Camden's Redemption

by L. P. Dover

  THERE WAS NO place to park at Camden’s house, as it was all private parking, so I drove down to a public access lot. It was about a mile down the road, but I figured it was for the best. Making my way to the beach, I couldn’t tell if he was one of the surfers or not until I got closer.

  My phone rang. It was my brother. “Jase, what’s up? Are you and Gabe having fun?”

  “Ugh, not at all,” he moaned. “I think I got food poisoning. I’m sitting in the hotel room throwing up and shitting my guts out.”

  “Oh no, what are you going to do? Where’s Gabe?”

  “He’s next door, feeling just as shitty as me. I’m going to lay low tonight and hope I get to feeling better tomorrow. Are you okay at home?” He sounded horrible, his voice raspy and gruff.

  “Yes, I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about me. Just get to feeling better so you can have some fun while you’re there.”

  “I’ll try. Call you tomorrow, B.”

  As soon as we hung up, a certain surfer caught my attention. I was still too far away to get a good visual, but the way he moved on the waves was awfully familiar. It had to be him. Sitting down on the sand, I slid my sunglasses over my eyes and wrapped my arms around my knees, watching him. I used to do the same thing in Oak Island.

  He moved on the waves more comfortably here. Seeing him like that only made things clearer. He was home and if he came back to Charlotte, it wouldn’t be the same. The question was simple. Would he give it all up to be with me? Did I even want to know?

  I made sure to sit far enough away from his house so it wouldn’t draw attention to myself. There were others around, mainly women, who paraded around showing as much skin as possible when Camden rushed out of the water carrying his surfboard. Once up on the sand, he slammed the tip of his board into the earth and stood there, his chest heaving up and down while he tried to catch his breath. He would do the same thing back home before watching the sunset, each and every night.

  It felt like déjà vu. We were both alone as we watched the sun disappear below the horizon. Unfortunately, one of us wasn’t alone for long. Two girls with bleach blonde hair, large tits and perfect tans sidled up to him, smiling wide. An overwhelming sense of jealousy twisted in my gut. I wanted to tell them to fuck off, but more importantly, I needed to see what he would do. Would he invite them up to his house? The girls laughed and moved closer.

  “You have got to be fucking kidding me,” I growled low. The girls flirted hard but when one of them ran a finger down his arm, he stepped back and grabbed his board. I was too far away to hear what was said, but nothing could mistake the frowns on the girls’ faces. He strolled up his sandy backyard to the walkway behind his house, alone. It made me love him even more. As soon as he disappeared behind the gate, I followed.

  The gate was locked, but I knew how to handle that. I had a set of lock picks in my bag so I pulled them out and started on the lock. As soon as it clicked, I knew I was in. Quietly, I slipped the picks back into my purse and opened the door. There were windows all around the back of Camden’s house, which gave me a full view of him in the kitchen. He grabbed a beer out of the refrigerator and disappeared around the corner. If anyone had a pair of binoculars they could see right into his home and what he was doing. I personally liked my privacy.

  Once fully inside the gate, he had a huge Olympic-sized pool with at least twenty lounge chairs around the perimeter. Instead of going to his door, I pulled my hair up into a ponytail, grabbed the newest edition of Physique Sports and Fitness out of my bag, and sprawled out onto one of his lounge chairs. Let’s see how long it takes him to notice me.

  I had my phone out on my lap, timing him, with the magazine lifted high and covering my face. It took him all of three and a half minutes to slam the door.

  “What the fuck? I don’t know who you think you are, but you’re trespassing. You need to leave now.”

  Ignoring him, I kept the magazine poised high.

  His footsteps were angry as they stomped down his deck toward me. “Are you deaf?” he shouted. In the next second, his hand gripped the magazine and he flung it across his yard. He was pissed, but when he realized it was me his eyes went wide in surprise. “Brooklyn.”

  Pursing my lips, I slowly lifted my sunglasses and placed them on top of my head. “Nice house,” I said. “Now I see why you left Charlotte. It’s much nicer here.”

