Chapter 18 #2
She hesitated. “I’m sorry, Cam. I think if I tell you about what’s happening in Scrap’s private life, he would get really upset.
I don’t know all the details, but it’s his story to tell the club when he’s ready to share.
I don’t like secrets, but I feel like I have to keep this one, at least for now. ”
“Does it have an effect on the Knights?”
She sighed as she reached up to take the two ice cream cones from the vendor. “I don’t know. Like I said, it’s his story to tell.”
Cam furrowed his brow, but he understood where she was coming from. He wouldn’t want his personal business run through the gossip mill any more than it already was. “All right, I’ll stop pushing. What else is bothering you?”
She handed him one of the cones and lifted the other to her mouth to take a big bite of the hardened candy shell.
“Well, my family. Rodrigo is still bugging me about Dad’s estate.
Says I have to sign something, and he wants me to come home to do it.
Aunt Rosa called me too. For people who wanted me out of the family, they really can’t seem to leave me alone. ”
They started a slow walk away from the vendor and back to the massage booth area.
Cam’s eyes followed her tongue as she licked around the base of the cone.
A short fantasy movie rolled through his mind, and he indulged himself for a few moments, then had to replay her words before responding.
He snagged a handful of napkins to cover his lapse of focus. “Want me to come with you?”
“I’m not planning any road trips. I told you I’m on the outs with them, remember? If he needs my signature, then he can come get it. It’s just another annoyance since he’s been texting and calling me about it. And now my aunt too.”
“If you change your mind, let me know.”
“I appreciate that.” She paused and broke off another piece of butterscotch, slurping at the melted ice cream.
“The rest is me. I don’t know what I’m doing or where I’m going.
I’m not thrilled with working at Cicely’s place, but I’m getting a lot of really good clients who like my services.
That’s a big thing in my world. And then there’s you. ”
She stopped walking and turned to face him directly.
“I’m not gonna play games or bullshit you.
I like you. A lot. I like being at your house.
I like talking with you. I like how you support and help me with no questions or hidden motives.
Sometimes, when I think about that, I get a little overwhelmed that anyone would do that for me. ”
Cam took a big bite of his cone and crunched through the rest of the shell. “Isn’t it obvious yet, babe? I like you, too, and I want to help you.”
Her eyes shifted down to the white rivulets oozing over her fingers.
“I’m so messed up right now, Cam. I want to be with you…
like be with you, but I’m not sure what’s gonna happen next week or even tomorrow.
I don’t want to start something I can’t finish or lead you on or set myself up for heartache.
But I’m in your space already, and I’m scared I’ve already done that to myself by sleeping with you. ”
Cam took one of the flimsy napkins and wiped her sticky fingers. “Do you have any absolute deal-breakers?”
“Like what?”
“Like no dogs or cats?”
“I have my dragons, but I’m not opposed to other pets.”
He tossed the used napkins into a trash can. “Any kind of music you hate?”
“Not really.”
“Pet peeves?”
She bit into the side of the cone before answering. “I can’t stand people chewing with their mouths open. Body odor, like unwashed—ugh, it gives me the willies. Bad manners, and giving service people a hard time just because you can. That pisses me off.”
He chuckled. “Anything else?”
She shared his amusement. “I’m sure I have others, but those are the big ones that come to mind.”
“Well, I don’t chew with my mouth open. I get dirty at work, but I shower every day. I make a point of being polite and respectful to everyone, but I confess that I’ve enjoyed tossing out the few men who turn asshole on the dancers at the bar.”
“Hmmm. And you’re telling me this why?”
He raised a hand to cup her cheek, and she let him touch her.
Their eyes met, and the seriousness of the moment made the rest of the world disappear.
“You wanna know what I think? We should just let life happen and see where we go. If there’s a problem, we’ll handle it.
I don’t want to miss out on something good just because I’m too scared to take a chance. ”
“What if it doesn’t work out?”
“What if it does?” He hoped his low voice carried the sincerity she needed to hear. “Take a chance with me, Sabrina.”
Her lips parted to give him an answer.
Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat!
Shit! That’s gunfire!
Cam’s entire body locked as he pulled Sabrina down and into his chest, his eyes darting to find the source. Two more cracks identified the shooter was on the other side of the park. People started screaming and running willy-nilly with no thought or direction.
He held her close and shouted as loud as he could, jabbing and pointing in the opposite direction. “That way! Find cover behind the food trucks! Call 911!”
The chaotic throng listened to him and headed for the row of broad, heavy vehicles.
“You go too.” He gave Sabrina a push.
“Come with me!” Her face had drained of blood, and she held on to one of his hands with both of hers.
“There’s still people over there, babe.”
Another couple of shots sounded. Shouts from the Knights mixed with the fearful cries from the civilians. Cam spotted Wolf and Quillon making their way through the panicked crowd, facing the danger and putting themselves between the shooter and their prey.
“Are you crazy?”
He ignored her question. “Help with crowd control, yeah? Try to calm everyone down.”
“Cam?” Her voice wavered. Tears filled her eyes, and he had no more time to debate with her.
He seized the back of her neck and brought his mouth down on hers in a firm kiss. It was brief, but he was making a point. “I’ll come back to you, baby. I promise.”
