The number showed up as blocked again, so she knew it was him. “Hey, baby,” she said as sexily as she could drum up, but then cringed as the operator came on the line. She tapped her foot as she listened to the woman’s monolog, and then answered, “Of course.”
“Hello, sunshine,” he purred back. “How was your day?”
A smile caused her cheeks to press up against the phone at just the sound of his voice. “It was pretty relaxing, considering. I read almost the entire book you suggested while I suntanned, exfoliated, waxed, softened, and pampered every square inch of my body.”
“Yum,” he said in a low growl. “You sound good enough to eat. And after a couple of days of abstinence after our weeklong spree, we may not make it to the bedroom. Of course, Mom will be there, so I guess we’ll have to.”
“Actually,” Alexandra purred back. “Your mom has plans tonight. When I told her Mr. Grant would be dropping you off and he wanted to speak to her, she said to tell you that she wouldn’t be home until tomorrow afternoon and to tell Grant to just drop you off, and she’d see him later in the afternoon.”
“So she’s not home tonight?” Cameron snapped back.
“No. Why?”
“I just don’t like the idea of you being home alone.”
“Cameron, I’m fine. I won’t answer the door if anyone comes over, and I have my Mace. I’m just going to take the rest of the evening and finish pampering myself so I look great for you when you come home.”
He chuckled into the phone. “Darling, you could come to the door in rags and you’d look great; actually, that might be kind of sexy.” His voice lowered on his last words again, and she knew he was thinking of some scenario. Cameron loved whispering sexual escapades in her ear while they made love. And she couldn’t help it; every one of them had her squirming. He was never crude, but she had to admit he had some delicious ideas. “I can imagine you in just a few scraps of clothing like Jane from those old Tarzan movies,” he continued.
She giggled. “Cameron, you are such a freak, but I have to say you’re turning me on right now.”
“Well …” His voice dropped to barely a whisper. “As much as I’d like to hear that, now is probably not the best time. Tell me tomorrow what you did while you were thinking about me.”
“Okay,” she agreed. “So what time do you think you’ll be home?”
“Early, I hope. Aidan seems to think he can get us in and out. Also, he has the bondsman all ready. Thank you for taking the money to him, by the way. I meant to tell you to buy yourself something nice while you were out, but I forgot. I’m not thinking clearly right now.”
Alexandra buried her head into Cameron’s pillow and inhaled deeply. “I wouldn’t have bought anything anyway, but thank you.”
“Why?”
She shrugged, but then remembered he couldn’t see her. “Because I don’t need anything.”
“Yes, you do. You were complaining on the cruise that none of your clothes fit anymore, which I certainly didn’t notice, but I want you to be comfortable. Tell you what, tomorrow we’ll go shopping and get you some new clothes.”
She sat up in bed. “Um … tomorrow we’re staying in bed all day.”
A burst of laughter rang through the phone. “Well, I’m not going to argue with that, my bride. I guess we’ll make it the next day.”
“What about work, Cameron?”
He sighed on the other end. “I’m not going back, Alexandra. How could I show my face there after the police searched my office? And I’m sure everyone’s heard about my arrest. I’ll go to day-trading full time. If you get bored with me, I can always go to a coffee shop and use their Internet.”
“Don’t be silly; I’m not going to get bored. But I thought you liked selling cars,” she pressed. The last thing she wanted was for him to get bored with her. If he was here all day, he might get tired of her.
“You know, I thought I did, but honestly, it just passed the time. Now it just keeps me away from you. I work too many hours. We’ll come up with something so I’m not in your way all day.”
She gushed out a deep breath into the phone so he could hear. “Stop being ridiculous, Cameron. This is your home; you’ll never be in my way. Anyway, Candy said she’d leave tomorrow night too, so I’ve planned a romantic day for us. So you better get your rest tonight.”
“Mmm … I like, and I can’t wait. Something about living with a hundred men in one tent makes you long for the softness and smell of your woman. How any man could purposely commit a crime that would get him thrown in jail is beyond me. I’d never do anything willingly that would get me tossed in here again. All right, baby. Go finish your pampering, and I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Okay, Cameron. I love you.”
