Meeting Danger (Danger #1)

by Allyson Simonian

  He gathered up the department-store shopping bags. “I’ll just put these in your room.”

  A minute after Camden left the room, Roman hopped onto the back porch. He stood on his hind legs as he meowed through the screen door.

  When Autumn let him inside, the cat raced to the countertop. Jumping onto it, he began sniffing at a package of meat.

  Autumn chuckled. “So that’s why you wanted inside so badly.” She lifted him from the counter and petted his head before setting him onto the floor. “I’ll give you something, but not that.”

  The cat had eaten his food and was rubbing against her legs when Camden walked back into the kitchen.

  He grinned. “You fed him?”

  She nodded before gesturing toward the stove. “I noticed one of the pilot lights is out, but I couldn’t find any matches.”

  Camden turned and stared at the stove, the color draining from his face. “I can call someone about it tomorrow.”

  “Butch had—” She cut herself off, not wanting to talk about those days. “I can do it. I’m used to this kind of stove.”

  “You’ll be careful?”

  She blinked hard, surprised by the question. “Yes.”

  Still looking ill at ease, Camden got a pack of matches from a drawer and handed them over. Once Autumn had relit the pilot light, she turned around. Camden had his eyes closed.

  “It’s, um, back on.”

  He blinked his eyes open and gazed at the stove. “Thank you.”

  What just happened here? Why has all the color drained out of his face?

  Instead of asking, she turned back to the counter and busied herself with starting dinner. It was none of her business.

  Camden took a seat at the table. “I talked to Grayson.”

  She turned around. “How’s his mother doing?”

  “She’s getting out of the hospital tomorrow.”

  “She’s feeling better then?”

  “They’re still waiting for some results, but it sounds like she is.”

  Autumn nodded. “That’s good.”

  Her gaze went to the picture of Camden’s grandparents hanging in the hallway, and she pointed toward it. “How long were they married?”

  “Forty-five years.”

  “That’s amazing.”

  Seeming relieved at the change of subject, Camden relaxed in his chair as he entertained Autumn with stories about his grandparents. Their conversation was fun and easy, and continued flowing even as they sat down to dinner.

  Meals with Butch had always passed in silence; when he wasn’t complaining, at any rate. During most, her stomach had been in knots. She couldn’t remember ever having had a conversation with the man that lasted more than a few sentences.

  Being around Camden was just the opposite, though. Her stomach wasn’t tied up with nerves when she was around him, and she hadn’t had a headache since she’d been here. She actually enjoyed his company, and looked forward to seeing him when she woke up each day.

  Even when she’d lived with Wade, there had been tension as they’d struggled to make ends meet. Living with Camden was easy, so different from anything she’d ever known.

  But things couldn’t go on like this. Surely Butch would find her, or something equally terrible would happen. The depressing thought deflated her happy mood, and she had to force a smile through the rest of dinner.

  • • •

  That night, Autumn dreamed Butch’s hands were around her throat. He’d found her, and the expression on his face was pure rage.

  “I’m going to kill you, Autumn!” His grip tightened, cutting off her airway.

  Autumn woke up gasping. Her hairline was wet, and she clutched at the quilt covering her as she tried to fill her lungs.

  I’m safe. It was only a nightmare.

  But as she stared up at the dark ceiling, guilt consumed her. She didn’t deserve the kindness Camden was giving her. What if the night he’d been taken to Butch’s hadn’t been a church night? Would she even have had the courage to call the police?

  Her pulse spiked. She was a coward—pathetic and unworthy of even being here. And Camden needed to know the truth.

  The Wicked Disciples were behind the heroin deaths Camden had mentioned but she wasn’t any better. For years, she’d put club business out of her mind, all but ignoring what Butch was doing. But she couldn’t live like that any longer.

  The floorboards creaked as she got out of bed and walked across the hall to the bathroom. She splashed water over her face, and after drying it off, studied herself in the mirror. Like it or not, Camden needed to know the truth—that she almost hadn’t helped him the night he’d been kidnapped. She would tell him in the morning; confession would do her good. Her nerves gave a jolt as something else spread through her, warming her from the inside out. Resolve.

  After shutting off the bathroom light, she walked back to her room. For a long time, she lay in the darkness, putting together the words that needed to be said.

  • • •

  The next morning when she went downstairs, Camden was standing at the stove.

  He grinned at her. “Thought I’d make you breakfast for a change.”

  Autumn drew in a deep breath as he scrambled several eggs. No time like the present. But when she opened her mouth, she was unable to form the words she’d come up with the night before. Deciding to make herself useful until the right time came along, she moved to get some plates.

  Camden turned around. “I heard you get up last night. Did you sleep all right?”

  She swallowed hard. “I just had a bad dream.”

  He studied her as he turned off the stove. “If you ever need anything at night, come and get me. I don’t care what time it is.”

  A lump formed in her throat. What was he going to think of her when she told him the truth? Shame and sadness whirled within her, making her want to turn and run.

  But that’s what got me into this in the first place. Being scared. Not wanting to deal with things head-on.

  Enough was enough. She curled her hands into fists as he transferred the eggs onto a platter. She needed to do this.