  His eyes narrowed. “That’s not why I left and you know it.”

  “Do I?” I countered. “You left me, Camden. I woke up and you were gone. You didn’t even give me a chance to talk to you.”

  He sighed and hung his head. “That’s because I didn’t want to give you the chance. I knew I would’ve stayed and put you in even more danger.”

  Jumping to my feet, I stood up to him. “It wasn’t your decision to make. You totally cut yourself off from me. Do you know how bad that hurts?”

  “Yes,” he growled, lifting his head. “It fucked me up just as bad, if not worse. When Mason told me they arrested Blake, I thought I could come back to you, but then he said it wasn’t over.”

  I scoffed, “So what, you were going to wait this out? What if it took a year, Camden? You’re supposed to be a fighter. Fighters don’t run from their problems, they fight for what they want. You might think you’re saving me, but all you did was hurt me. I needed you and you left.”

  Gripping my arms, he pulled me angrily to him. “I’ve been going out of my fucking mind worrying about you; wondering if you hate me. But the bottom line is, I don’t want you paying the price for my sins. I had to leave, it was for your safety.”

  Tears streamed down my cheeks as I pulled away. “When are you going to realize I’m not a porcelain fucking doll? I’m not scared of the people going after you, Camden. I’m scared of the unknown. If you want me to turn around and walk out, I’ll do it. But you’re being selfish thinking this is all about you.”

  Turning on my heel, I started for the gate. He beat me to it and slammed it shut. His hands gripped my face and he kissed me hard. I dug my nails in his arms and opened myself to him, hoping he could feel the anger kept bottled inside. Breathing hard, he pulled away and rested his forehead to mine.

  “This is why I left, buttercup. Because I knew the second you came after me, I wouldn’t be able to let you go.”

  “Then don’t,” I cried. “We can face this together.”

  Lifting me in his arms, I straddled his waist as he kissed me again. “I just don’t want to lose you.”

  “Then don’t let me go.”

  Carrying me in his arms, he led us inside and slammed the door. His blue eyes pierced into mine with raw, untamed heat. He was torn between placating me and doing what he thought was right. Even if he wanted to keep me safe, I couldn’t allow him to let me go.

  He carried me up the steps and down a darkened hall to the very last room on the left. When he opened the door, the sunset greeted us through floor to ceiling windows. It was nothing but blue ocean and pink skies. The walls were a pale yellow and the bedspread he laid me on was a rich, royal blue. His fingers skirted up my bare legs and he unbuttoned my denim shorts, lifting my shirt over my head. When he looked down at my side, his gaze turned hard.

  “Stop,” I murmured gently, lifting his face to mine. “I’m not going to break, remember?” I undid my bra and tossed it on the floor before pressing my lips to his.

  He growled deep in his chest and pressed me down into the bed with his weight. My hands fumbled with the string on his shorts but I finally got them loose and he kicked them off. Once he slid mine down, I was way past ready for him to make love to me. Spreading me wide with his knee, he moaned as he trailed his lips down my neck to my breasts. Like a starved man, he sucked my nipples until they grew raw and sore. It felt so achingly good.

  “I’ve missed the way you taste, buttercup,” he groaned, kissing his way down my stomach. Gripping my thighs, he spread me apart wide and looked up at me as he buried his mouth into my center. He thrus
t his tongue inside and breathed me in, pressing his nose into my clit. The stimulation had me so close to losing control. “Mmm . . . so good,” he growled.

  Replacing his tongue with a finger, he pushed in hard and moved his mouth to my clit. The harder he sucked, the more I clenched his head with my thighs. Exploding, I grabbed onto his hair and held his face against me as spasms ripped through my core.

  When my body relaxed, he licked his lips and put the finger he had inside of me in his mouth, keeping his gaze on mine the entire time.

  “Make love to me, Camden.”

  Covering me with his body, he placed a hand on the side of my face and positioned his tip inside, circling the wetness around his cock. He smiled and traced my lips with his tongue. “With pleasure.”

