Aiden
I STARED AT the document in front of me, unable to focus. I didn’t even bother to try to decipher the words today. Turning in my chair, I looked outside into the city. It had been raining for days, the skies heavy and oppressive.
Much like my mood.
I turned back around, using my finger to push the pages around the top of my desk. Up, down, right, left. Aimless. Groaning, I shoved them hard, not caring that the pages scattered to the floor. I let my head fall back, shutting my eyes.
I was exhausted. Night after night of restless, broken sleep. Nightmares, rampant thoughts, the burning image of Cami’s pain-filled eyes as she walked away from me in the parking lot. Her stubborn bravery in showing up for the self-defense lesson, her body rigid with tension while she attempted to act nonchalant so no one would be uncomfortable, even though she had suffered the most.
Because of my issues. My behavior.
I sighed, lifting my head. Bentley was in my office doorway, talking on the phone. He glanced at me, brow furrowed, as he dropped his eyes.
“Okay, Freddy. Good idea. Yes, let her sleep.” He listened for a moment. “Aw, baby, that’s very thoughtful of you. Frank will be there when you’re ready.”
Our eyes met again, and with another frown, he turned on his heel and went down the hall. I heard Maddox’s door shut, and with a shrug, I leaned back, shutting my eyes again. The same odd, disconnected feeling I had been experiencing lately swept over me. For the first time ever, I didn’t care what Bentley wanted or needed from me. I couldn’t give a shit about the document I was supposed to read and discuss with him or the fact that he was having a private conversation with Maddox. Normally, I would have jumped up and gone to see what was going on, but I couldn’t find it in me to care.
I swung my chair around, staring aimlessly out the window. I didn’t seem to care about anything these days. Everything was too much—and not enough. I felt as if I had lost something, yet I had no idea what it could be.
“Liar,” whispered the voice in my head. “You know exactly what you lost.”
I refused to listen.
“Aiden.”
I turned my chair, surprised to see both Bentley and Maddox in front of me. My office door was now shut. Annoyance seeped into my lethargic brain.
“If the two of you are here on some sort of intervention, you can show yourselves back out.”
Bentley shook his head and leaned on my desk.
“Stop the pity party and shut up.”
I raised my eyebrow, but stayed silent.
“I need to talk to you about something important. But I need you to stay calm and focused.”
“I couldn’t be calmer if I tried,” I mocked him, reclining back in my chair.
He slammed his hand on my desk. “I need head-of-my-security Aiden right now, not the half dead idiot you’ve been acting like the past few days. Get your head out of your fucking ass, and listen to me. I have a situation, and the only person who can help is you.”
His voice and words caught my attention. I sat straighter. “What’s going on?”
Maddox moved, standing beside me, not fooling me for one second with his laid-back attitude. He leaned against the wall, dropping his hand to my shoulder with a squeeze. “Calm, Aiden.”
I met Bentley’s gaze. “Tell me.”
“It’s Cami.”
Instantly, it was all gone. The lethargy, the disconnect—vanished. Every nerve in my body lit up, and I stood abruptly, sending my chair flying back. “What?”
“She’s in trouble. I think she might be in danger.”
I leaned on the desk, my hands curled into fists. I met his serious gaze.
“Tell me everything. Don’t leave out a single fucking detail. Not one.”
I walked up the steps at Bentley’s, anxious and twitching. Emmy met me, looking tired and stressed.
“Hey. Is she asleep?”
“Finally. I spoke to Dee, and she suggested a Gravol. She said they always knocked her out. It worked.”
“How is Dee?”
“Upset. Concerned. She wanted to fly home right away, but I told her we’d look after Cami and call her later.”
“Good idea.”
“Is Frank downstairs?”
“Yes, he’s waiting for you.” I smiled at her. “You don’t have go to Al’s to get donuts.”
“Al’s fritters are Cami’s favorite. I thought she’d like one when she wakes up.” She wrung her hands. “I want to do something, and that’s all I can think of. He made some special for her.”
“They’re awesome, and I’m sure she’ll like them.” I patted her shoulder. “You are doing something, Emmy. You’re here for her, and now she’s safe.”
She stepped forward, her voice low and concerned. “You’ll make sure she stays that way, right?”
“Absolutely.”
“Okay. I’ll be back in an hour.”
“We’ll be here.”
