Meeting Danger (Danger #1)

by Allyson Simonian

  As for himself, Camden much preferred the small-town feel of Shavertown. He’d always enjoyed it when his parents had brought him to visit his grandparents, and liked it even more now. It suited him better than the hustle and bustle of DC.

  “What do you want?” Grayson asked. “Black?”

  “Black’s perfect.”

  Grayson held up a hand. “And yes, before you ask, I’ll see what Autumn wants.”

  Camden eyed his friend. “Are you being nice to her, Gray?”

  “What?”

  “Are you being nice to Autumn?”

  Grayson folded his arms across his chest. “Yeah.”

  Camden leveled him a don’t-bullshit-me look. “You should see your face whenever you’re in the same room.” When Grayson scowled, he said, “See? That’s what I mean. I know you think I’m stupid having her here, but none of this is her fault. I want her to feel welcome.”

  “Fine.” Grayson held up both hands in surrender. “I’ll behave. Do you need a pill before I leave?”

  “No.”

  Grayson frowned at that but didn’t comment. “I’ll be back soon.” He strode out of the room.

  Camden listened for noises from the kitchen after the front door slammed, but there was only silence. Realizing he couldn’t wait any longer to see Autumn, he braced his hands against the mattress and sat up. Pain shot through his ribs, but he did his best to ignore it.

  He looked around and spotted the button-down shirt he’d worn the day before draped over a chair. Leaning forward, he grabbed hold of it. By the time he shrugged it on, his ribs were burning. A glance down at his midsection showed the Ace bandage had come loose.

  “Great,” he muttered.

  Taking hold of the bandage, he slowly began to unwrap it. The resulting pain from lifting his arms had him gritting his teeth together. What he wouldn’t give to be able to quit breathing for the next few days.

  “I can help you with that.”

  Camden jerked his head toward the quietly spoken words. Autumn was standing in the doorway, holding a tray.

  She moved inside the room and set the tray down on the nightstand. As her soft curves came inches from his face, Camden blinked hard. He closed his eyes and forced the completely inappropriate thought he was having out of his mind. Autumn had been through enough without him leering at her.

  She carefully unwound the fabric from his abdomen. “How tight should I make it?”

  “Tight.”

  She gave him a nod. As she began to wind the fabric around his middle, her hand brushed against his skin.

  Camden gasped in a breath and she immediately stopped. “Is that too tight?”

  “No. It’s perfect.”

  She studied him for a moment before nodding and resuming her work. Once she finished, Camden needed a minute to collect himself. When he began buttoning his shirt, Autumn walked toward the window.

  “This is a really nice property.”

  “Thank you.”

  She turned around. “Have you lived here long?”

  “I was living in DC until recently. Gray and I share an apartment there.” Which was something they’d need to figure out; their lease was coming up for renewal soon.

  “You’re friends too then.”

  “We are.”

  Autumn smiled. “No wonder he’s so protective of you.”

  Christ, was that a dimple in her cheek? It was adorable. He stared at her as pleasure rippled through his chest. Seeing her happy brought on emotions he wasn’t quite prepared for.

  He forced his train of thought back to what she’d just said. “I guess Gray is protective.”

  It went both ways, though. He felt protective over Grayson too. Just like he felt protective of Autumn. He’d only recently met her, and yet she was already someone he cared about.

  It was more than her vulnerability that had him feeling this way. She’d obviously had an unusual childhood, based on the lack of records, and the last several years she’d spent with Butch and his club brothers must have been difficult for her. She was like a kitten in the midst of a pack of rottweilers, and the thought of Autumn with those criminals made Camden’s blood boil.

  Yet despite the damage her past had inflicted, she was gentle and sweet. And while it would be unprofessional to think about her in anything other than a professional way, he was determined to do everything in his power to make her feel safe.

  “Are you settling in okay?”

  She blinked at the question and then blurted, “Why am I here?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I know you feel like you owe me, but you don’t have to do this. Open your home to me.”

  “I’ll admit I’m grateful, Autumn, but I didn’t ask you here because I feel guilty. I want you here.”

  She dropped her gaze, no longer meeting his eyes. “Butch did awful things,” she said in a low voice. “I never stopped him.”

  Camden drew in a breath. “You were afraid of him.”

  She shook her head. “It’s no excuse.”

  “I’m glad you’re here. Please know that.”

  Autumn looked up quickly, her brows drawn together. “Do you have a girlfriend? Does she mind that I’m here?”

  Camden gave her a small smile. “There’s no girlfriend. There hasn’t been in quite a while.”

  “Oh.”

  Camden wanted to reach out but resisted temptation. “Are we okay here, Autumn?”

  She seemed to ponder the question for a few seconds. Finally, she nodded. Gesturing toward the tray she’d brought up, she asked, “Do you like oatmeal?”

  “I do.” When she moved toward the tray, he said, “I’d like to eat downstairs, though.”

  She turned around with a frown. “Are you up for that?”

  Trying not to show the pain he felt, Camden pushed up from the bed. “For a little while, anyway.”

