Harlequin Intrigue June 2015 - Box Set 1 of 2: To Honor and To Protect\Cornered\Untraceable (30 page)

Chapter Thirteen

Cam wandered through Sandy's house. He acted like a man who couldn't sleep, which was partially true. Julia had worn him out in the best possible way, but his mind kept churning. Something about this island, about the mystery surrounding Chief Kreider and the unanswered questions about Sandy, piqued Cam's innate need to investigate. Had his mind zipping away from Julia's warm body to something much more sinister.

The emergency call to Connor with Holt on the line didn't do anything to ease the concerns. Sandy had money but not the type Cam associated with this setup and the high-end, expensive security system that even Joel had trouble cracking. The situation made Cam wonder what the guy was hiding.

A workaholic who didn't work. Powerful and well-known in town. Had resources and was a hometown boy, so he knew every inch of the island. To Cam, eyeing Sandy made as much sense as checking out Chief Kreider.

One of those investigations would threaten what he had with Julia, even though he wasn't sure what that was. She talked about dating, and when she kissed him, every sensible promise he'd ever made to himself about staying unconnected and free while he did this job crashed to his feet.

“You should leave.”

At the sound of Sandy's voice, Cam turned around. It wasn't a surprise that Sandy could sneak around without making a noise. He seemed like the type, which was one more reason Cam's alarm bells kept ringing. That and the ninja security. Cam had spied two inside cameras—one by the back door and one outside the closed office door—and assumed they were recording every move. It was the only reason he hadn't sneaked into the office and looked around.

“I'm not going to hurt her.” At least he was going to do everything in his power to make sure no one else touched her.

“Too late.” Sandy kept walking until he stood in front of the massive stone fireplace that divided the family room from the sitting area on the other side. “She won't say exactly how you two met, but if I had to guess I would say you ran into her and then saw an opportunity.”

Cam refused to lie about this point. If it ever came down to criminal charges and him getting in trouble, this bit of truth might save her from culpability. “You're right.”

“And you've been using her ever since.”

That part he wouldn't cop to. “If you need to think so.”

“Not even bothering to deny it?” Sandy shook his head as he let out a harsh laugh. “I guess that's admirable.”

“She was there. She knows what happened and what I did.” If the guy thought to blackmail or threaten, Cam wanted him to know that tactic wouldn't work. He was immune to that kind of pressure. “I didn't hide from her.”

“But now she cares about you.” Sandy leaned against the armrest of the sprawling couch. “That makes her vulnerable and I don't want that for her.”

Vulnerable
was the last word Cam would use to describe Julia. She was, just like most people, but so many facets of her personality gave her strength that a very human vulnerability didn't weaken her at all in his eyes. “She's decent and compassionate.”

“Interesting choice of description.”

Sandy wasn't wrong. The words weren't strong enough, but Cam aimed for a different point. “She doesn't want me to get hurt while I figure out who's following us, which makes her a certain type of person. One I don't meet very often.”

“We're saying the same thing.”

Maybe they were. Cam wasn't sure, because Sandy lectured more than talked and getting to his point seemed to be a long journey. “I'm only here until I finish this assignment.”

“I looked up the Corcoran Team.” Sandy folded his arms across his chest. “You guys tend to get in the middle of a lot of trouble.”

Not really possible.
Except for a few cases, the group limited its internet presence and didn't advertise. Cases came to them through governments and corporations. Sometimes through connected individuals. But Connor worked miracles keeping the team and the members' individual names, as well as most of the details of their missions, out of the news.

Anything else would hamper their ability to move in and out and not be seen, which was usually how they operated. The bloodbath across Calapan was unusual and Cam knew Holt and Connor would demand explanations for every choice.

But it didn't hurt to see what Sandy did know. Possibly figure out how he knew it. Cam waded in. “Some people would say we solve trouble.”

“They might,” Sandy scoffed. “Not me.”

The guy clamped down. It was as if he'd gone too far and showed his hand in admitting he'd checked the team out. Now he tried to pull back, all without showing one ounce of concern on his face.

Yeah, Cam didn't buy the caring-uncle routine for one second. This guy had skills and they came from somewhere.

“She'll forget you once you're gone, but you need to leave now while it's easier for her,” Sandy said.

The comment sliced across Cam's senses. He hated every word and had to fight to keep his expression from changing. “She's an adult. She decides.”

The last of Sandy's concern left his face. He stood up, looking ready to battle and much younger than fifty. “Be a man and do the right thing here.”

Cam didn't even flinch. This guy did not scare him. And the fatherly advice rolled right off Cam. Maybe that was the one good part of never having one.

“We're leaving tomorrow morning.” He didn't leave any room for question.

“You are.” Sandy pointed toward the bedrooms. “She stays.”

Now Cam saw it. The way Sandy stepped in and took over. Very paternal and borderline inappropriate even on the overprotective scale. “Does she know that? Julia does have a mind of her own and is old enough to make her own decision.”

“She'll come to her senses.”

Cam kept thinking the same thing. She'd wake up or turn around and look at him and see what he saw when he looked in the mirror—a guy who did best on his own. “You can try to handle this however you want, but I'll let her decide.”

“You'll see.” Sandy nodded. “When the time comes she'll side with me.”

* * *

J
ULIA
ROLLED
OVER
and her hand hit a cool sheet instead of a warm male chest. She jackknifed into a sitting position and glanced around the room in time to see Cam walk back in from the hall.

“Why are you up?” She didn't bother whispering because she didn't think they had anything to hide.

Sandy had put them in two bedrooms. She'd vetoed that immediately and held her ground when he tried to explain that she needed sleep. She knew what she needed—Cam.

He jerked at the sound of her voice, then looked up at her. The frown came next. He made a face. Generally looked as though he was debating telling her the truth.