I watched her hurry away, and I climbed the steps to the bedrooms. I knew where I was headed. She was here so often, Bentley referred to it as “Cami’s room.” The door was open, and I went inside cautiously. The blinds were down, but there was a small lamp on in the corner. Cami had her body curled up on the bed, facing the door, one hand tucked under her cheek as she slumbered. I could see she had been weeping, the evidence of dried tears on her face. Her hair was a mass of dark waves spread out on the pillow.
She wasn’t a tiny woman like Emmy, who made me feel like a giant when I stood next to her. Cami stood about 5’7”, which was more than average for a woman, though she still was a foot shorter than I was. She was lush and curvy and kept herself in great shape. She seemed to hold herself taller, refusing to back down from anything or anybody. With her forward personality, she always seemed strong and capable. Yet, at the moment, curled up and tucked under a blanket, she looked small and vulnerable. Defenseless.
I crouched beside the bed, scrutinizing her closely. Even as she slept, I could see her fear. It was in the way her hand clutched the blanket, the slight frown on her face, and how she huddled into herself. Unable to resist, I reached out and wrapped a long strand of hair around my finger. Today, her hair was untouched, the strands a dark chestnut against my skin. Carefully, I stroked her head, needing to offer her some sort of comfort. After a few moments, her eyes blinked open, her gaze unfocused.
“Aiden?”
“I’m here, Sunshine.”
Tears filled her eyes. “I’m sorry they bothered you. I didn’t want Bentley to involve you.”
“Shh,” I crooned. “He did the right thing. I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.” Her hand reached for mine, and I entwined our fingers. “Everything is going to be okay.”
“Emmy phoned Dee.” She sighed. “She’s really upset.”
“I’ll call her later.”
“She’s mad I didn’t tell her what was happening.”
“Why didn’t you tell her? Or Emmy?”
She sat up, wrapping her arms around herself, her fingers constantly clasping and unclasping. “I thought it was me, Aiden. I thought I was forgetting things—moving items and losing things.” She met my confused gaze. “My mom did that a lot. When she was depressed or began having one of her manic episodes, she couldn’t concentrate. I-I was afraid I was starting to show signs of being like her.”
She was very agitated and upset; I had to do something. I sat beside her, wrapping my arm around her shoulders. Her head fell to my chest, fitting naturally in the spot below my chin.
“And?” I prompted gently.
“I haven’t been myself the past while, and all I could think about was my mom. It started for her in her twenties. What if I was becoming a manic-depressive like her? How would Dee handle it? What would that mean to my life?” she confessed. “Then at other times, it seemed silly. People forget. Everyone goes through bad times.” She plucked at the edge of the blanket. “I guess I didn’t want to say it out loud because it scared the hell out of me. I hoped it would blow over.”
“I wish you had said something. Even to me.”
“I wanted to. This week after the umbrella incident, I wanted to call you, but . . .”
I pulled her closer. “I’m sorry you didn’t feel you could.”
She tilted her head back. “What happens now?”
I smoothed her hair away from her face. “I’ve already been to your place with a detective friend I know at the police department. We looked around, but we couldn’t see anything out of place. No one was there. He dusted for prints, so your place is covered in black powder. I’m going back later to meet my locksmith guy to have the locks changed. There is zero security around there, by the way. No cameras, no intercom, and how long has the front door lock been broken?”
She shrugged with a sad smile. “Most of the time we’ve lived there. They fix it, and a few days later, it’s broken again.”
I huffed. That was going to change if she was going to keep living there.
“I want to look at your locker. Bent said things have gone missing from there too?”
“Yes.”
Rushed footsteps brought me to my feet. Emmy hurried into the room, her color high.
“What’s wrong?”
“Louisa,” she gasped out.
“What about her?” Cami asked.
“I just saw her at Al’s. She was sitting in the corner and looked . . . strange, so I went over to talk to her.”
“What did she say?”
Emmy shook her head. “It wasn’t what she said, Cami. She seemed agitated, and she kept pushing her hair back. I didn’t notice at first, but then I saw it.”
Cami leaned forward. “Saw what?”
“She was wearing your leather cuff, Cami. The one I gave you that you thought you lost.”
“What?” Cami asked, shocked, sitting back against the headboard.
“Did you ask her about it?” I demanded.
“No. I didn’t want to spook her. I told her I had to go, and as I turned, I saw something else. Your umbrella was on the chair beside her.”
She stepped closer, her gaze fixed on Cami. “It’s her. She’s the one taking your things and doing this to you.”
“Kershaw is the last name, Reid.” I spelled out the name. “I think she’s Cami’s age. I don’t have much other information until I talk to the school, not that I expect them to give me much.”
