No Choice

by Steele, C. M.

  “I’m sorry, babe. It’ll get better soon.”

  “Fine. I’ll see you tonight.” I hung up the phone, too hurt to talk anymore. I knew that he was a very busy man and had a company to run, but we were just getting to know each other. It seemed like he was purposefully avoiding me like he did last time. What the fuck was he hiding? I wasn’t going to let my insecurities get to me, but it wasn’t easy.

  I got dressed and headed out to get some air. I wasn’t alone. Cam’s security team stayed nearby. I was trying not to tell them to fuck off. I wasn’t the type to say anything right away. I had to be riled up, and thanks to Cam, I was feeling that way.

  I’d been walking down the road from the house when I got a call from Cam. I ignored it. Then he sent me a text. Damn it, Nat. You’re in deep shit. Get your ass back to the house now.

  Uh-oh. I turned back around, and then his truck pulled up.

  “Get in the fucking truck now,” he growled, giving me a death glare.

  I didn’t hesitate to get in. The look on his face told me he wasn’t playing.

  The moment I got in and closed the door, he locked it.

  He started to drive away, but didn’t say a word. I was afraid to look at him, but he took my hand in his and gave it a gentle kiss.

  “Nat, there are some things we need to talk about, but right here and now won’t work.”

  We pulled back up to the house and into the garage. He came around to help me out. I learned early on that he demanded he open the door for me. It was a sweet gesture, but I wasn’t used to it.

  I got out of the truck, and he closed the door behind me. Then, before I could walk away, he pinned me to the truck, and his mouth was on mine. He bit down on my bottom lip and sucked it lightly into his mouth before going for a full-on, hard kiss. I was confused as hell. One second, I feared I was in deep shit, but the next second I felt like I was in heaven.

  He growled and pulled away from my mouth, resting his forehead on mine.

  “What the fuck were you thinking to cut out from the house like that? It was bad enough that your ass hung up on me in anger, but shit—don’t you have any sense of self-preservation? I’ve kept the security for a reason. I was almost killed, and they could come after you.” His anger was all in frustration as he ran his hands through his dark, full hair.

  “Look, I get that you’re mad at me, babe. I’ve been a lousy fiancé. I haven’t been home until late at night, but I love you like fucking crazy. I’m trying to get shit done so we can have time for each other after we marry. I’ve missed a lot with my injuries.”

  “I’m sorry, too. It’s not that I’m mad as much as just missing you. I’m here all day, and I don’t do anything but plan the wedding. I don’t want to be one of those wives, Cam. The ones that sit around all day waiting for their busy husband to come home and have nothing else to do.”

  “Babe, soon you’ll have our babies to look after, and I’m sure after that, you aren’t going to want to go out to work.”

  “I didn’t go to school to just be a housewife.”

  “I know, babe, but it’s not safe right now, and hell if I want you working forty plus hours a week. We don’t need the money.”

  “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I feel like I’m going out of my mind all day.”

  “Sweetie, if you want, you can still go and help out at some charity like you used to do back in Champaign.”

  “Really?”

  “Well, I hoped that you’d wait until we caught whoever was after me before you did, but if it’ll make you happy...”

  “Yes, yes! Really!” I was bouncing up and down, but he stopped me.

  “Listen, though. You’re not allowed to go to a place not pre-approved and not without at least two of the guys with you. If you want to argue about it, the offer will be off the table. Got me?”

  “Once this threat is gone, is your ass going to loosen up on the restrictions?”

  “Probably not. By then I’ll have knocked you up, so you might have more security.” I rolled my eyes at him, which earned me a shake of his head and a spank on my ass.

  “Are we good now? I’ve got to get back to work. I had to reschedule my last meeting because of your impromptu fit.”

  “I’m not a child, you know.”

  “Yes, I know, but throwing a fit and hanging up on me forced me to come home, and I can’t be getting shit done and worrying about you at the same damn time.”

  “I’m good. You can go back to work.” I didn’t mean to sound so petulant, but I was going to miss him.