“I love you too, Alexandra.”
Alexandra clicked disconnect, but as last time, the phone rang within seconds. The number came through blocked again; Cameron must have forgotten something.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
“Miss me already?” Nicky’s voice chirped into the phone.
Jonathan seethed internally at her words. “Yes, I did. You’re late, Nicole. You’re never late.”
She released a heavy breath into the phone. “I’m not coming, Jonathan. And I’m never talking to you again. Please don’t call back.”
“So, you’re gonna let your man rot in jail like you did me?”
She huffed out another breath, obviously not wanting to continue speaking with him. “He’s getting out tomorrow. Goodbye, Jonathan.”
“Wait. Talk to me, Nicky. I’m coming over.”
“Jonathan, if you show up here, I’ll call the police. That wouldn’t look good with you being on probation. This is it, I swear. Don’t ever call me again. Goodbye!” The line went dead.
He slammed on the brakes and pulled the vehicle off the road. He got out and kicked a can, anything he could find. He needed to punch something, but there wasn’t anything around except for his truck. And he was smart enough not to damage his new vehicle because he was mad at his girlfriend.
So Cameron thought he was getting out tomorrow. Probably just on bail, but then he’d be going away for a long time. No way would he beat the rap.
Nicky would probably be going there first thing in the morning, unlike how she’d left him rotting in jail. No, he wouldn’t go over to her place tonight; he was too angry. He’d go find someone else to take out his frustrations on, someone who wouldn’t call the police on him when he did.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Alexandra awoke at six a.m., cleaned up the entire house, and wrote Candy a letter in case she came home earlier than she’d intended.
She slung her purse over her shoulder and headed for the door. She’d planned a romantic day for Cameron with all the fixings. She wrote out a list of items she needed to buy for a full brunch with candles, dessert, and then she’d pre-make sandwiches for lunch and lasagna for dinner, so she wouldn’t have to stop and cook this evening, as she planned to spoil him all day with his own home-spa day of pampering — the manly kind.
After all, they hadn’t been home as a married couple. She couldn’t wait to make him food as his wife in their own kitchen, and then he’d sweep her off her feet as he did that one evening and carry her to their bedroom. And then they could walk down the beach, maybe go swimming, and then come back and do it all over again.
As soon as Alexandra opened the door, the smell of tequila bombarded her senses. For the first time in weeks, she felt as though she might get sick. A hand clamped down over her mouth so fast that she didn’t have a chance to scream, and then he dragged her backward into the house.
She clawed at his arm, but he didn’t seem to notice her fingernails digging into his flesh.
Jonathan shoved her up against the wall. His irises were large and dark; he looked like a crazed animal. “All you had to do was talk to me. You stupid bitch!” He slammed the door shut with his foot, then pulled her off her feet again, dragging her. He sto
pped at the end of the foyer, then turned down the hallway.
Alexandra kicked to no avail. He had a firm grip on her face, and he dragged her across the floor so fast that she couldn’t get any traction. Jonathan kicked open Candy’s door and then the spare room as he continued to drag her, but kept walking. He stopped at the last door, turning in to Cameron’s and her bedroom.
He smiled down at her. “Perfect. A king-sized bed. Just what we need.”
Her screaming emptied into his hand with no power to alert anyone, not that the neighbors would hear through these concrete walls anyway, but she still tried. She couldn’t even manage to bite his hand the way he had it cupped over her mouth.
She implored him with her eyes as he scanned the room. He pulled her to Cameron’s dresser, releasing her mouth long enough to open several of the drawers. She screamed as loud as her vocal cords would allow as he pulled out an undershirt and several of Cameron’s belts.
Within seconds, he shoved the tank shirt into her mouth and latched one of the belts around her head, silencing her. Throwing her down on the bed, he forced her arms above her head and wrapped the belt around her wrists three times before latching it closed. He stuffed the other belt in his pocket and then looked around as though he were looking for somewhere to latch her to. Cameron didn’t have a headboard thank goodness.
