~ Chapter 19 ~
Cam let out a long sigh of relief. “Well that’s done and dusted.”
“What is?” Chastity asked, lifting her head from the book she was reading.
“Those deals I was telling you about? The ones I thought the threats were trying to mess with? Well, they’ve all gone through with no problems whatsoever, so I’m not sure what the hell is going on.” Cam ran his hands through his black hair. “Especially since I received this yesterday.”
Holding up another ominous looking letter he shook his head when Chastity moved to get up. “No, don’t bother. You don’t need to read it. Suffice to say it’s more of the same shit.”
“Who do you think’s behind this?” Chastity asked quietly.
Cam hated the worried look on her face. Fucking hated it. Shit. “I’ve no idea, but I’ve got Jacob working his ass off on finding out who’s behind it. Don’t worry, Chas, you and the kids are safe.”
“I can’t help it . . . I’ve had a bad feeling since this all began. I’ve never believed it was a business rival, Cam. It feels too personal.”
“Maybe,” Cam admitted for the first time. “I guess I took the easy route and blamed business. I don’t want to think it’s personal, Chastity, because that means too much . . . it means it’s . . .”
He couldn’t go on. His throat closed with fear, terror, and all-encompassing anger at the thought of someone targeting him and his family. Him he could deal with. The true threat was then Chastity and his children and that was a burden that was almost too heavy to bear.
His head dropped to his hands and she was at his side in the blink of an eye, her arms around him as her strength passed through their link. “Don’t you dare! You’re Cameron Sinclair! Alpha and worldwide businessman extraordinaire who can take on anyone and win. I’ve seen you do it, in business and with Shifters, so don’t go getting soft on me, Cam. It doesn’t suit you.”
“Soft?” Cam snorted. “Who said anything about going soft? When I get my hands on this fucker he’s going to wish he’d never been born. Nobody threatens my family and lives and before I end him he’s going to feel pain like he’s never experienced before.”
Chastity patted his shoulder, nodding. “There’s my boy. Oh, and what if it’s a woman? Who says it’s a man?”
“No female would be insane enough to do this.” Cam scowled. “If they know me well enough to threaten my family, then they know what’ll happen to them if I get my hands on them.”
“True.” Chastity tapped her chin. “I hope it’s not a woman, Cam. Could you do all of that . . . what you said before, to a woman?”
Cam stood, walking to the window and staring out over the camp, toward the school where his children were. Although he couldn’t see the building, he knew where they were . . . safe. “It depends on a lot of factors. The who, the why, and then there’s the whole . . . what the fuck factor?”
“If it’s a human?” Chastity whispered from across the room.
He refused to turn around and face her, his heart thudding wildly in his chest. “I can’t answer. Not now. Not until I know everything. All the details.”
“I see,” Chastity said quietly.
“No,” Cam replied calmly. “You don’t see. You don’t see at all.”
And she didn’t.
How could she? He’d been consumed with hatred for the bastard that threatened those he loved. He’d ordered Jacob to employ any means necessary to find who was responsible, including hackers to try and locate the senders of the two emails he’d received. The letters had been posted from various states, and although there had been multiple fingerprints found, none of them led to anyone that could be behind this barrage of hate and vitriol.
Gunr and his men were vigilant and deadly, every last one, and Cam knew without a doubt that they’d lay their lives down to keep Chastity and his children safe. But that didn’t stop him from worrying every second of ever damn day . . . for months. The pain of not knowing if an attack was imminent had him on edge, but keeping that hidden from his mate and his children was the worst of all. It was taking its toll on him and he knew it had to come to an end soon or he’d go crazy.
So, when he finally got his hands on the person responsible . . . what would he do? The answer wasn’t as clear cut as Chastity seemed to think because Cam sure as hell didn’t know.
For sure, if it were a Wolf, then the answer was clear . . . he’d rip them to shreds in a heartbeat.
Her questions had taken him off guard . . . what if it were a woman? Or a human? What would he do?
The truth was he didn’t know. The deep need to cause them harm was there, churning his guts around painfully. But would he act on that . . . or hand them over to his contacts in law enforcement? Some of them had already promised they’d ensure the people responsible would be lost for a long ass time before they ever saw a court room. But that wasn’t enough for Cam . . . not nearly enough.
He wanted blood. Literally. Could he simply hand over someone to the police?
