“I would never hit you! I love you! Hitting doesn’t equal love, Leo.
Violence doesn’t make anything better. After everything your father’s done to you, haven’t you learned that?” Leo exhaled loudly. Crap. “You’re right. Violence doesn’t equal love.” He clenched his teeth. “And it’s disgusting I have to say this, but I am my father’s son…” He took a deep breath. “In case you’re worried, I promise never to hit you, Audrey. I love you.”
“I know.” She looked into his eyes. “I feel safer with you than anyone.” She clung to him. “I just spent a long car ride with Jason.
He’s out of his mind worrying Cameron won’t forgive him for what your dad did. But, Leo, I want you to know I don’t hold this against you.” She began sobbing. “How could I not want to be with you?
You gave me my father back. You saved him, Leo. I’ve missed him so much.”
Leo stroked her silky hair and relief swept over him. He’d exchanged his father for hers, and he’d do it again in a heartbeat.
Leo still hated his dark parts — the self-doubts, the inability to hide his tears, the sudden fury swirling within him like a dam about to break. But Audrey had returned, and he hoped her love would keep teaching him the right way.
He squeezed her tighter and vowed never to let her go.
And he knew he meant it this time.
73. Justice
Jason glanced at the alarm clock, glowing red in the dim light of early morning.
5:57.
His gaze swept down the swell of Cam’s breasts, easily visible through her thin nightgown. They pressed lightly against coral-colored silk. He’d never seen anyone sleep so peacefully. In contrast to his own thrashing and twisting, Cam was quiet and still.
5:58.
He sighed. After depositing Audrey at his parents’ house — check that, his mom’s house — Jason had driven to the apartment and crawled into bed with his fiancée. He was still wearing yesterday’s clothes. He hadn’t had the heart to wake Cam and tell her what had happened. All she knew was he’d been searching for Leo, and part of him wished he’d never found his brother.
5:59.
Jason’s throat felt tighter every minute. God, he wished he could get a drink. Just one drink would make this nightmare fade away.
Well, maybe more than one.
He shook his head, hating his addiction, which still wooed him, trying to get him to believe he didn’t deserve a good, sober life. He was the son of a murderer — how the heck did he deserve happiness?
How was he good enough for the beautiful, intelligent, compassion-ate woman at his side? Please don’t let me lose Cam because of him.
Finally the digits flipped to 6:00, and a jarring beep resounded.
Cam groaned and blindly reached to the nightstand, her groping hand somehow locating the snooze button.
Jason tried to find his voice. “Hey, no snoozing this morning.”
“You’re here.” Cam’s lips curled into a dreamy smile as she rolled over and snuggled up to him. “Is Leo okay?”
“Yeah.”
“Did you find out why he broke up with Audrey?”
“They’re back together actually, I think.” Cam opened her eyes and chuckled. “They sound like some of my students. ‘I love you forever.’ Then the next day, ‘Let’s break up.’
Then five minutes later, ‘You’re the love of my life.’”
“Leo and Audrey were never like that. Their love’s deeper than most adults I know.” He paused. “He thought he was saving her by breaking up.”
“Saving her?” Cameron scooted up to rest her back against the headboard. Mussed brown hair framed her face.
“Cam, I have to tell you something. I don’t want to, but I have to.” She looked alarmed. “What is it?”
“Leo’s in Pensacola right now. He got kicked out of the Academy for snooping around, trying to prove Darnell Keaton’s guilt.”
“Did he find out anything?” She blinked repeatedly.
“He found out Darnell didn’t murder your dad.” She seemed to stop breathing.
Jason looked down, breaking her expectant gaze, and let go of her hand. “It was CS,” he whispered, daring to look back up. “My dad. My dad killed your dad.”
She looked away and pulled back from him. “Wha — ? Your?
How? No. How do you know?”
“Leo confronted him, and he confessed.” Jason felt sick. He ran his hands through his hair.
