Page 107 of Warrior's Cross

“Hi,” he finally whispered.

“You look well,” Julian observed after a moment of silence.

At that moment, the dogs came stumbling out of the bedroom area where they’d been napping in front of thefireplace and scampered toward the entry to swarm Julian’s ankles.

“Blake’s been taking care of you?” Julian asked as the dogs latched onto his shoelaces and the hems of his jeans. He didn’t look away from Cameron as they cavorted around him. “May I come in?” he asked when Cameron didn’t answer.

Cameron was too dazed to do anything but nod. He didn’t want to look away, even for a second. As angry as he was, he thought he would have been able to remain composed in Julian’s presence, but seeing him again, here in his own home, was both painful and wonderful.

What... why... how... questions swirled in his head, and there was no way he could pick just one, so he shut his mouth and climbed off the couch. He met Julian’s eyes deliberately and walked the several steps forward to stand more than an arm’s length away from the other man.

“You look really good,” Julian whispered appraisingly as he watched Cameron.

Some of the shock ebbed, replaced by a terribly painful ache Cameron thought he’d gotten over. “Thank you,” he murmured.

“I’m sorry for what I’ve done,” Julian offered regretfully.

Cameron sighed heavily and looked up at Julian, his eyes intent on the other man. He stepped a little closer, a couple feet away, and reached out to ghost his fingers over Julian’s cheek. When Cameron pulled his hand away, Julian closed his eyes and lowered his head.

He never saw Cameron’s fist coming.

Julian staggered back a step and shook his head, putting his hand to his lip as it seeped blood. He huffed slightly and looked down at Cameron with a little nod. “I was sort of expecting that earlier,” he admitted.

“You son of a bitch,” Cameron bit off, wincing and shaking his hand out at his side. “What thefuck?”

“I’m sorry,” Julian offered softly. “I had to disappear if I wanted to live.”

“Live?Live?” Cameron asked incredulously. “But you’redead!”

“In theory,” Julian agreed with a wince.

“A theory I’ve had to live with for six months!” Cameron said sharply as his hand curled back into a fist.

Julian’s eyes darted to the clenched fist warily, and he lowered his chin. “I know,” he said curtly. He didn’t offer another apology.

The tone of Julian’s voice cut Cameron deeply, and the upset overwhelmed the anger, for the moment. “Where have you been?” he asked brokenly.

“Trying to bury myself,” Julian said in answer.

Cameron couldn’t keep back the torn scoff. “Good luck with that, ’cause it’s already been done!” he snapped. He ran his hand through his hair and took a steadying breath as he stared toward the kitchen. He knew if he continued to look at Julian, he’d have an absolute fit. “Did Blake know?” he asked in a dark, angry voice.

“No,” Julian answered with another wince. “I spoke to him this morning,” he added. “He hit me again. Twice.”

Cameron had to laugh, but it was a soft, broken sound. “Pretty deserved, if you ask me.” He looked back at Julian and narrowed his eyes. “I don’t know what to say, Julian,” he whispered. “You were out there, alive and well, and you never once tried to tell me. Never once tried to let me know you were okay.”

Julian bowed his head and slid his hands slowly into his pockets.

“How did you do it?” Cameron demanded.

Julian winced and looked up at him again. “Preston bribed the doctors, told them to declare me dead and hide me underfalse names. They kept me there until I could move on my own. I was on my back for three weeks, recovering for another six,” he told Cameron softly.

“When I was sure I could handle myself once more, I had to make certain Arlo wasn’t out there, waiting. I couldn’t contact you. I didn’t want to see you in danger again because of me.”

It made sense, but that didn’t make it hurt an iota less. Cameron was a different man because of having Julian in his life, because of the love, the fear, the pain,andthe danger. “And now?” he asked shakily.

Julian gave a slightly self-conscious shrug. “There’s no more contract because I’m dead. He’s gone. And I’m back.”

“You’re back,” Cameron repeated softly, everything, everywhere hurting. He wanted so badly to reach out and curl around Julian to try to make himself believe he was really here and forget all the pain. “But nothing’s changed. There’s more like him still out there still looking to hurt you. It’s still just as dangerous as it was two weeks ago when I thought you were dead and you were too much of a coward to come tell me you weren’t!”

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