Chapter 19

Held fast in the grip of the muscular arms Cam quit struggling the moment she heard a laughing voice say:

"Hey pretty lady...wanna get laid by a real man?"

The second she heard that low gravelly voice Cam began laughing as well.

"I might, do you know any?" she answered, "Cause with you it would be incest, you old goat."

She laughed harder when the sight of her Uncle Cobra filled her vision as he grabbed her face gently and kissed his beloved niece. The arms holding her released her, only to have Cam spin around and wrap her arms around her Uncle Mountain's thick neck. Just like when she was a teenager, Cam jumped into his arms knowing he would catch her, he always did.

"Ah WC we've missed our little girl." the huge man said his regular voice thick with unrevealed emotions at seeing his niece again, "I'm so sorry baby, we tried but they had us hog tied."

She buried her face in his massive chest, crying with the confusing jumble of emotions swirling through her mind like a tornado. Cam sobbed even harder when she realized that these men had spent these last six years in a hell of their own, consumed with guilt at not being able to save her from being put in prison, then failing again at getting her out. It was almost more than they could take, and Cam knew how they probably sat alone never telling each other why they were feeling so bad, much less confiding their pain and anguish at having failed the little girl they love beyond anything known to mankind, it just wasn't their way.

"Oh Gods no!" she sobbed, "No Mountain please don't do this to yourselves, for Goddess sake no. It wasn't any of you, she fooled us all, if anyone is to blame here it's me I should have known better, but I was stupid and fell for a pretty face, I let everybody down."

"No WC it was just so frustrating is all." Mountain explained, "It's just, well, we tried everything we knew, but they had Cutter locked up, and they tried you, and put you in prison, before we found out they had you. Then well when we couldn't get you out, we all felt like we failed to protect our little girl, like we swore to you we always would."

"Alright but the blame has got to stop," Cam sniffed into his chest, "for me please. K?"

Mountain chuckled at his niece; he was sure if he didn't agree she'd give him the puppy eyes, and they both knew the big man always caved, when she gave him the sad puppy eyes. So he did the only thing a big bad biker could do, he surrendered.

"Oh alright WC, we will stop if you will." Mountain agreed as he felt Cobra slapping him hard on the shoulder. "Come on now WC, dry your tears, and let's go before Cobra has kittens."

She laughed at his statement; according to Mountain, everybody that rushed him was going to have kittens, that and the flustered look on Cobra's face just before he stuck his tongue out at the big man. A kind of sadness washed over her as she realized how much she had missed the way these two were always bickering in their friendly good-natured way.

Without setting her down, Mountain turned and followed his towering albino friend toward a small park across the highway from the prison. Keeping his "little girl" cradled safely in his powerful arms. Cam had no idea where they were taking her, but she didn't care as long as she was once more safe and warm in the comforting arms of her Uncle. For a moment she was back in a dark alley in Houston, she wept happily, as she thought about being carried in the arms of the man that always seemed to be carrying her away from the bad things, and into a brighter and safer future.

After a short while, she noticed that they had stopped moving and she could hear hushed voices like in a crowded movie theater. Reluctantly, she pulled her face out of her favorite hiding place, and after taking a deep breath through her nose savoring the comforting smells of leather, oil, and gasoline, with a touch of Old Spice and sweat that was the scent of her big powerful good-natured uncle. She turned from the comforting place and was shocked by what she saw.

The entire parking lot and most of the surrounding park was filled with bikes, vans, and people. Mountain set her on her feet. She took a couple of tentative steps and fell to her knees weeping uncontrollably at the display of love and loyalty from her friends. For the last six years, on her own orders, no one had been allowed to visit, call, or write her. It was easier that way for Cam to convince herself that nobody cared about her, which made it easier for her to put them out of her mind and concentrate on surviving her prison sentence without going insane. Now they were finally allowed to show their feelings for the popular young biker and they went all out.

Everyone that had known Cam and was called friend (or Bro) by her had gotten together to come all the way up here to bring their lost friend home, where she belonged, was loved, and wanted. Several of the women (most of whom she had dated at one time or another) began to come up to try to comfort the weeping woman, but they were headed off by her two large uncles in full protect mode.

The only two allowed to get through were the two women that had been friends ever since Cam had moved in with her uncles, using Pam like a snowplow Bobbie made her way to her friend and immediately knelt down and taking Cam into her arms, the small woman began, rocking her gently and whispering reassurances into her ear. Seeing that her small partner had everything in hand, and not being that good at emotions, Pam joined Mountain and Cobra and the big powerful Iron worker, along with the two men were enough to make even this crowd stand back and allow Cam the time and space to get herself together so she could enjoy the reunion.

Suddenly everyone was quiet; it was like the proverbial, 'so quiet you could hear a pin drop'. The sudden silence drew Cam's attention and as she looked, the crowd parted like the Red Sea before Moses. Revealing a shorter powerful looking man with long hair and full beard, it was obvious that the hair and beard had once been dark brown but now was mostly silver. He was sitting casually on a tricked out 1947 HD (Harley Davidson) Knucklehead, it had a black with purple trim custom paint job, that had been waxed and polished to a high gloss, it had lots of gleaming chrome. Next to him was a lovingly restored and maintained 1955 HD FLHTCI fully dressed with a purple and black trim paint job that was nearly the negative of the one he was sitting on, it too was waxed and polished to a high gloss, its chrome gleaming brightly in the bright sunlight.

The man spoke softly but everyone could clearly hear every word.

"I'm sorry WC," he said picking up a package from the seat behind him as he got off the beautiful "chopper" and walked toward her, "I should have known all this would be too much for you, but we've all missed you so much I just couldn't say no to them."

Cam looked up at him her sky blue eyes shining with tears of joy, her face a portrait of absolute love and trust. He held out his hand in a silent offer of assistance, and while she would have refused any other, she accepted his by reaching out and taking his offered hand.

"Daddy?" Cam asked her voice tiny very much like the little girl he had found being beaten in a dark alley in Houston. "Can I come home now? I've missed y'all so much."

"Of course you can sweetheart," he answered as he pulled her into his arms hugging her tightly holding on as if his life depended on it. "You can always come home as long as any of us draw breath. I...we love you child and always will."

Tears fell down his scared and weathered face unchecked in a rare display of emotion. Only Mountain and Cobra had ever seen the former government assassin cry, and then never in public, he wasn't big on public displays of emotion. In fact, they had only seen their friend cry twice, the first was when the only woman he had ever loved died. The second was the day the lawyers told him there was no way to get Cam out free and clear without her serving her sentence.

Once they regained control of themselves and had pushed their emotions down he held her out at arms length, and carefully looked her over noticing every scar and healed wound. He was also aware of all the added muscles, and gave her a smirk.

"Prison has been good to you little girl." Cutter teased, his face clearly showing his pride in his surrogate daughter. "I'm so sorry I wasn't here for you, WC, when they locked you up it broke my heart, but when I found out how you were betrayed it cut me to my soul."

He let his tears of regret and guilt flow unashamedly as his intense hazel eyes bared his soul to her. She was saddened and shocked by the sorrow and grief she saw there for her and everything that had happened to her over the last six years.

"No Daddy no." Cam said so quietly that only her uncles and Cutter heard as she pulled the shorter man into a fierce hug, "It was that Kreel bitch that did all this to us, and you made her go away. Just like you always have for me, that's why I'm never scared cause I know my Daddy will make all the bad go away."

