by Mina Quin
He wanted to scream at him like a fishwife, but instead he took a deep breath to restore his composure. “That’s not all I need to know. You’re my husband, and we’re supposed to be a family. So whatever you’ve been doing, you owe me an explanation.”
Camden scoffed as he slipped past Wil, barely brushing his distended abdomen. “We have a marriage, but it’s not a traditional one, and you know it, Wil. I don’t owe you anything.”
To have the reminder of why they had really gotten married thrown back at him so bluntly made Wil catch his breath. Tears burned his eyes, but he blinked them back, determined not to show weakness in front of Camden. “That’s fair enough. After all, I did agree to a merger rather than a marriage, but I can’t live this way.”
He stiffened and turned to face Wil, his expression difficult to discern. “And what is that supposed to mean?”
Wil swallowed thickly, suddenly not sure he was ready to issue the ultimatum he had planned earlier. Still, what did he have to lose besides uncertainty? Either he would know where Camden had been, and where they were headed, or he’d know there was no future for them. “I mean that I can’t live as your half-partner anymore, Camden. We either have a real marriage, including the respect for each other not to hold secrets, or I have to leave.”
Camden’s mouth tightened. “You’re being unreasonable. Is it hormones?”
“Hormones?” he asked in a shrill screech. “No, it’s not hormones. It’s living in a constant state of anxiety, not knowing when you’re coming home, or even if you’re coming home. I have no idea what you’re doing, or why you’re so distant from us. You didn’t even ask about the baby and never showed up at the gender ultrasound. You completely missed everything that was important to you just a few months ago, and now you won’t give me an explanation? That’s the problem, not hormones.”
He flinched, and his complexion paled. Camden drew in a deep breath, exhaling audibly. “You’re right, and I’m sorry, Wil. I was unavoidably detained the day of the ultrasound, and I didn’t think of it again until just a little while ago. I had planned to ask you after I had something to eat, but I’ll ask now. Was everything okay with the baby?”
He softened slightly toward him since he remembered the major point of the ultrasound was to check for abnormalities rather than gender. “She’s fine. No problems at all.”
He sagged slightly, and a flash of happiness on his face temporarily chased away the lines of exhaustion. “It’s a girl?” At Wil’s nod, he smiled—one of the big ones full of joy that reminded Wil so much of the grin he had gotten the day he’d told Camden about the positive pregnancy test. “We’re having a baby girl.”
Suddenly, he stood before him, pulling Wil into his arms and hugging him tightly. Camden pressed a kiss to his forehead and rubbed his chin against the top of Wil’s head a moment later. “Thank you for this, Wil. I’m sorry I haven’t been here the way I had hoped to be, but I do care about both of you.”
Wil believed him, but it didn’t alleviate his need to know what was really going on with him. He pulled back to look up at him. “You have to be honest with me about—” The ringing of his phone interrupted him, and Wil would have ignored it except it was Tim’s ringtone. Since his little brother rarely called, and was likely in trouble, he answered the phone with a small sigh of reluctance. “Hello?”
“Wil, can you hear me?” Loud music pounded in the background, but it wasn’t enough to hide the panic and tears in his brother’s voice. “I need your help.”
Fear tightened Wil’s chest. “What’s the matter, Tim?”
“Please come to the Jokers’ Club right away. I really, really need your help. Please, Wil.” A second later, the phone went dead.
Wil stared down at the iPhone as his heart raced in his ears. He looked up at Camden, knowing their discussion would have to wait. “That was my brother, Tim. The younger one…always in trouble.”
Camden nodded. “What’s wrong?” His genuine concern was obvious in his expression and voice.
“I don’t know, but he said I need to come to the Jokers’ Club right away. I’m not sure what’s happening, but he sounded frantic.”
He nodded, taking Wil’s arm and leading him down the hallway. Camden passed him a coat first before grabbing his own to slide on again. “We’ll take the chopper, and I’ll get you to him soon as I can.” Then he dialed the pilot’s number.