  “Um, Camden?”

  “Yeah,” he said over his shoulder. When she didn’t answer, he turned around and raised his brow. “What is it?”

  Her face turned red as she moved back to the cabinet. “It’s nothing.”

  Coward. But she just couldn’t do it. The expression of horror she’d pictured on Camden’s face was enough to make her hold her tongue in shame.

  CHAPTER 22

  After breakfast, Camden slipped away as Autumn was washing the dishes so he could call in and report to his boss.

  “Has the girl told you anything useful?” Eli asked.

  “Just those names I gave you,” Camden said.

  “Turns out Byron is a Disciple out of the San Antonio chapter.”

  Damn it. Autumn had been right. He was a brother, not the potential supplier of the heroin they’d been searching for.

  Eli sighed. “You have nothing else then?”

  “No. Have you brought in Hale Lewis yet?”

  “Yesterday. He refused to say a single word. We’re going to need to formally interview the girl.”

  Camden sighed, but Eli was right. Autumn’s statement would need to be on the record for when the club members were found and went to trial. “Where?”

  “How about at the police station in Wilkes-Barre? Is tomorrow okay?”

  “It’s fine.”

  “Ten o’clock?”

  “All right.”

  “Grayson will be there too,” Eli said.

  After they hung up, Camden walked downstairs. He found Autumn in the living room, watching TV.

  When concern pinched her brow as he explained what would happen the next day, he covered her hand with his.

  “I’ll be right there with you.”

  She nodded, but her worried expression didn’t ease.

  “What is it?”

  She s
hook her head. “I’m still afraid of him . . . Butch.”

  “You’re safe with me. Trust me on that.”

  “I know.” Autumn’s tone was matter-of-fact but her eyes gave her away. She was still terrified.

  Wanting desperately to do something, anything, to take away her worries, Camden came up with an idea for something that might help distract her.

  “Hey, how would you like me to teach you how to drive?”

  She blinked at the sudden change in topic. “What?”

  “I can teach you to drive.”

  “You wouldn’t mind?”

  “It would be my pleasure.”

  She gave him a small smile. “Then I’d love it.”

  He grabbed his keys and handed them to Autumn once they were inside his SUV. “Start it up.”

  She bit her lip as she stuck the key in the ignition.

  “Good. Now shift into drive—the D. But make sure your foot’s on the brake pedal first.”

  “The brake is the pedal on the left?”

  “That’s right.”

  She slowly shifted gears.

  “A little further. You’re in neutral now.”

  “Oh.” She shifted into the correct gear.

  “Now take your foot off the brake and give it a little gas.”

  She looked over. “Put my foot on the other pedal?”

  “Yes, and press down.”

  Easing her foot off the brake, Autumn covered the other pedal. She gingerly pressed down, but the car didn’t move.

  “A little harder than that.”

  This time when she pressed the gas, the car jerked forward. She stomped on the brake pedal, making them lurch forward in their seats.

  Gripping the wheel, she blew out a long breath before turning to Camden. “Sorry,” she said solemnly, and then she giggled.

  Camden bit the inside of his cheek to suppress his own smile. “It’s fine. Go ahead and give it another try.”

  Autumn turned back to the steering wheel. When she stepped on the gas pedal this time, the car eased forward. Slowly, she steered it down the driveway.

  “Ready to try the road?”

  After she’d stopped a few feet shy of the street, she looked at him. “I’m not sure.”

  “There’s not going to be much traffic. We’re pretty much in the boonies out here, nothing much but farmland. And you can pull over anytime you need to.”

  “What about the cops? I don’t have a license.”

  Camden laughed. “I have a badge to flash if we get pulled. I’ll just explain I’m teaching you to drive. It will be fine. I promise.”

  She gazed at the road before giving him a nod. “All right.”

  “Good. Now pull to the edge of the driveway.”

  Once she had, he said, “Put on your blinker, that lever to the left of the steering wheel. It’s up for a right turn.”

  She flicked the blinker up. Doing a perfect hand-over-hand, she eased them onto the road.

  Once she’d driven down several streets, Camden grinned. “You’re a natural.”

  She shot him a quick smile before slowing to make another turn. She’d driven several miles down the quiet county roads, hardly encountering anyone else at all before Camden directed her back to the house.

  “Keep your foot on the brake as you shift into park. Perfect. Just like that.”

  Autumn gripped the wheel after the car was safely parked. She blew out a quick breath and then turned to him. “My God. I was so nervous.”

  “You shouldn’t have been. You did an excellent job.” He gave her arm a squeeze, again experiencing that pulse of electricity that seemed to jolt him every time he made physical contact with her.

  But she didn’t seem to notice. She continued to grin, flashing him that beautiful dimple in her cheek.

  A pang of emotion shot through Camden’s chest. He swallowed hard as he got out of the SUV.

  “Camden?” Autumn rounded the car and wrapped her arms around him. “Thank you so much.”

  His heart thumped. He hesitated for several seconds before lifting his hands to her back and returning the hug. “It was my pleasure.”

  As she backed away, he avoided eye contact. Fishing out his keys, he headed for the door.