"Ya' got that right, little girl." Mountain said cheerfully as he engulfed the pair in a bear hug that soon made oxygen an issue. "Ol' Cutter here went to work as soon as he beat those bogus charges. You should have seen it; it was a work of art. By the time he was done with that bitch she'll be lucky to see daylight in a hundred years."

The quiet biker just smiled a little remembering how he had pulled some very highly connected strings and arranged it so that he could pay the woman responsible for all his family's troubles and had betrayed his beloved "daughter" a short but informative visit.



Lights out had been called quite a while ago, when the guard escorted his long time friend allowing the former intelligence operative access to the cell of the woman he had stripped of everything she had, including her freedom. An evil chuckle escaped his throat when he saw the fear in the woman's eyes as the guard opened the cell door and let the man known as Cutter, her worst nightmare, into her cell, then locked it leaving her alone with the man that brought ruin down on her, on a scale she'd never before believed possible.

She backed into a corner holding her thin wool blanket around herself, her eyes wild with fear as she watched this apparition walk casually across her small cell to the steel stool that was attached to the concrete floor and sat down with a sigh. She trembled in terror as she watched his deceptively relaxed posture, which was belied by the distinctly deadly, predatory gleam in his fiery hazel eyes. Having been a predator herself she instantly recognized him for what he truly was, a deadly, vicious and merciless killer both figuratively and literally. One look into his eyes and she knew she had been way out of her league when she had taken this man and his family on.

She realized something else, despite what she'd thought before, she was not the top of the food chain; the man with the cold hazel eyes, sitting so close to her was. Deb started to speak but before she could make a sound, she felt something strike her in the throat that rendered her mute.

"Two choices bitch." Cutter purred quietly, death oozing from each word. "You can shut up and live to enjoy your future incarceration, or you can run you lying big fucking mouth and be found dead at morning head count."

Looking into his hard cold eyes, she saw no choice and nodded in agreement shivering in the fear that this unfeeling man would just as soon kill her as not. Again something struck her and she could breathe again. Both the times he had struck her Deb never even saw him move.

"Good girl," he said condescendingly and patted her on the head like an obedient dog.

Cutter then went on to explain exactly whom he was and how he'd made sure she was here, she already knew why. He also made sure Deb would ever see the outside world ever again. Making very sure, she understood that if somehow she finagled a parole he had made arrangements so that she'd be dead before the next wake up call. The supremely vindictive man also made sure she understood why he had gone to such unusual lengths to destroy her life. Not because Deb had tried to steal from him and not because she'd had him falsely imprisoned, not even because she was responsible for hurting his two friends and business partners.

No, that he would have considered business, nasty, dirty business but only that, win or lose it made no difference, there would have been no hard feelings. No, the real reason he had hounded her until he had taken her business, her money, her personal possessions, and finally her freedom, then finally now, her dignity, and had seen to it that she was in the worst most dangerous prison in the system, for whatever was left of her miserable life, was all very simple.

He and his partners had focused all their combined power, considerable wealth, and influence, on destroying her because she had toyed with, and broke the heart, of the woman he thought of as his daughter. Then to make matters worse, Deb had her falsely accused and thrown her into prison for selling drugs no less; something his whole family was fiercely against. That alone could very well have ruined any chance the abused young woman might have had for a little happiness in her life, because of what people thought about bikers.

However Cutter told her her greatest sin, and the main reason he had gone after her so hard, was killing what ever small bit of trust his beloved daughter may have had. He also told her that the only reason she was now alive and not some gruesome find in a deserted field somewhere was that she had made Cam happy for a short while.

The woman once called D.C. Kreel AKA Deb, was weeping silently as she listened to the man with the deadly eyes explain how he'd systematically destroyed her life. It was even scarier because he spoke of it as if it meant no more to him than swatting some bothersome insect. All the blood drained from her face, as he made sure she knew that if she'd only been honest, and had made Cam happy, she would have gotten the company she wanted so desperately. That he and his partners would have handed the whole thing to her and Cam as partners, with no expense and in the process she would have gained the most beautiful loving and loyal life partner anyone, man or woman could ever hope for.

Cutter rose from the stool and strolled toward the door, leaving the once mighty D.C. Kreel a broken woman weeping on her bunk. After the cell door shut, Cutter turned and regarded the woman that might very well have destroyed his daughter's chances at a happy and bright future with mate and possibly children and gave her an evil smile.

"By the way Deb darlin' be sure to think of Cam kindly, I plan to make sure she forgets you entirely," Cutter growled knowing she was listening by her increased trembling and shallower breaths, "Oh yeah, and be sure to say hi to Maxie for me, will ya'."

"W-who's M-Maxie," she stammered fearfully.

"Oh she's an old friend of the family; she's like an auntie to Cam." He said savoring the woman's stark terror, maybe a little too much, "She's doing Life without parole, and you lucky little girl you, she's going to be your cellmate. When she gets out of solitary, oh yeah she gets out tonight. Oh, and she's also the woman I'm paying a thousand dollars a week to make sure you don't get bored during your stay."

A huge redhead was coming down the hall, escorted by Cutter's guard friend, as he straightened up. She came up next to him and the two of them exchanged the customary greetings. While the guard opened the door to Deb Kreel's cell, they renewed their old friendship for the frightened woman lying on her bunk.

"How's my darlin' girl, Maxie?" he asked as he gave the gigantic woman a hug, he stepped back and felt her arm, "Damn Maxie are you working out again?"

"Yeah, thanks for noticin' Cutter." the huge redhead said shyly blushing at her friend's attention. "I've run outta weights here, all I can do now is keep what I got, just barely. We need more free weights."

It was a less than subtle request, but he didn't mind a bit, he would do it for her just because he liked her. She was a long time friend that had been at his side for a long long time, she had helped his little girl through some very tough times when she first moved in and Cam had cried like a baby when her Auntie Maxie was sentenced to life in prison. In addition, because no friend that was locked down did without if Cutter and his Bros had anything to say about it, and Maxie certainly fit that description.

Even when things were bad he knew he could always count on Maxie. In fact, he was trying to get her out of prison; she had killed a man in self-defense and was in prison basically because she too was a biker. Cutter looked over at the guard who gave him a slight nod, so he returned his attention to Maxi.

"That's not a problem Maxie; you'll have them by the end of the week." He said brightly as he secretly watched his victim as she listened to them than said for her benefit. "I gotta go now but you take REAL good care of our little Deb, for WC, ok babe?"

"No problem Cutter, I'm looking forward to it." she answered, the menace dripping from every word, "Thanks for the commissary and the special congecal visitation privileges for me and Julie, but for my little WC," she added with an evil look at her new cellmate, "I'd entertain her for free."

He chuckled at her sense of humor, then after trading the ritualistic handshake, he turned and left the same way he had come in. Deb was trembling in terror as the cell door opened letting her future's worst nightmare walk through and then slam shut. The last she would ever hear of the terrifying man was a fading whistle as he strolled down the dark corridors and out of her life.

A smug assured smirk crossed Cutter's lips as he went to the parking lot to the waiting black sedan with government plates. For the first time in his life, he didn't regret his time in the service of his country and considered the dark stain it had put on his soul more than worth the satisfaction he felt at that moment. Knowing his little girl would have some measure of true justice, and that D.C. Kreel would spend the rest of her life living like the conniving whore she truly was. He just hoped she didn't learn to enjoy it, but he knew he could count on Maxie to take care of that as well. He climbed into the right rear door and slammed it shut and the sedan pulled out of the prison parking lot and almost silently disappeared into the night.