  I AWOKE TO the sun shining brightly in my eyes, yet that wasn’t what woke me up. Something hard was poking my butt. “Really?” I laughed. “You didn’t get enough last night?”

  Camden chuckled in my ear and pushed his cock against me harder. “I don’t think I’ll ever get enough.” I laughed along with him, but then reality struck.

  Turning in his arms, I traced the scar on his face and kissed him. “Before we get lost in the moment, there’s something I need to do first. Can you take me to pick up my car? I parked it about a mile down the road.”

  “I was wondering where you came from. You also never told me how you found me. Mason assured me you wouldn’t be able to.”

  Sliding out of bed, I winked and slipped on my clothes from the night before. “He trained me, Camden. I’ve learned a few tricks over the years.” I wondered what he would say if he knew I went to his brother. If he ever talked to Ryley again, I was pretty sure he’d find out. Until then, it was my secret.

  Camden got out of bed and grabbed some clothes out of the dresser.

  “I like your room,” I said as I watched him get dressed.

  He kept his head down as he lifted his shorts and buttoned them. “It’s actually not my room.”

  “Then why did you bring me in here last night?”

  Hesitantly, he lifted his eyes to mine. “Let’s just say when I got back here a couple of weeks ago, I wasn’t in a good place.”

  I walked over to him and wrapped my arms around his waist. “What did you do?”

  Releasing a heavy sigh, he led me down the hallway and stood in front of a closed door, staring at it.

  “Is this your room?”

  Nodding, he opened it up and stepped back, letting me take the lead. The windows were the same, but there were dark, gray curtains over them. They were ripped and torn, along with the sheets on his bed. The mattress was strewn across the room with stuffing coming out of it. It was like a tornado had blasted through the room and destroyed everything in its path. There were even holes in the wall.

  “Why?” I asked.

  He squeezed my hand and leaned against the door frame. “First off, I didn’t want to leave you. I was so fucking angry with myself for doing it. I thought I was doing the right thing, but when I got back, it messed me up even more. Then, when I came up here, I was reminded of what I used to be. I didn’t want to see it anymore.”

  “So you destroyed it,” I added.

  He nodded. “It’s better this way. As soon as my case is closed, I’m going to buy another house on the coast and get the hell out of here. This place is my past.” And just like that, my suspicions were confirmed.

  I didn’t want him to see my disappointment, so I let go of his hand and walked out of the room, trying my best to keep the hurt out of my voice. “You have a good life out here. It’s beautiful on the beach.”

  I started for the stairs, but Camden swiftly grabbed my arm, his grip tight. “Why do I get the feeling I just pissed you off?”

  Forcing a laugh, I turned around. “Why would you say that? I think it’s a great idea for you to get a new house; especially if you have so many bad memories here.” I tried my best to smile and nodded toward the stairs. “I really need to get to my car. There’s something in it I need.” Blake’s computer might have the answers we needed. If it did, I had to give it to Mason immediately.

  Camden nodded and followed me down the stairs. “When we get back I can cook us some breakfast. I’ve been practicing.”

  He had come a long way in the past few months. Most people probably wouldn’t even recognize who he was today. But had he come far enough to want a committed, long-distance relationship?

  “I’d like that,” I replied. Grabbing a navy baseball cap, he slid it low on his head and grabbed his keys. We walked out through the kitchen door to his garage and I gasped. “Well, this is a step up. I think I’m going to miss Big Red though.”

  “Big Red?” he laughed.

  I got into his little sports car and the engine rumbled to life. “Yeah. I liked your Jeep. I’ve always wanted one of my own.”

  Smiling, he backed us out of the driveway and started down the street. “I don’t know if I want you in a car like that. Every guy going down the road will be trying to look at you.”

  “And what’s wrong with that? I might just have to get one when I go back home. My car’s getting kind of old and I think I need something new and fun.”

  “I see. So when are you planning on going back home?”

  “I’m not sure.” It all depended on him and what he wanted. The parking lot was coming up so I pointed to it. “That’s me over there.”

