Although Cameron wasn't a member, Seth had always made him live by the gang's rules. Cameron had broken those rules. What was his father going do to him? It felt like a lead weight settled into his stomach as a trickle of sweat slid down his back. The living room was at a comfortable temperature, but Cameron felt like he was standing in the pits of hell. More sweat began to gather as he crossed his arms over his chest to hide the shaking of his hands.

"You know that no one will let anything happen to you, right?" Taylor said quietly next to him. "Just stay inside the house and they'll never know you're here."

Cameron gazed at the sweeping row of trees that stood to the left of the large ranch. Wind filtered through the branches and caused the leaves to dance under the pale light of the moon. Things seemed so serene but Cameron knew that was a false sense of comfort.

"Seth has a knack for discovering things." Cameron shook his head and gave Taylor a wry smile. "I could bury myself in the attic and somehow he would still know that I was here. He's got that sixth-sense thing going on."

"I still think you're safe. The town is being watched and no one is getting by without the sheriff's knowledge."

God love Taylor for his optimism. But Cameron had grown up with the Blue Angels and telling the biker club to get out of town wouldn't be that easy. Blood was going to be shed.

"But on a lighter note," Taylor said. "You can hide out in Rowdy's bed and seduce the man to the dark side." Taylor wiggled his eyebrows. "Sex is the answer to everything."

Cameron laughed as he shoved at Taylor's shoulder. "You are still such a perv."

"At least I didn't have to jaywalk," Taylor said, touching on a joke of theirs from almost a year ago. As Cameron stood there, he thought about that long-ago conversation. It felt like another lifetime. But Cameron was glad that he and Taylor were hanging out again. He'd missed their playful banter and crazy conversations.

When had life gotten so serious? Since leaving Nevada, Cameron had tried to forget his past and start fresh. It worked for a long time. That was, until Taylor had moved out. And then life had invaded. Loneliness had crept in. Reality had settled into his mind. Cameron wanted his carefree days back.

"How do you get a guy to let go of his demons?" Cameron asked as he turned back toward the window.

Taylor snorted. "I'm the wrong guy to ask. Mine still haunt me every once in a while." Although the man's voice was light, Cameron could hear the truth in Taylor's words.

"Then what chance do I have with Rowdy?" Cameron murmured, almost asking the question to himself instead of posing it to Taylor. He scratched at his chin as he wondered how to get past Rowdy's defenses.

"Have sex with him," Taylor teased. "I told you it's the answer to everything."

Taylor must have seen the blush on Cameron's face because the guy turned and stared wide-eyed. "You've already done the deed."

Cameron didn't give him an answer.

His best friend let out a low whistle and shook his head. "I warned you what that could lead to, Cam. I know it's none of my business, but did you take the birth control shot?"

He hadn't. Cameron had known full well what he getting into when he'd had sex with Rowdy in the tub. There was a good chance that they weren't even mates. He had wanted Rowdy so badly that he'd thrown caution to the wind. He hadn't thought about the possible consequences. Cameron was already dealing with too much.

If he was pregnant, he'd cross that bridge when he came to it. Right now he was more concerned with his father showing up. "No," he finally answered.

Taylor's eyes instantly dropped to Cameron's abdomen. His best friend stared at it for a long moment before his gaze swept back to the window. "You know I'm here for you no matter what happens."

"I know," Cameron whispered. He hugged himself tighter at the thought of bringing a child into this world. He'd intentionally had unprotected sex. As much as he tried to deny it to himself, Cameron craved a family. He craved stability. All he wanted was someone to love him for who he was. He had thought Rowdy would be that man, but Cameron was starting to have doubts.

The sound of boots on the wooden floor drew Cameron's attention. He turned to see Rowdy heading into the living room. Taylor gave Cameron a quick smile before he turned and left the living room.

Cameron and Rowdy just stood there staring at each other. The cowboy looked so unsure that all Cameron wanted to do was go to the man. But before he could take a step, Rowdy crossed the room and stood next to him, gazing out of the window.

"How was your day?" Cameron asked, his arms still hugging himself. The question felt so mundane, so ordinary, yet Cameron really wanted to know.

"Cold," Rowdy answered.

He inwardly smiled when Rowdy hesitated and then slid his arm around Cameron's waist, pulling him closer to the cowboy. Rowdy's arm was warm and strong and Cameron basked in the feeling of being so close to the man.