***
Thirty minutes later, they touched down on the heliport atop MarshTech, and he stepped off the helicopter with Camden’s assistance, relieved to see two dark SUVs waiting for them. One of the vehicles was for them, and the other held bodyguards. It was the reality of being a billionaire, or a billionaire’s partner, that they needed protection when they went out. He had gotten used to having a cadre of security men follow behind his chauffeur-driven car and shadowing him when he went places.
It had been an annoyance at first, but tonight he was glad for them and didn’t take their presence for granted. There was no telling what his brother was mixed up in, especially since the Jokers’ Club had been Ross’s hangout of choice. He doubted that had changed, and the idea of having to face his ex made his stomach churn with nausea. He wouldn’t hesitate to call the police if he had to, but he hoped to be in and out of the club before he attracted Ross’s attention, or before Tim could get in deeper trouble.
***
The club was as dark at the entryway as he remembered. The bouncer, who was wide as a house and tall as the rafters, it seemed to him, stepped in front of them as though to block their way. Camden shoved the other man aside, and two of the bodyguards kept him from further attempts to deny them entry to the club. When he glanced back, he saw those bodyguards remained with the bouncer to make sure he behaved and didn’t warn anyone.
The music pounded so loudly through the speakers that he felt the vibration in his tummy, and their daughter began to kick him lightly. He rubbed his tummy to soothe her, though he knew it was more of a comforting gesture for himself than the baby, and clutched Camden’s arm as they moved through the gyrating couples under the flashing lights.
He shook his head as the music grew louder the closer they got to the DJ’s station. Had he ever really enjoyed this? He guessed he had when he was younger, before he had settled into life in the country and became Camden’s partner. He didn’t feel old or out of touch. He had just decided where his priorities lay, and clubbing every weekend wasn’t one of them. Not anymore.
They stopped near the DJ’s booth and used the steps leading up to it as a vantage point to better survey the club. After his second look through the crowd, he saw his brother on the second level in the VIP section, leaning against the rail and waving frantically at him. Tapping Camden’s shoulder, he pointed up where his brother stood, and they moved together as one toward the stairs, not needing to speak—which was a good thing, because the music was too loud to make that a feasible option. Fortunately, as they climbed the stairs, the music quieted slightly, though it still made his head ache.
When they reached the second level, he gestured for his brother to come to them, but Tim shook his head and waved them forward. With a sigh of annoyance, and more than a hint of reluctance, he and Camden walked together with their bodyguards trailing behind to find out what kind of trouble his brother was in this time.
As he drew closer, it was obvious something wasn’t right. Tim’s posture was all wrong, a cross between fear and excitement, and his expression of nonchalance didn’t match the way he held himself tensely. Wil drew to a halt, putting his arm out to stop Camden a few feet from Tim. “Come on, Tim,” he shouted across the distance, unwilling to go any closer.
Tim waved at him again. “Come here, Wil. I need to show you something.”
The hair on the nape of his neck stood up, and Wil shook his head. “You come here now and go with us, or you don’t. Either way, we’re leaving in ten seconds.”
It wasn’t a total shock when Ross stepped out of the private room
behind Tim. “What’s your rush, Wil?”
He shuddered when his hungry gaze ran over Wil’s body, almost feeling his slimy touch on him. Ross scowled when he saw his belly and turned Tim to face him. “Dick, you didn’t tell me he was knocked up.”
Tim shrugged. “You didn’t ask. You just said you wanted him back under any circumstances.”
Ross tapped his foot in his designer sneakers. He appeared to be mulling over the situation. Finally, he nodded and turned fully to face Wil. “It don’t matter if you got a kid in you. I’ll still take you back.”
Wil couldn’t stifle a harsh laugh. “Why the hell would I ever come back to you? You do know I’m married now, don’t you? Did Tim bother to tell you that either?”
Ross’s lips tightened, and he glared at Tim before turning his gaze to Camden. “You’re married to this fool?” He pointed to the guards behind them. “This fatherfucker’s so scared, he had to bring his backup crew.”
Wil sniffed. “Are you telling me Joey and Dall aren’t in the room right behind you?”
