CHAPTER ELEVEN
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“…and that’s exactly why I didn’t want to tell you over the phone or by text,” Camryn attempted to explain with as much patience as she could muster, pulling her legs up underneath her as she tried to make herself more comfortable in one of the many black leather office chairs that surrounded Brody’s desk. Technically, it was more like a well-designed, handcrafted workspace that suited her brother’s needs. “You would have overreacted, stepped over the line by contacting Natalie to voice your displeasure at her judgement, and then interfered with the investigation into Noel Cassi when the police and my lawyer had it covered.”
Brody had a giant LED monitor behind him which he used during SSI’s daily teleconference meeting with anyone who wasn’t able to attend directly. She’d witnessed this firsthand. At the moment, it displayed a screensaver parading random wildlife pictures that Camryn found very distracting.
The only sound besides the whirring of Brody’s various computers and monitors was the clink of Remy’s spoon as she made herself a cup of coffee. She turned to face them on some wicked high heels she’d changed into after her run, only to bring up her cup to hide her knowing smile.
Oh, yes.
This woman understood exactly why Camryn had withheld the incident that had occurred in New Orleans. They would get along just fine.
Camryn found herself smiling back. She liked this soft-spoken woman a lot. It also helped that there was adoration in Remy’s blue eyes every time she glanced Brody’s way. It was more than apparent he felt the same, and for that Camryn also experienced a sense of empathy for the blonde. Her brother had always been a natural born protector, and that carried over into every aspect of his life.
“You’re right. I would have contacted your agent, because she had no right keeping threats of that nature from you when it was your life that they affected most.” Brody leaned forward on the stool that he was currently sitting on, setting his elbows on his knees as he tried to make his point. She’d seen that pose many times in her life. “What if Cassi had been out to abduct you, or even worse, just flat out kill you? Natalie Whelan would have had to shoulder the blame for not letting you know that your life was in danger. It’s no secret that I don’t like the woman. Her interests are not exactly aligned with your well-being. I have never trusted her. She was only out to make a name for herself even back then, and she’s done that ten times over with the contracts she’s managed to collect as a direct result of your patronage. I obviously didn’t get my point across very well when you first signed on with her agency.”
“Could we not start this again?” Camryn warned, not willing to sit through another lecture. She pointed the bottle of water she had in her hand at Brody, deciding now was the perfect time to broach a subject he most certainly wasn’t going to want to discuss. “I make my own decisions, Brody, just as I am the one who chooses who I see in my private life. You have lorded this big brother protector deal over me for far too long. I’ve had my fill. I am a grown woman, and I don’t need your approval to do anything in my life. If you don’t stop trying to interfere with my affairs, you’ll find that you won’t be included in any of them.”
“I’m still your older brother,” Brody said rather cautiously, obviously catching on to the direction of this conversation. She didn’t much care that he didn’t want to have it, but Sawyer was all she’d been able to think about for the last two weeks. It wasn’t fair that she would have to set aside a genuine attraction, along with the potential of a promising relationship, just because her brother didn’t like her associated choice in men. In this case, he was actually quite fond of Sawyer…and that, in and of itself, seemed to be the problem. It was as if he didn’t want to share his association or bond with Sawyer. “It’s my job to watch out for you. Speaking of which, I’ll be continuing to keep an eye on Cassi’s movements while you’re enjoying time with Mom. She’s excited that you’re driving up to Chicago to spend the holidays with her.”
Camryn debated on whether to let Brody get away with conveniently changing the subject, but decided that it didn’t matter since it suited her agenda. She’d heard every word Sawyer had to say earlier, and that included what he’d chosen not to say out loud. He had basically admitted to feeling the same attraction she had experienced when they were close to one another, and the only reason he was keeping his distance was because she was the younger sister of his teammate who he shared a fraternal bond with.
Well, she’d dealt with roadblocks before, and this one wasn’t even the biggest she’d seen.
There was something about Sawyer that wasn’t allowing her to simply walk away. Camryn couldn’t quit thinking about him. She decided she’d fight for what she wanted. After all, hadn’t she been raised to never give up?