Once Cutter was sure that his daughter was recovered enough, he and the others, walked her over to her waiting motorcycle. She looked down at the highly polished Milwaukee steel. Cam could feel more tears stinging her eyes as she let her hands reverently glide over the shinning surfaces. Absorbing the smooth cool feel of something that was all hers and hers alone. Something she owned that no one could take from her, unless she gave it to them.

After six years of having nothing that couldn't be taken from her on a whim, having that bike was quite possibly the single best feeling she experienced yet, with the exception of seeing Cutter and her uncles again. Of course, nothing came close to the feeling she had when her Cutter had told her she was welcome to come home now. Having been in the same circumstances before the three men knew to give Cam a little space to adjust to the surge of emotions that threatened to overwhelm her.

Cam's mind was spinning from all the emotions and feelings that she hadn't experienced for a long time. She felt herself getting light headed and there were sparks flashing at the edges of her vision. Just as she was about to pass out a pair of strong arms embraced her from behind and she heard a gruff voice speaking to her and making her feel safe.

"It's ok WC," the voice said "try to relax honey. I know it's hard but no one will ever be able to hurt you like that again I promise. K?"

It was more the tone of Mountain's voice than what he said that calmed her. Once she began to adjust to the return of all her emotions and feelings, Cam began to look around at all the familiar faces that had come to welcome her back to the real world. They were all the same sights from her former life, a little older, a few more lines and wrinkles, some more weight, some with more grey hair some just with less hair.

She searched out and found the three men that were her family and smiled as she saw for the first time how the last six years had treated them. Mountain had lost a lot more hair, what had been a small bald spot now covered most of the top of his head, and his face while never pretty, had several more lines and creases giving it a certain rugged character. One of the advantages of Cobra being an albino was that the tall wiry man never seemed to age that much.

The biggest change to Cobra she had seen a couple of times hanging on his arm. When Cam had seen the little redhead ex-dancer, Kat, on her uncle's arm, she had to smile at the pure adoration she saw clearly written on the woman's face when she looked up at him, and then there was the little fiery dancer's swollen belly, that testified to their married status of less than a year. When the couple had tried to apologize for not waiting, Cam was adamant that she was just glad that her uncle had finally wised up and grabbed on to the best thing that had ever come into his life. Her answer had little Kat beaming even brighter for the rest of the day.

As for Cam, she refused to move far from Cutter's side, touching him every so often as if to be sure he was truly there with her and that all this wasn't just another jailhouse dream. The group milled around in the parking lot for another hour. Then Cutter handed Cam the package he had been holding for her. She opened it and gasped. Laying there wrapped in the paper and plastic was her well-worn black leather jacket and chaps. Tears formed once again as she touched the soft oiled and well maintained leather. Her hands were shaking too badly to get them on and she had to have help from Bobbie, to get the chaps on. Then Cutter held up her jacket so that she could see the back.

There in hand-stitched embroidery was a purple diamond, with an initial on each side and in the center in old English letters was a large WC.

"Little Kat did the needle work." Cutter told her as she admired the intricate design. "Mountain's been teaching her how. She did it for all of us. Now that she's family, we've been waiting for you to have the meeting."

Cam knew that Cutter was referring to the family meeting to decide whether or not to offer Kat the honor of wearing the "Black Rose". If she was given that, her name would be added to Cobra's branch of the diamond, and she would be given a voice on the board of the family business, as well as decisions within the family itself. Cam nodded understanding, the entire family had to agree to make the offer, and turned to Kat, the poor pregnant girl looked at Cam like a deer caught in the headlights of an on coming semi. With a friendly chuckle, Cam pulled the frightened redhead into her arms and hugged her tightly to her chest.

"Thank you for the needle work little Kitty-Kat it's beautiful, and welcome to the family."

Kat pushed back and looked into Cam's cerulean blue eyes. She felt the sting of tears in her light green eyes as she searched her old friend for any sign of the old Cam's dry, and often cruel, and even sadistic wit. Kat loved Cam, but she had never liked the way the tall woman's heart was blacker than her hair, sometimes. At these times, it seemed she was only happy when she was hurting someone. Kat prayed silently, that this wasn't one of Cam's cruel jokes. What she saw in those eyes was something she had never seen before; there was a new compassion and kindness in them. Even more evident to the ex-stripper was a sad far away look of someone that had learned the pain of selfless sacrifice, born of true love. Kat felt a slight twinge of jealousy that she had never been the one to put that look in the tall beautiful woman's eyes, but she was also overjoyed for Cam because it was the same way she felt for her "Coby". She hoped it would work out for her old friend.

"You fell in love." Kat whispered, it was a statement not a question, and then she went on so no one else would notice. "Do you really mean it Camy?"

"Yeah darlin' every word." Cam told her with a nod to answer her other question then smiled over the small woman at her Uncle Cobra and added "and knock off the Camy stuff, my family calls me WC."

The little redhead burst into tears and ran to her proud husband, latching tightly to him, her arms around his waist. Cobra wasn't sure who he was prouder of, the woman he had in his heart and loved more than life, and had married. Or the other woman in his heart, a woman he loved more than life that had come to him broken and abused all those years ago and had grown into everything he ever hoped for in a niece or a daughter for that matter. Now she had shown that she'd learned compassion and charity in a place that gave neither, where it was easier to become hard and bitter.

Cobra looked around and noticed the rest of the family were all looking at Cam too the pride and parental love clearly written on their faces.

"Thanks WC." Her mute uncle signed, "This means the world to us."

When he stopped signing, he draped a long arm around his wife's shoulders and used the free hand to caress her swollen abdomen. Cam saw the way her tall mute uncle looked at Kat and she knew they were meant to be together.

Soulmates suddenly flashed through her mind.

Cam winked at her beaming uncle and put on her jacket as she walked toward her waiting motorcycle.

Chapter 20

With a slight nod Cam let Cutter know she was ready to leave this place behind, and get back to her life. The normally quiet man cleared his throat then placed two fingers at the corners of his mouth and blew, letting out a loud shrill whistle that was guaranteed to get everyone's attention.

"Alright people, let's get the hell out of here." Cutter announced after he had everyone's attention. "Chillicothe has kept my little girl from me long enough. Y'all know where we're headed, so let's get gone!"

The four family members straddled their respective bikes as well as nearly a hundred others. Everyone waited until Cam started her purple and black Electra Glide. With a touch of the electric start button 74 cubic inches of pure V-twin monster roared to life. She revved it off a few times just for the wonder of it, and to announce her return to the world. Cam put on her half shell helmet that had been hanging from the handlebars waiting for her, looked over at Cutter and gave him a nod.

He returned the gesture and kicked his own beast to life, soon the roar of over a hundred motorcycles all roaring a welcome to their lost child home to the fold shattered the still afternoon air. With Cutter riding next to Cam and Mountain next to Cobra, right behind them and the rest forming two lines behind them. They slowly pulled out onto the road and followed closely by vans and pick-ups, they headed out to East toward 65 hwy and the rest of her life.

In the back of her mind, Cam had hoped that her Cheryl would be there to make her return perfect, but her logical mind told her to forget the woman and get on with it, and sadly, that is what she was determined to do.



As the long line of motorcycles and various other vehicles disappeared down Washington St. and headed east for the entrance to 65 hwy south, Cheryl was just inside the city limits, and turning onto 3rd St, heading toward CCC from the West. It was all she could do to keep herself at or under the posted speed limits. Her mind kept going back to the strange letter she had gotten from one of her law firm's largest corporate clients, and strangely enough, had been addressed to her and guided her down a long and twisted road that led her to a better understanding of the woman that she already loved with all her heart and soul.