  He parked beside the car, his brows furrowed. “So you don’t know how long you’re staying?”

  I shook my head. “No, but I might have to call Mason if I find something on this computer I have.”

  “What computer?”

  “It’s Blake’s. I wanted to tell you last night, but we got a little busy. I went to visit him yesterday.”

  His eyes darkened. “You what? Why the fuck would you do that?”

  I leaned my head against the seat and looked out at the ocean. “Because I needed to see him, to look in his eyes. He’s innocent, Camden. I know he doesn’t like you, but he’s not a killer. And I think I have a way of proving it.” Without waiting for his response, I opened the door and got out. “I’ll follow you back to your house.” I slammed the door and grabbed the keys out of my bag. Camden was furious, but he’d have to get over it.

  He waited for me to start it up before pulling out of the parking lot. It only took a couple of minutes to get back, and when we both got out of the cars, he was still fuming. “Does Mason know you went to see him?” he asked, jaw tense.

  I shut my door and opened the trunk to get out my overnight bag with the laptop in it. “No, but if I find something, I’ll call him. Where is he anyway? I figured he’d be close by.”

  Camden opened the door for me and shut the garage before entering. “He’s keeping tabs on everyone back in Charlotte. So far, no one has tried to come out this way. I’m good for the time being.”

  Once in the kitchen, I placed my bag on the counter and pulled out the laptop. I opened it and waited for it to boot up while Camden busied himself with making breakfast. It felt like an eternity for Blake’s computer to start up and once it did, I entered in all of his information and waited for it all to load. Thank God he hadn’t changed his password since we’d been together.

  Camden finished up our French toast, set our plates down, and sat beside me, his focus on the computer. “What exactly do you think we’ll find?”

  The video records finally popped up and I scrolled down until I got to the day of the shooting. Nothing. Zero movement. The day after, however, was a completely different story. Camden moved closer and so did I. It was three o’clock in the morning so the screen looked green from the night vision. Someone was there . . . and it wasn’t Blake.

  “Who is that?” he asked. The camera was too far away to tell.

  “I don’t know, but I don’t think it’s Blake.” We watched as whoever it was, opened the trunk with ease and slipped the rifle and boots inside. “Oh my God, I can’t believe this. He’s so
lucky no one else knew he had a camera out there.”

  “You need to call Mason and show him this shit. I’m sure he’ll be able to figure out who it is.” He finished up his breakfast and walked over to the sink, keeping his back to me. “I hate to say this, but when fucktard got arrested, I thought it was over. Now we’re right back at the beginning. Sometimes I think this guy is prolonging things solely to fuck with me. I wish he’d just come and get it over with.”

  “They’d be stupid to make any moves until Blake’s charged.” Pulling out my phone, I dialed Mason’s number and took a bite of my French toast. It was pure heaven. “This is so good,” I said, taking another bite. I was about to hang up when Mason finally answered the phone.

  “I’m not telling you where he is,” he announced.

  “Listen, Cam and I have something you need to see.”

  “Wait, what? He called you didn’t he? I swear that boy’s so fucking hard up.”

  “He wasn’t the only one,” I snapped. “And no he didn’t call. I used my awesome investigative skills to find him. But all of that can be discussed later. Right now, I need your help. I went to see Blake before flying out here and there’s something you need to see. He’s innocent, Mason, and I have the proof we need. Is there somewhere we can meet up?”

  His keys jingled in the background along with the slamming of a door. “Are you at Jameson’s?”

  “Yes.”

  “Stay put. I’m on my way. Good job, B.”

  “I DON’T KNOW who the fuck that is, but I’m going to find out,” Mason grumbled as he watched the video. “I have a friend in L.A. who can help.” He watched it again with narrowed eyes, studying it. “If only Blake didn’t put the camera so far away, we could see who it is.” He shut the laptop and put it under his arms. “So far everyone at the department is accounted for. It doesn’t look like any of them are on their way here to pay a visit.”

  “So he’s safe for now?” I asked.

  Mason nodded. “Relatively, for now. When are you going back home?”