Reid chuckled. “Don’t waste your time. I’ll be into their system and have all the information before you can even get there to see them.”
“I only want info on her. Don’t be poking around in the private files.” I caught Cami’s eye and sent her a wink, desperate to make her smile. “Unless you can dig into Cami’s grades and give her A-plusses all around.”
He laughed, and Cami lifted her lips in a half smile that didn’t reach her eyes. She was incredibly disturbed, thinking Louisa had been in her apartment, taking her things, and touching her personal items. She had confirmed Louisa had been in her apartment as a guest, but only a couple of times with her group from school. I reminded her that was all she needed to grab one of the spare keys Cami kept by the door.
“Just her information, especially address and phone. Snag her parents’ information too, if it’s in there. Any family stuff.” I turned my back, lowering my voice. “This is your priority, you understand?”
Reid’s voice was serious when he responded. “I know, Aiden. I’ll work on this now and get back to you as soon as I have something. I know how important this is to you.”
“Be careful.”
He snorted. “Not an issue.”
I hung up and turned back to Cami. She sat at the dining room table, a blanket draped over her shoulders. Bentley and Maddox had shown up, and Bentley sat beside Emmy, his arm around her. Maddox was across from Cami, urging her to eat something. Striding over, I pulled out the chair beside her and poured a cup of coffee. I reached into the bag for a fritter, tearing it in half. I handed it to her, arching my eyebrow at her in silence.
She took it from me, and I didn’t fail to notice the slight tremor to her fingers. I tugged her chair closer to me, knowing I made her feel safe. It was the least I could do. I waited until she nibbled at the sweet dough, then I addressed everyone.
“I’m going to Cami’s to have the locks changed. Reid will find out what he can about this Louisa girl. Then we’ll make a plan.”
Cami swallowed a bite. “I’m going with you.”
I knew she needed some clothes, so I agreed. “Fine.”
“I’ll stay once you’re done.” Cami didn’t look up as she spoke.
Everyone appeared startled at her announcement, but they remained silent.
“The fuck you will,” I hissed. “You’re not staying alone in that apartment.”
“Once you change the locks, it’ll be fine. I’m not going to inconvenience Bentley and Emmy anymore.”
“You aren’t an inconvenience,” Bentley interjected. “You’re welcome to stay here as long as needed. Aiden is right. You shouldn’t be alone.”
She shook her head, stubborn and proud. “I won’t let her mess up my life. I have classes and a job to go to. I’ll be careful where I go and what I do. If she wanted to hurt me, she’s had lots of opportunity. It’s obvious she wants my attention.”
“Is that your professional opinion?” I snapped.
“If she can’t get into my apartment, she’ll approach me at school or someplace. She’s not going to harm me.”
“You don’t know that. We have no idea what’s going on with her.”
“Well, if you are worried about it, then it’s even more imperative I go home. I won’t put Emmy or Bentley in danger.”
“They aren’t her target. You are.”
“She dislikes Emmy. I’m not risking it.”
“It’s not your decision to make.”
“Yes, it is.”
I stood, tugged her from her chair, and led her to the kitchen. She scowled at me, her green eyes a myriad of emotions. The strongest of which was fear.
“You are not staying on your own.”
“Then I’ll tell Dee to come home.”
“That’s a totally stupid idea. Bring her home, so both of you are in danger.”
She swallowed and licked her lips. I tried not to notice the way her tongue ran along the edge of her plump mouth.
“I’ll be fine on my own.”
“Not happening.”
“If she approaches me, I’ll yell or something.”
I crouched at the knees, bringing us to eye level. Restrained anger made my voice rough. “She won’t get that chance. You’ll be escorted wherever you need to go. Frank can drive you.”
She rolled her eyes. “Frank is not at your disposal, Aiden. I am not Emmy. He drives her places because she is part of Bentley’s life. A part of his world. I’m just the friend. I won’t ask that of him, so forget it. Change the locks. Add a camera if you want, and I won’t open the door unless I know who is there.”
Our gazes locked, and I knew she wasn’t going to back down. However, I still saw the fear in her eyes and felt the tremors in her body. She was serious about making sure no one else was hurt because of her and determined to follow through with her crazy idea. In her mind, she didn’t want to bother anyone or cause any trouble. She really thought she would go home, and everyone would go about their lives and forget about her situation because the lock had been changed and she’d be on alert.
Not on my fucking watch.
I crossed my arms. “Fine. You’re coming home with me. I’ll protect you.”
Her eyes widened. “Absolutely not.”