Cheryl had thought that it was strange for several reasons. The first being that she worked in the criminal law division of the firm, specializing in handling their pro bono work. She was making quite a name for herself as a trial attorney, she was tireless when it came to the investigative portion of the trial work leaving no stone unturned, digging into the smallest detail, to assure her clients were properly represented in a system that normally rolled right over the poorer petitioners before the bar of justice.

Her acquittal and trial records were impressive. Even though it was only the beginning of her third year with the firm, there was already talk of promoting her to a more responsible position, maybe even a junior partnership in her division. Therefore, when the letter came to her instead of the corporate or civil litigation departments the young lawyer was understandably confused. Her second question was how did a high roller like the CEO of a major corporation like T.A. Callahan of the CCMC Corporation get her name.

Cheryl had no illusions about her importance in a huge multi-national law firm like this one, she knew she was a very small infinitesimal cog in a gigantic machine, yet here was a letter from the most important corporate client the firm had, representing possibly millions of dollars in retainers and billings addressed to her directly. Up until now Cheryl was sure the only people that knew who she was, were her clients, co-workers and of course her immediate supervisors. She knew she had been recruited by one of the founding partners of the firm, but she was sure that M.G. Fielding esq. had forgotten she even existed by now.

Unable to put it off any longer Cheryl gave in to her demanding curiosity and opened the mysterious envelope. Her first surprise was when she scanned the corporate letterhead and saw the name of Camilla T. Brusard listed as CIO and head of operations.

Is it possible? She wondered as she stared at the familiar name willing it to answer her questions. There's no way the woman named here could be my Camilla. Could it?

As she read further down the letter, the mystery only grew deeper. There was no doubt that the CEO of CCMC knew a great deal more about her than anyone else that she had met here, with the possible exception of the Senior Partners that had recruited her for the firm.



My Dear Ms. Killian,

You are no doubt wondering why an old stuffy stick in the mud like the
CEO of a company would be writing a young pretty little thing like
you. Well I believe if you will check out certain files, that will soon
be made available to you, you will soon find that you and I have
far more in common than you think.
If I have peaked your interests, and I believe I have, then contact your
supervisor and tell them you would like to see the Callahan-Brusard
files.

If you are willing to follow this mystery to its conclusion, you will
be allowed the opportunity to focus your attention solely on those
files. You will be given no new clients until you are ready for them,
and you will be given this time with the full pay and benefits that
are reasonable for your position.

You are being trusted with some very highly sensitive and confidential
information. Some very special people's lives are about to be laid bare
for you. How or what you use this information for is entirely up to
you. I can only tell you to follow your heart and make the choices it
leads you to make.
All I can tell you is that every time I have followed my heart, it has
led to some of the best decisions of my life. Including bringing into my
life the most wonderful daughter a man could ever wish for.

Your Humble Servant.
T.A. Callahan
CEO CCMC Inc.



Cheryl stared at the simple page in front of her, and let its possible implications sink in. Deciding that since she was in between clients now would be a good time to start on this new and intriguing quest. She called her immediate supervisor and repeated the instructions given her in the letter. Within half an hour, a memo arrived at her desk, which made the mystery even more mind-boggling.

It was from one of the founding partners, and the letter was addressed, directly to her.



Since your present office space is inadequate for you current needs
and the needs required by your future position, another office suite has
been assigned to you.

Maintenance has been notified of this change and will be there this
afternoon to move you, and your personal files, to the new office
suite.

This will be your permanent office from this time forward. I would
please ask you to be ready to move as soon as possible to your new
office in suite 12 on the 17th floor.

Thank you for your cooperation. You will be hearing more from this
office in the near future concerning your new position and its
responsibilities.

M.G. Fielding



When she saw the number of the floor, and the words office suite, Cheryl was stunned. The first thing she did when her mind was functioning normally was calling the office manager and confirming the memo. Several of the younger lawyers were notorious practical jokers, and this sudden attention by the firm's largest and most influential client, along with memos from the founding partners, and a sudden move to the 17th floor, was all too good to be true. She suspected her fun loving co-workers were having her on, but the call to her supervisor soon disabused her of those thoughts.

She was about to shrug it all off, when four men from maintenance showed up at her cubical saying they were sent by the managing partner to move her personal belongings and files to her new office. Taken by surprise by the swiftness of the things happening to her Cheryl was forced to recruit the men's help getting all her stuff ready to move, so that she could be in her new office by the end of the day. That afternoon Cheryl found herself almost completely settled into her office suite.

Besides her own private office, that was almost as big as the room that had held hers and four other cubicles, she also had an outer office that was her reception area and her secretary's desk. There was also a private bath with shower, a conference room that held a long table surrounded by several leather covered chairs, and a small kitchenette area, with a microwave, coffee maker, sink, and a mini refrigerator. To say the young woman was overwhelmed would have been a massive understatement. She spent the rest of the day just getting used to her new surroundings, anyone watching her would have thought the young attorney had lost her mind, as she went from one piece of furniture to another sitting first in one of the obviously expensive leather chair then another finally ending up on the huge seven foot couch. Cheryl sank into the well-padded leather cushions cradling her comfortably.

As she sat there, the stress and excitement of the day caught up with her and before she realized what was happening the attorney was sleeping soundly on the couch.

Her dreams began as they had almost all her life; she was back in that ditch listening to the dying screams of her parents. Tears fell from her sleeping eyes as her subconscious once again forced her to relive the traumatic and horrific death of her only family. Fortunately as she became older the scenes of her life encroached on the tragic visions shortening them until the time her mind was tormented was almost bearable. Cheryl moved around until her diminutive frame was stretched out on the couch, bits and pieces of her life were displayed in her mind, good and bad alike were shown.

The death of her parents, the bittersweet time spent in the hospital, her first foster home. The day she came out, meeting her final permanent foster moms, high school, college, law school. Kelly Antropos, the trial, that smug look on Kelly's face at her sentencing, those first days in prison, the hopelessness and despair she felt that day in the showers when she believed the darkness had won, only to have the lights turned back on with a blinding flash in the form of a tall black haired incredibly gorgeous woman with the most amazing blue eyes. Those amazing days spent in Camilla's company talking and laughing sharing secrets with each other, learning the limits of their relationship. Then there was the day she realized she was in love with the gruff, stoic yet compassionate woman, that for the first time in her life, Cheryl felt complete.

Then the young lawyer remembered her last night in prison. The shock of finding the woman she loved in her supposedly locked and secured cell, followed by the soft gentle touches from the sleek powerful woman's hands as they roamed freely over her willing, receptive flesh. Once more, she felt the fires igniting within her small body, even now in her dreams Cheryl could feel Cam's long slender fingers buried deep inside her very core. The electric jolts searing her nerves to the point of overload. The assent into heaven as Cam lifted her soul, as the surprisingly gentle woman caressed her hot wet folds with her tender lips and probing tongue. The feel of those luscious lips as they wrapped around the writhing blonde's throbbing clit, every touch and sensation she experienced that night, Cheryl was reliving in her dreams. Then just as the powerful mind numbing blast of her first orgasm hit Cheryl, she was jolted awake by her body's nocturnal excursion into erotica.