"Have you eaten?" Rowdy's baritone voice slid over Cameron like warm silk. He noticed the man's eyes flickering toward his flat stomach. Was Rowdy wondering if Cameron was pregnant? Would the cowboy be happy if Cameron was?

"Sam's a good cook," Cameron answered. "If I keep staying here, I'm going to get fat."

To Cameron's surprise, Rowdy moved in behind him and then rested his chin on Cameron shoulder. The man wrapped his arms around Cameron's chest and the two just stood there staring out of the window.

Cameron never wanted the moment to end. He felt content, safe. Why couldn't it be like this always? Cameron wanted to knock down the walls that stood between them. He wanted to exorcise Rowdy's demons. But most of all, he wanted to see Rowdy's smile, hear his laughter, and feel loved by this man.

Both Rowdy and Cameron turned when T-Rex walked into the room. The angles on his face were all wrong and Rowdy knew he wouldn't like what the man had to say. "They're on the outskirts of town."

Rowdy's arms tightened around Cameron and he could feel his mate shaking. The guy was terrified. Rowdy had come into the room to see Cameron talking with Taylor. He hadn't expected either man to be there. But once his eyes locked onto Cameron, Rowdy couldn't stay away.

"Settle," he whispered into Cameron's ear. He hated to feel the man shaking beneath his touch. Rowdy want to soothe all of Cameron's worries away, but knew nothing would as long as the Blue Angels were in town.

T-Rex moved further into the room and took a seat in one of the chairs. "Sparrow and the other men are meeting them at the county line. But I have a feeling that won't stop the bikers."

"No," Cameron said, "it won't. Nothing will stop them until they have what they came here for."

"Then they're going to be sorely disappointed," T-Rex said as he gritted his teeth. "I have my men and Sparrow has some of his hidden out of sight. First sign of trouble and the only thing the Blue Angels will have is a bullet in their heads."

Cameron threw a hand over his mouth and yanked from Rowdy's arms before he rushed from the living room. Rowdy followed and found his mate in the bathroom, kneeling on the floor, throwing up into the toilet.

Rowdy did the only thing he could think of. He grabbed a cloth from the cabinet, wet it, and wiped it over the back of Cameron's neck. "Feel better?"

Cameron shook his head as he flushed the toilet, closed the lid, and then curled up by the wall. Rowdy crouched down next to the man and wiped at Cameron's forehead.

"He can't find me," Cameron whispered as he gazed up at Rowdy. "Please don't let him find me." The man looked so lost and fragile that it hurt Rowdy's heart. He wanted to hunt down Cameron's father and beat the shit out of the man.

"No one is going to hurt you," Rowdy said with certainty. "They'll have to get through me first."

Cameron's smile was shaky and it didn't reach his eyes, but Rowdy was glad that the man was trying to keep a slight sense of humor. "My hero."

He brushed his hand over Cameron's hair. "Why can't I resist you no matter how hard I try?"

Cameron gazed up at Rowdy and his brown eyes filled with hope and longing. Guilt tore at Rowdy, and the long-time back-lashing behavior tried to force its way into the bathroom. He thought of Edward and what Rowdy had done. He looked at Cameron, into the man's sweet face, and was torn.

Cameron reached up and slipped his hand over Rowdy's jaw. "Whatever it is, let it go. We've all fucked up in our lifetime. We've all made mistakes that we wish we could undo. But you have to accept what was and grasp what could be."

"It's not that easy." Rowdy's throat was tight with emotion. He laid his hand over Cameron's and leaned in to the soft palm cupping his face. "How do you let go of something that's been haunting you for over a decade?"

Cameron turned until he was on his knees in front of Rowdy. "I'd kiss you but I'm pretty sure my breath is pretty raunchy right now."

Rowdy chuckled. How could Cameron make him laugh when Rowdy was so deep in despair?

"You have a beautiful smile," Cameron said. "You should show it more often." He leaned in closer until he was tucked into Rowdy's body. Rowdy cradled the man to him, soaking in Cameron's heat.

Rowdy ran his hands down Cameron's back. "There's something I need to tell you. I should have told you before we had sex but-"

"I could be pregnant," Cameron finished for him. "Taylor explained all that to me when Sam mated him. I already know about the possibilities."

Cameron's confession took Rowdy by surprise. He leaned back to look down into the man's face. "You knew?"

"I knew," Cameron answered. "But that didn't stop me from giving myself to you."