  As Autumn took the tray down the stairs, Camden gripped the railing and carefully took each step. Walking was slightly easier than it had been the day before, but maybe it was only because he was walking down the stairs—gravity was on his side. The trip back up the stairs would be the real test.

  He took the last step down and followed Autumn inside the kitchen as she set the tray on the table.

  “You’re going to eat with me, right?”

  She blinked at the question but nodded and moved to the counter to get a bowl ready for herself. As she took a seat beside him, Camden was reminded of the questions that he needed to ask her. But she was still getting settled. The questions could wait a little longer.

  Over the next half hour, she slowly relaxed. Camden did his best to put her at ease, mostly talking about his grandparents and his memories of visiting this house when he was a child. She focused at first on her bowl, talking little, but eventually started asking him questions and meeting his eyes.

  When the front door slammed open, Autumn startled.

  “It’s just Gray.” You can trust him, angel. And you can trust me, too.

  Grayson strode into the kitchen and set a grocery bag and two to-go cups of coffee onto the table. “Shouldn’t you be in bed, Cam?”

  “I’m fine.” Grayson slid one of the cups over and Camden picked it up, sniffing happily at the familiar dark-roast aroma. “Thanks for going shopping.”

  Grayson snorted. “I like getting in touch with my domestic side now and then.” He unpacked the groceries he’d bought and then gazed at Autumn. “Is this everything you needed?”

  “Yes. Thank you.”

  As she quickly rose and began putting things away, Camden felt a jolt of disappointment that their time alone had come to an end.

  • • •

  Camden was sitting up in bed later that afternoon. As Autumn came in with a tray, he switched off the television.

  “Are you hungry?”

  “Sure.” He gazed at her as she set the tray on his lap. “Don’t think you have to wait on me, though. You’re here as my guest.”

 
; She gave him a small smile. “I don’t mind.”

  As she started for the door, he took in a breath. Damn it, but he didn’t want her to leave. “How are your arms feeling?”

  She turned around, a small crease between her brows. “My arms?”

  “All those shots you had . . . you must be sore.”

  “No.” She brushed a hand over her arm. “I’m fine.”

  Camden took an appreciative sniff of the soup she’d made. “This smells amazing.”

  That adorable dimple flashed as she smiled.

  Flavor exploded over his tongue as he took a bite. “Delicious. I haven’t had homemade soup in God only knows how long.”

  “How are you feeling?” she asked as he spooned up more soup.

  More than thrilled she was continuing the conversation, he grinned. “I’ve been better.”

  He studied her face. Gone was the terror that had consumed her that night at Cobb’s. She was truly beautiful.

  His thoughts were interrupted as Grayson came into the room. Autumn quickly excused herself and slipped out.

  Camden frowned when Grayson began pacing the room. “You all right?”

  “Yeah.” Grayson stopped suddenly and jammed his hands inside his pockets. “Actually, no. My mother called. She’s having some tests.”

  “Tests? For what?”

  Camden sat up straighter. Eleanor Matthews had been like a second mother to him, especially after his own parents moved to Florida. She’d lived alone in Scranton ever since she was widowed when Grayson was just a toddler. Now in her late fifties and an avid traveler, she spoiled him and Grayson with home-cooked meals every time she visited DC.

  “Not sure. But she hasn’t been feeling well lately.”

  “She’s having the tests done at a hospital?”

  “Yeah, in Philadelphia. Will you be all right if I go?”

  Camden tamped down his rising concern. “I’ll be fine.”

  “It’s not a long drive back. Just call if you need me.” Grayson stepped into the hallway. “Autumn?”

  She walked back down the hall from the guest room. “Yes?”

  “I need to visit my mother for a few days. Will you be able to help Camden alone?”

  Autumn eyed Camden for a moment before nodding. “Of course.”

  Camden shook his head. Why are they talking about me as if I’m a five-year-old?

  “We’ll be fine, Gray. Just tell your mom I hope she feels better.”

  CHAPTER 20

  When Camden got out of bed the next day, he noticed a significant improvement in his ribs. He could now walk without holding his abdomen, and a shower seemed within the realm of possibility.

  As he waited for the water to warm, he stared at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. His hair was practically shoulder length now, and his beard was looking a little rough. But grooming would have to wait a little longer; he still wasn’t up for a trip to town.

  He went through the motions of bathing and then took a long minute to stand under the luxuriously hot spray. What kind of day would he and Autumn have?

  She was in the kitchen when he walked downstairs.

  “Morning.” When she startled slightly at his greeting, he chuckled. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to sneak up on you.”

  The surprise cleared from her face. “You didn’t. Are you hungry?” As she moved toward the stove, she said over her shoulder, “It’s oatmeal again. Hope that’s okay.”

  He smiled when she brought over a bowl. She’d added chopped nuts and fruit this time, along with a little cinnamon. “Fancy.”

  She shrugged. “Thought I’d change it up a little.”

  As her dimple flashed, Camden caught his breath. The more relaxed she was, the more stunning she became.

  “You’re eating with me, right?”

  Giving him a nod, she reached into the cabinet for another bowl. “Did your grandmother like to bake?”

