Too Wilde to Tame (31 page)

"First of all, you have absolutely nothing to be sorry for," Mia said, reassuring her friend. "There is nothing I want more than to see you out of your relationship with Ray, and I've never made a secret of that fact."

Gina hung her head as she set her iced tea aside. "I know," she said quietly.

"So is it true what Ray said?" Mia persisted gently, needing answers. "That you want to end things?"

"Yes," Gina nodded and met her gaze. "I finally realized I can't keep going on like this."

"Good for you, Gina." A huge wave of relief swept over Mia. Getting Gina to admit there was a problem was half the battle. The other half came in the form of a very volatile, abusive man.

"You tried to tell me, and I kept denying that anything bad was happening. I made excuses for Ray's actions and behavior because I was blaming myself for making Ray angry." A sense of despair etched her expression. "But Saturday night he started yelling at me because I'd burnt the roast I'd made for dinner, and I just realized I'd had enough, I wasn't happy, and I knew I never would be. So I tried to break things off, but he went crazy."

Gina's hand fluttered up to her throat, and she swallowed hard, her eyes haunted. "He shoved me up against the wall and put his hand around my neck. And it really, really scared me, to the point that I left his place when he was using the bathroom."

Mia recalled that past Saturday night when she and Cameron had come across Gina in the kitchen, clutching her robe tight and her eyes red and puffy from crying. Now, it all made sense.

Crossing the distance separating her from Gina, Mia grabbed her friend's hands and squeezed them tight. "Honey, you did the right thing. You know that, don't you?"

"Yeah, I do." A smile wavered on her lips. "Of course he's called me since then, telling me how sorry he is, that it would never happen again. But I don't believe him anymore, not when I have so many bruises to show for his abuse."

For the past few weeks Gina had been wearing long-sleeved blouses to work, and as she pushed up the sleeve of her current top, Mia understood why. She'd been covering up bruises on her arms where Ray had obviously grabbed her very roughly. Some of the marks were faded; others were barely beginning to heal.

Gina glanced back up at Mia, her eyes filled with genuine fear. "I'm afraid to be with him, and I'm even more afraid to leave him."

"He's threatened to really hurt you if you leave him, hasn't he?"

Gina drew a shuddering breath that was tinged with dread. "Yes."

Fury rose within Mia, immediate and swift. "You're doing the right thing, you know that, don't you?"

"Yes," Gina said, clearly having come to her senses about Ray. "I know I have to end things once and for all. I just can't stay in this emotionally and physically abusive relationship any longer."

"And you shouldn't have to," Mia insisted. "If you want me or Cameron to be there with you when you tell Ray, for backup or support, just say the word."

"No, I need to do this on my own," Gina said with a shake of her head. "It might be the coward's way out, but I'm going to end things with Ray on the phone."

Mia was glad to hear that. "That's not cowardly, Gina. It's smart. He can't hurt you that way, and once that's done you can have a restraining order issued against him so he can't come near you."

"That's what I'd planned to do." She straightened with a determination that made Mia proud. "I'm supposed to see him on Thursday evening, but I'm going to call him instead and tell him we're through. For good. And then because I have Friday, Saturday, and Sunday off, I'm going to go and stay with my sister so I'm not around. That will hopefully give Ray time to cool off."

Mia couldn't have thought of a better arrangement herself, because there was no doubt in her mind Ray would do everything in his power to try and contact or see Gina after she ended the relationship. But that also meant Mia shouldn't be alone this weekend either, because Ray would be looking for any excuse to unleash his wrath on anyone who stood in his way of getting in touch with Gina.

@"WHO is Ray Wilkins?"

Cameron glanced from the information on his computer screen he was perusing to Steve, who'd entered his office and was crossing the room to his desk. He'd anticipated something like this would happen at some point, and although Steve seemed only mildly curious at the moment, Cameron didn't expect his friend's calm to last once he explained Ray to him.

"Why do you ask?"

"Wes was doing some trace work on this guy while you were gone earlier," Steve replied. "He said it was for you, but I can't find a case file, so I was curious who he is and if he's a client of ours."

Cameron knew he could tell Steve it was personal and he'd immediately let it go and that would be the end of their discussion. But as partners, and friends, Cameron didn't want lies between himself and Steve. Especially if Steve found out the truth later—that his cousin, Mia, was being stalked and Ray Wilkins was a prime suspect. Even though Cameron had promised Mia he wouldn't involve her family in any way, he trusted Steve to be discreet, and that was what ultimately swayed his decision to tell his partner everything.

Cameron waved a hand toward the chair in front of his desk. "Why don't you sit down. There's something I need to tell you."

Steve lifted a dark brow as he settled his large frame in the seat. "Sounds serious."

"It involves Mia," Cameron said flat out.

"Mia?" Steve looked completely taken aback and then he smirked. "Did you find out she's seeing this guy, and you've got it so bad for her that you're running a background check to scrutinize his credentials?"

Cameron laughed, because it was amusing to think Steve believed he'd be jealous enough to secretly investigate someone Mia might be dating. But there was nothing remotely humorous about the actual situation and the reasons why he was trying to trace Ray and his past. And those answers were about to reveal his own relationship with Mia.

Sighing in resignation, Cameron tossed his pen onto his desk and leaned back in his chair. "Ray is a suspect in a personal case I'm pursuing, which also involves Mia."

Steve's entire demeanor took on a guarded edge. "In what way?"

Cameron explained everything from the beginning, about the pictures Mia had received by mail, her car being vandalized, and how there was a possibility Ray was behind it all. He also told Steve about Ray's abusive relationship with Mia's roommate, Gina, which was yet another reason to find out who Ray was and what was lurking in the other man's past.

