Page 62 of Back In the Shadows

“Forget it, Sebastian. I thought we were going to have to run, but Cami changed her mind. I’ll be back.” I crossed the room andkissed him. I’d missed his kisses more than I’d allowed myself to admit.

He slipped his arm around me and pulled me to his side. “Let me know if you need anything.”

“Okay.” I followed Cami back into the bedroom. The second we were alone again, I burst into tears. “I’m sorry. I really thought that was goodbye.” I leaned against the door to steady myself. “So much has happened, and I’m struggling to get my footing again.”

“I’m a bitch for bringing everything up right now. I’m sorry. It’s a lot to process, and I need answers. I’ve had days to dwell on this, worrying about you and the kids, and trying to understand what was going on … why everyone was just going along with it. It’s not like I can say, well, he might kill someone today, but I’ll ask questions later. These are people and families he’s destroying.”

I pushed off the door and sat down on the edge of the bed again. “You don’t understand. We make sure he’s only killing criminals. Bad ones: the men who sell their children or buy kids to use as sex slaves, murderers the cops can’t catch, and other horrible situations. Sebastian helps relocate the families to keep them safe, and Death well, he deals with the men.”

Her forehead creased as she chewed on what I’d just said. “Men who sell their own children?” Her tone was gentle, and compassion flashed across her pretty features.

“Yeah, and worse if you can imagine that.”

She rubbed her shoulder. “When did you find out?”

“Remember a while back when a masked man appeared at my house, and I called the cops?”

“Yeah. Ryan was one of them that showed up.”

“I didn’t realize you two were interested in each other at the time. Anyway, it was Death. He started appearing more often, and then I was attacked and almost killed by a bastard namedStephen. Death saved me. I wouldn’t be sitting here with you if it weren’t for him. He’s not a bad man, he’s just …”

Cami laughed and rolled her eyes as if she couldn’t believe that we were actually having this conversation. “He’s a good guy that kills bad people. I get it. A vigilante.”

“His parents were brutally murdered in front of him. Dope explained it all to me after I’d fallen in love with Sebastian and … and Death. I love them both. They’re very different men, but they will do anything for me and the kids. It’s a life I won’t apologize for having, and I’ll do anything to protect my husband and family.”

“You proved that a few minutes ago. I think that’s when it hit me, how much you love and trust them. And somewhere inside me, I still trust you even though you hid this dark and twisted secret life from me. And Ryan hid it from me too.” Her voice was laced with sadness that tugged at my heart strings.

“Sometimes it gets really lonely hiding this side of me from everyone. There have been so many times that I needed to talk to you about something, but I had to lean on Kip and Dope instead. I tried to keep you out of all of this, Cami. We all did.”

“I’m sure I’ll have questions, if it’s okay that I talk to you about it all.”

I took her hand in mine. “It will be nice not to have secrets anymore.”

“Agreed. But …”

My heart jackhammered against my ribs, waiting for the other shoe to drop. “What is it?”

“I broke up with Ryan. I couldn’t get past the idea that he helped throw the cops off Death’s trail, and also cleaned up the crime scenes with Kip.”

My body relaxed, the tension draining from my neck and shoulders as I realized she hadn’t changed her mind just now about turning us in. But a gnawing doubt remained, plaguing mythoughts with a relentless question. Could I truly trust her as we moved forward, or would I always be watching her every move with suspicion?

“Oh, Cami, I’m sorry. Are you sure, though? You love Ryan so much.”

Her chin trembled. “I do, but he lied to me.”

“So did I. We all did to protect you and ourselves too. From what I can tell, Ryan would never intentionally put you in harm’s way. You have to believe that.”

She wiped the tear that had snuck down her cheek. “I don’t think I can get past it.”

I slipped my arm around her shoulder and hugged her. “Maybe you just need some time. When I mentioned your name, he seemed so sad, but no one said anything about you two breaking up.”

“I shouldn’t have brought it up tonight either, but clearly I did.” A flicker of regret flashed over her expression.

“It’s okay. I’m glad it’s out in the open and we can talk. It feels better than keeping things from you. You’re my best friend, but even more than that you’re my family. I will always try to do what’s best for you even when you question my choices. In this case it was to keep you out of the chaos I call my life. But don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world,” I said, gently.

“Love ya, bitch.”

“Love you too.”

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