I stepped closer until we were almost touching. She refused to back down, glaring up at me. Her bravado and fierceness made me want to yank her into my arms and hold her until she broke down. “You can come to your apartment with me, pack some clothes, then you’re coming back to my place. You’re staying with me.”
She started to shake her head, and I wrapped my hand around the back of her neck, stopping her.
“Until this is done, you are stuck with me, Camilla Wilson. End of discussion. Do you understand?”
Her eyes widened at the use of her full name. I knew she disliked it, thinking it too formal, but it got her attention. I thought it was pretty, but I kept that to myself. I continued to speak.
“Your sister and best friend have asked me to take care of you, and I promised them I would. I don’t fucking break my promises, so stop fighting me. We’re doing this my way.”
“I’m not sitting around your loft and letting my life float by.”
“You don’t have to. You can keep doing everything you do now, except I’ll be around. Until we find Louisa and figure out what the hell is going on, that is how it’s going to be.”
“What about your job? I’m sure Bentley isn’t going to be happy.”
“I’m a fucking VP, Sunshine. I haven’t taken a day of vacation in three years. I think I’m due.”
I watched her give in. Relief flooded her body, her eyes became damp, and her shoulders sagged. I knew I was making the right decision. No one would protect her the way I could.
“Okay,” Cami acquiesced. “But quit with the Camilla. It’s Cami.”
“I like Sunshine,” I insisted. “But piss me off again, and it’s Camilla. Really piss me off, and you’ll be Camilla Marie.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Try me.”
“Whatever, Aiden Joseph Callaghan,” she muttered, petulant. “Bossy man.”
“Boss of you right now,” I responded.
She ignored me.
We returned to the dining room, and Cami headed for the stairs. “I’m going to go have a shower.”
Emmy stood. “I’ll find you something to wear home.”
They left, and we sat silently for a minute.
“So I need some personal time.”
“We heard,” Maddox drawled. “I think it’s closer to four years since you took some time off, if I remember correctly.”
“You could have just as easily convinced her to stay here with us,” Bentley mused. “Or we could have given Simon and Joe the task of watching over her. They’d be a good choice.”
“I’m not having them watch over her. That’s my job,” I snapped.
They exchanged a look.
Bentley cocked his head. “Can you handle that?”
I focused my gaze outside. “I have no fucking clue, but I know I have to do this for her.”
Maddox chuckled as he lifted his mug. “This should be illuminating.”
Bentley snorted. “In many ways.”
I didn’t respond.
They were right.
Cami was silent on the drive to her place, her head bowed and her eyes shut as I maneuvered us through the heavy traffic. She could have been asleep, except for the constant movement of her fingers playing with the edge of a scarf around her neck.
We pulled up by her building, and I parked the car. There was no mistaking the nervous tremor going through her. “Hey,” I called quietly. “I’ll be right there with you, Sunshine. No one is gonna get close.”
She nodded, still not speaking.
I left her in the car and rounded the back, my gaze scanning the area, alert. I opened her door, held out my hand, and tugged her from the seat. I kept her close until we got to her door. We entered the apartment, and she hesitated, unsure what to do. I asked to see her boots and studied the soles. As I suspected, they weren’t torn.
“These were cut with a knife. A sharp one. Emmy’s looked exactly like these.”
“Do you think Louisa cut hers too?”
I shrugged. “Easy enough to do. The boots are on racks in the hall. Someone might have interrupted her while she was cutting Emmy’s. She sliced both of yours, though.”
“I don’t understand why.”
“I think she’s jealous of Emmy and mad at you. Her actions are like an angry, petulant child. She lashes out. The day I met her, I thought she was all over the place emotionally.” I sighed and rubbed my forehead. “I wish I had paid more attention.”
I set down the boots. “Sit down while I do a walk-through.”
“Couldn’t I come with you?”
Her voice sounded so stressed, I held out my hand. She gripped it tightly. Each room looked undisturbed and she began to relax. She grimaced at the occasional glimpse of the fingerprint powder on various surfaces. In her room, she shook her head. “He went crazy in here.”
“We were able to isolate you and Dee for the most part. In here, though, he got a lot of prints.”
“Now that we know it’s her, do we need fingerprints?”
“We might. There could be a trial, Cami. We would need to place her here. Beyond the fact that she’d been here before.”
She looked horrified. “I don’t want a trial. I think maybe she’s mentally unstable, but not a criminal.”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
There was a knock at the door. “That will be the locksmith. Pack some clothes, and I’ll help him.”
“Okay.”