“I have a Vanity Fair photo shoot tomorrow morning, so I might actually postpone my trip home until the weekend. Do you think you can swing a couple of days next week to join us for Thanksgiving in Chicago?” Camryn glanced over at Remy, who’d taken a seat behind a laptop. “I’m sure Mom would love to meet Remy in person. And no, Skype isn’t nearly the same thing.”
Remy’s blue eyes drifted up, seeking out Brody’s gaze as if the two of them had a secret telepathic form of communication.
“Are you pregnant?” Camryn blurted out, realizing it was a good thing she’d screwed the cap back on her water bottle. She would have been soaked otherwise from the way she was shaking the bottle to and fro. “Am I going to be an aunt?”
“No, Remy isn’t pregnant,” Brody denied, though it was easy to tell that he wouldn’t have minded, if that had been the case. There was a pregnant pause—no pun intended—after that statement, as if the word “yet” was on the tip of his tongue. “Things are a little tense here at SSI. It isn’t a good time for me to pick up and go home for the holidays.”
“I would love to meet your mother, Camryn, but there were some things that happened over the last week that has me sort of tied down.” Remy picked up the coffee she’d just poured herself and came around the side of her small workstation. Her focus was on Camryn and not Brody. She’d been apprised of the fact that Remy’s sister had been murdered four years ago, and that the majority of the SSI team had been on hand in an attempt to apprehend the man who had then decided to go after Remy. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, that capture had resulted in the death of a deranged killer. “I’ve been given more responsibility at my advertising firm due to some unforeseen developments, and Brody feels that it’s safer for us in the meantime to remain here at Townes’ estate.”
“You know, it’s strange. Shepherd Moss came to mind when I first realized that someone was following me,” Camryn reluctantly admitted, not wanting to worry her brother any more than necessary. “Is he the reason you want Remy to stay here with you? Is everyone at SSI staying here because you have some reason to suspect that Moss is targeting the team?”
“I take it you’re talking about the future date that was inscribed on that cocktail napkin?” Brody asked, ignoring her questions in addressing the reason she’d brought Moss up into their conversation. He directed it to her instead. A few strokes of the keyboard had a picture of the cocktail napkin displayed over the screen behind him. It looked as if it was in an evidence bag at the police station. “Sawyer mentioned that the date coincided with your Vanity Fair photo shoot tomorrow. I can see how you would have assumed it might be connected to Moss, seeing as we’re not completely sure that his focus isn’t on SSI due to our involvement in his case.”
“Wait a second,” Camryn said, pausing the conversation when she recalled Remy’s words. She’d taken a seat next to Brody, and it was apparent she knew more than she was letting on. “Neither one of you are staying at the apartment in Mount Dora? I dropped my bags off at your place over an hour ago.”
“I know,” Brody admitted, immediately alerting Camryn to the fact that there was more going on than she’d been told. Remy was glancing between the two of them, as if waiting for the three-ring circus to start. “We have surveillance of the apartment. Your luggage will be delivered here by seventeen hundred hours tonight.”
“Do you think Moss is targeting you specifically or is everyone on the team in danger?” It was Camryn’s turn to worry, and this time she could relate to her brother’s fear when it came to family. This had to be the reason why Remy was staying here with Brody. “Do you think Moss is targeting our family?”
“We’re taking added precautions.” Brody had multiple incoming messages up on his screen that he had been monitoring, and he took an additional moment to reply to one before finishing his explanation to her. All Camryn could focus on was the fact that their mother was alone in Chicago where anyone could snatch her up. Remy had reached out and taken her hand in reassurance. “We’ve outsourced a protective detail for those family members closest to us, as well as other potential victims we believe Moss might focus on. In the meantime, we—meaning SSI—have decided to regroup and use a different set of tactics to pursue the initial investigation from another angle entirely. Moss is holding up somewhere inside CONUS, and that location most likely has something to do with his past. It would have to be a place that he’d feel safe. Somewhere he’d have little to no contact with the public and have easy access to a ready supply of essentials.”