  “Do you want to come to the office with me?” he asked, but I knew it was only because I was unhappy. He really did care about me, and I just needed to learn to adjust.

  “No. I’ll be okay here. You go and do what you got to do. I love you, Cameron.”

  “I love you too, my Nat. Get inside and stay there. We’ll talk when I get home.”

  “Are we really going to talk, or are you going to fuck me to sleep?”

  “How about talking after we make love?”

  “That’s better.”

  “Good. I love you, Natalie. You need to know that, and it’s my job to keep you safe.”

  “I’ll behave.” He gave me one more kiss before patting my ass into the house. I walked in and stared out the window until he drove away.

  Damn, that was close. She was trying to give me a fucking stroke. I’d been in the process of finding out who was after me when my woman had to have a meltdown. Then I felt like a total prick and had to make it better.

  I called Tim on the spare phone. “Tim, I’m on my way back to the office. Have you found out if our snoops were listening in to my conversation with Nat?”

  “Yes, we got something. Can we meet somewhere?”

  “Yeah. Meet me at our usual.” I drove to the spot but looked around before I got out.

  “Hey, Cam, I ordered your usual coffee. Let’s sit here.” Tim was acting all suspicious.

  “What gives?”

  “It’s kind of complicated.”

  We spoke for the next half an hour, and I had to go back to the office and play like nothing was wrong when I wanted to slam the fuck out of someone. We had a plan in motion—I didn’t care for it, but the shit had to be done.

  My first call was to my office. “Crystal, I’m on my way in. Can you let the staff know that the meeting will be about ten minutes late?”

  “Sure. What should I tell them?”

  “Nothing. I just had a family issue.”

  “Oh my! Is anyone hurt?”

  “No, my woman was just giving me an issue.”

  “Oh, really. Well, hopefully it gets better. You’ve already fallen behind schedule since you two met.”

  I tried not to snap on her ass. She was really pissing me off. After all was said and done, she’d get what she deserved.

  “Well, she’ll get used to me working long hours. We’ll be married soon,” I said with a smirk. Cars passing by probably thought I was crazy, but I couldn’t wait for this bullshit to be over.

  I pulled up to the office twenty minutes later, and Simon called just as I got out of the truck.

  “Hey, bro, what’s up?”

  “Nothing. Waiting for your ass in this meeting.”

  “I’m on my way up—stop being a little bitch. I had to deal with my woman. I’m lucky that she loves me fucking my baby into her. Great. Now I’m going to have to work with a hard-on the rest of the day.”

  “Damn. TMI, bro. But she is certainly easy on the eyes. Too bad she’s not one of your cast-offs. I would like a round.” He laughed.

  I growled and tried to remember this was part of the plan.

  “Well, find your own piece. This one is mine to keep. I love her, and I love fucking her.” I wasn’t lying, but talking about her like that wasn’t cool at all.

  “I’m on my way up,” I said before I hung up.

  I worked through the staff meeting, and I watched as my assistant’s face look more
and more pissed as the meeting carried on. The stupid bitch didn’t have any idea what she started. She was in for it.

  I walked back to my office and called Natalie, bracing myself for the fight.

  “Hey, baby.”

  “Don’t baby me. I’m not a kid, you ass. I told you I didn’t want people following me, and yet you’ve got three of these punks walking all up in my shadow.”

  “What’s gotten into you? I thought we worked this out earlier. You can’t go without them until we find the person who tried to kill me.”

  “I’m not here just for your pleasure, you know.”

  “It’s for your pleasure too, baby.”

  “Sex, even fabulous sex, isn’t everything. I need a life besides being the wife of an oversexed man.” I wanted to grin at that shit. She wanted that shit. I bet even right now her panties were fucking dripping.

  “But, baby, I love you.”

  “Well, I need a life. I’m going out to meet with the directors of that charity group at three, and I’m not taking these numb nuts with me. If you push the issue, I’ll go back home, and I won’t be coming back.”