Ross’s mouth tightened further, and he glared at him. “I don’t know why the hell I want you, Wil. You can be a real dick sometimes. Still, you’re the dick for me, so get that luscious ass over here.”
Wil rolled his eyes. As Camden started to step forward, he touched his arm. “I want nothing else to do with you, Ross, and I thought I made that clear after the second time you punched me in the face. Just so you know, it hasn’t been too long for me to report you for assault. I don’t think you want to go back to jail, and you sure don’t want anyone snooping into your drug business, do you?”
“Fucking dick.” He suddenly grabbed Tim, putting his arm around his throat, though he bent to lick his cheek. “It’s all good. I’ll just keep this little honey. He’s got a tight pucker, and he’s close enough to you in the dark.”
Wil grimaced with disgust as his brother leaned closer to the thug who had made his life miserable. “Tim, are you seriously okay with this? Do you have any respect for yourself? He wants me, but he’s settling for you, and that doesn’t bother you?”
Tim glared at him. “We can’t all have billionaires, bro,” he said sarcastically. “Some of us don’t want billionaires.” He put his arm around Ross’s waist and hugged him awkwardly, because Ross didn’t loosen his hold around his neck.
Wil tossed his hands in the air and turned to Camden. “Come on. Let’s get the heck out of here. I can’t reason with him, and I can’t help with this.”
Camden wore a frown, but he started to turn with him. Wil took a couple of steps before he realized he wasn’t following. With apprehension, he turned in time to see his husband approaching his ex-boyfriend. Fear tightened in his throat as they stood toe-to-toe, though Camden was a few inches taller and broader than Ross. That offered little comfort, because Ross had never been one to leave home without his gun.
“Stay the hell away from my partner,” said Camden.
Ross puffed out his chest, bumping into Camden. “Or what, rich boy? You gonna sic your Secret Service wannabes on me?” Ross laughed as though it was the funniest thing he’d ever heard. A second later, more laughter joined his when his two goons came to stand behind him.
Wil didn’t like that he and the bodyguards were so far from Camden, and he nodded for them to join his husband. One of them went to stand behind Camden, but the other stayed near him. He appreciated the concern, though he couldn’t help feeling his husband needed the guard more than he did.
“I could sic my crew on you,” said Camden with a hint of mocking, “But I think it would do far more good if I sicced the DEA and Homeland Security on you. I have the right contacts, and I can get things done.” He waved a hand around the club. “So if you want your little empire to fall to dust, then by all means, proceed. But if you’d like to keep being King Turd of Shit Mountain, you’ll stay away from Wil, and you’ll treat his brother better than you have done.”
Ross scowled, though it was obvious Camden’s words had penetrated his thick skull. Maybe he finally realized the kind of power he was up against—the sort no handgun could save him from if Camden persisted. He could either give up on Wil, or he could give up everything he had built illegally. Wil could practically read the thoughts forming on his face as they flashed by. After a moment, his cocky stance returned, but he was more subdued. “Yeah, get the fuck on outta here, rich boy. I don’t want you or your tainted Omega whore showing your faces here again.”
Camden seemed as though he was about to turn, but at the last second his arm raised, and his fist smashed into Ross’s mouth. Wil winced, imagining his gold filling flying out and how pissed off Ross would be. He didn’t know whether to giggle or gasp in horror as Ross fell to the floor on his ass, and his boys reached for their guns. Before they could even get them out of the holsters, Camden’s guard had his out, and the bodyguard beside Wil had a serious hand cannon pointed at them as well.
“He had that coming, gentlemen, for hitting my partner and being a disrespectful asshole. I suggest we all let this go, but if you really want to defend his questionable honor, I suppose we shall proceed.”
The two thugs exchanged a glance before lowering hands from their weapons, never having had a chance to actually draw them. After staring at them another second, Camden nodded with satisfaction and turned away from them.
He paused just long enough to look over his shoulder at Tim. “If you get tired of being this gangster’s plaything and punching bag, we will always help you escape. But if you ever allow yourself to be used as a way to lure my partner to this piece of shit again, you’ll be dead to us.”