It took Cheryl a few moments to realize where she was. There was a blanket over her; Cheryl smiled when it struck her how she must have gained the cover. Her first thought when she'd met her new secretary, Carmen, was that the older woman seemed to be the motherly type, and the presence of the blanket seemed to prove her impression correct. Cheryl didn't know it yet but her mentor and sponsor into the firm, the founding partner M.G. Fielding had chosen Carmen to be Cheryl's administrative assistant because of her tendency to mother her attorneys, while that might be a problem for many of the other lawyers it would be a welcome change for the young woman.

He knew that in reality his young friend had no one to rely on, no family that she knew of and she was a little shy everywhere but in the courtroom. So while everyone that knew Cheryl liked her well enough, no one was really a friend to her and he also knew that in the days to come she was going to need a mature shoulder to lean on as the plan he had for her came to fruition.



Fielding was skeptical at first when his friend and one time fellow spook Cutter Callahan, had approached him about the little blonde-haired woman, and told him of her problems. The older attorney wasn't all that sure that this wasn't just another "innocent con" trying to get out of a sentence that they deserved, but when his trusted friend had asked him to check her out as a personal favor, well, there was no other decision possible.

After all, he felt honor bound to help his long time friend, since it was Cutter that in the spirit of their friendship helped a struggling new attorney to establish himself. Then when the time came, it was the prestige of representing CCMC Inc. that had helped him further establish the firm then build it into the great and respected law firm in the international market that it was. The two men had been overseas together both performing the same type of top-secret covert operations. They had found in each other the kind of kindred spirit that made life long friendships. Therefore, when he went into the case he hoped he wasn't wasting his and his friend's time. When he went over the details and transcripts of Cheryl's trial Fielding couldn't believe all the errors, lapses of judgment, glaring mistakes and chargeable discrepancies he saw.

The more he read the records the more he was not only sure the young woman was truly innocent; it appeared that there was someone that wanted the young law student to be locked up. He gladly took the case pro-bono, and with the most aggressive trial team, not only proved she was innocent, but proved collusion on the part of the judge, the prosecutor, and her defense attorney. By the time he was done all the conspirators were exposed, including Kelly Antropos, who was quietly deported, after a multi million-dollar settlement from her very unhappy father. He also received a substantial settlement from the county and state for the young woman's wrongful incarceration and the defamation of her character, along with the pain and humiliation of being imprisoned.

When he returned to his old friend to give him the results of his involvement in the case, Cutter told him the reason for his concerns over the case, this made Fielding even more interested in this sweet natured young woman he'd met during the course of freeing her. Once he learned that this guileless young woman had apparently won the heart of Cutter's sad, lonely, and betrayed daughter, who was also his goddaughter since she had become his friend's ward. Between the two men, it was decided that if Fielding thought the young new attorney was up to the challenge, she was to be groomed to be his successor. The plan was to have her ready for the big step by the time Cam was released, so if they were still interested in each other they would be able to have the time to get to know each other again.



Cheryl looked over at the clock on her desk and saw it was 3 am, and decided it was too late to go home, so she would get to work studying the files she'd been sent. The first thing she did was try out her new in office shower where she found all the toiletries were her favorite brands, even the perfume was her favorite, and there were plenty of towels.

Like most attorneys Cheryl had a couple of changes of clothes at her office and since she wouldn't be seeing any clients she decided to wear the jeans and sweater, that were hanging along side her two best trial suits. Once she was dressed and had cleaned up after herself she decided it was time she tackled those files she'd been sent. Remaining bare footed she enjoyed the feeling of the plush carpet as she padded across her office and went into her conference room, here she found the files in boxes, and that they were divided into four sections.

The first one she noticed was titled C.T. Brusard, the second was CCMC Inc., the third was KreelCorp takeover, and the fourth was labeled with the name D.C. Kreel. She of course decided to check out the C.T. Brusard files to be sure that she was right thinking that this person was actually her beloved Cam. When she opened, the first thing she found was a note from her boss and mentor.



Cheryl,
I knew you'd go for this one first. I want you to understand that the
beautiful young woman you seemed to have captivated so thoroughly, so
I thought I would suggest an order in which to read certain files in
order to learn more about our little WC and what circumstances led to
your first meeting.
I also want you to understand how important your role was in all this.

Since you have already started here go ahead and read through this
file, but in places you will see markers that refer to one of the
other files, please read them in that order, it will give you an idea
of what has made her, into the woman you met.
I also want to take this time to tell you that while it was WC's
interest in you the brought your case to our attention in the first
place. You were hired and promoted only on your own records,
performance, and merits, even this latest promotion to a full partner
is being offered to you because you are an exceptional attorney and
deserve this opportunity and for no other reason.

That being said, read the file in the order I gave you and you will
begin to understand. I promise, and believe me I owe WC a huge debt of
gratitude for bringing you to my attention, I have never regretted
taking your case or subsequently hiring you, you have been and will
continue to be a great asset to our firm.

Take care of yourself and that hardheaded goddaughter of mine.
M.G. Fielding



Cheryl read the memo over several times then sat back in her chair, smiled then sighed.

"Oh Camilla," she said out loud to no one, "even out here you're still taking care of me."



As she drove Cheryl remembered spending that whole night and most of the next day studying those files. Reading and cross-referencing until she had the entire story of the woman she loved, from her childhood and how she ended up being raised by three tough hardcore bikers. How in their loving care she had excelled in her schooling, and even through college and graduate school. How she had come into the family business and had brought further success to her proud family.

Then she read of the attacks on her family and how she had gone to prison to save the woman she loved only to find out that it was all a plot, by the woman that she had trusted and loved, to hurt Cam's family. How in the end she had been betrayed in the worst way, and how her family had retaliated and destroyed the woman, to the point that the woman ended up in prison herself with so many convictions that she would probably be long dead before she reached her release date.

The tears flowed freely as she thought of her beloved Cam stuck in that hell-hole unable to get out even though she'd been proven innocent, and she recalled how she had still been in tears when her new admin had come in that afternoon to see if she wanted lunch. She had spent most of that day talking to her understanding secretary about her relationship with the dark enigmatic woman that Carmen only knew through rumors. It came out that Carmen had been there when Cam's family had found out she wouldn't be able to be released from prison until her actual parole, or until she served her full six years.

Carmen had also told of how she had been there when Cam's family had retaliated against the woman and her company that had caused the woman to be in prison. The display of power and raw hatred she had seen coming from the three rough looking, ruthless and merciless men actually still sent chills through the older woman. How at first Carmen couldn't believe this young lovely and bright woman could have anything to do with such a dark and dangerous family, but after hearing first hand of how she had met Cam, and everything the dark, secretive and some said deadly woman had done for Cheryl since, Carmen had gained a whole new respect for Camilla Brusard.

Cheryl had to smile at the look on Carmen's face when she heard the whole story of how she and Cam had first met, and the look when Cheryl told the woman how much she loved the tall dark mysterious woman that had saved her life in more ways than one. A small sad smile came to Cheryl's lips as she thought of all the times Cam had gotten her to talk about the injustice and a cruel fate that had ended the young golden-haired woman into prison. How she always agreed with Cam about how while most of the people in prison with them were actually guilty of the crimes they'd been convicted of, Cheryl was one of the very few that was truly innocent, but the tall dark mysterious had never told the blonde that she too was falsely imprisoned.

