32. Dax
DAX
Much to my surprise, I found Cam sitting in the kitchen drinking coffee while the others ate and gave him scathing looks.
“What do you know, I figured you would have run with your tail between your legs,” I huffed, as I poured myself coffee and filled my plate.
“If I’m going to prove that you can trust me, it would only make sense for me to not run the first time I get bit,” Cam answered, flashing me his signature smile.
Frowning, I padded over to Eagle and kissed him soundly on the mouth. “Boss man, if you keep making meals like this, I’m gonna get fat.”
“More of you to love is all, little hellcat.” Eagle grinned, as he pulled me down to his lap. “Sounds like you’ve had a busy morning, I thought Dani said no roughhousing?”
I grinned down at him. “Trust me there was no roughhousing. I was very well protected from both sides.”
He just laughed and nuzzled the side of my neck, kissing me behind my ear. “Angel boy didn’t upset you, did he? We all told him to leave it alone, but he said you wouldn’t mind…”
“Now, Eagle, are you asking me if you can watch the next time I get fucked?” I teased. “If that’s the case, then no I don’t mind at all, as long as everyone else is fine with it.”
“God, you are the perfect woman, aren’t you,” Eagle praised as he drew me into a kiss.
I had to hand it to the guys. They were taking this all in stride, utterly ignoring Cam where he sat quietly watching us as we ate and chatted.
“What are the chances I get my bike back?” Eagle asked, giving me the bacon off his plate.
“Are you trying to bribe me?”
“Would it work?”
“Not a chance, but I suppose you’ve paid enough penance to get your bike back. I was gonna have to replace the handlebars on it anyway, I’ve never been a fan of those stupid things.” I grimaced thinking of the ride back to the city.
Eagle just shrugged. “To each their own I suppose, just like those pink nine mils you had on you the other night. Never pegged you for such a girly accessory.”
“I bought them for her as a birthday present. It was the first time she wore them out in public,” Wes interjected.
“Damn man.” Void chuckled. “How did you not get shot with them pulling a stunt like that?”
“Because they happened to be my favorite guns to shoot, even if they were an obnoxious color,” I added.
Cam took that moment to set his mug down forcefully on the table and stood up, his gaze locked on me, bringing us all to attention. I could feel the guys tense, ready to move if they needed to defend me in any way, while Eagle got a better grip on me in case he needed to bail out of the chair.
“This whole thing has been a setup. I talked my boss into letting me bring you in, telling him you would give up your client list to me. They sent every assassin they could after you because of how big of a threat you are if you join with the Phantom Saints. How could I let you go through that without protection? You are the reason I created this taskforce so that I could keep an eye on you, be the knight coming in to save you from the dangers of the world you got sucked into. I now understand that you left me all those years ago because you chose to live this life and you’re damn good at it.
” He paused to take a deep breath as if whatever he said next would change everything.
“Dax, I can’t arrest you, it would kill me to see you behind bars because I put you there.
I’m going to get you out of this, even if that means I have to become what I’ve always been running from.
If we’re going to do this though, you have to play along to some extent so I can get you out of protective custody and back home.
You were right when you said the FBI couldn’t do this without you.
We don’t have the right people in place, and we can’t get them there.
You already have the network established and I don’t want to stand in your way any longer—I love you too much to do that to you. ”
The guys and I exchanged looks, unsure of what to do with this declaration.
“Cameron, what is it exactly that you’re saying?” Wes ventured.
“I am going to lie to my superiors and tell them you agreed to the plan, but you refuse to give us the list of clients until your life is no longer in danger. As a show of good faith between you and the FBI, we will let you return to normal life, along with myself as a new associate, to take down the Tesoro Cartel. Once that is done, I’ll help you get out of the deal or get you out of the country if I can’t,” Cam explained.
“Just like that… you want us to believe you’ve had a full one-eighty, just like that?” Sprocket questioned. “I was present for what you said to her back in the bedroom. There’s no way you could have a change of heart that fast, I’m sorry.”
Cam didn’t back down though, he straightened his shoulders and shifted his gaze to Sprocket. “Name your price. What do I have to do for you to believe that I’m trying to make an effort here?”
