Page 55 of Wifey
Whoever killed Laurie and Alicia were coming after me. They followed the Beemer thinking I would either be in it or they were going to meet me somewhere. Cameron and Tesh deduced that the women were killed when they had no information to give and it was clear I wasn’t going to show up.
I do not have to wonder if they were killed in retaliation for the bombing and other mass murders Cameron and the Administration had committed. It is only a matter of time before they finally come after me.
Once Jacqueline takes over the shops, it’ll be open season between her and Cameron. Jacqueline clearly has nothing to lose, while Cameron has everything to lose. With the coffee shop being dead center, she would be privy to all of the comings and goings.
She could take over Cameron’s business, one by one until she owned the entire block. She knows it and most importantly, so does Cameron. She could effectively destroy the city within months if she had the opportunity.
Cameron was trying to prevent a hostile takeover by sending warning shots. Jacqueline responded with two kill shots. The third one – me – will be her ultimate goal and she knows she’s close to achieving it.
I’d just rolled over when Cameron enters our bedroom. He looks sharp in his three-piece business suit and wears it as if it were custom made for him. More likely it was. He takes off the jacket and reveals the vest over the crisp, blue dress shirt. He looks gorgeous.
He walks up the stairs to our bed and sits beside me. His power emanates through his touch and he makes everything feel better. “Angel…” He brushes my hair aside. “…did you eat today?” I shake my head. “You need to, angel. It’s for two of you.”
“I’m not hungry.” My voice is soft. “I can only eat soup.”
“Then, that’s all you’ll eat.” He quietly replies. “How are you feeling?”
I shrug. Not sure how to feel. I’m pregnant with no parents or surrogate parents my child could call grandparent. Eric and Heather used my family as a successful re-election tool. I’m pregnant with a drug lord’s baby. Oh, and I’m a murder target.
I say my life is pretty fucking spectacular. “Everywhere.”
Cameron lies beside me and wraps his arms around my waist. “I am leaving the game, angel, but I can’t leave while Jacqueline has any kind of power. I need to get rid of her first before I exit out the game.” He pats my stomach. “It’s too dangerous for everyone involved now.”
“It’s too dangerous now?” I scoff. “It wasn’t dangerous at the nightclub last year. It wasn’t dangerous when my father was murdered. It wasn’t dangerous when Laurie and Alicia were murdered. Butnow,it’s too dangerous. Got it.”
“You know what I mean.” His voice remains quiet. “You can’t be in fear going to Fresh Espresso or keep looking after your shoulder. I need to put an end to it.”
I turn around and face him. “So, you kill Jacqueline and then what? There’s someone right now itching to take her spot. Someone can’t wait for her to go out or even you! Someone is going to figure out you own some blocks, and then what? It starts all over again, Cam. You say I know nothing about the street life but I know plenty about death and destruction and I thank you for that lesson.” I remove the blankets and walk down the steps.
“Your father was going to be murdered regardless, Taylor.” His voice is loud and it stops me. “She murdered your father when we weren’t together. She murdered your mother and Alicia when she knew we were. Your connection to me has no bearing on what Jacqueline wants to do. She wants your shop and the land on it. She’s willing to do whatever she can to get it. The manager of the ice cream parlor was connected to her and let her know we were there.”
“You can’t hide me forever, Cam!” I turn around to face him. “At some point, I need to go back to work. At some point, I need to walk down the street or do errands without worrying if I need to look over my shoulder or switch vehicles. I can’t live like this and we’re expecting a baby, Cam! Kids require a lot of care and attention. Our baby is going need playdates and going to school. I can’t be locked up here forever!”
“No one is saying you have to.” Cameron walks down the steps and joins me. He wraps his arms around me and I inhale his scent. “But you need to trust me on this. I’m figuring out a plan to shut up Jacqueline and the EAC once and for good.”
“If they’re coming after me, Cam, there is only choice for everyone involved.” I take a deep breath and released my shoulders. I’m either completely crazy or stupid. Probably the latter more than the former. “I need to be in.”
Cameron’s demeanor grows cold and I feel the burgeoning anger with each passing moment. He got up and faced the window while the other men just glanced at each other. It seemed no one wanted to speak until Cameron said something.
Cameron’s voice was calm and clear, and he made sure his words couldn’t be misinterpreted. “Absolutely fucking not.”
“Cam, hear me out.” I plead. “The EAC aren’t going to stop until either you’re dead or I am. If it’s clear they’re coming after me, I need to be available for them to do so. We need to lay a trap for them. I’m sure you and the guys can figure out something.”
He walks over to the window again and crosses his arms. He lightly rocks back and forth like an impatient father looking at his child’s poor report card. I feel like he’s about to punish me and I haven’t even done anything.
“I protected you for a reason. I didn’t want you to know. I didn’t want you involved.” He states after an excruciating long silence. “I didn’t want you to do with any of this, Taylor!” His voice barks at me and I flinch. “I wanted you to stay out of everything! Now you’re caught up and this is not what I wanted!”
“I know there aren’t too many options for me. Everything is quiet now because of my parents’ murder but it’s only a matter of time before they come after me. Jacqueline followed the BMW because she thought I was in it. She thought I was heading back to my home to pick up something. I don’t know if they actually tried to burglarize the place or made it look like they did. They made their point clear regardless; they’re willing to kill whoever is close to me before they get to me.”
I walk up to Cameron and wrap my arms around him. His body is tense and I can hear his rapid heartbeat. He caresses my hands and raises one up to his lips. I know he’s super pissed at me, but he softens his stance just a little to know the love is still there.
“They know I’m the only link to the shops. Once I’m dead, they’ll keep going after whoever owns it next. It doesn’t matter if I give ownership to my grandparents, my aunts or uncles, or cousins. They’ll keep killing until they finally get what they want and I know they want that shop.”
“You’re asking me to set you up to be murdered.” Cameron turns around and looks into my eyes. “You’re asking me to set you and our unborn child up to be killed. That is a suicide mission and I cannot do it, Taylor. I refuse to do it.”
“You cannot hide me forever, Cam!” I plead and he shakes his head. “Cam, people are starting to ask about me at the shop. I’m sure word has already gotten back to Jacqueline. I need to do this, Cam. If Jacqueline is coming after me, she won’t stop. She’ll get my remaining family members. We have no other choice.”
Cameron shakes his head. I’ve backed him into a wall and he can’t move. I won’t no part of my own plan, honestly, but if risking me and my unborn baby’s life will help Cameron destroy Jacqueline, I need to do it.