She had only one chance, so she waited patiently for it. As soon as Jonathan moved to pull her legs up, she jerked her knee up as fast and as hard as she could manage and then crawled over his body toward the door.
He grunted loudly as he bent over in pain, but then she heard him behind her. “Not so fast, Nicole. I’ve missed you, and I’m taking back what’s mine.” His hand clamped down on the back of her head, pulling her backward and dropping her to the floor. He crawled around to the front of her, blocking her escape again. “I don’t need a bed. If you want to do this right here, it works for me.”
She shook her head wildly as tears forced their way out. Why was he doing this?
Jonathan straddled her hips and held her hands over her head, using the other belt to strap her hands to the leg of the bed. “You ready to talk now, Nicky?”
She nodded a fraction.
He flashed his perfect set of white teeth, the same smile that had made all the girls want him in high school. Only now, he looked as if he were possessed. His eyes were dark and blank. “Well, I don’t think I want to talk anymore.” He gripped her chin roughly. “You know, I’ve always loved you, and I’ve always planned to take care of you, but you wouldn’t let me. You couldn’t stand the way I lived, so I had to hide it from you to keep you, but I would’ve quit eventually — for you.” He leaned down and pressed his lips against her cheek and she couldn’t keep from cringing. He chuckled darkly. “I’m not allowed to even kiss you anymore?”
The tears continued to snake down her cheeks, and she struggled with the idea that he would actually rape her. If she fought him, he might hurt her again, and this time she might lose her baby — Cameron’s baby.
He ran his hand down her cheek, wiping away the tears. “I don’t want to take you against your will, Nicole, but I will if you make me. Are you really ready to talk?”
Alexandra nodded.
He unlatched the belt and pulled the shirt out of her mouth, and she questioned whether to scream.
“Tell me you love me, Nicole.”
Inhaling a deep breath, she fought the urge to lie, but she couldn’t. Maybe if he heard her say it, when her life depended on it, he’d believe her. “Jonathan, I’m sorry, but I don’t love you. Please let me go. I promise I won’t press charges. I’ll never bother you again. I’ll do whatever you want, but please don’t hurt me.”
He laughed again. “Anything I want?” He ran his hand down the front of her and pulled up her shirt. “I have everything I want. I’ve always gotten everything I want. Except you. You’ve never given yourself completely. If you loved me, you would have accepted me the way I am. Enough other girls want me.”
“Then why don’t you go to them?” she spit out.
His mouth turned up, and his eyes narrowed in an evil sneer she’d never seen. “Because I always get what I want; you know that. Are you gonna come with me, Nicole? Or am I gonna have to take what I want now and leave Cameron with a dead corpse for a bride.”
Alexandra screamed at the top of her lungs in hopes that someone would hear. When he tried to stuff the shirt back in her mouth, she bucked and squirmed against him. No way was he going to rape her and leave her for dead. She’d fight to the death.
CHAPTER FORTY
As soon as Mr. Grant pulled into the parking lot of Cameron’s complex, Cameron unbuckled his seatbelt.
He pointed to the end unit that backed up against the beach. He loved his home, and he couldn’t wait to get on with his life with his new wife. She’d said she had planned their entire day, and that was fine with him. As long as it involved anything to do with her in his arms all day, he had no complaints.
Working out of the home would be nice. He’d be able to sit on the beach and make money at the same time. And if Alexandra stayed at home with the baby, the fringe benefits of working out of the home would be considerable.
Aidan pulled up in front of his condo and turned to him. “Tell your mother to call me, Cameron, and keep away from Jonathan if you see him. If he approaches either one of you, do not engage him; call the police. I’ll get to work immediately on that restraining order we discussed. Of course, Alexandra will have to sign some paperwork too.”
Cameron grabbed the bouquet of tulips he’d asked Aidan to bring and jumped out of the attorney’s Lexus while he was still speaking. He ducked down and poked his head back inside the car. “Call us tomorrow, and we’ll come down together. Today is a day of rest for my bride and me.”
