Page 89 of Unchained

“Yeah, just a little light-headed. A shower will fix it.”

“And food. Why don’t I whip something up?” She eased away from him as he stabilized.

“Something easy to digest would be great.” He headed to the bathroom.

Cam stripped the bed. With the amount of sweat that had poured off Brooks the previous night, the sheets would need a good, hot wash. She went downstairs, threw them in the washing machine, and went to the kitchen.

The sound of the doorbell made her jump. Probably her mom. She steered away from the fridge and moved down the hall to the front entrance. Peeking through the window, Cam found herself staring at Detective Aldridge.

Shit.

What the hell did she want? Cam had already handed over the syringe of Axalantheum to one of the officers yesterday. She pulled open the door, being careful to hold the steel close to her body so as not to allow the detective any sight line into the house—as if it mattered.

“Hello, Camryn.” The sharp, no-nonsense tone made Cam straighten her spine.

She nodded. “Detective.”

“How’s Brooks doing?” Detective Aldridge folded her hands in front of her.

Anxiety jangled her nerve endings. She lifted her gaze to the ceiling as if she could somehow channel the message to Brooks that the detective was snooping around again. Summoning her strength, she pulled back her shoulders. “He’s doing well, thank you. But I have a feeling that’s not why you came by.” Crap. She’d been sidelined two days ago, when Brooks had been unconscious, and had given the nosey detective their temporary address, practically inviting unannounced visits. If she could kick her own ass, she would have.

Silence. “Yes, well. Glad to hear that, nonetheless. I was in the neighborhood and thought you might want an update on our findings concerning Leonetti’s work.”

Cam tapped her finger on the inside of the door. If they had information regarding Axalantheum and the long-term side effects, Brooks needed to hear it. A stab of guilt hit her. Perhaps Detective Aldridge was only trying to be helpful, but the woman’s sharp, astute look made Cam hesitate. Not because she sensed ill-will, but because she was looking for something within the Holmes family and Cam didn’t need to be the reason for her success. “Brooks is actually in the shower, but you’re welcome to come in.”

“Thank you.”

She swung open the door and waited for the detective to remove her stilettos. Then Cam led the way to the living room. “Can I get you anything? Coffee? Tea?”

“Tea would be nice, thank you.”

Cam turned into the kitchen, pulling her phone from her back pocket as she went. Not wasting a second, she shot off a message to warn Lexi, in case she was thinking of stopping by. No need for her to encounter the police unnecessarily. After returning her phone to her back pocket, she filled the kettle and turned it on. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m just going to let Brooks know you’re here.”

The detective lifted her hand in acknowledgment, her attention on the screen of her cell phone.

Cam took the stairs two at a time and entered the bedroom as Brooks walked out of the bathroom, his waist hugged by a towel.

She drank in his body. Good god. As scary as Axalantheum was, Brooks sure responded well to it. Every line of his muscles bulged, from his traps to his stacked calves and all the delicious carving of flesh in between. Her throat thickened. “Ah, Detective Aldridge is here.”

Brooks’s hand froze on the knot of the towel. “What the—”

She raised her hand. “She says she has information about Leonetti’s studies.”

He growled and went to the dresser. “I’ll be down in a minute.”

Cam retreated and returned to the main level. Detective Aldridge hadn’t budged. Nerves ticked under Cam’s skin. The kettle screamed, and she grabbed a random tea bag from the cupboard, not caring whether the woman had a preference. After filling a mug, she walked to the living room.

Detective Aldridge accepted the mug, and her eyes warmed on Cam for the first time. “Thank you. It smells delicious.”

Cam lowered herself into the love seat, leaving enough room for Brooks to sit next to her.

She studied Detective Aldridge. Lexi and Nash had mentioned she’d been involved in exposing Conrad’s child-trafficking business, and that she was probably the most trustworthy detective at the station. So what was the deal with her nosing around the Holmes boys?

Heavy footsteps sounded on the stairs, and then Brooks glided into the living room. “Hello, Detective Aldridge. What can we do for you?” He didn’t offer his hand but instead sat next to Cam. His weight sunk the cushion, and she didn’t resist the pull to his side.

Her full mouth, one that would likely drive most men crazy with lust, smiled. “Please, you can both call me Sophia.”

Cam didn’t stop her eyebrow from arching.

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