“Leave the FBI right now. Call them up and tell them that you resign,” Picasso interjected.
“No, we still need him to have access to their databases,” I argued.
“You joked about your offer being like the TV show Blacklist, well, maybe we can take a note from them. Let us put a tracking chip on you so we can monitor your whereabouts, allow Wes to clone your phone and computer so we can see everything you’re doing. ”
“You want me to become a double agent?” Cam confirmed.
“Basically, we need to know that all this isn’t just to sell us out to your bosses later. I agree you will stick with us, but in no way are you to be involved in Empire or Phantom business. We will tell you what you need to know and compare notes when needed,” I explained.
Cam sat down, folding his hands on the table, eyes searching my face for something.
“Tell me there is hope to get you to trust me again, Dax. To me this isn’t a game.
Ever since I’ve met you, I’ve done all that I can to keep you out of jail or noticed by the FBI more than you already were.
All this might sound like lip service and Sprocket it right not to trust me, I know I have to earn that, but only if there’s hope. ”
“I don’t get it Cam, you’ve spent all this time watching me from the shadows, why didn’t you approach me before all this?” I pressed, knowing that if I gave him a glimmer of hope and he betrayed me, it would crush the part of my heart he held and I tried to keep safe.
“Deep down, even though I didn’t want to admit it, you were destined for this kind of life.
Two Tricks might have been born out of pain, but it was always inside you, it’s what drew me to you all those years ago.
You don’t need a white knight to save you, no you need dark knights to support you as you rule.
The bureau wants me for my knowledge of being a criminal, and I’ve had to deny what I’m really good at so they don’t see me as a threat.
” Cam dropped his gaze, pulled off his tie and unbuttoned his shirt to show a tattoo of my calling card on his chest over his heart.
“What if I’ve been a double agent for you all along, but I needed to test you to see you’re really the queen I’ve been looking to serve? ”
Stunned, I sat there in Eagle’s lap, knowing that Cameron Albert Black had just played the longest con of his life, and he did it for me. “Cam, hand me your phone.”
Without hesitation, he pulled it out of his pocket and slid it over to me.
I placed my thumb on the sensor and of course it was already programmed in, being the cocky son of a bitch that he is.
Clicking on his contacts I scrolled down until I reached the name we always used as a joke for his father, Thomas Crown.
I hit the call button and waited as it started to ring.
“Is this my idiot son having failed in his conquest of love, or is this my dear sweet Dax who thinks he’s full of shit?” Dante’s silky southern voice answered.
The man, the legend, the myth himself, who’d stolen millions in his career and never got caught, sounding far too pleased with himself. “You came up with this plan for him, didn’t you?”
“What would you do if your one and only child is devastated when the love of his life leaves him in the middle of the night? It took me a year or so to figure you and that operation of yours out, but soon enough it became clear that once again, you should never doubt a woman scorned. I have to commend you on pulling off one of the best cons I’ve seen in the criminal world, showing me yet again, that you are the perfect woman for my son.
Would you mind if we switched this to speakerphone so all those around you can hear me? ” Dante requested.
Blowing out an exasperated sigh, I hit the speaker button and set it on the table.
“Hello, boys,” Dante purred. “I would suggest a video call to see all you lovely men, but I’m in my dressing gown still, and well, that’s just not proper.”
The guys all looked at the phone then to me and Cam, clearly not understanding what was going on and who the manly southern bell was on the phone. “Guys, this is Cameron’s father, Dante Black. The mastermind behind Cam’s master plan to become the best inside man we could ever ask for in the FBI.”
“Wait, hold up,” Cognac sputtered, as he stood and started pacing. “Look, I know I’m not the level of smart that Sprocket and Wes are, but what the actual fuck is going on right now?”
“Settle down now, we’re getting to all that, it’s why I had her put me on speaker,” Dante admonished.
“I’m assuming everyone knows that Dax and Cameron dated?
” They all muttered yes. “Good, well when she left, leaving him with only a letter and a broken heart, I knew it had to be for a good reason. See, these two are meant for each other and you can’t find a love like that just anywhere, let me tell you. ”
“Dad,” Cameron growled.