Steve appeared stunned. "I don't get why Mia didn't come to me for help. It's not like the two of you are best buddies or anything… or are you?" His tone had turned gruff, and his gaze narrowed with suspicion.

Even from across the expanse of his desk, Cameron felt the heat of his partner's stare. "Mia came to me originally because she feels you guys are way too protective and smothering, and she didn't want you all invading her personal life or space over this. I agreed to help her out, and she made me promise I wouldn't tell you or her brothers what was going on. I figured as long as I was able to keep things under control, and her life wasn't directly threatened in any way, there was no reason to involve anyone else."

"If you haven't noticed, there's a reason why we're all so protective of Mia," Steve said wryly. "Not only is she the only girl and the baby of the family, she tends to be a bit reckless and wild at times."

Cameron had definitely seen that side to Mia, but over the past few weeks he'd also been privy to the woman beneath it all who wanted her family's acceptance more than their protection. "Have you ever thought that with all of you being so overly protective of Mia, it pushes her to be more rebellious just out of spite? You'd be amazed at what she can handle on her own."

A flicker of annoyance passed over Steve's features. "Jesus, when in the hell did you become Mia's protector?" Then, his gaze widened with stark realization. "Holy, shit. Have you and Mia finally hooked up?"

Cameron chose his next words carefully, because he wasn't altogether certain how Steve was going to react to his admission. "Mia and I are seeing one another privately, which is her choice, not mine. It sort of evolved out of me taking on this case." He wasn't about to tell Steve their affair started much earlier, like the night Mia had entered the wet T-shirt contest and tempted him beyond all reason.

"Well I'll be damned," Steve said with a sly grin. "Does anyone else know the two of you are dating?"

Dating. What a novel thought to actually be able to date Mia, out in the open and in public places, Cameron mused. So far, their involvement had all taken place behind closed doors, and that was something Cameron would love to change once the stalker issue with Mia was finally resolved. That is, if Mia allowed their relationship to progress beyond the case.

"Joel knows," Cameron admitted. "He kinda figured things out at your party this weekend." He deliberately left out the more intimate details of Joel's discovery.

"And he didn't kick your ass right then and there?"

"No." Amusement tugged up one corner of Cameron's mouth, along with a good dose of surprise, considering how well Steve was handling the news. "Should he have?"

Steve laughed, a deep, hearty sound. "Naw, he's probably grateful, as I am, Mia is with someone we all know and trust."

Cameron couldn't help but marvel over both Joel's and Steve's similar responses. He'd expected the worst, and instead had come to realize that he'd completely underestimated both of their reactions. They were just looking out for Mia's welfare, and it was nice to know they thought so highly of him.

If only Mia would put as much trust in him as her brother and cousin had, he'd be a happy man.

Realizing how far off track their discussion had gone, Cameron attempted to steer the conversation back to business. "About Ray Wilkins," Cameron said, relieved to have the focus off him and Mia. "I attempted to do a background check on him and came up with a dead end on his current identity, which was why I put Wes on the trace for me." Especially because the guy was such a genius with computers and finding out information through the Internet. "I was hoping he'd find some kind of lead on the guy that maybe I missed."

Steve nodded, and after a thoughtful minute finally replied. "Well, now that I know what's going on, I'll find out what I can on this guy, as well, and make it top priority with Wes."

"Thanks," Cameron said. "I appreciate it."

Determination and a lifetime of being protective of Mia—an emotion Cameron knew was purely instinctual—darkened Steve's features. "Whoever is messing with Mia is going to have hell to pay once we catch up with them."

Cameron had no doubt of that, because he planned to be the one who confronted that person.

THE deed was done. As soon as Gina hung up the phone after ending things with Ray, and cutting him off mid-rage, she and Mia put their agreed-upon plan into action. Mia grabbed her small suitcase, Gina picked up hers, and they left the apartment for the weekend, with Mia heading to Cameron's and Gina to her sister's. The phone began ringing immediately, and because Gina had disengaged her answering machine, at least she wouldn't come back home on Sunday to vicious, nasty messages from Ray.

"That felt good," Gina said, and Mia knew a huge burden had been lifted from her friend's shoulders.

"It was the right thing to do." Mia smiled at Gina, wanting her to believe that without question. Unfortunately, she didn't think this was the end of Ray, despite the restraining order Gina had issued against him before making the final call. "Now you can go to your sisters and enjoy the weekend with her and your nieces."

"Oh, I plan to," she said as they headed down the pathway to the front of the complex. "And what about you? You'll be okay for the weekend?"

"I'll be just fine." Mia withdrew her keys from her purse. "Cameron said I could stay in his guest bedroom."

Gina burst out laughing, and Mia was glad to see glimpses of the old friend she knew and loved. "I'm betting you don't even set foot in that guest bedroom."

"I'll never tell," Mia teased, though she was certain Gina was right. "Hold on. I want to check our mailbox before we leave."

Mia quickly unlocked their box and took out the mail. She handed Gina her bills and correspondences and felt her own stomach drop when she found a larger, padded envelope addressed to her—in the same vein as the two other envelopes she'd received from an anonymous sender.

It appeared her own troubles weren't over yet.

Chapter Fifteen

Previous Top Next

"THIS came in today's mail," Mia said to Cameron once she'd arrived at his place half an hour later. She paced anxiously near the kitchen table, her stomach already in knots over what they'd find inside. "I thought I'd wait and give you the honor of opening the envelope this time."

Cameron picked up the envelope and checked it out, front and back. "No return address, of course," he said calmly. "And it's bigger and bulkier than the others you've been sent with the pictures inside."

And that's what worried her the most, because she was fairly certain her stalker had a different kind of surprise in store for her. "I don't think I want to know what's inside." Dread tightened her chest.