  Camden looked toward the pantry. “You must have seen her baking supplies. She was known as the pie lady around here.”

  Autumn grinned. “Really?”

  Camden nodded. “The town has a festival every July. She was a blue-ribbon winner almost every year she entered.”

  “That’s amazing.”

  As Autumn brought her bowl to the table, Camden debated. The questions he needed to ask her weren’t going to wait forever, and he knew from Grayson that Eli was getting antsy.

  Autumn had settled in well these past days, and seemed relaxed now. His mind made up, he cleared his throat.

  “I want to ask you a few questions about the club, but first I want to give you a chance to ask me anything you need to.”

  For long seconds, she remained silent, her attention fixed on her bowl as she stirred the oatmeal, but he knew she had to have questions.

  Come on, angel. You can trust me.

  Finally, she wet her lips. “My brother . . . Do you think you can help me find him?”

  Camden mentally chastised himself. This was important to her, and he should have had someone looking into it already.

  “I’m going to work on it today.” He pulled over the pad of paper and pencil that were lying on the table. “What’s your brother’s name?”

  “Wade Mason.”

  “How old is he?”

  “Five years older than me, so about twenty-seven.”

  “What’s his exact birthdate?”

  Autumn shifted in her seat and looked away. “I know this is going to sound ridiculous, but I don’t know. I think it’s in May, but we never celebrated birthdays after my mother died.”

  Camden tried to mask his surprise. “Do you know your own?” Grayson hadn’t mentioned anything, and he’d been the one searching for her Social Security number.

  “I only know it’s in January and that I’m twenty-two.”

  He nodded. “You said you haven’t spoken to your brother in years?”

  “No. Not for as long as I’ve been with Butch.”

  “Why?”

  She shrugged. “Butch didn’t want me calling him.”

  Camden clenched his teeth as he stifled a sigh. That statement alone confirmed the type of relationship he’d suspected she’d had with Cobb. And from the sound of it, her earlier years hadn’t been much better.

  He drew in a breath. “Your brother never called you?”

  “No, but Butch and I moved a year after I started living with him.” She said the words quickly, as if trying to defend her brother. “He probably tried, but I wasn’t where he’d left me.”

  Camden needed to satisfy his curiosity about something else. “How did you and Butch meet?”

  “My brother knew him. They both ride bikes.”

  “Wade introduced you?”

  She nodded.

  “How old were you when you started living together?”

  “Seventeen,” she whispered and then looked up at him. “I want you to know I didn’t choose to be Butch’s girlfriend. The situation just . . .” She swallowed hard. “Wade couldn’t support us both, and I needed a place to stay.”

  As she looked down at the table in embarrassment, Camden had to force a murderous thought about Cobb aside. “Where were you living before you started living with Butch?”

  “Wade and I grew up in Minnesota. When we left our father’s house, we moved to an apartment in Chicago. Wade got a job as a mechanic.”

  “What was your last address in Chicago?”

  “Thirty-seven Mission Street, but Wade wouldn’t be there now. He never had us staying anywhere for long.”

  “Why?”

  Autumn looked across the room. “He lost his job a couple of times, and we weren’t always able to make the rent. We were evicted more than once.”

  Her words brought on relief. Circumstances were the only reason she’d been with Cobb.

  Camden quickly changed the subject. “What can you tell me about your parents?”

  It seemed like a simple enough question, but the subject seemed to upset Autumn
. As she twisted her hands together, Camden’s heart gave a tug. If he was going to help her, though, he needed to ask the tough questions.

  She bit down on her lip. “My mother got sick when I was six.”

  “What did she have?”

  “I think it was pneumonia.”

  “She died in a hospital?”

  “No.” Autumn shook her head. “It was at home.”

  “What about your father?”

  She shifted in her seat, and her gaze darted around the room. “What about him?”

  “Is he still alive?”

  “I think so.”

  “Would Wade have gone back there?”

  “No.” She blinked rapidly, staring at the floor. “There’s no way he would have. There’s no way either of us would.”

  Afraid he’d pushed her too far, Camden reached out and grabbed hold of her hand. “I’m going to get to work on finding Wade, but I want you to know something, Autumn. You can stay here for as long as you need to. I really like having your company.”

  As she gazed at him, Camden hoped she knew how much he meant the words. He had to force his train of thought back to the investigation.

  “I have a couple of questions for you about the club. Do you know much about their businesses?”

  “Not really.”

  “Do you know if they’re involved in anything illegal?”

  She sighed. “They used to have a gambling operation, but now they sell drugs. Heroin.”

  He nodded. “There have been at least ten deaths related to the heroin sales. Did you know that?”

  “No,” she whispered.

  “How much do you know about the operation?”

  She shook her head. “Not very much. Once in a while, I’d hear Butch speaking to someone on the phone.”

  “Do you have any idea where the drugs were being produced?”

  “No.”

  “How often did Butch travel out of town?”

  “A couple of times a year.”

  “Where would he go?”

  “Pennsylvania, usually. Philadelphia, he said.”

  “Did you ever go with him?”

  “No. Not on those trips.”