She thought how like Cam it was to listen to her tales of woe and whine about how unfair the fates were to have put her there, when all the while Cam was just as innocent and even more cruelly incarcerated when you consider how she had been so completely betrayed by someone she loved and trusted. A small tear of sympathy coursed down Cheryl's soft flawless cheek as the thought of how Cam's poor heart must have broken so painfully when she learned the true depths of how Cam's supposed lover had betrayed her. It send a sharp pain through her chest and an unusual twinge of hatred for what that cruel woman had done to such loving and tender heart as Cam's.

It also led her to understand how hard it had been for the reclusive and lonely woman to allow the diminutive blonde passed the barriers she had erected around her heart. As Cheryl turned off 3rd St. and into the huge parking lot in front of the looming gray Administration building of CCC, her mind turned away from those thoughts and concentrated on the woman she was there to finally see after three long torturous years. Cheryl was hoping that the tall dark woman that had haunted her dreams for three years was still interested in having a life with the small blonde but couldn't help but wonder what kind of changes her beloved Camilla had suffered through alone in this hell on earth as she awaited the justice system to finally finish with her and let her go on with what was left of her life.

She pulled into a vacant space and before she entered, she pulled on a pair of khaki pants and a dress shirt and carried a blazer over her shorts and top to go into the prison, knowing the regulations they had for visitors. Then she stood for a moment staring up at the dismal edifice that had caused her so much pain and humiliation and that she hadn't seen in three years, since leaving to regain her life. Also the unlikely place held her heart and the other half of her soul.

Cheryl took a deep calming breath, and steeling her resolve, she strode purposefully to reclaim the woman she'd unwillingly left behind almost a lifetime ago. The woman that, if she would accept it, Cheryl would now bring back into her life, to give her Camilla the same hope and love that she had been given, what seemed an eternity ago.

Chapter 21

Using her credentials Cheryl was able to gain entrance, and when, in her best attorney voice, she insisted on seeing Camilla Brusard. Not knowing for sure how to handle the unusual problem the guard on the desk had the diminutive blonde escorted to one of the lawyer/client interview rooms and asked her to wait there. Agreeing to the guard's request Cheryl entered the sparsely furnished room. All there was in the olive drab walled room was a grey steel table, that was bolted to the floor, and three of those uncomfortable molded plastic chairs. Left with little choice, the young attorney sat down in one of the flimsy chairs and marveled at just how hideous the color orange could be.

Answering the desperate summons from the front desk, Captain Paula Carson hurried from the prisoner processing area where she was seeing to the release of another prisoner that had made parole. She was irritated at being interrupted, knowing that after she finished with this last release she was free to go home. She was not a happy camper and after arranging for a substitute escort, she rushed to the front desk swearing that if this trip wasn't necessary someone was going to be pulling extra shifts for a month.

Arriving at the front entryway, she was met by the Sergeant on desk duty, and after learning the reason for the call, she wasn't upset at the Sergeant any longer. However, she was worried that one of Brusard's high-powered attorneys had shown up after they had put the controversial prisoner out early. The warden was trying to avoid a media circus that was bound to happen if they'd released at the usual 1:00 pm release time, Brusard had been released nearly four hours ago, at nine am, and Paula had heard her welcoming party pull out just a little while before the call had come in.

Now she had to worry about the repercussions if the warden hadn't informed this lawyer's office and some attorney was there to pick Brusard up. It appeared that someone at Brusard's lawyer's office hadn't gotten the message that Paula had left two nights ago. Now thanks to the lawyer's poor communication and the warden's cowardice, she had an extra mess to clean up.

As she neared the door to the conference room Paula looked into the observation window to see what kind of suit she would be facing. One of her least favorite duties as Captain of the Guard was dealing with irate lawyers and family members that, for one reason or another, had a complaint about the facility. She stopped dead in her tracks as soon as she saw the person sitting nervously gnawing on her thumbnail with her knee bouncing rapidly. She recognized the small blonde-haired woman almost instantly. It was hard to forget one of the only two women that Paula had ever known that was actually innocent and especially someone as legendary as the woman that had broken through that Hardcase Cam Brusard's tough exterior and had worked her way into the dark mysterious woman's heart.

She was impressed when she realized the small shy blonde had really become a full-fledged attorney, but she was even more surprised that she was using it to reach Cam when she was already released. If the woman really worked for the firm that represented Brusard why hadn't she known of the early release after all the attorney of record was always notified in these situations. Deep down Paula was sure the little blonde-haired woman was an attorney but she knew that she wasn't Brusard's lawyer and deep down the guard knew exactly why she was here, and she wasn't looking forward to be the one to tell her that Brusard was already gone.

Taking a deep breath Paula opened the door and entered the room, as soon as she entered Cheryl stood, as a prisoner is supposed to do when a guard enters the room. Then she smiled shyly embarrassed by her reaction to the woman.

"It's good to see you're doing well Killian," Paula said quietly allowing the woman time to regain her composure. "What can I do for you today?"

"Well Captain Carson," Cheryl began not sure how to proceed with the woman that had once held her's and Cam's lives in the palm of her hand. "I suppose there's no other way to put it; I'm here to see Camilla Brusard. I am a member of the law firm that represents her and I am well within my rights to see her privately."

"Yes you would be Ms. Killian," Paula answered not really knowing any other way to break it to the woman that she was too late "however since Camilla Brusard is no longer a resident of this facility I see no way for us to grant your request."

Paula thought the young woman was going to pass out, as all the blood drained from her face as she collapsed into the chair behind her. The long time guard saw the tears forming in the distraught woman's still arresting emerald eyes, she looked into those shining orbs and saw the lost little girl just below the surface and it touched the gruff woman in a place she thought had died years ago and knew she had no choice.

Taking pity on the poor girl, Paula looked to be sure they were alone, then she knelt down in front of the young woman and took her hand to gain her attention.

"Cheryl, listen to me," Paula said softly, trying to reach the young woman before she lost control and embarrassed herself. "Listen to me girl. Your lady was released this morning, but there was a big group of friends and I suppose family waiting to meet her. They stayed long enough to have a little get together over in the park; they left less than half an hour ago. My advice to you is to get off your butt and get going if you really want to catch up with your woman. So quit all this feeling sorry for yourself and move it child!"

Cheryl looked up into the older woman's smiling face as the words she was saying pierced the veil of disappointment that had enveloped her with the news that she had missed her soulmate's release. She jumped out of her chair, turned towards the door and froze; she turned a lost and confused face back toward Paula.

"How can I find her Cap.?" she asked her voice tightening with her building panic. "Where would they go with her?"

"Well hun," Paula began trying to head off another outburst from the frightened woman. "If it was me I imagine I would start by looking for her on the road between here and her home town. It was down south somewhere I think it was called...ah..."

"Forsythe" Cheryl whispered almost like a prayer.

"That's it!" Paula said looking at Cheryl watching the ex-prisoner's eyes light up. "It's a small place and even if you missed her on the road I doubt your lady would be hard to find there. Besides there were about a hundred motorcycles with her when they took off, I'd imagine that would be hard to miss, and it looked to me like they were headed towards 65 South."

Cheryl looked up at the normally gruff woman and smiled brightly. On an impulse, the small blonde jumped and hugged the guard fiercely then gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. She released the guard and without another word ran out of the room leaving behind a very stunned Guard Captain, who was staring after the golden haired whirlwind, rubbing the cheek where the pretty young blonde had kissed her.

"Damn Carson." Paula muttered to herself "Who would have thought an ex prisoner would be kissing my ugly mug. Ah well, all in all, not a bad day's work."