"Why?" The question was out of Rowdy's mouth before he could stop it. "It's not like I've been the best mate to you. As a matter of fact, I'm surprised you haven't taken off my head. I would deserve it after the way I've treated you."

"True." Cameron nodded. "I should be serving you your balls on a platter." The man shrugged. "Maybe there's a part of me that knows how good of a man you can be. Maybe there's a part of me that wants to be loved just as desperately as you want someone to love you."

Rowdy squatted there in stunned silence. He licked his dry lips as he gazed down at his mate. "What makes you think I want to be loved?"

"I can see it in your eyes," Cameron replied. "Every time you look at me I can feel the longing inside of you. Even when you're trying to push me away, I can feel you trying to pull me toward you. You don't want to wallow in guilt but you feel as if you have to, as if it's your reparation for what you'd done. But I'm here to tell you, after a decade of beating yourself up, I think you deserve to finally move on."

Rowdy buried his face in Cameron's hair and breathed in the man's scent. The smell of warm vanilla filled his lungs as he held on to Cameron like a lifeline. He wanted to believe Cameron. Rowdy was desperate to believe that he could let go and finally move on. But he was afraid to let go. He was afraid that if he stopped beating himself up over his past, he would lose Cameron, that fate would punish him for trying to be happy.

Cameron pressed a kiss into Rowdy's neck. "I have enough love in me for both of us until you're ready to move on and let go of your past."

Rowdy's hands fisted into Cameron's shirt as he nodded. He didn't deserve Cameron, but for this man, for his mate, he would try.

Chapter Nine.

Turning over, Cameron felt a bit nauseous. He blinked a few times and then squinted at the clock on the nightstand. It was two in the morning. Why on earth was he up at this god-awful hour?

Settling back down, he tried to go back to sleep. But as he lay there, his eyes lazily drifted over Rowdy's naked form. The cowboy was hugging a pillow, one leg cocked up. The man's face seemed so serene that all Cameron could do was stare at his mate. How could someone so handsome have so many issues? But then again, Cameron could say the same about his best friend.

Why were all the men in his life so fucked up? Cameron wasn't sure, but he knew he wouldn't trade Rowdy for the world. Even with all Rowdy's flaws and baggage, Cameron was falling deeply in love with the man. He wasn't without his own issues, so who was he to judge? Cameron's grandmother once told him, "Everybody has their flaws. You just have to find someone whose flaws you can deal with."

He could deal with Rowdy's.

Cameron tossed the covers off of him and slid from the bed. He was thirsty. He grabbed his boxers from the floor and slipped them on before quietly leaving the bedroom. The hallway was dark and it took a moment for his eyes to adjust before he made his way downstairs. The steps creaked and he wished he'd put a shirt on. Even though the house was warm, there was a slight chill in the air.

T-Rex had given Rowdy and Cameron a guest room in the house. The man wanted everyone in one central location. He said he didn't like the idea of having Rowdy and Cameron in the bunkhouse. Rowdy had put Mason in charge of the ranch hands and their safety.

Although the McMaster place was beautiful, Cameron had grown used to Rowdy's bedroom. He missed the rustic room and being in Rowdy's bed.

Entering the kitchen, Cameron noticed a fluorescent light was on over the stove. It gave a soft glow to the kitchen as he padded his way toward the sink. The linoleum was cold under his bare feet as he reached for a glass in the cupboard. Cameron stilled when he noticed the air in the kitchen wasn't as warm as it should have been. As a matter of fact, it was downright cold.

The sound of wood creaking filled his ears. The sound came from outside. The back porch? Cameron's eyes widened when a hand clamped over his mouth.

"Shhh," Rowdy whispered into his ear. Cameron nodded. Rowdy removed his hand and then pressed his index finger to his lips to indicate that he wanted Cameron to be quiet. When Cameron glanced toward the kitchen door, T-Rex and Shott were standing there, shadowed by the darkness, fully dressed, and armed.

The two looked like dangerous warriors ready for battle. Cameron shivered as Rowdy silently moved him out of the kitchen. When they reached the stairs, Cameron inaudibly gasped when he saw Stripper dressed completely in black, fading into the darkened corner. Not even the gun in the man's hand gleamed under the light of the pale moon.

Cameron's eyes traveled across the living room to see Sam dressed the same way. The man's expression did not match his normal jovial personality. His features were drawn tight, his lips thin, and his eyes as dark as the night itself.