Probably not.
This was a time when he might have to break a promise to his mate . . . and lie.
Only time would tell. When they found who was responsible and whether that person was human, or not. Cam prayed to the Goddess it was the latter.
Chastity’s soft touch jerked him from his dark thoughts, her body against his back. “I’m worried for you.”
“I’m fine,” he replied, forcing his dark thoughts away. “Anyway, is there news of the happy couple yet? Have they surfaced?”
Moving around to his front she smiled up at him. “Good diversion, and no, they haven’t. But everyone heard Ryder’s roar when they mated and I’m sure they’ll soon rejoin us because Clayr’s already missed two days of work. You know what she’s like, she won’t want to be away for much longer. I’m glad they sorted things out and you know what it means . . . don’t you?”
Cam frowned. “What?”
“You better get your kilt out and limber up because you’ll have to perform your dance at their ceremony.” Chastity grinned up cheekily. “Try and not roast your . . .”
Jinx coughed, interrupting. “I don’t want to hear this, thank you.”
Cam cursed, turning away. “Damn, I’m getting too old for that damn dance.”
Jinx chuckled. “I look forward to the day you muck it up and roast your nuts.”
“Jinx! Those are precious to me.” Chastity giggled, her cheeks flushing as Cam scowled at both of them.
“Chas, sorry, but I need to speak to this eejit alone. Pack business.”
“Fine.” She flounced away. “I’ll go and do womanly things . . . like spend more money on baby things for Stracey.”
Cam and Jinx moaned at the same time as she laughed, closing the door behind her. Jinx shook his head, looking bewildered but proud as punch at the same time. “I swear the baby is never going to be able to wear half of the stuff they’ve already bought.”
“Just go with the flow, my friend. It’s the only way.” Cam clapped him on the back as he strode back to his desk, picking up the latest poisoned pen letter. Tossing it to Jinx he snarled. “Read this . . . it arrived this morning.”
Jinx snatched it out of the air, eyes widening at Cam’s change in tone. Opening the paper, he skimmed the typed words: Time’s up! I’m coming for what’s yours. You’ll see blood soon.
“Fuck. What’re we gonna do? Who do you think they mean? Chastity? The bairns? Hell, Cam, I’m mad . . . spitting fucking fuming is what I am.”
“I’m not sure who they’re targeting but we’ve got to assume everyone’s fair game.” Cam ran a hand over his face, fear lapping at his belly but he tamped it down so he could think rationally. “But obviously, the kids are my main priority, and Chastity. That’s who are mine and who would hurt me most. Gunr is aware of this latest threat, and he’s obviously taking it seriously. He and his men are keeping a close eye on the kids and the school but I’d like you to alert Mason. Tell him to make sure his sentries keep alert and aware there’s a possible threat, but they know that already. I’m not sure what else to do.”
His Beta closed the distance between them, giving him the support only his closest friend and confidante could. The man that had been by his side since he’d left his home and Pack so many years before. Jinx grasped his shoulder tightly. “We’ll do whatever it takes, Cam. You know that. Each and every single one of us would lay down our lives for them: Chastity and those bairns . . . all five of them.”
Jinx paused, looking around before back at Cam. “Hmm, can I ask . . . how the heck do you do it? Five . . . five kids. I’m freaking out with one. I’ll not admit that, of course, but my insides are churning at the thought of having a wee one to take care of. I mean . . . me in charge of a bairn, heck, that’s got me all kinds of weirded out.”
Cam’s throat closed with the thought of keeping so many safe at the same time his heart bloomed with love for his family. The feelings conflicting inside him and it took him several moments before he could answer. “You’ll be fine. As soon as you hold your child in your arms, the entire universe shifts. A love like nothing you’ve experienced fills you, Jinx. I can’t even begin to explain it. That’s something you have to feel yourself and as for five . . . that might be changing soon. Chastity wants another baby.”
“What?” Jinx whistled, his lips tugging up into a grin. “Six kids. It’s not so long ago that we were both confirmed bachelors. Damn, these last few years have changed us beyond recognition, Cam.”
“Aye,” Cam agreed. “And I wouldn’t change a minute of it. Except for finding who the hell’s behind this threat. I’m going to end them in the worst possible way when I get my claws into them.”
“I’ll be right there at your side,” Jinx growled.
“As you’ve always been,” Cam replied quietly.