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Cameron watched me intently as I chewed and swallowed before giving him a shy smile.
‘I’m obsessed with your mouth,’ he said, making me want to squirm all over again. What the hell do I say to that? ‘I’m going to grab some water. Can I get you a bottle?’
I nodded dumbly, feeling like a pile of jelly whenever he focused all his attention on me.
‘Stay here. I’ll be back in a few.’
I lost sight of him as he headed toward the exit of the room, presumably to find a bar or the kitchen, I guessed.
He’d barely left when an arm slipped tightly around my waist and pulled me back into the recess behind where we’d been standing. I squealed before a hand clamped over my mouth.
Harold’s voice filled my ear as his clammy fingers dug into my hip. I froze. I wanted to run, but I had a feeling it wasn’t in my best interest, so I steeled myself and waited to see what he was after. ‘Well, well, well. Look what we have here.’
‘Harold,’ I said as he released my mouth, hoping he couldn’t hear the quiver in my voice. He grazed his hand down the length of my arm as I fought a wave of pure rage. How dare he touch me?
‘I just wanted to let you know you need to keep that pretty mouth of yours shut tonight. I don’t want another repeat of that shit you pulled last time. I’m guessing my piece of shit son didn’t give you the beating you deserved.’
His fingers dug even tighter into my hips and I wanted to cry when I felt him stiffen against my ass, but didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of my tears.
‘You’d better hope I don’t find a reason to expedite my plans to dispose of you, my dear, because when I do, you are going to beg for a bullet by the time I’m through with you. And I’m going to enjoy every second--‘
A vibrating from his pocket broke off his words as he dropped his hands. I swivelled away from him and ducked around the corner, taking a deep, shuddering breath. I needed to get away from him. I followed the corridor around to the left, away from the loud voices and flowing music, until I slipped into an alcove half covered with a monstrous potted plant.
The tears came silently as I focused on breathing. Harold had meant every word. Telling Cameron would be the wise choice, but what would it do other than make him angry? He’d never defy his father for me.
Footsteps sounded outside the alcove and I stilled, cowering back against the wall as Harold’s hushed voice neared.
‘Yes, I’ll be there to pick up the cargo myself. You know the way I work.’ I listened while barely daring to breathe in case Harold caught me there. ‘But it better be of better quality this time. The last pair barely had any meat on them and no-one wants to buy meth-heads. I need them to be good quality to make this worth my while. The buyers expect top tier.’
My heart all but stopped as I went over his words in my head. He was talking about people. Fuck. My father-in-law was truly the worst of the worst. Dealing in human trafficking was too morally debased even for the worst of the mafia around there. They’d be furious if... no when... they found out. But how could I prove it? Overhearing two sentences on a phonecall wouldn’t be enough proof. I needed solid evidence. Determination steeled my resolve. I would watch him burn all right.
Harold paused and listened to whoever was on the other end of the call as he opened the door across from the alcove I hid in. Beyond the door lay what could only be his office. There was a solid gleaming wooden desk with a well-worn leather chair visible, along with a ceiling height built-in bookcase running the full length of the wall behind the desk. He moved off to the right and out of view. I needed to see what he was doing. Walking on the toes of my shoes to minimise the noise, I snuck forward from the alcove and moved to my left until I could just see him, praying he didn’t look up and spot me.
Sweat slicked my palms as I listened to him talking and watched as he pulled open some drawers, grabbing a pen and a notepad and jotting something down. ‘Yeah, I’ll be there. Same way as usual, even though we’ve changed the pickup point. You come in alone, make sure no-one else knows. I’ll bring the money in cash. Make sure they are well secured. The last one scratched me and I ended up knocking out a tooth. Toothless bitches aren’t worth as much. Don’t let that happen again.’
‘Maeve?’ I jumped as Cam touched my arm, having been so engrossed in hearing what Harold said that I didn’t even hear him approach. My pulse thundered as I took one last glance in the office, seeing Harold tuck the notepad back into his desk. I needed to get in there and get it.
‘What are you doing?’ he whispered, dropping his voice as he spied his father beyond the partially open door.
I pulled him back over toward the alcove, narrowing my eyes at him and keeping my voice low. ‘Are you sure that your dad’s not up to something worse than drugs and weapons?’
‘He has his fingers in most of the criminal pies, Maeve. Everyone does. Nothing worse than your family does.’
‘You promise me?’
I searched his eyes, looking for an inkling that he knew about trafficking. If he did, he wasn’t the man I was beginning to believe he was.
‘I promise. Why? Are you still out here trying to take him down?’ Cameron drew his lips into a line, and I couldn’t tell whether he was annoyed or worried. I couldn’t go throwing out accusations until I had proof. Hopefully, proof would be enough to sway his familial loyalty. If it didn’t, I’d be forced to take him down to. Even the thought of hurting him sent a pain to my chest. I was in too deep.
I opened my mouth to respond right as the door opened. I squeaked as Cameron swung me into the alcove and pressed me hard up against the wall, one hand on my throat. The pressure was light, but boy did it send mixed messages to my nether regions. My brain took a moment to catch up, realising he was giving us a reason to be there, to avoid suspicion at why I was lurking outside his father’s office. I squirmed beneath his grip, playing my part in the charade, forcing him to grip me tighter. Electricity rampaged through me at his touch, his breath hot against my cheek as he pressed his face threateningly against my turned head.
I heard Harold laugh through the mist of my desire, sending my tummy roiling.
‘That’s more like it, Cameron. Take advantage while you can, son. She could be done with a lesson in submission.’
Cameron tensed against me, from rage or arousal, I wasn’t sure. Maybe both. Both combined in me, the rage at Harold and the heat of being so close to Cameron for the first time since I’d drunkenly straddled him.
I heard the door shut, and to my dismay, he turned a key in the lock, too. Shit. I’d hoped to lose Cameron and grab the paper before we left. Telling Cameron wasn’t an option yet, and I was doubtful he’d have a key. I’d have to come back again and find a way in.
