Page 55

Kameron

“I’ll be back. Remember, it’s a ‘see you soon’.”

“Yeah, still sucks.”

“True.” Hunter pipes up beside her.

“Are you sure Marcus is okay? He looked really upset. I mean more than usual.”

“He just needed some time.” Hunter squeezes her waist, “He’ll be okay. I’ll check on him in a little bit.”

“You two keep each other company…” I look between them, sad to leave, but not letting them see just how much, “...If you know what I mean.” I crack a joke to lighten the mood.

“I’ve got her.” Hunter says firmly, and I turn my gaze to Elliott.

“I’ve got him.” She lays her head on his chest to clarify.

I kiss her lips, letting it linger, then place one on her forehead for good measure.

I look at Hunter and give him a wicked grin, “Come here, big guy, I can’t leave you out.

” I crash my lips onto his and he lets out a low chuckle, making my chest inflate with happiness.

I give him a forehead kiss as well, to which he glares at me.

I can’t keep my eyes off of them, saving the image to memory before I have to leave. I knew I wanted Elliott, I knew she would be perfect. The addition to our love that would help it grow, not taint it or want to cut it into pieces. And I had it here with them, well…Hunter, Elliott, and I.

Marcus…Marcus would be hard to get through to, and I knew it would take him allowing himself to truly get to know her.

You can see his attraction to her, but the emotional part–that was the hard part to get to with Marcus now.

His heart had a guarded wall around it, but that wall needed to crumble, not for me, not for Elliot or Hunter, but for himself to live again.

“All right, I’m off. Back to doing some spy shit. I’ll see you soon.” I say, winking at them as I get in the car.

“See you soon.” Elliott says softly. Hunter rubs her arm and stands with her the whole time she watches me pull off the property.

My throat burns and tightens as the property disappears out of my rearview mirror, and I slam my palm onto the steering wheel, mad that I’m the one who has to keep leaving her.

I’m the one who wants to desperately hold her, comfort her, learn more about her, be with her and I am the one that had to fucking leave her side every fucking time .

I crack my neck, eyes still on the road. I know it's my job. I signed up for it. I just didn’t know I was going to meet Elliott. I didn’t know someone like her was going to bulldoze into my life.

But she did.

She took my breath away. Every small glance from those deep, ocean blue eyes made my head spin.

Every smile made my heart rate spike.

Every sound of her voice and laugh makes my wall tumble down for her, to welcome her in, to keep her there.

And now with Hunter a part of our world, it made our world a little brighter.

It was so close to being perfect.

‘And I fucking made sure she was better. Once again, Kameron, I made sure she was safe.’

Marcus’s words have been on replay in my mind since he said them.

Because they are true.

He made sure she was safe.

He did, not me.

I turn on the music and blast it to blaring levels, letting it drown out the noise in my head.

** *

When I pull up to my house in Everton, a black SUV is parked just on the curb.

The windows are dark and I don’t see anyone inside as I roll past. I park in the driveway, all my senses are on full alert.

I walk over to the SUV, getting a better look and touch the hood to feel it’s cold.

Whoever it is has been here for a while.

I turn to the house, taking each step hesitantly.

I reach for the door and the porch light turns on above me.

I blink my eyes to adjust to the new lighting.

The door swings open, my arm is grabbed by the figure in the darkened entryway, and I go into action without thinking.

I charge the figure, slamming the door behind me as I pin them to the wall next to the door.

“K-K” My hand tightens around the throat, and my brain connects with the knowledge that this neck I’m holding is petite and I draw my hand away.

The figure drops to the floor with a thud and I turn on the light in the living area, not wanting to illuminate the entry just yet.

I look down where I left the person invading my house, and see Lianne on the floor rubbing her throat and gasping for breath.

Fuck, Lianne.

“Mrs. Wellington?” I say firmly, not needing to fake my confusion or shock.

What in the world was she doing here again? And in my house, when I was gone? Who knows what she got into or what she was saying. I am more than certain this place is fucking bugged.

“Mr. Harris.” She coughs out. I offer my hand to help her up and she takes it with annoyance in her eyes. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“I mean, breaking and entering warrants a startle, no?”

“I can see that now.”

“To what do I have the pleasure, Mrs. Wellington? Is Mr. Wellington aware of your visit this evening?”

“He knows I am…out. I was here because I have been feeling a bit uncomfortable.”

I gesture to the kitchen and she follows me, “Would you care for some tea, Mrs. Wellington?” I say as I flick the handle to the faucet on.

“Yes, that sounds refreshing. Thank you.” She steps closer to me, “Mr. Harris. I believe Mr. Donovan has his men following me.” She says in a hushed tone so that the running water would haze out her words.

“And your first thought was to come here?” I grab the kettle from the counter and start to fill it up. “Was that the best move, Lianne?”

“I didn’t know where else to go.”

“Home, Lianne. You stay home. You act like the wife they want you to be. A golden wife of Everton.”

“I wanted to give you the information. I-I thought it would help in some way.”

“Lianne, don’t mess this up for her, or me.” I shut the water off, and her lips fell into a flat line .

“I’m actually feeling a bit tired, Mr. Harris. I think I’ll go home, but thank you for the offer of tea and company. I wish you a good night.”

“Are you sure?” I don’t push for her to stay. I know she’s only worried and scared. I bet Samuel is having her followed. And her coming here…that fucks with my cover and I can’t have my cover compromised. Not when we finally have somewhat of a lead on how to end this fucking community.

“I am sure.” Lianne says as she walks to the front door.

I take wider steps around her and open the door for her.

“I hope to have a more traditional way of meeting up next time. Good evening, Mrs. Wellington.”

“Good evening.” She doesn’t look my way as she exits the house to the black SUV outside.

She starts it up, driving away and out of sight.

A similar-looking car comes around the corner from the opposite side, windows blacked out and the fog lights on only.

I watch as it drives in the same direction Lianne did moments before.

She has been marked.