“So you’re saying that Mom has someone watching out for her? Does she know?”
“As do you, and no, she doesn’t know about her surveillance detail.” Brody held up his hand so that his palm was facing her in protest, though it wasn’t necessary. Camryn understood when it was necessary to have safeguards in place. From what she’d read about Shepherd Moss in the papers, he wasn’t someone she would want to take an interest in her. “It’s safer for everyone involved, and Mom never has to know about it. Let’s keep this between you and me.”
“Who’s paying for all of these security people to watch out for our families?” Camryn asked in curiosity, understanding exactly how expensive protecting six different families could be—not including those in direct relation to the case. She’d seen the invoices from the security agency Natalie used, and it was quite expensive to watch just one person for a single event. It was a good thing that the two men sent to watch over her during the Noel Cassi situation had finally been dismissed, both on the health front and the financial front. “That type of cost has to be—”
“The U.S. Marshal’s service is footing the majority of the expenses, based on the risk and additional circumstantial evidence SSI has provided.” Brody didn’t go into detail, and Camryn honestly didn’t need specifics. Her whole ordeal with Noel Cassi had been enough stress for her. She couldn’t imagine that tenfold. She also couldn’t conceive living her entire life as a target, always battling the stress of the dangers that were out there. It was an uncertainty that a person couldn’t dwell on. One would go completely mad. “In the meantime, it’s probably safer for you to go to Chicago. You need to keep an eye out for trouble, but no more than you would every day.”
Camryn didn’t have that same casual acceptance of the potential danger posed by Moss, thinking it might be better if they flew their mother to Florida so she could spend some time here where they were safe. It probably wasn’t the most realistic scenario, considering there were five other men whose families also needed protection. It wasn’t feasible to have everyone in the same location, and probably not the wisest in retrospect.
“Who is this man hired to protect me?” Camryn asked, figuring that the two men Natalie had hired hadn’t done that good of a job if they hadn’t detected someone else watching her. “Is he here?”
“Yes, though it’s not just a single individual assigned to shadow you for the time being.” Brody pulled up footage from the entrance of Mr. Calvert’s estate. The computer screen displayed a very discreet vehicle parked several yards away from the entrance. “The agency we’re using has been vetted, and the men and women employed have the skills necessary to remain undetected while accomplishing their assigned tasks. You’re not going to give me a hard time on this, are you?”
“You know, I just realized that I forgot my cell phone up at the house,” Remy said softly, extricating herself from the upcoming conversation. Brody reached out to catch her hand, pressing her palm to his lips briefly before he let her slip away. It was such an intimate gesture that her brother had never before displayed that it caused Camryn’s heart to swell in happiness. He’d finally found someone to love. “I’ll even bring back a carafe full of Townes’ coffee.”
Camryn would have asked what was so special about Mr. Calvert’s coffee, but Brody spoke first, beating her to the punch.
“Who are you, and what have you done with my sister?” Brody asked wryly, leaning against the small backrest of his stool and crossing his arms. “In the past, you would have blown a gasket if I said I had people watching you. By now, you would normally have told me where I could go find a cliff to jump off of while doing inappropriate things to myself.”
“That’s when you’re being overly dramatic,” Camryn pointed out with a small laugh, liking this lighter side of her brother. She didn’t remember a time when he hadn’t take his role in the family overly serious, always there for her and their mother through thick and thin, but he also had a sense for when she needed him as a friend. “Your line of work is extremely dangerous, and if you believe this case has the potential to leak into your personal life…far be it for me to make the situation even more difficult.”
“This assignment we’ve been given is a little more personal than you’ve been told.” Brody drew his fingers down his recently shaved jawline. “It’s not my place to talk about it without Calvert being present, but know that everything we do in regards to Shepherd Moss is with a purpose. You’re fine to go to Chicago, Cam. Enjoy time with Mom, and maybe even visit some old friends while you’re there. Everyone misses you and would love to see you.”
