Page 18 of Neighbor DADDY

"Shhh, Kelly. You're all right. Agatha is going to take good care of you."

"No, Cam, you can't leave! You can't leave me here alone!" I know I’m making no sense. The threat is gone, but hysteria is still growing inside of me at the thought of Cam being taken away. Maybe I really am in shock.

"Kelly," Mrs. Blevins says softly, placing a wrinkled hand on my shoulder. "Come on, now. You'll be all right."

I look from her to Cam, and back again, trying to process what's happening. Cam can't go to jail, not after all of this. Not after he saved me. It’s not fair.

"I have to go," Cam says gently as the police move him towards the car, patience waning. "I know you don't want me to, but I have to. I love you, Kelly Davidson."

It’s the first time he’s ever said it, and the confession only makes me cry harder. I know I’m a tear-covered, snotty mess, but I can’t help it.

"I love you, too," I whisper. "But if you go to jail for real, I'm going to kill you."

He laughs softly, and so does Mrs. Blevins, though she pats my shoulder consolingly.

"I'll call a lawyer if I have to," Cam promises, "and I'll be home soon. I'll talk to you as soon as I can, okay? Be good."

The officers open the door of their car, and Cam leans down to kiss me once more before getting in. My tears are pouring down my cheeks, and my entire body is shaking, and when the car speeds off down the street, I feel like I'm going to pass out.

"Come on," Mrs. Blevins says gently. "Let's get you inside, and we'll make some tea. You're having quite the day."

"Yeah," I whisper, feeling numb all over. "I am."

Agatha Blevins,for the first time since I've met her, has nothing to gossip about. She takes me into her home, which is like a velvet-covered time machine, and gives me sweetened chamomile tea, rubbing my back soothingly and asking me questions about anything and everything besides Cam, Frank, and what just happened.

When I'm finally able to breathe again, she walks me home, sees the blood and overturned furniture in the kitchen, and, before I can spiral into another panic attack, firmly tells me to go upstairs and have a hot bath while she takes care of everything.

By the time I come back downstairs over an hour later, there are two other older women in my house, apparently Agatha's friends from down the street. Everything is clean and perfect, and it looks like nothing ever happened, the air smelling like disinfectant and mopping solution.

They're putting together a tray of food when I walk into the kitchen, and I try to protest, but Agatha puts her hands on her hips and tells me I've had a long day and I need to eat. The three ofthem stay until I've finished eating the entire tray of food, and then they head out, each giving me a hug and telling me to call if I need anything.

I also notice the roses have disappeared. Good riddance.

Frank is long gone, at the hospital and then on his way to jail once he recovers, but I still check every window with shaking hands. The last thing I do is lock the door, and exhausted, I slowly climb the stairs, collapse on my bed, and cry myself to sleep.

It'sthe second time since I've moved to Covington that I've been woken up at 3 AM. This time, it isn't to hear my door knob rattling, but to a tall, muscular form crawling into bed with me.

Fear shoots through me, and I open my mouth to scream, but Cam's scent hits me just before his voice does, and the fear melts away.

"Shh," he doesn't cover my mouth, but runs his thumb over my bottom lip instead. "It's just me, baby girl."

"Cam!" I sob, throwing my arms around him. "Oh my God! Are you okay? What happened?"

"I'm fine, Kelly. I'm home now, and I'm not going anywhere. We can talk about it tomorrow, okay? I just want to hold you."

"I want that, too," I whisper. "I was so scared without you."

"I know, baby. I know. I'm sorry. Just go back to sleep." He pulls me into his arms, kissing my forehead. "It was all just protocol. Everything is fine.”

I don't want to sleep, though. My bloodstream is full of adrenaline, and there's no way in hell I can rest. Instead, I grab two handfuls of his shirt and pull him down into a searing kiss, showing him without words just how worried I was.

"Kelly," he groans. "Baby, we can't. Not tonight. You've been through enough."

"I need this, Cam. I need you. I want you. Please?"

He hesitates, but when I slip my hand under his shirt to caress the muscles of his chest, he lets out a soft sound of need. "Kelly … fuck."

"Please?" I beg softly. "Make love to me, Cam. Make me forget."

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