Her chest heaved as she stared at him, and he somehow managed to spill the terrible story. When he finished, Cameron’s face contorted in anguish, and she let out a horrible cry.
Watching tears cascade down her face, Jason reached for her.
When she flinched at his touch and backed away, he felt his stomach drop.
“My dad didn’t have to die!” she cried. “It’s your dad’s fault! He stole him from me!”
“I’m sorry, Cam. I’m so sorry!” Jason pleaded. Unable to stop himself, he reached out to her again, and once more she rebuffed him, scooting to the edge of the bed.
Cam looked down at her engagement ring. “Your dad bought me this.” She slid it off and held it away like she was dangling a poisonous spider. “This came from a murderer.”
“No,” Jason begged. “That’s yours. I bought it, Cam. It’s for you.”
“Take it,” she demanded, shoving it into his hand. Her voice was icy. “Take it and get out of here.”
“No, no. Don’t do this.”
He tried to give her back the ring, but she held her hands in front of her face.
“Leave!” she screamed, collapsing into sobs. “Just go.” He clenched his teeth, fighting his own tears. He pushed himself off the bed and stuffed his feet into his shoes, filled with rage at the unfairness of it all.
“This is total crap!”
Her eyes widened.
“You said no matter what happened, you’d fight for us! You promised! You’re full of it!”
Jason spun on his heel and stomped out of the apartment, slamming the door and running full-steam down two flights of stairs before collapsing in the front seat of his car. He held his head in both hands, feeling hot, angry tears seep through his fingers. He shook with fury and despair.
He’d get the biggest bottle of vodka ever made and down the whole thing at once, damn it.
Audrey’s heart pounded a panicked beat as her eyes flashed open.
At first she had no idea where she was, but then saw the Michael Phelps poster on Leo’s wall and felt his body wrapped around hers like a blanket. He radiated heat, and she felt moisture at the nape of her neck.
She’d just dreamed his father had shot him, but no, he was safe.
She exhaled a slow, steady breath.
Extricating herself, she eased off the bed. She hadn’t woken him.
The scar on his forehead had faded to just a faint line, and there was no physical evidence of this latest altercation with his father. He looked so peaceful. Audrey hoped he might soon find some waking peace.
As she padded down the stairwell, she heard a dish clank in the kitchen. “Mrs. Scott, is it okay if I take a shower?” Turning the corner, she gasped to find her mother holding a coffee mug. Her mother barely had time to set it down before Audrey leaped into her arms. She whimpered as she clung to her mother.
“I’m waiting to hear from Captain Payson, but your dad may get out as soon as this afternoon,” her mother breathed into her hair.
Audrey couldn’t even form words.
“And the answer to your question is yes,” Mrs. Scott added. “You may take a shower. There’re clean towels in the closet. I assume Leo’s still sleeping?”
“Yeah.”
“All right, get going then,” her mother said. “The second I hear your father’s being released, I want to be there.”
“Okay!” Audrey scrambled up to the bathroom. As she took off her maroon FSU T-shirt, she reminded herself to call Coach Nancy to explain her absence.
> Stepping into the shower, she was enveloped by steam. As the hot water flowed down her body, she felt the shame of her father’s imprisonment wash away. Audrey closed her eyes and exhaled deeply.
A draft of cool air hit her chest, and she opened her eyes, flinching when she saw Leo peer around the shower curtain. Audrey crossed her arms over her breasts.
“Caliente. Do you need company?” His eyes danced.
“Both our moms are downstairs!”
“I locked the door.”
Audrey grinned. “I think you actually enjoy the possibility of getting caught. It makes you all excited or something.” He peeled off his pajamas and joined her. “Trust me, just being with you is exciting enough.”
Audrey giggled.
The pulsating water cascaded down her back. Facing him, she fit neatly against his tall, muscular body. She grabbed a bar of lavender soap and lathered Leo’s long arms, stroking and sliding over his muscles. He worked shampoo through her long hair, and she moaned with pleasure.
“The real thing’s so much better than phone sex,” she murmured.