These men were no longer ranch owners but men who had seen battle, the men who ran and owned Executive Bodyguards. They were in combat mode and Cameron was glad when Rowdy escorted him soundlessly up the steps.

Cameron and Rowdy hurried into the bedroom and Rowdy locked the door behind them. Cameron's eyes shot to the French doors when he noticed them wide open. Before he had time to process what was going on, Seth Langley appeared behind Rowdy, gun raised. In one quick motion, the butt of the gun landed at Rowdy's temple, and the cowboy crumpled to the floor.

Seth grabbed Cameron's arm and hauled him toward the doors. "Say one fucking word and I'll shoot the son of a bitch where he lays." Seth growled the words into Cameron's ear.

Cameron was still wearing only boxers, and as Seth shoved him out onto the second-floor porch, the air was icy against Cameron's skin. He glanced left and right but saw no one who could help him. Everyone was still inside.

"This is for taking off and breaking the rules." Seth shoved Cameron over the banister. Cameron shouted as he sailed through the air. His arms flailed out but there was nothing to grab hold of. When he hit the ground, all the air was knocked from his lungs. Cameron wheezed, trying to breathe. His entire body was on fire from the fall. Everything hurt. And now the freezing cold of the snow-covered ground started to seep into his bones. He lay there shivering, praying to god that Rowdy was okay.

Seth maneuvered down from the second floor before his boots hit the ground. He grabbed Cameron under his arm and yanked him to his feet. "You're going to pay for your betrayal."

As badly as Cameron wanted to fight, he couldn't. He was shivering so badly that he could barely stand and his body felt like it had been run over. He just didn't have the strength to resist.

Seth shoved Cameron into the sidecar of his waiting motorcycle before he jumped on and took off. Cameron hunkered down the best he could to protect himself from the icy air. If Seth didn't kill him, the elements would. There was no way he was going to be able to survive outside much longer, not when he was only wearing a pair of boxers. His body was red from the lashing wind and he could no longer feel his face.

Cameron tried to sink down lower when he heard gunshots. He wasn't sure who was firing or where the bullets were going. The only thing Cameron could do was pray that he wasn't shot. The roar of another motorcycle filled Cameron's ears and then a Blue Angel appeared to his right. Seth and the other man had Cameron sandwiched between them.

They rode as if the devil were on their heels. Cameron looked back to see two trucks in hot pursuit. His heart leapt into his throat when he saw that one of the passengers was Rowdy.

The motorcycle bounced, leapt, and rocked as the Blue Angels tried to outrun their pursuers. One of the trucks sped up, passed them, and then cut Seth off. Seth cursed as he veered to the right and drove his motorcycle into a ditch. Cameron was forced forward, his upper body slamming into the plastic windshield.

Cameron was freezing, fatigued, and his heart was pounding so hard that it hurt when Seth pulled his gun and aimed it at Cameron's head. "Back off or I'll blow his brains all over this pristine snow."

Rowdy's eyes narrowed as he climbed from the truck. The other truck was still in pursuit of the other motorcycle. It was just Seth, Cameron, Rowdy, and T-Rex. Even though Rowdy was a bear, there was a gun to Cameron's head. A bullet trumped a bear any day.

"The Blue Angels have negotiated with the sheriff," T-Rex said. "Your president and Sparrow have come to an understanding."

Seth shook his head. "The president doesn't deserve his position. He's growing soft trying to turn the club in a new direction." The man said new direction like it was a disease.

"I don't give a shit what you or your club does," Rowdy said, his voice tight and low. "All I care is that you give Cameron back to me, unharmed."

Seth pressed the gun harder into Cameron's head. "And if I don't?"

T-Rex's hand came up in a stop motion. "You don't want to do that, Seth."

Seth's features darkened. "Don't talk to me like you know me. Don't try to familiarize yourself with me. I aced psychology in college so don't even think of trying any mind games with me."

When did his father go to college? Cameron was confused. If his father had gone to college, then what in the hell happened to turn him into the man he was today?

At this point, he didn't care. Not when Cameron had a gun shoved against his head. Seth Langley had lost his dad card. The man was no longer related to him. Cameron never wanted anything to do with the guy again. There had been a small part of him that wished they could be father and son, have a real relationship.

Cameron no longer wished for that. But as angry as he was, he still couldn't desire the man dead, though he willed himself to wish just that. He was still shivering, his limbs growing numb.