  “No, babe. You can’t leave me…” I paused and took a breath before I continued, “Fine. You can go by yourself.” I sounded frantic, and part of it was true. I feared for her safety, and I was sending her out unprotected.

  “You promise?” she said, full of optimism.

  “Yes, I’ll give the guys a call and tell them to back off. Please be careful.”

  “Goodie!!! I’ll see you later.”

  “I love you, Natalie,” I said solemnly. I didn’t like this plan one damn bit.

  “I love you too, my Cam!” She hung up the phone, and I wanted to call her back and not let this shit happen, but Tim told me that he wasn’t going to be out of sight of my Natalie. Tim already had a friend on the police force who was willing to be waiting.

  It was as I was walking to my next meeting that I knew we were right. “Cam, I need to leave early. My home security just went off. I’ll be back later.”

  “Did you send me the emails I needed for the next two meetings today?”

  “Yes, I did,” she said as she placed her hand on my forearm. I tried not to be disgusted by her touch. She was a beautiful woman, and I assume that was why it bothered her so much that I didn’t want her. I really never had an interest in her—that was why I’d hired her. If I’d been slightly attracted to her, I would have sent her packing and moved on to the next candidate for the position.

  “Great. I hope there is no serious trouble at the house. Do you want me to send one of the security team members with you?” Would she take the bait? I watched as she paused nervously, then gave me her answer.

  “No, the police will be there and so will the apartment management.”

  “Okay. Well, let me know if you need anything,” I offered before I walked to the elevator. My mind was working overtime. I needed to get to the meeting area without Crystal noticing. With the other phone, I called Natalie back.

  “Cam! What are you doing calling me?”

  “I’m not liking this shit. It could be dangerous.”

  “You’re overreacting. I’m going to be fine. Tim is already here.”

  “I love you. Be careful. I’ll see you soon.”

  I got to the meeting area, and twenty minutes to three, I spotted Natalie driving my green Lincoln MKX. Just one minute later there was an older Ford truck that passed by, and I wouldn’t have caught that it was Crystal if it wasn’t for the bright red streak of hair.

  “It’s her,” I said frantically. I called Tim and let him know she was right behind them. Just as I was about to hang up, I heard the crash.

  I rode in back of the squad car, just in case I went crazy on the bitch. We were the first to head out. I’d been so high on anger and adrenaline I would kill her if she touched Natalie.

  We pulled up to the scene, but it seemed like Tim had it under control until my little Natalie started to run after Crystal. I caught her ass around the waist, pulling her back onto my chest before she got more than one swing in.

  “Baby, calm down, sweetie,” I whispered in her ear, while looking at the bitch in custody. I couldn’t believe that I had that bitch that close to me.

  “Why her?” she shouted at us.

  I didn’t answer because I was trying not to go over to her myself and rip her fucking heart out. I used Natalie as my reason for not going after her. By restraining her, I was holding myself back. With the wiretaps, we’d narrowed down who the possible suspects could be, but she tipped me off the other day when I mentioned something only on the phone to Tim, which of course I played off. I needed to get her for more. The police had searched her vehicle while we waited and found that more we needed in her truck.

  She’d had a whole murder kit: rope, duct tape, a drop cloth, large trash bags, gloves, two guns, and three bowie knives. The whole damn shebang was in there. What she had in mind for Natalie terrified me. There was all the evidence I needed to nail her there. She was caught red-handed with a premeditated attempted kidnapping and murder. Had Tim not been hiding in the back seat, she would have taken my woman for good.

  The more I considered what could’ve happened if we hadn’t noticed the phone tap, the more I became angry. I knew she couldn’t have been the one who cut my brakes because that would take me away from her and defeat her purpose. I could feel Natalie shaking in my arms. What a fool! I put her in danger, and it was finally hitting her. I turned her to me and shouted her name.

  As I stood there staring at the woman who wanted me dead and almost had her chance, I felt my blood turn cold. She was looking crazed, but not as crazed as she was after ramming Cameron’s truck.