She knew then something bad had happened. “What?”

He hesitated for one more second before spitting it out. “The police are here.”

She grabbed the sheet and held it to her chest. Until that moment she'd felt loose and comfortable, almost forgetting the horrors behind them and those yet in front of them. But the mention of police had her snapping back to reality.

Still, she didn't want to believe Sandy had betrayed her that way. “That's not possible.”

“There's one police car outside. It's sitting at the end of the driveway.”

Her heart crashed inside her chest. “You saw it?”

His expression stayed blank. “I'm guessing.”

That didn't make any sense. She'd been with him nonstop and he didn't guess. He reasoned things out, listened to his team, researched the intel. Random guessing seemed odd...along with almost everything else that was happening on Calapan. “I don't understand.”

Cam sat down on the side of the bed with his hand on the comforter covering her thigh. “Sandy wants me gone.”

That was not news. She'd survived the earlier testosterone battle but knew that had only been round one. Looked as though they were at it again. “I'll talk to him.”

“It's too late.” Cam got up and went to the end of the bed. He had his jeans on and tucked in his T-shirt. “I need to sneak out.”

“We are not having this discussion again. You go, I go.” Even though the idea of getting out of that warm bed and stepping out into the wet dark night made her want to scream.

He froze in the act of putting a sweater on. “Julia, this is—”

“No, not again.” She slipped over the usual arguments and zoomed right to the heart of what drove her. “I am sleeping with you because I care about you. Do you really think I'd let you wander off without me, especially if the police are looking to frame you?”

Cam dragged his sweater down his torso as his eyes grew soft. “Sandy will make sure no one hurts you.”

“So will you.” She stood up and moved to stand in front of him.

“No.”

“I will follow you.” Her hands went to his waist as she willed him to finally get it. She trusted him and would not leave him. “You know I will. Imagine the danger I can get into.”

He sighed hard enough to blow her hair. “Get dressed.”

She was already in her pants and searching for a shirt to go under his raincoat. By the time she stepped into the oversize bathroom a few minutes later, he stood there waiting by the alarm pad. Eyed it up and then looked to her.

The red light held steady. That meant the place was locked down, which made sense, as it was nighttime and normal people should be sleeping. She decided not to point that out and hoped she didn't fall asleep in the middle of their big escape.

She punched in the number on the keypad, but nothing happened. The alarm box beeped, but the light did not turn green. She tried again and got the same result, which made no sense.

She glanced over her shoulder at Cam. “The code isn't working.”

“He changed it.” Cam leaned back against the wall.

His comment made it sound as if Sandy had locked them in, but that couldn't be right. “Why?”

“He doesn't want us to get away this time.”

Cam had broken into full-blown paranoia. She knew Sandy could be demanding and a whole host of other annoying things, but he didn't live in a prison and had never expected her to do so.

“What does that mean?” she asked. “You're being cryptic and now isn't the time.”

“We need another way out. One that won't trip the alarms.” Cam aimed his intense stare at her and did not let up. “Think.”

“We can't just walk out, because the red light means the doors are locked and we'd need the override code.”

“He has a system that locks him in? That's unbelievable.” Cam shook his head. “Okay, any other ideas?”

The answer popped into her head immediately. “The balcony off his bedroom. He likes fresh air and keeps one of them open. He usually locks it out of the security system.”

“This should be fun.” Cam opened the door to the hallway just a fraction and looked out.

“We can take the back stairway, but he could be up there.”

“I can't believe we're going up to go out.” Cam went down on one knee in front of the duffel bag and loaded up with weapons.

Looked to her as if he planned on taking on an entire army before they broke free of the lawn. When the knife flashed and then disappeared by his side, her stomach rolled. “You're the one who insists we leave.”

“And I'm right about that.” He took her hand and brought her along behind him. “No talking.”

As if she needed that warning. She thought all of this sounded overboard and odd, but the determination in his voice and on his face was not a joke. Neither was the sound of male voices coming from the front of the house.

Sandy was talking to...Kreider. Julia picked up the voice and double-timed the walk down the hall and around to the kitchen before the panic and confusion buzzing around her brain could catch up to her.

Cam pushed her back and out of the way when they got to the hallway that led to the foyer. If they could clear this they could get out without Kreider moving in. Never mind the fact that they'd have to rappel down the side of the house instead of just walking outside. She assumed Cam had a plan for that.

They waited. Stood there as Sandy talked about Cam being in the house and his concerns. Julia felt her temper build and boil, then explode in a flash before her eyes. Sandy had lied to her, and the reality of that burned through her, leaving her feeling raw.

One more peek and then Cam crossed to the other side in one giant yet quiet step. He held up a hand, keeping her back, then after a few seconds gestured for her to make a run. The plush carpet covered the noise of her footsteps and they stepped with caution as they walked upstairs.

She knew the floor creaked somewhere at the top of the steps and tried to circle around the general spot. But going into Sandy's bedroom for any reason felt weird. Not that she had a choice right now. Cam stood in the middle of the upstairs hall and held out his hands as if to ask for directions. She blocked out the violation and her anger at Sandy's bullying and moved toward the big double doors to the left.

Once she was inside, Cam frowned. She understood why. The bedroom was bigger than most houses and nicer than most hotel suites. It spanned almost half of this floor. The huge bed, still made, the sofa and desk. A wall of bookcases.

Cam hesitated at the desk. Brushed his fingertips over the handle to the top drawer but then shook his head.

She had no idea what was going through his head but guessed it had something to do with violating Sandy's privacy. She couldn't go there and snapped her fingers at him to let him know that.

With a nod Cam walked straight past her to the French doors to the balcony. One side was open and he slipped through. She could smell the rain and feel the breeze as it kicked up. They both stood at the railing and stared down the straight drop.