  He and Autumn weren’t playing house, and he’d do well to remember that. His job at the moment was to find her brother, and that was what he needed to concentrate on. She obviously missed Wade a lot and wanted to reconnect with him, and maybe he could help her get on her feet.

  And since Wade knew Butch, maybe he’d have an idea where they could locate him.

  I need to keep my eye on the prize, and not the girl, he chastised himself.

  But what if she is the prize? a little voice inside him asked.

  CHAPTER 23

  Wednesday morning, Camden and Autumn reported to the Wilkes-Barre police station at ten. By the time noon approached, they were sitting in an interview room at the police station, and Camden was already chafing at how things were going. They’d been at it for over an hour already, with Grayson and Eli alternating questions for Autumn.

  “So the only clubhouse the brothers met at was the one near Cobb’s house?” Grayson asked.

  Autumn nodded. “They used to meet in Hurleyville, but after Butch became president, they started meeting in Newburgh.”

  Eli’s phone vibrated. He glanced at it and then stood. “I’ll be right back.”

  “We need more ideas from you as to where they might be,” Grayson said as Eli walked out of the room.

  Camden shifted in his seat as his annoyance grew. He didn’t care much for the tone Grayson was using.

  Autumn clasped her hands in her lap, nervously twisting them as she answered their questions. “Another chapter must be helping them. That’s all I can think of.”

  “What can you tell us about Butch’s friends outside the club?”

  “Other than Hale, all of his friends are inside the club.”

  “Tell us about family then.”

  Autumn sighed, and Camden couldn’t blame her. They’d already covered this. He glared at his friend, but Grayson didn’t seem to notice the silent warning.

  “He has a brother in Florida,” Autumn said. “Daniel.”

  “Are they close?”

  “Butch doesn’t speak to him very often.”

  “When was the last time he saw him?”

  “When Daniel got married two years ago. Butch went down there for the wedding.”

  “You didn’t go?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t have a license or passport.” Meaning she couldn’t get onto a plane.

  “So you’ve never met Daniel?” Grayson continued.

  “No.”

  “What about holidays? Where would you and Butch spend them?”

  As he studied Grayson, Camden’s jaw set. His friend was always intense. When he paced a room—something he did often—he resembled a caged panther. Today, though, the intensity seemed even worse.

  Camden wasn’t going to let it continue, though. The last thing he’d allow was for Grayson to scare Autumn.

  She wet her lips before she answered. “We spent holidays with everyone from the club. At the clubhouse, usually, but sometimes they’d come to Butch’s house.”

  “I want to go over the women you’ve seen at the clubhouse again.”

  Unable to take it any longer, Camden stood. “I need to see you outside, Gray.”

  Grayson’s eyebrows pinched together. “Sorry?”

  “I need to speak with you.” Camden jerked his head toward the door. “Now.”

  As Grayson stalked out of the room, Camden gave Autumn’s shoulder a quick squeeze. “We’ll be right back.”

  “That’s enough,” Camden said once he’d stepped into the hallway and closed the door behind him.

  “What?” Grayson looked utterly bewildered.

  “No matter how many times you ask her, her story isn’t going to change. She’s telling us the truth.”

  G
rayson scrubbed a hand over his face and muttered something. “I’m going easy on her, Cam. If you’ll just let me—”

  “No,” Camden said, interrupting. “You’re not going easy on her, but it doesn’t matter. She’s already told us all she knows. We’re done.”

  The muscle in Grayson’s jaw worked. He and Camden stood there, eye to eye, for a few more seconds before Grayson finally took a step back.

  He held up his hands in surrender. “Fine. I’ll let Eli know what we’ve got. A big fat nothing.” He stalked away in a frustrated huff.

  Camden shook his head before walking back into the interrogation room. “We’re going,” he told Autumn.

  “Now?” Her expression was almost as confused as Grayson’s had been.

  “Yes.” He picked up her jacket.

  She was frowning as she stood to put her arms into the sleeves. “But . . . has Grayson asked me everything he needs to?”

  “He did, believe me.” Camden clenched his teeth.

  Autumn stood still for another long moment before she turned and left the room.

  • • •

  Camden had calmed down by the time he pulled out his phone and dialed Grayson later in the day. Logically, he knew his friend and partner was only doing his job.

  “Where are you?” he asked.

  “On my way back to DC,” Grayson said, his tone cool.

  “Listen, I’m sorry about this morning.”

  There was silence for a few seconds before Grayson said, “I’ve never seen you like that, man.”

  “No, I guess you haven’t.”

  “I don’t want her getting between us.”

  “Autumn’s not between us. And for the record, she’d help us if she knew anything.”

  More silence. If skepticism were audible, Camden was hearing it now. Camden and Grayson had dated women over the years, but every relationship had been casual. For both of them, nothing had come close to competing with the job. Or putting a crimp into their friendship.

  Not that what Camden and Autumn had was a relationship, but she was important to him. And there was no denying the fact that he felt protective of her.

  “Eli and I talked after you left,” Grayson said. “We’re at a complete dead end.”

  Camden sighed. “I know it.”

  “All those months you worked this case . . .”