Moving her hands down his ribcage, her fingers paused at the dip between his torso and thigh. There was a curve, a dimple, in the muscular space nearing his backside, and Audrey’s hands lingered there before they moved behind him to draw him closer.
“This may require some flexibility,” he said with a suggestive wink.
“Fortunately, swimmers are very flexible.” Leo’s mouth moved south, planting wet kisses on Audrey’s chest and abdomen. She shivered as his hungry lips joined the misty water flowing down her body, creating a stimulation she felt all the way down to her toes.
Happy sighs punctuated the gurgling sound of warm water swirling around their feet as she contorted her body, and he responded in turn. She surrendered to him, reveling in wet skin and soft strokes.
In the absence of a pool, this was the closest she could get to swimming with Leo.
Jason heard the chain on the other side of the door slide open before he fell backward as the door gave way. He glanced up to see Marcus peering down at him, looking confused.
“Well, you’re not my morning paper,” Marcus said.
Jason snorted as he righted himself.
“How long have you been here?” Marcus asked.
Jason slumped. “Dunno, couple of hours?”
“Why didn’t you knock, you numbskull?” He continued staring at his feet. “’Cause I didn’t know if I wanted you to stop me.”
Marcus inhaled and wrestled the bag from his grasp, tearing it open to reveal a large bottle of vodka with its seal still intact. “Get in here,” Marcus ordered, leaving Jason sitting on the doorstep.
He heard the glug-glug-glug of the vodka disappearing down the sink as he slouched into the apartment. Jason hung his head, expecting a verbal lashing.
“You did good by making it here, Jase. That must’ve been an awful two hours, but you did the right thing. You’ve come so far with your sobriety…what made you buy this stuff?” Jason dug into his pocket and removed the ring before tossing it over.
Marcus caught it and squinted at the diamond. “Is this Cameron’s?” He gave a hopeless nod. “She gave it back to me. It’s over. She hates me now.” He dropped to his knees with a thud and folded his hands over the back of his head, the story spilling out of him again.
Marcus kneeled next to Jason and listened. “So your mother’s alone now,” he said.
Emptiness consumed Jason. “We’re all alone.”
Leo and Audrey stood outside the Naval Air Station Pensacola Military Prison in the cool November breeze. She shivered as she eyed his short-sleeved polo. “Aren’t you freezing?”
“It’s, like, sixty degrees!” He grinned. “You’re a wimp.”
“Hmph.”
“Are you sure I should be here?” Leo asked for about the tenth time.
“Yes! You’re the reason we’re having this amazing day.” He watched her eyes crinkle with anticipation and circled behind to wrap his arms around her. He couldn’t be happier for Audrey and her parents, and he attempted to ignore the nagging twinge of sadness for his own family. Nuzzling his face into her hair, he planted a soft kiss on her neck.
Leo tensed as he saw Captain Payson approach. He fought the urge to salute and instead fidgeted until the captain shook his hand.
“Hello, Leo. It’s good to see you out of the hospital bed.”
“Hello, sir.”
“Audrey.” He smiled warmly and shook her hand as well. “So, you’re waiting for your dad’s release?”
“Yes, Captain. Thank you for making it happen so quickly.” He looked pained. “Please don’t thank me for anything, Audrey.
We screwed up big time.”
Audrey looked down, and Leo draped his arm around her shoulders.
“Is my dad in there, sir?” he asked.
A head shake. “James is stil in a holding cel at the police station. It’ll be a while before the paperwork’s transferred over here for the court martial.”
Leo nodded.
The captain studied him for a moment. “I spoke to Captain Tracker today.”
Leo leaned forward at the commandant’s name.
“Your psychologist briefed him about everything that went down last night. Though he’s not pleased about the gun in your possession, he’s willing to entertain the idea of you returning to the Academy, provided the Honor Committee reinstates you.” Leo’s eyebrows shot up. “I — I never expected that, sir.”
“It sounds like you had a rollercoaster ride at the Academy, Leo.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I feel partly responsible because I requested you be assigned to Lt.