“I know,” Camryn replied with understanding, still not used to being away from friends and family for the length of time needed on the projects in her line of work. “I keep telling Mr. Hill that I’ll stop in at the high school and talk to the theater students, but I can never find the time to attend.”
“Now you can keep your promise,” Brody urged, leaning forward and meeting her gaze. “I do wish you wouldn’t drive to Chicago, though. I’d rather you take a flight.”
“I might consider that option if you answer me one question.” Camryn understood how her brother worked, and this time he wouldn’t get around evading her question. She’d actually been looking forward to the long drive, those endless miles on the road with nothing but the radio. It gave her time to think. In this case, though, she was willing to make an exception if there was a chance she could change Sawyer’s mind. “Truthfully, I might add.”
Brody sighed, having dealt with her demands many times over the years. She’d even been a great negotiator at the age of two, from what their mother told them. If Camryn had to guess, she and Brody were most likely fifty/fifty on their win to loss ratio. He could be as stubborn as she was, and even more so when it came to situations where she could be hurt.
“You’re so hard-headed,” Brody muttered, raising both hands in the air in concession. “What’s the question? I reserve the right to not answer if it’s self-incriminating.”
“Did you warn Sawyer away from me?”
It was clear that Brody never thought she’d have the nerve to broach the subject of his teammate, most likely thinking whatever he’d said to Sawyer would have taken care of this little unseemly detail. Only it wasn’t a simple fix to her.
There was something about Sawyer Madison that affected her in a way that no other attractive actor or model in Hollywood had ever done. It was rare that she ever made the first move toward a man, most men tripping over their own feet just to buy her a drink to get a smile. She understood that it wasn’t so much her looks as it was her fame that had them flustered. Was she pretty? Yes, she had attractive features, but that wasn’t the reason random men would drop to their knees to worship her. Those men weren’t attracted solely to her appearance. She didn’t want someone interested in her because of fame, because fame was fleeting.
Camryn was attracted to the self-confident, intelligent, compassionate, funny men who weren’t challenged by who she was or what she did for a living. Sawyer wasn’t intimidated at all by the materialistic or social aspects of her life, and even went so far as to totally ignore the chains that came with her fame. And when her lips had touched his…
She wanted more.
“I’m grateful to Sawyer for helping you down in New Orleans.” Brody stood in agitation and snatched up a pen before rolling the stool out of his way. “He’s a great guy, Cam. I trust him with my life, but there’s no reason that the two of you should be anything other than acquaintances. What happens if he breaks your heart or you break his? I would be left to deal with the collateral damage your failed relationship would entail. Why does it have to be him?”
“And who are you to make that kind of decision for me? And don’t you dare say my brother, because that won’t fly this time. Who I decide to see in my personal life is up to me—not Natalie, not Jamie, and certainly not you.” Camryn unfolded her legs from the chair before slipping her feet back into her sandals. It was clear that she would be joining Remy up at the house for some coffee, because staying here and fighting with Brody wasn’t an option. “Sawyer is someone I’d like to get to know better. That is, if I can get him to even give me a chance. I’ll be staying here for a few days after tomorrow’s shoot before driving up to see Mom. You might want to let that little protective detail know of my plans, because they’re not going to be changing anytime soon.”
*
It was time.
He’d put so much effort into pulling off this reunion. Was it wrong that he was so eager to teach her the error of her ways? He was doing what was righteous. That had to be the reason he was so anxious and enthusiastic for what tomorrow would bring.
The rental car was parked out front with everything he would need for the upcoming event. His accomplishment would be all over the news come tomorrow night. He had his DVR set to record the news on both his favorite news channels. He would be letting those other lovely women in the arts understand they didn’t need to belittle themselves by taking shortcuts to acquire their dreams. Selling out to the corporate devils had a cost.
He had a list of those he was watching, and one of those innocent beauties was starting to get out of line.
First, he had to take care of some regrettable dealings that he’d let slide.
“I’m coming for you, Camryn. You must pay for your sins.”