Cameron nodded in understanding and extended his hands for the guard again. He knew the drill.
The guard locked the cuffs back on him, not quite as tightly as the last time, and escorted him in a different direction. This time, he escorted him outside to an area with four olive-green dome-shaped tent-looking things. Were they serious? They were putting him in a tent.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Alexandra sat out on the lanai, sipping coffee, waiting for it to be late enough to go see Cameron, as he’d requested.
Jonathan had the nerve to get upset that she hadn’t come and visited him, when he was the reason she’d ended up there in the first place, along with being on probation. She’d told him last time she would never go to visit him, and if he ever got into trouble again, she’d leave his sorry butt for good. She didn’t belong in his lifestyle; she was a princess, or at least, she could be again if he’d stay out of her life.
The phone rang, and she nearly jumped out of her chair. The number came over as blocked, so it had to be Cameron. “Cameron?”
There was a sigh on the other end. “I can’t tell you how much I hate that you’re sitting by the phone waiting for another man to call you.” Jonathan’s words were low and full of malice.
“He’s not another man; he’s my husband,” she directed back with as much venom as she could muster.
“Humph! Well, here’s what I want. And if you do it, I’ll give them my real supplier and tell the police he made me set up Cameron. I have enough on my guy to put him away for years.”
Alexandra couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She knew Jonathan was pathetic, but she had never imagined the secret life he’d been living. Her father had been right all along. If he was such a big-time dealer, why didn’t they ever have any money? She couldn’t help it; she wanted to know. “Jonathan, there’s something I don’t understand. If you’ve been doing this all along, how come we never had any money?”
He laughed. “I’ve been stashing it away, baby. I was gonna take care of you one day. I couldn’t flaunt money without being able to prove where it came from.”
“You mean to tell me you’ve been bumming money off me when you had plenty?”
“I told you I’d pay you back.”
“You know what, Jonathan, I’m glad. I’m glad I didn’t take any of your drug money. I told you I wanted no part of that life years ago. I can’t believe —”
“Nicky, come see me,” he interrupted. “I have a paid off truck; I have plenty of money. We’ll go away, just you and me. My mother won’t bother us; we’ll start over. Like we did when we were in high school.”
She huffed into the phone. “What will it take for you to drop the charges, Jonathan? I’m not coming back to you. I married Cameron, and I love him. I won’t leave him.”
“Then just come talk to me. That’s all I ask. One final chance to talk with you. That’s all I asked a couple of weeks ago. You owe me that after six years, don’t you think?”
“So if I come, you’ll drop all the charges?”
“Uh-huh. If you can’t see that I am different, that I will never hurt you again, I’ll take care of everything, I promise. Just give me a couple of hours to explain everything, and then if you still want him, I’ll let you go.”
Alexandra didn’t bother to mention that it didn’t matter what he had to say; nothing would make her go back to him. But there was no sense in trying to convince him over the phone that she’d never loved him. She would just have to hope that he was telling the truth. “Where do you want to meet?”
“Our apartment,” he shot back. “I have to get my stuff anyway.”
She decided it was probably best not to mention that he didn’t have any stuff. That Cameron had taken out the trash, as he’d put it. “I’ll be there at six tonight.”
“I’ll see you then.”
Alexandra clicked end and sank back into the chaise. Would Cameron forgive her? Yes, he would. After all, she was only doing this to get him released. She wasn’t sure that Jonathan would even do what he said he would, but she had to try. And if not, she had a backup plan. If Jonathan refused, she’d go see Judith. She would make sure that Judith knew everything. And inform her that if she helped to put Cameron away, Alexandra would have no choice but to go back to Jonathan. Of course, she’d never go back to Jonathan, but Judith didn’t know that. And Alexandra was certain that Judith wouldn’t take well to Jonathan using her — again.
Alexandra stood and started walking back inside the house so she could get ready to see Cameron. The phone rang again. She just stared at it for a second, but then realized if she didn’t answer it, her mother-in-law would. And if it was Jonathan again, that could make things awkward.
It was an unknown number again. She clicked answer and waited before speaking anything other than “Hello” this time. She listened and relaxed as she realized it was the operator requesting authorization to accept a collect call again. “Yes, yes, of course.” She smiled into the phone.
“Hey, baby,” came her husband’s voice.
She sank into the sofa and felt a tear ooze down her cheek. “Hey, Cameron. I miss you so much. It was so lonely without you last night.”
He sighed. “I miss you too, but I have great news.”
“Really? I was just getting ready to clean up and head that way.”
“Don’t bother. I’m going to be out Monday morning first thing. I spoke with the attorney, and he found a loophole. He’s a hundred percent positive they’ll drop all charges because of something called Fruit of the Poisonous Tree. Basically, they’d gathered evidence without the legal paperwork. Their warrant was only for the condo; they didn’t have the authority to search the garage. I’m thankful that a loophole that normally would have helped a real convict get off actually helped me.”
“Oh, Cameron! That’s wonderful, but you still don’t want me to come up there?”