Aidan winked at him and nodded. “I understand, young man. Don’t forget to tell Candy to call me. Today.”
Narrowing his eyes at the man, Cameron nodded in agreement, wondering why he’d repeat his request. Oh well, his mother was a big girl. As he’d mentioned to her before he left on his honeymoon, she’d have to clean up her act, or she’d have to leave. No way could he trust her to be around an infant. He’d read horror stories where alcoholics had fallen asleep with lit cigarettes. Of course, he’d forbidden her to smoke in the house, but he knew she still did sometimes.
Cameron hurried to his front door and punched in his code. But the moment the latch clicked, he heard Alexandra let out a terrifying scream. He charged down the hallway toward their bedroom. The door was open, and he tore through to see Jonathan straddling his wife. He had her restrained to the leg of the bed with her shirt pulled up.
With both hands, he ripped him off her and threw him against the sliding glass door. Tears streamed down Alexandra’s face, and she looked too shocked to even speak.
He knelt down to unlatch her, but his eyes turned to Jonathan, who was struggling to his feet. Cameron stopped helping Alexandra and barreled headfirst into Jonathan’s gut, knocking him back on the floor. His fist came down hard on his face. “You no good son-of-a-bitch!” He pulled back and slammed his fists into his face repeatedly. Alexandra screamed out something, but it didn’t matter; Jonathan was going to pay. The degenerate struggled below him but didn’t even try to punch him back.
“He’s got a gun!” Alexandra screamed.
Jonathan’s arm rose to take aim, but not at him; he pointed the gun behind him, where Alexandra was still lying on the floor.
Cameron pulled Jonathan up off the ground and toward him so that Jonathan’s entire body moved at the same time. He was afraid if he had tried to knock the arm with the gun, it might have gone off.
Now Jonathan struggled to aim the gun at him. It took all of Cameron’s strength to hold him with one hand while trying to grab the gun. Jonathan landed a punch to his kidneys, and Cameron struggled to stay upright while Jonathan lowered the gun and took aim.
Alexandra let out a scream that would wake th
e dead, and Cameron could only hope that a neighbor would hear.
Cameron heard the gunshot and breaking glass; then a sharp pain filled his shoulder, and he dropped to the floor. His head spun and he tried to make sense of everything. Jonathan had the gun aimed at his head. How had he shot his shoulder?
“Cameron! Oh, my God! Cameron!” Alexandra’s screams continued, but it wasn’t her face kneeling in front of him. His vision blurred, and he looked down at all the blood covering him and Jonathan. Jonathan had stopped fighting after he’d shot him, but now he was just lying in front of him.
“He’s okay, Alexandra.” His mother’s voice. He looked up from all the blood and realized it was his mother kneeling in front of him. “Cameron’s all right, Alex,” she said again, as she helped him to his feet.
Cameron looked down at the floor. At Jonathan. And then back at his mother who still held her gun in her hand. He looked back at the oozing wound in Jonathan’s back. His mother had shot Jonathan, and evidently the bullet had gone straight through him and then through Cameron’s shoulder.
He walked past his mother and stooped down over Alexandra, unlocking her hands and pulling her to his chest.
His wife collapsed against him but then pulled back. “Oh my God, Cameron. You’re bleeding.”
“I’ll go call 911,” his mother said in a stoic voice. He’d never known exactly what she and his father had been into when they were young, but both of them had always been comfortable around guns, and they seemed to handle emergencies like this with ease. The way they had taken care of the situation with Cora’s father. Cameron had heard them discussing the situation after he’d gotten out of jail. His mother had asked his father why he hadn’t killed Cora’s father. And he’d said it wasn’t how they did business anymore. Cameron had it in him … he knew it when he’d almost killed a man. But he wasn’t a killer. He’d proven that by not going after Jonathan.
“Wait here, Alexandra. I need to check something.” Seeming to understand, she slumped down to a kneeling position on the floor.
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