Keaton’s company,” he said. “Captain Tracker saw a lot of potential in you, and I think you should consider returning to Annapolis.” Leo felt Audrey tense next to him. “I’m sorry, sir, but I can’t separate myself from Audrey again,” he said. “I don’t want to make the same mistake twice.”
A brilliant smile lit up her face.
At that moment an MP walked out of the brig to hold the door open for an emerging couple. Mr. and Mrs. Rose strolled out with their arms wrapped around each other, both squinting in the sunlight.
“Daddy!” Audrey squealed, breaking away from Leo and sprinting to her father. She almost bowled him over as she leaped into his arms.
“Audrey girl,” her father said tearfully. “I’ve missed you so much.” Leo dipped his head, trying to compose himself.
The three Roses continued their hugs and excited chatter for a few moments before looking up and seeming to realize there were others waiting for them. Mr. Rose approached his former boss and stood before him for a moment. Finally he shook his hand.
“I’d like you to stop by my office when you have the time, Denny,” the captain said. “We have much to discuss. I hope to see you back in uniform one day soon.”
“Yes, sir. Thank you for being here, Captain.”
“Words are meaningless at this point, but I want you to know how sorry I am for all you and your family have been through,” Payson said. “You’ve been very brave.”
“We still have each other.” Mr. Rose swallowed. “The Walshes aren’t so fortunate.”
“Very true. How’re they taking the news?”
“I’m not sure,” Mrs. Rose said. She glanced at Leo. “Do you know, Leo?”
“No, ma’am. Jason was going to tell Cameron, but I haven’t heard anything.”
“Well, I’ll stop interrupting this family celebration,” Captain Payson said. “I’ll see you soon, Denny.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Mr. Rose then turned to Leo, and his heart thudded. Audrey reached for his hand and squeezed it.
“Your father’s done horrible things, Leo. He’s hurt many people.” He paused for a moment. “But you, well, you’ve set me free. Captain Payson called me brave, but I think you’re the brave one here.” Leo looked into his eyes, which sparkled with joy.
>
“I guess you redeemed yourself for knocking up my daughter.” Mr. Rose’s mouth set in a stern line. “And unless there’s something I don’t know about,” he added, glancing at Audrey. “You’ve done a good job keeping your grimy paws off her since then.” Flames licked at Leo’s cheeks as he remembered their recent shower. “And we didn’t even need the chastity belt, sir.”
“Come on.” Mr. Rose shook his head and gestured to Audrey’s car. “Let’s see if I remember how to drive. We’ve got a stop to make before we head home.”
74. Grave Matters
Cameron was all cried out.
Her eyelids drooped with fatigue, and she gazed down at the crumpled tissues littering her father’s grave. With heaviness in her chest, she relived again her horrible day.
Her mother had exploded when Cam told her of her husband’s affair, but shock froze her when she learned Jason’s father was the murderer. She’d only had a few minutes to process the news before calls from the media began rolling in, seeking a reaction to James Scott’s arrest and Denny Rose’s release. Cameron had fled, overwhelmed by the intrusion.
She’d driven in an aimless loop for an hour, crying, before finding herself at her father’s grave. She hadn’t been to Shady Palms Cemetery since she’d learned of his affair. She’d been furious with her father, but now she needed his guidance.
Except for a cool breeze wafting through the trees, it was quiet.
“Why?” she pleaded. “Why’d you cheat on us? Weren’t we good enough for you?”
She traced his name in the stone. “Will I ever look at Jason without thinking of what happened to you?” She choked back a sob. “Is it possible to love him and hate his father at the same time?” Despite her anger, she knew death was too great a price to pay for infidelity. Her only comfort was that in the end, her father had been trying to do the right thing — trying to help a woman who’d been hurt by another man. His fatal mistake was underestimating that man.
“You didn’t deserve to die, Dad.” The breeze lifted her words, floating them away in sorrowful wisps across neighboring graves.
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