He turned and sprinted to catch up to Wolf and Quillon, and they hid behind the dubious cover of a picnic table.
Two people were on the ground, still alive but screaming in pain.
Another man staggered across the open area, clutching his bleeding arm.
A terrified child sat in the giant sandbox, crying hard and looking around.
“Bennie!” a woman yelled. She tried to run to her child, but she had a baby strapped to her front.
Fuck. Cam darted out of his cover to block the woman before she made herself a target.
“I’ll get him. You stay here.”
A panicked cry came from her lips as several more bullets cracked through the air. Someone shrieked in pain, and Cam spotted Stephan lying behind his massage chair with both hands around his leg.
“The shooter is somewhere on the roof of those storage buildings. I can’t tell which one,” Quillon shouted behind him.
Shit. “I’m going for the kid,” Cam yelled to his brothers. “Are either of you packing?”
Quillon nodded. “Ever since that shit went down with Tracie, I keep my Luger with me at all times.”
“You know I don’t do guns anymore. I’ll spot for you,” Wolf told him while dialing his phone. “Ratchet? The shooter is on one of the storage building rooftops. You can see all three from the pier at the reservoir. See if you can find him.” He clicked off. “Ready when you are, Cam.”
Cam took three large breaths and then took off running toward the kid.
Another crack sounded, and a streak of heat flew by his ear.
Fuck me, that’s close! He grabbed the kid by the arms and hugged him tight as he ran to the tree line with the intent of getting behind one of the oaks.
Thankfully, the boy didn’t struggle, as wrestling an octopus would have made it much harder.
He was almost at his goal when two more shots rang out, one after the other. This time he felt a burn across his left arm and he stumbled, twisting to land on his back and protect the boy. After he hit the ground, he rolled and put the kid under him. “Stay still,” he panted.
“Mommy!”
“She’s okay. We’ll go get her in a minute, yeah?”
Sirens pierced the air, and in minutes the place was surrounded by cops and paramedics. Policemen ran by, guns drawn. Cam flinched, waiting for one of them to kick him off the boy, but they passed by, heading to the storage buildings.
“Stay put!” an officer barked at him.
No problem. His arm throbbed, and he wiggled around to grab it.
“You’re bleeding,” the little boy observed.
It surprised Cam how calm the child had become. “I guess I am.”
“You hafta put a Band-Aid on it.”
“I’ll get one as soon as I can.”
The boy stared at Cam’s hand as it clutched at the wound. “Gotta be a big one.”
Calls of “Clear” rang out, and Cam rolled off the kid. He bit his lip at the pain. “I think your mom is over—”
“Bennie!”
Once mother and son were reunited, they were bustled off to see one of the medical people.
Quillon helped Cam to his feet to do the same.
Cam noticed the man’s rigid posture and remembered Quillon went through a similar scene a couple of years ago.
The good part? He met his wife, Tracie. The bad part? People died.
“How bad?”
Cam cursed at the achy sting that zapped him with every step he took. Even though the endorphins had kicked in, it still hurt like a mother. “Fuck! I’m not swinging a hammer anytime soon.”
Quillon helped stabilize Cam’s injured side as they slowly walked to the medical area. “Wolf took off to find Ratchet and get a status. He said Denny’s here and arguing with someone over jurisdiction.”
“Like we need that shit right now.” Cam couldn’t help his bitter tone. He wasn’t dying, but he hurt pretty fucking badly. “Can you find Sabrina?”
“I can try. Sit your ass down here. The medics will see you in a minute.”
Cam raised his gaze to Quillon’s. “How many are dead?”
The man gave a long sigh. “We don’t know. Just hang tight.” He walked away, punching at his phone screen.
Cam closed his eyes to shut out the world for a brief moment. He wanted to bawl like a baby and put it down to being overwhelmed and an upcoming adrenaline crash. His heart still pounded like crazy, and his head spun.
The next time he opened his eyes, he stared up into the deepest blue ones. They were reddened and swollen, but they were the most beautiful eyes he’d ever seen.
“Sabrina.” His throat was dry, but he managed to croak out her name.
She sniffed. “The paramedics are taking you to the hospital right now. I can’t ride with you, but I’m on my way.”
He wanted to pull her down for a kiss and reassure her he was okay, but his body wouldn’t cooperate. Shit, why can’t I move my arm?
“We got you splinted, big guy,” a disembodied voice stated. “Bullet was a through and through in your tricep but left you with a busted humerus. That’s a hard bone to break, so congrats. I hope you’re not left-handed.”
“We gotta roll!” That call came from someone else.
The paramedic handling Cam waved at someone, then turned back to Sabrina. “Sorry, ma’am, but we need to get outta here. I’ll need you to step back.”
She swiped her eyes and nodded. “I’ll see you soon, Cam.”
He had no clue what caused his next action. Hormones or enzymes? Altered brain chemistry? Emotions running high? It could have been anything or everything. Whatever it was, it bubbled up inside him, filling his chest with such pressure that he had to get it out or burst.
Cam grabbed Sabrina’s hand with his uninjured one and blurted out something that had been simmering inside him and now was unstoppable.
“I love you.”