“No, but I need you to do something else. I left several credit cards in the top drawer of my dresser. I want you to use the Citi Gold cards; there are two of them. One for my checking and one for my savings. Pull out four thousand dollars and take it to the attorney today. That’s as much as I can withdraw in one day, so he’s going to cover the rest.”
“So, he’ll take care of everything, and you’ll be home on Monday?” Alexandra got up from the couch and almost jumped up and down in the living room. She didn’t have to see Jonathan. Cameron wouldn’t be angry with her.
“Yep. You sound like a little kid. I love to hear you happy.”
“I am happy, Cameron. I just want to move on with our lives. Put all this mess behind us.”
She heard his deep exhale through the line. “Me too. This has been a couple of crazy months. I think I could handle just sitting on the beach with you every day. We’ll have to just make our own paradise when I come home.”
She smiled, even though she knew he couldn’t see it. “Me too. So, do you need me to come get you on Monday?”
“No. We talked late yesterday. Aidan will meet me here, talk with the magistrate, and deal with a bondsman. Then he said he wanted to see my mom anyway, so he’ll bring me home.”
Alexandra blanched, remembering the conversation about no rain checks; Aidan was coming to collect. Oh well, Candy could take care of herself. Maybe this man would be good for her, and she would end up moving out of Cameron’s and her life. “Well, I’d still like to see you before tomorrow, Cameron.”
She could hear him sniff through the phone. “It’s okay. I’d rather you not come here. Just try to relax today.” He was quiet for a second. “You haven’t had contact with him again, have you?”
She knew exactly who him was, but wasn’t sure if she should play dumb or lie. “He called this morning,” she admitted, cringing as she did so.
Cameron didn’t scream, he just sighed. “Now I’m going to have to change our home phone number. What did he want? You know what … I don’t care what he wanted. Alex, don’t talk to him again; I me
an it. I’m not being controlling, but that animal hurt you badly, and I don’t think it’s too much to ask that you don’t continue to speak to your ex-boyfriend, do you?”
Alexandra gulped. It wasn’t too much to ask. She wouldn’t have even thought about talking to him if it weren’t for the situation. “No, it’s not too much to ask. I won’t speak to him again. I promise.”
“Thank you. He knows where you live now too, so be careful. We’ll figure out what to do tomorrow, but in the meantime, please do not open the door without looking and DO NOT let him into my house — sorry, our house.”
She nodded, but then quickly answered, realizing he obviously couldn’t see her. “I understand … I won’t.” Cameron wasn’t unreasonable; he was sensible. Thank goodness, she didn’t have to go see Jonathan tonight; it’s obvious that Cameron wouldn’t have forgiven her if he’d found out.
“So, on to better subjects. How are you feeling?”
Alexandra walked back out to the lanai and looked out to the Atlantic. “Well, I didn’t want to say anything, because it is a little early, but I swear I felt him move last night while I was lying in bed.”
“Really? So soon? Him?”
She laughed. “Well, I know you get upset when I say it, so I figured I should just decide if I want a boy or a girl and just assume it’s — the baby, I mean, is one or the other, so I decided I want a boy.”
“A boy would be cool, but I don’t guess it really matters. I wish I’d been there. What did the movement feel like?”
Alexandra felt exhausted and sank down onto the chaise again. “It felt like a little gas bubble moving through my stomach, but I know it wasn’t gas. I know everyone says it feels like a butterfly, but it didn’t. It felt exactly like a bubble moving up my stomach; it was so cool. I went right to the Internet and looked it up. And even though it’s rare to feel anything at three months, it’s not unheard of.”
“I’m so jealous. I can’t wait. With Cora — I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. I wanted to ask her name but was afraid. I like the name Cora.”
She heard him inhale a deep breath. “Yeah. It’s not as if we were meant to be together, we weren’t. We were so different; we would have ended up hating each other. We’d just hooked up a couple of times at parties, and the next thing I knew, she was pregnant. We weren’t even dating. Heck, it may not have even been mine. What a different life I led back then. But we got along okay, and I actually got rather excited about the baby. Mom was thrilled. I don’t know why, but the thought of having a baby … she could never have any more after me, I guess. She said not to worry; she’d help in any way she could. You know, it wasn’t until after that entire fiasco that she started drinking again. She’d been clean since she’d gotten pregnant with me. So in a way, her drinking is kind of my fault.”
“Oh, Cameron,” she interrupted. “You really do carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. How can you blame your mother’s drinking on yourself?”
He huffed. “It all goes back to choices, Alexandra. If I had been more responsible. If I hadn’t been drinking, having unsafe sex with a stranger at seventeen, who knows …” he stopped short and then laughed suddenly, “but then again, I pretty much made a lot of the same mistakes at twenty-seven and now I have you. Weird how things happen, isn’t it?”
She laughed in response. “Weird indeed. I love you, Cameron. I’m glad you slipped up again and had a one-night stand with me. Didn’t think I’d ever admit that aloud.”
“Hey, dude?” Alexandra heard a man’s voice in the background. “You gonna hog the phone all day.”
Cameron muffled the phone, but she could still hear him. “Getting off right now, man. Give me two secs, K? Hey, babe,” he must have uncapped his hand because his voice came through clear. “They don’t mind us using the phone, but the other inmates get ticked if we stay on too long. How ’bout I call you back between six and seven, whenever the phone comes free?”
