Page 106

Cameron

N ate’s phone rang, dragging us both out of our slumber. Reaching over with a groggy moan, Nate grabbed the phone and answered.

“Hello?”

Whatever was said on the other end was enough to get Nate’s attention. He scooted out from under me and sat up.

“You’re sure?” he asked, nudging me gently. “That’s the time?”

Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I lifted myself up on my elbows.

“All right. We’ll be ready,” Nate said, then tossed his phone on the bed.

“Was that JC?” I asked.

Nate shook his head. “It was Alec. JC’s still busy greeting all the elders who’ve arrived for the hearing. The hearing’s at six o’clock tonight. Downtown at the Headrick’s building. Do you know where that is?” he asked. “If not, I can search the address online.”

“I do,” I said. “It’s a random office building on the outskirts of the business district. I can get us there, if you want.”

“No, JC’s sending a car for us,” Nate said, then glanced at his phone again, blinking in surprise. “Crap, we need to get ready. The pickup is scheduled in one hour.”

As I dressed and dragged a brush through my hair, my thoughts became chaotic. All I could think about was messing up when my time came. What if I stuttered, or mixed up my words? Christ, what if I froze up under the glare of all those alphas?

Nate must have noticed my unease because he put his hand on my lower back. “It’s going to be all right. You know that, right? No matter what happens.”

“I know,” I said, dropping my brush onto the table beside the bed. “My nerves are getting to me. That’s all.”

“Are you sure?” he asked, eyeing me, that penetrating gaze of his peeling back the layers of my soul.

I nodded and tried to fill my voice with as much confidence as I could muster. “Yeah. I’m good.”

Our moment alone ended when the front door banged open. “Cameron?”

“Shit,” I hissed. “Gael’s home.”

I hurried out the bedroom door to meet my little brother in the kitchen.

“Hey,” he said happily, eyes widening in delight to see me. “I was hoping you were home. Do you have any idea who that big guy is standing in the hallway?”

“He’s a… uh… a friend,” I answered.

“ My friend,” Nate added, walking out of the bedroom and shrugging on his jacket. “He’s keeping an eye on the place. No need to worry.”

Gael’s eyes widened again. “Nate? Wow, hey. Where are you guys going?”

“I’ve got an appointment,” I explained. “Nate’s going with me.”

“Okay.” Gael shrugged. “Can I go play video games?”

I crossed my arms and cocked an eyebrow. “Do you have homework?”

He lowered his eyes. “Yes,” he muttered.

“That first, then games. Scratch that—homework, then dishes, then games. Got it, mister?” I pointed at the sink in emphasis.

“Ugh,” Gael said, throwing his head back as though I’d told him he was going to the front lines of a war to die in the field of battle. “ Fine .”

“Good. Thanks, little buddy,” I said, mussing his hair.

Once Gael was settled at the kitchen table with his homework and a snack, Nate and I headed outside. Julius nodded to us, his eyes downcast and somber.

“Hey, guys,” he said. “All good?”

“Hi, Julius,” I said. “Are you all right? I, uh, heard about Sam.” I’d never actually met the man, but he’d put his life on the line to try to protect me, and that made it hard to accept that something awful had happened to him.

Julius looked away, obviously uncomfortable, and nodded. “Yeah.” He cleared his throat. “Alec and the others found him. His body was dumped in a storm drain about a mile from your office.”

“Oh, God,” I groaned, putting a hand to my mouth. “I’m sorry.”

“Just make sure those fuckers pay. Okay, Cameron? Sam was a good man. He didn’t deserve this.”

“I will,” I said. “I promise.”

“I appreciate that,” he said. Doing his best to return to his professional demeanor, Julius nodded to the apartment door. “We’ll watch the little guy while you’re gone. Word is, your mom is on the way home from work as well. Someone is tailing her to make sure she gets back safe.”

“Thank you,” I said.

“You guys are doing good work.” Nate clasped Julius’s shoulder. “I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done for Cameron and her family.”

Julius nodded, but smiled bitterly. “Wish we could have done more.”

Leaving him behind, Nate and I walked down the stairs to the front door. When we stepped outside, the cool air refreshed me, cutting away some of the stress.

“You know,” I said as we waited for the car, “I think Rick is as much of a victim as I am.”

“ What? ” Nate demanded, snapping his head around to look at me. “Are you fucking serious?”

“I am. It was something he said in the office today. He’s so fixated on getting what his father wants, on being who his father wants, it’s twisted his mind.