  We’d been driving down the road with just two miles until we reached town, and I almost thought she wouldn’t show when I heard the phone go off and a second or so later felt the impact of the collision. I guess years of go-kart racing for fun with Emmy had paid off because I was able to keep us from careening down the side of the rural road and into a tree-lined ditch.

  I was woozy from a cut to my head and about to start driving again when I saw the shadow of the barrel.

  “Get out!” she shouted at me. “Get out before I put a bullet in your pretty little head.”

  I watched the look in her eyes. It was scary, cold, and determined. I knew that Tim was in the back, but I didn’t hear any movements. I thought he’d gotten knocked out cold by the collision. All I could think about was the pain I put him and Vanessa through with this scheme, even if it’d been Tim’s idea. It was me this nutty broad was after.

  I opened the truck door and climbed out. After facing her, I closed my eyes waiting for my fate when I felt movement around me followed by scuffling. Opening my eyes, I saw Tim tackle the bitch to the ground, disarming her and binding her hands in cuffs.

  It was then that the other vehicles pulled up, but all I saw was my Cameron. Seeing him unleashed the pain and fear that I would never see him again, and I needed to avenge those emotions. I ran after the bitch and started to attack, but Cam grabbed me and held me to him. All of the sudden I felt safe. I stayed in his arms, feeling his heart racing in time with mine. It wasn’t until she asked “why me” that I lost it and felt the gravity of the situation engulf me. I felt the warm blood trickle down my face, and I shivered, feeling really cold.

  The last words I remembered before I blacked out were “Damn it, Natalie!”

  Tim and the other two available officers ran to my side to help me with Natalie. It was then that the crazy bitch laughed. It was one of those god-awful witchy laughs.

  “Ha, she fainted, that stupid broad, and you wanted her to have your babies! Please—she is pathetic,” shouted the nutball being put into the back of the cop car.

  “Do yourself a favor and shut your fucking mouth. That man is looking like he’s moments from ending you. I’m sure no one would mind,” Tim told her before he turned back to Natalie and me.

  The other t
wo cops were photographing the evidence in the truck while they waited for the forensic team to come and bag all of it. They had their own evidence bagging kits, but it wasn’t enough for all the shit Crystal had in her vehicle.

  It took a minute before she came back to me, but it felt like ten. She looked at me with glossy eyes, and I knew she needed a doctor. I took her to the nearest hospital, and she was taken in immediately, especially since we were given a police escort to it.

  “They were involved in a car accident,” I said to the nurse at the front desk.

  “Sir, why didn’t you call an ambulance? She could have spinal damage.”

  “She fainted after the cops came,” I stated as they placed my drowsy woman with blood dripping down her lovely face on a gurney.

  I wiped some of it in the car, but like head wounds, it was bleeding a lot. I tried not to think about how this was all my fault, but it was eating at me when they took her into the ER and refused to let me go in with her as they tended to her.

  I paced the waiting room, thinking we should’ve gone about it in a different way. My parents arrived with Vanessa, who was in Tim’s arms the moment they saw each other. Thankfully, Tim hadn’t been hurt at all and was able to do what he’d planned.

  I rested against a wall while my family interrogated Tim. They knew from the look on my face that it was best to leave me alone. I didn’t want to speak to anyone but Natalie at that moment.

  I jumped out of my chair as soon as I saw the nurse I knew was attending Natalie.

  The nurse walked up to me and said, “Mr. James, Natalie wants to see you.”

  “How is she?” I said as we walked to the back.

  “Nothing more than a mild contusion and a cut. The shock of the situation caused her to faint. It’s pretty normal after a car accident.” I felt like I could breathe a little better, but it was when I saw her smiling at me the weight on my chest lifted.

  Chapter 11

  It’d been a week since Crystal tried to kill my reason for living. She’d been arraigned already, but they were going to send in a psychologist to see if she was mentally fit. I knew the bitch was sane, and I was certain that the doc would see it the same way. She worked for me the last two years and had done a great job, but she was just a jealous bitch.