“I’ll have it on my lap, waiting. Maybe I’ll go find some of those Nicholas Sparks books you have stashed.” She laughed.
“You’re so bad, but I love you. Yeah, go read The Lucky One,” he’d dropped his voice to a whisper, “that’ll have you all hot and bothered and ready for me when I get home. I love you. Gotta go.”
“I love you too, Cameron.”
“That’s all that matters. I’ll see you tomorrow. Be safe.” And he hung up the phone.
Alexandra stood up and walked back into the house, directly to the bookshelf. She’d been eyeing that book anyway. She pulled the paperback down and walked toward the bathroom, deciding to take a bubble bath. Something she hadn’t done since she was a princess. She’d give herself a full home-spa treatment today, and then tomorrow she’d go get fresh ingredients and make Cameron a wonderful homecoming meal.
She’d have to make one final call to Jonathan and tell him she wasn’t coming. No — she reprimanded herself. Cameron had asked her not to talk to him again. She’d stand him up. He’d be mad as a hornet, but it would be good for him. He needed to learn that he didn’t control her life anymore.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Jonathan pulled into a space next to their empty designated parking spot at Nicky’s and his apartment. He’d always hated living here, but it was important to keep a low profile until he had enough money stashed away to move away from this city.
The only thing he’d spent money on in the last few years was clothes. They weren’t traceable, and he did have to keep up appearances. His friends knew he came from money, and it just made him feel better that he hadn’t given up everything he’d loved.
He’d always hated that Nicky shopped in thrift stores and Target for her clothing, but he couldn’t very well take her shopping at Buckle and Lucky You when he was bumming twenty bucks off her nightly. He did it to keep her close to him. Somehow, he always knew that once she figured out she didn’t need him, she’d leave him for good.
The fact of the matter was that Nicky would look good in a burka. Even in high school, the other girls hated that about her. The guys couldn’t have cared one way or the other what she wore; they only cared about what they could take off her, but he’d warned them all within an inch of their life. Nicky was his.
After going through his texts and returning all of the messages, he grabbed the stuff he’d bought for Nicky and jumped down from his truck. He hated this place so much; he hadn’t been back since the morning Nicky had gotten hurt. He hadn’t meant to hurt her; he’d never hit her in all the years they’d been together. But when he’d realized where she’d been and seen the ring, fury enveloped him.
He pulled out his phone and checked the time: 5:55. She’d be happy that he was right on time, something she’d always complained about. He tucked the red roses and paper bag of Chinese food under his arm while he unlocked the door. He should have been more romantic in the past, but he knew she’d get suspicious if he’d spent money on things like this. She would have complained about the rent being due.
As soon as he opened the door, he noticed the difference. It was obvious by how neat it was that thieves looking for drugs and money hadn’t ransacked their home, but someone had emptied his apartment of all its contents. Only furniture remained in the living room area. He walked into his bedroom. The closet and the dressers were bare; not one piece of clothing remained.
No thief would’ve taken their cheap TV, stereo, and clothes. Nicky or Cameron had done this, and Nicky couldn’t walk, so his wager was that Cameron had come in here and wiped the place clean. He couldn’t have cared less about the electronics, but his clothes were worth a fortune. He probably had close to five thousand dollars invested.
He felt his eye twitch as he walked back out to the eat-in kitchen and plopped down in one of the chairs. Minutes ticked by, but he didn’t move. He just stared out the living room window at the palm trees and the swimming pool that he’d only used once in the last year. The night of a late-night party that had spilled over to the outs
ide. Nicky had come home that night and found him holding a girl in the pool. The girl hadn’t even been pretty.
His phone lit up with a text from a customer. He returned the text and then deleted the message. Not that there was any information that could incriminate him; everything was done in code. He’d just gotten into the habit. He glanced at the time: 6:20. Nicky was never late; she wasn’t coming.
He threw the roses against the wall, grabbed the food, and left the apartment.
As he walked back to his Tundra, he dialed the number she’d called from earlier. Four rings and then an automated message from the phone carrier came on instructing him the person he was trying to reach was unavailable. Really? He sucked in a breath, resisting the urge to throw the Smartphone his mother had just bought. He didn’t care about all the crap she bought him to make up for the years of neglect.
After a few minutes of slamming his fists against the steering wheel, he tried again. Nothing. She had to give him a chance. If she could just see that he was able to take care of her now, he knew things would be different. She thought he didn’t love her, but he did; he’d always loved her. Was it wrong that he still wanted to party? If she hadn’t been such a prude about his dealing, she wouldn’t have had to work so hard. He could’ve been taking care of her all these years.
He threw his vehicle into drive and headed toward the Beachline. If she refused to come to him, he’d go to her. Within a few minutes of jumping on the expressway, he tried to call her again, but this time he blocked the number.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
When the phone rang at six-fifteen, Alexandra jumped at first, but then remembered Cameron had said he’d call between six and seven.
She’d spent the entire day pampering herself so she’d feel pretty tomorrow when he came home, even if she was starting to feel fat with her little lump forming.
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