She sauntered out of the room and down the hallway whistling a little tune she'd heard somewhere a long time ago. For the first time in a long long time, she had the feeling that maybe there was something good out there after all.

Cheryl burst through the large double doors of the main entrance flinging the doors wide and sprinted across the parking lot as she fumbled for her keys. Finding them she pressed the little button the deactivated the alarms and unlocked the doors. The excited blonde leapt into the big luxury SUV and fired up the turbo-charged motor. She stopped just long enough to put the information she had into the on-board computer and as the piece of technology printed out a map highlighting the best and fastest route for her, she sped across the parking lot, disregarding the speed bumps. She also thought of what she had on, and wondered if it would be wise to meet a hundred bikers wearing shorts. She decided to throw caution to the wind, and stop as soon as she saw a place so she could get out of the slacks and shirt she'd worn into the prison and leave them in her overnight bag. She wanted her friend to be sure to notice her, and the cut offs and tight tank top would certainly take care of that.

Then with an ear splitting squeal of tires searching for traction and a cloud of white smoke she shot off east on third street for highway 65 following the route her lover had spoken of many times, as they sat in her cell and dreamed of better times. Now she was hoping Cam and her family would follow that very route, straight to the rest of her life, and the other half of her soul.



Flying down the highway, the wind in her face, feeling the vibration of the big customized motor through her entire body, Cam was truly happy for the first time in three years. For the first time since she watched the small golden haired woman walk out of the cellblock and onto the rest of her life, Camilla Theresa Brusard was relaxed and happy. The miles flew by under the wheels of her beloved bike; the further away it carried her from Chillicothe the more the stress, pain and worry that had built over the last six years fell away. She was feeling free at last and it was a feeling she never wanted to end. Her thoughts were interrupted by the unique sound of Cutter's horn and she glanced over at the big man on the big, heavily customized "chopper".

She couldn't help but smile at the sight of the man that had been a father to her for most of her life, and had taught her the meaning of things like family, hope, truth, loyalty and friendship. He and his two friends had taken in a beaten and abused street urchin making her a part of their lives without a second thought. And when they were faced with the very thing that had turned her biological family against her, leading them to drive a 13 year old child into the streets without a dime to her name, these rough hardened men had shown her nothing but love, acceptance, and support. These men that society called outlaws and trash, and that wore those names as badges of pride and brotherhood, had taught an abandoned child the real meaning of familial love and trust. Now, after six years of being deprived of her family, they again surrounded her and she basked in the feeling of genuine security and love they gave her so freely and abundantly. The sight of Cutter in his leathers, wearing his WW II SS infantry helmet and goggles gave Cam a feeling of safety and the calming feeling of everything being as it should be again. She only needed one thing to make it perfect but it didn't look like she was going to get her wish.

She saw her "Daddy" give her the signal to turn into a big parking lot on the left between a motel and a huge warehouse-like building. She twisted the throttle, pushed in the clutch, and down shifted, powering her big bike into the parking lot followed by the entire caravan of motorcycles and other vehicles. As she idled up to the big building, she saw a large flashing neon sign that read "Iron Horse Inn". As she got closer to the building Cam noticed that the area closest to the building was marked off with yellow lines and signs that said "motorcycle parking only", and seeing a bike already parked there Cam pulled hers in close to it and shut it down, letting it rest on its kickstand.

As she waited for the others to get their vehicles parked, Cam pulled off her helmet and shook out her hair. Cutter and her uncles pulled in next to her and pulled off their headgear. Looking over at the door Cam saw something that brought a big smile to her face. Taped to the big steel door was large a homemade sign written on it in big block letters was:



Bar Closed...Private Party

Welcome Home WC
We All Missed You!!!!!!!!!

Creeper and TAG



She looked over at her uncles and gave them a patented highly arched eyebrow.

"Creeper and TAG opened this place two years ago," Cutter explained to his adopted daughter, "She runs the bar and Creeper takes care of security. When they heard you were getting out today, they both insisted we make our first stop here. You know I could never deny TAG anything."

Cam chuckled and nodded, TAG was a short woman with jet-black hair, and big doe like brown eyes that flashed when she was excited or angry. She and Cutter had a some time thing going back as far as everyone could remember, and although it was pretty much cooled down now, to just a really good friendship. Cutter still had a soft spot in his heart for the fiery little woman. Anytime she was in need he was always here for her.

Cam took Cutter's offered arm and together they went through the heavy steel door into the dimly lit interior of the bar itself. The newly freed woman looked around the cavernous room, noticing several long tables heavily laden with food. Then her eyes fell on a long table set away from the other tables in the bar, and sat next to the stage. After the usual hugs and kisses of friends that had been apart far too long, they were informed that all keys were being collected and exchanged for a key to a room in the motel across the parking lot, that was also owned by the unlikely pair.

"We've already lost way too many friends WC." TAG explained, "The rooms are free and nobody dies."

Cam nodded to the woman, agreeing that it was a good idea. TAG was a legendary bartender and together with her friend Creeper, they had worked some of the toughest biker bars in the country. They always had only two rules and those they strictly enforced.

The first was if you get in a fight, you were barred for the remainder of that night, but if your fight drew the police to the bar, you were out for a month, at least. The second rule was whatever TAG says goes, period. If for example she said you'd had enough, you quit drinking, no arguments. If you argued with TAG, you were escorted out of the bar, and not too gently either.

TAG's temper was also legendary, Cam had once seen the diminutive woman clear out a bar full of hardcore bikers all by herself, and another time, Cam had seen her drop a troublemaker from 40 feet away, with a shot glass. It was quite a sight to see some big tough shaggy biker cowed by the five foot two inch, volatile woman. Both were well respected by all that knew them and even the most hardcore members of the group would willingly turn their weapons over to either of them, knowing they were safe in their bar.

Three years ago the pair had finally saved up enough to realize their dream to buy a bar of their own, and with the help of Cutter and his lawyers, they had easily obtained their licenses and permits to open "The Iron Horse". It had taken them a year to get everything just the way they wanted it inside and out, before they finally opened, but the outcome was well worth the time and effort, looking around Cam agreed wholeheartedly. The bar was a huge success, and with the urging of Cutter and with his financial support they got a loan and had bought the motel next door to them. Everything was looking up for the two, and Cam couldn't think of two people that deserved it more.

As the rest of the partygoers began wandering in, the two owners led Cam and her uncles to the table that was set apart from the rest, and had her sit down while the waitress brought a bottle of her favorite drink, Bushmills Irish Whiskey, and seven shot glasses. As the waitress returned to the bar to get their first pitcher of beer and seven mugs TAG skillfully poured the shots of the potent Irish whiskey. She handed each of her friends a glass then one to herself and Creeper, setting the last one aside at a place at their table. It was a long time tradition with the group that at every party there was a place at one of the tables where no one could sit and a shot and a beer was left there along with a plate of food, it was for their friends that had gone on before them. TAG lifted her glass, turned to the empty place, and said...

"Here's to our brothers and sisters that are no longer with us." Then turning to Cam to continue her salute but was interrupted by Cutter,

"and here's to the return of my...our little girl, welcome home darlin' you have been gone from us for too long, we missed you and thank the Gods that you are once again home with us safe and sound."

"Thank you Daddy," then she looked at her friends and said, "Here's to my family, no child ever had better."

With that, all six drank their shots, by that time the waitress had returned with their beer and TAG once again took the honors of pouring everyone their first beer. Mountain looked around at the small group and decided it had been serious long enough. Without warning, the huge man reached down, wrapped his arms around TAG and lifted her until she was eye to eye with him.