Wil shivered at the promise in his tone, and while he hated Camden being so harsh with his brother, he understood the need. Perhaps it would be a wakeup call for Tim, but if it weren’t, he needed to realize there would be consequences for his actions.
If Wil had come alone to the club, and if Camden hadn’t been home in time, this could have had a very different outcome. Fear swept through hism as he realized he and his baby could have both been in danger, even with the presence of a driver and a couple of bodyguards. Anger swelled, and he couldn’t even look at Tim as he turned away when Camden reached him.
He put his arm in his husband’s, and they walked down the stairs, through the throng of people, and back to the entryway. The two bodyguards still babysat the bouncer, but they stood away from him and walked toward the door when Camden nodded.
As soon as they exited the club, he drew in a deep breath of cold air, appreciating the way it cleared his head. They walked together toward one of the SUVs, their guards surrounding them, and he paused before he got in. “Thank you, Camden. You saved me, and I think you finally got Ross to leave me alone. I thought he’d given up since he hadn’t been a problem in more than two years, but I guess having my little brother act as bait was more than he could resist.”
Wil frowned. “I don’t even know why he won’t let it go. I’m nothing special. Is it just because I left him and refused to take his crap?”
Camden shrugged, his complexion pale. “That could be it, because some guys don’t like to lose. Especially thugs like him.” He brushed his thumb down Wil’s cheek. “You’re completely wrong about one thing. You’re very special, Wil. I can see why he doesn’t want to let you go, because if he loves you half as much as I do, it must be killing him to be without you.”
Wil’s mouth dropped open, and he stared at his husband as tears filled his eyes from his declaration. Wil grasped handfuls of his lapel to drag him closer, needing to feel his arms around his.
He started to repeat his announcement, to pour out his heart and tell him how much he loved him too, but Camden suddenly swayed. His complexion went from pale to stark white, and he leaned to the side and vomited. Before Wil could ask him if he was okay, or even try to break his fall though he still held his coat, Camden passed out and fell to the ground.
Chapter Six
Wil sat in the too-comfortable chair in the
waiting area outside the emergency room, a cold cup of coffee clutched in his hand. He had forgotten to drink it and grimaced with disgust at the way the cream had separated to make it a swirled mess. With a sigh, he stood up and walked over to throw it in the trashcan by the vending machines. Then he began pacing again, knowing it served no useful purpose, but seemed to help pass the time faster than just sitting.
If his back didn’t ache after a short time walking back and forth in the waiting lounge, he probably would have spent the last two hours pacing ceaselessly. He glanced at the clock again to confirm it had been two hours since that nightmare ride in the ambulance, when the paramedics had shuffled him off to the side as they focused on Camden. His heart hadn’t stopped, but Wil knew the paramedics had been afraid it would.
Now, two hours later, he was no closer to knowing why his husband had collapsed. When he’d arrived at the hospital, they had forbidden him to go back into the acute exam area, and a nice nurse had shown him to this empty waiting room instead. It didn’t matter how kind the staff was, because he was still angry at being excluded from his husband’s bedside. What was wrong with Camden, and why wouldn’t they let him back or come tell him something?
As though his internal musings had summoned the doctor, a tall black man in his mid-thirties entered the waiting room, wearing a white jacket and stethoscope around his neck. A glance at his name tag revealed he was Terrence Briggs, and his specialty was listed as Neuro-Oncology. Wil collapsed into the seat before the doctor could even talk. “Is he all right? You are here about Camden Marsh, right?”
The doctor sat beside him gracefully, his hand near Wil’s, as though he wanted to take it for comfort, but uncertain about Wil’s reaction. Right then, he wouldn’t have been receptive to a stranger offering comfort. All he wanted was answers. “Please tell me what’s going on.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Norris-Marsh, but I did warn Camden not to check himself out of the hospital this morning. It was against medical advice, but I couldn’t keep him there. As you know, the growth has progressed more rapidly than we had expected, and the radiation isn’t shrinking it as much as we had hoped.”
