to try.

Nothing wrong with giving the man every chance to make it right.

Should have known I was wasting my time.

"Your sister is married to my brother. She needed you safe. Plus, the brothers had a lot to do this summer, and I didn't want them distracted. Even you have to admit, you can be a handful sometimes."

Taking a deep breath, I crossed my arms over my chest. "I see, so you did it so I wouldn't be in the way."

"That's not what I meant, Cameron."

Getting to my feet, I shook my head, heading for the door. "No. It's alright. I get it. I'm a pain in the ass. I'm not family. You were crystal clear at the hospital. Got it. At least now I know where I stand."

"Cameron—"

Turning to face the man I admired most in the world, I whispered, "You know something, King. Out of everyone around here, I thought you would understand. We're a lot alike, you and me. Guess I was wrong."

Dinner was loud, entertaining, and rowdy as usual.

The only one who seemed disturbed by that fact was King.

I knew our talk bothered him.

That was my intention.

It was the only way to keep him off his game.

Kind of like PSYOP-warfare.

If he thought I would just come out and spill my guts, he was dumber than I gave him credit for.

And let's face it.

King was no dummy.

He was the smartest brother in the club, next to me, followed closely by Frank.

The longer dinner dragged on, the more agitated King became.

Good thing for him, I was the only one who noticed.

Maybe I was taking this war a smidge too far, but I learned the more stubborn the man, the harder they fell.

And let's face it, unless someone slapped King upside the head, he would never figure it out. While Bailey was the only one with enough balls to physically smack the man, us others, well, we needed to be creative.

And I was all about the creativity.

Yet, sitting in my seat, I wondered if he was ready.

I mean, Bailey did just have Rose. He was still learning how to be a dad. I wasn't really worried about him. I knew he would be an awesome dad. Hell, if he could corral this lot, taking me on would be a piece of cake. I could help him, if he would let me, but before I could do that, I needed to know how he really felt.

I guess that was the biggest mystery.

Would King want me as a son?

My real dad thought I was awesome. Sissy even said so. It sucked monkey balls he died, but if my real dad trusted King to be my godfather, then who was I to argue.

I was truthful with my sister. I needed a dad. Someone who I could talk to, who would understand and teach me to be the man I was destined to be, and there was no one better than King. He was my goal. The man I wanted to be like when I got older. I needed him to teach me everything he knew. But that would never happen if he never learned to respect me.

King was right about one thing.

Respect went both ways.

Respect was earned.

And until I earned his respect, he would never see me as an equal.

"What do you mean, you're leaving tonight?" Gunner whined, getting everyone's attention as Sarah sighed.

"It's only for the night, Gunner. Geez. My parents have the right to spend time with their grandkids."

"Then they can make an appointment!" the brother cried. "My babies need me!"

"We will be back tomorrow. You will survive one night without them."

"What if Cassie starts walking? Little Mikie won't sleep in some strange bed, and what about Bethy? She needs her daddy snuggles."

"You are more than welcome to come." Sarah grinned, challenging Gunner, knowing damn well the man would rather chew off his own hand before staying the night under Mike's roof.

"Yeah, Gunner." Bailey chuckled. "Mike would love to have you under his roof for the night."

"So he can kill me in my sleep!" Gunner snapped. "I think not!"

"My dad won't kill you." Sarah groaned.

"You sure about that? Because, just yesterday, he tackled me to the ground before slapping cuffs on me and threw me in jail for jaywalking!"

Bailey threw her head back and laughed. "That was some funny shit, too. You cried like a little bitch the whole time."

"I did not!"

"When can we expect Henley and Claudia to come home?" King asked, quickly changing the subject.

"Not for a few days at least," Scribe spoke up. "Henley is still healing from her C-section."

Frank nodded, adding, "And Lidi needs rest."

"And the nursery?"

"All finished," Sugar confirmed. "Bailey, Sarah, Beth, and I took care of everything."

"Good," King said, getting to his feet. "We all need to rest up, ‘cause when they come home, they are going to need our help. So, rest up while you can."