"You know TAG if you wasn't so short I could really go for ya'." the man said and laid a big wet sloppy kiss on the little woman's cheek. "How bout you and me get this shindig rollin'."

The entire group was silent waiting to see what was going to happen as no one was ever allowed to treat TAG in such a manner. Even Creeper took a step back when he saw those brown eyes flashing daggers at the giant of a man.

"Put me down you big ape or I'm going to leave you childless." TAG said quietly her voice deceptively calm. "Or better yet I'll tell all these women what you're really like in the sack."

With that said she leaned in and licked Mountain's face. Surprised by her actions he released her and began wiping his face. Then everyone heard a low quiet growl emanating from the little woman.

"You big dumb excuse for a mammal," she snarled, "I'm gonna kick your ass clean up to your demented brain."

For a few moments the two just looked at each other, and only their friends could tell by the mischievous sparkle in their eyes, that the two were playing a game that had started a long time ago when TAG had gotten pictures of Mountain in bed with one of the ugliest women the Gods ever put on this Earth. Then the ornery little woman had them blown up to half of life size and hung them over the bar they all hung out in.

"You can't kick my ass LITTLE lady," Mountain growled back "not unless you get a ladder so's you can reach it. Besides your tiny little legs is too short so you ain't never gonna catch me."

With that, they were off. This huge powerful man, running for his life from a little short woman armed only with a bar towel. Every once in a while, she would flick him on the behind with it wringing a yelp of pain from the big man. The entire bar was in an uproar of laughter at the two friend's antics along with various hoots and catcalls. Cam fell into her chair the tears flowing from her eyes as she laughed harder than she could remember.

The chase ended as it accomplished its goal of getting everyone out of a somber mood and into the party. The party was well under way; Cam swore she'd danced with every woman in the place more than once including a couple of awkward turns around the dance floor with a very pregnant Kat. Cam had a nice comfortable buzz on, and was truly enjoying watching all her friends having a good time.

Every so often Cam would look over the crowd and let out a wistful sigh. Cutter was watching his daughter and he knew exactly what she was missing and he knew it was time for a little straight talk father-daughter style.

"You really miss her, don't ya little girl?" Cutter said into her ear so she would hear over the rather loud music.

Cam snapped her head around so fast Cutter thought she might break her neck, her expressive blue eyes wide with surprise at what he had just said.

"What you didn't think I'd know about something like that when it's so important to my little girl?" He asked somewhat surprised by her reaction. "Please WC you really should know me better by now."

"You're right as usual Daddy," the tall sad woman answered so softly he almost missed it. "I should know better than to underestimate you guys. Y'all are always lookin' out for me aren't ya'?"

The two shared a sorely missed laugh together then Cam's eyes returned to that far away look, as her attention turned back to the partying crowd, until she heard the man tell her:

"Don't count that little wildcat out yet, darlin'," he drawled, his southern roots showing. "I've watched her since she got out and that little one of yours has done nothin' but bust her tail to build a life the two of you could share when you got out. You know they don't usually release prisoners out until in the afternoon, not in the mid-morning."

She looked at her Dad wondering what his cryptic statement meant, she was about to look away when she realized what he was telling her. Her cerulean eyes grew wide with the realization that the person she had been looking for wouldn't have known of her early release.

"That's right WC." he continued, "They wanted you out of there before the press got there, you know you made quite a splash when you were proven innocent but still couldn't be released and then when you turned down your paroles every time they went nuts. I guess we're the only ones smart enough to know what you were doing. If that guard captain hadn't called the Sergeant-major, we wouldn't have known either. That son of a bitch warden planed to just dump you out into the streets hoping you would just kind of wander away before any reporters could show up."

"But what about...?" Cam began but her building panic was stopped short when Cutter raised a massive hand and placed it gently on her shoulder and gave her a tender squeeze to remind her he was there for her and to let him finish what he had to say before she flew off half cocked. It was something that had worked for them ever since Cam had come to live with them.

"The sergeant-major tried to call her but she'd already left her office and she wasn't answering her phone." Cutter informed her, "You know she works for the sergeant-major, WC. That little thing's a hell of a lawyer. Got a good heart too, helps a lot of poor folks, doing their legal work for free."

Cam looked at him even more surprised but there was a lot of pride in there too. The sergeant-major was a friend of Cutter's from back in his old "No Such Agency" days. The man was now a well-known and powerful attorney and was one of the founders of one of the most influential law firms in the country. The family and their business was the main reason their head office was in Missouri and not in New York or LA.

She also knew there was no way Cheryl would have been hired if she weren't a great lawyer. Like Cutter, the sergeant-major had the same rules, sure family got first shot at a job if they wanted it, but if they couldn't do the job right then they were gone just as fast as anyone else. Family and friends was one thing but business was another, Cutter and her uncles had taught her that from the very beginning. Cam could feel that sense of pride swelling in her as she thought of the accomplishments the little green-eyed blonde had made since her release. That brought back the memories and pictures that had haunted her thoughts and dreams for the last three years.

Every time Cam closed her eyes, she saw the look on the woman's face as she was being led from the cellblock to return to the real world a fully vindicated and free woman. Cheryl had finished law school during her stay in prison at Cam's urging, the devoted woman had vowed she would do her best to help her beloved little blonde to study or whatever it took, so that her dreams of being a lawyer would come true. Cam had always believed that Cheryl was entirely innocent of the crimes they said she'd committed and she was just as sure that her lawyers would prove it, and they did.

Apparently, Cheryl had gone ahead and taken, and passed, the bar exams after her release and judging by what her adopted father had just said had become a fantastic lawyer just as Cam always knew she would be.

The only thing Cam was worried about now was now that Cheryl had all the wonderful things she had always dreamed of, along with all the great opportunities she now had, and a fabulous new life, Cheryl wouldn't want Cam around anymore. Cam couldn't think of a single reason why someone as wonderful, beautiful, and talented, not to mention Cheryl's amazing inner beauty, would have to wait around for her release.

There was absolutely no reason that Cam could figure why she would want a tired, foul tempered, brooding, worthless, ex-convict, with murder on her soul, hanging around and possibly messing up the nearly perfect life Cheryl had made for herself. The only thing Cam was hoping was that if Cheryl really didn't want to be with her, that she wouldn't show up to throw her a large humiliating dose of pity. Then get rid of her by telling the tall quiet biker, that it just 'wasn't going to work out for them' and since she already had someone else in her life, the last thing she needed was an embarrassment like Cam hanging around.

After all, it's like I've always said the voice of Cam's dark inner demons whispered to her there's no way that someone that beautiful is alone for long. There's no way she's going to want used and damaged goods like me. Why would she want someone with a stained, warped, and bloody soul like mine, when she can easily find someone far more worthy of her elsewhere.

Cam sighed resigned that she was destined to be alone for the rest of her life.

However, the gods work in their own ways and their answer to Cam's troubled thoughts was at this moment speeding down highway 65 South, determined to find the one true love of her life. Cheryl knew in her heart she was ready to sacrifice everything she had gained since leaving prison, for just one chance of having the tall black haired blue-eyed incredibly gorgeous but totally insecure woman in her life.

She had already decided to take any kind of relationship Cam was willing to give her as long as they would be together for the rest of their lives and beyond.

The only problem with her plan was that she needed to see her beloved Camilla in order to get things right between them and right now Cheryl had no idea where her beloved dark angel was.

Continued in Part 8