He’s doing anything he can to live up to this standard Lincoln created.

I know he was on something when he attacked me today.

Personally, I think he’s used to dealing with the stress of his father’s iron fist. That’s my opinion, anyway. ”

“You might be right,” Nate admitted. “But that doesn’t mean I need to pity the asshole. Lots of people have had shit lives. You and I both had it rough, and we didn’t turn into psychos.”

“True.”

All I could see was the tortured look in Rick’s eyes as he was talking about his father. We’d had some good times when we dated. Rick could be nice and sweet and funny. What kind of a person would he have been without his father’s influence?

Nate’s low whistle drew me out of my thoughts. Turning, I found what he’d spotted. A black limo cruised up and parked by the curb beside us.

“No way,” I said, shaking my head.

“Ms. Torres,” the driver said through the open passenger window. “Mr. Zane?”

“That’s us,” I said.

He nodded. “JC sent me to bring you all to the meeting.”

A tremor of fear coursed through me, and I stepped back from the limo. Could this be a trap? Another of Lincoln’s tricks?

“Would you two get your asses in here?” Ollie asked, leaning out of the back door, grinning at us. “There’s a full bar here. You’ve got to check it out.”

Putting a hand to my chest, I let out an audible sigh of relief and chuckled slightly.

“I didn’t expect a limo,” I said.

“Yeah,” Nate agreed. “Figured it would be some beat-up white van or something.”

Ollie winked. “JC wanted you guys to travel in style tonight.”

The limo seats were plush leather, and Ollie was right—there was a bar.

Several bottles lined the illuminated glass racks on the side.

The tiny refrigerator beneath held bottles of water, club soda, tonic water, and orange juice.

It was a little over-the-top, but I appreciated the next-level service.

“Want a drink?” Ollie asked me.

“Water is fine,” I said.

He pulled a bottle from the fridge and handed it to me.

“How’s it going?” Nate asked. “Has Lincoln been taken into custody yet?”

Ollie lifted an eyebrow. “Not exactly. As of now, the evidence is still tenuous. He could say his son went off the rails and acted on his own to save his own skin. Once we have your recordings and firsthand testimony, it’ll be more of a slam dunk,” he explained.

“He’s been told he must report to this hearing in person.

JC sent a couple enforcers to ensure he gets the hint.

He should be getting there a little after we do. ”

Nate slipped his hand into mine while I sipped my water and stared out the window.

Nervous energy coursed through me, and I wondered exactly what might happen when we got to this hearing.

I’d been to quite a few court cases in my time at the paper.

Would this hearing be like that, or different?

Would it be respectful and calm, or would there be more chaos? Soon enough, I’d see for myself.

“I hope you’re fucking happy.” Lincoln Masters sneered as he walked into the room, flanked by three burly men.

He glared across the room at JC, who sat placid and relaxed in his chair.

Lincoln waved to the men following him. “Your goddamned watchdogs were rather persuasive. Do you realize they pulled me out of a merger meeting that was worth nearly thirty million dollars? What is this bullshit?”

If Lincoln noticed the dozen other alphas in the room—and me and Nate—he didn’t give any evidence of it. The only thing he could do was stare angrily at JC, who simply pointed at the lone free chair.

“Sit,” JC said.

Lincoln’s eyes widened. “Excuse me?”

The calm smile on JC’s face vanished, and he rose from his chair. “I said, sit.” JC winked at him. “Be a good dog, and sit the fuck down, Lincoln.”

Aghast at the way he was being talked to, Lincoln Masters finally glanced around the room, registering the attendees. From the look on his face, I could see that he was beginning to realize he was in deep shit. Rather than argue, he did as JC said, pulling his chair out and taking a seat.

Once Lincoln was seated, JC turned to the three men who’d escorted him in. “Bring in the son,” JC said.

I watched Lincoln, and though he did his best to remain stone-faced, worry flitted across his features. His gaze darted to the doorway as one of the men exited. When he spotted me sitting off to the side with Nate, the fire returned to his eyes, and he leveled a finger at me.

“What is that bitch doing here? JC, she’s the whole reason my boy is in trouble.” He banged his fist on the table. “Nothing but a gold-digging whore?—”

“ Enough !” JC bellowed, and everyone—the alphas in attendance, Lincoln, and me—lowered their heads reflexively at his booming command.

Lincoln stayed silent, but I caught him casting angry glances in my direction. Did he know how screwed he and his son were? Maybe, but maybe not. If his ego was as big as it seemed to be, he might still think there was a way out of this.