“Ido.”
“Thenyouhave dubious musical taste, too.” Cam snapped, sitting back and crossing his arms over his chest. The effort of holding himself steady, of distancing himself from Cort, was physically painful. “What does this have to do with SeaverTech?”
“Not a thing,” Cort told him. “The assistance we need will come from you,personally.”
There wasnothingsexy in the way Cort’s voice had dropped at the end of that sentence, and Cam didnotfeel an answering tug in his dick. “I’m not sleeping with you,” Cam blurted. He could feel the blush spreading over his cheeks, even as Cort shook hishead.
“That’s not what this is about,” Cort said. His eyes were hot on Cam’s, and Cam wanted to ask whatFriday night had been about, for God’s sake, but he wouldn’t. He hadthatmuch pride, atleast.
Cam licked his lips. “Start talking, then. And bespecific.”
Cort nodded and tapped the picture. “This image was taken at an airport in Barbados, and we have reason to believe the subject was headed to a small Caribbean island called St. Brigitte.” He lifted his gaze to Cam’s. “We need access to the island in order to find this man and question him. We can’t alert the Tyndalls without arousing suspicion, and the subject is a flightrisk.”
“Is hedangerous?”
“He has never harmed anyone in his life,” Cort said, with so much conviction Cam stared insurprise.
Cort cleared his throat. “We need your help to get an investigator on the island during the Tyndalls’ party this weekend. Only to questionhim.”
Cam frowned. “Did you overhear my conversation with Drew the other night? I told him, and Lydia Tyndall, I’m notgoing.”
“I was slightly distracted Friday night,” Cort admitted. “But you might want toreconsider.”
Jesus Effing Christ. The whole world was conspiring to get him on that damn island, when the very thought of flying in a small plane - the only type which could fly to St. Brigitte - made him break out in a coldsweat.
And yet, Cam had to consider it for Bas’s sake. His brother was so emotionally on-edge right now, so close to a total meltdown, Cam couldn’t afford to take any chances. He couldn’t dodge the feeling that Bas must’ve beentryingto be caught, as though maybe guilt was steering him in a whole new twisted direction. Was an FBI investigation - even one Drew felt wasn’t a big deal - the straw that would finally make Bascrack?
Still, he wasn’t going to fall in line without more information. “I’m going to need more specifics than that,” Cam argued. “The FBI doubtless has planes to fly youthere.”
“Yes, but no authorization to land without giving the Tyndalls areason.”
“And that would alert this guy?” Cam gestured to thephoto.
“Yes.”
“So you not only need me to get you there, you need me to give you a coverstory.”
Cort nodded slowly. “I’ll need to go as yourdate.”
And suddenly the entirety of Friday night made sense. Cort had wanted to ensure people saw them together, to make the ruse less obvious, and maybe to make Cam more amenable. Anger and disappointment churned in hisgut.
I trusted you!he wanted toscream.
He needed to get Cort out of his office before he did something completely inexcusable, likecry.
Cam stood, signaling the meeting was over. “I’ll have to talk to my attorneys, Mr. Cortland. I mean,AgentCortland. I’ll get back to you.” His hands were clenched into fists down by his sides, and it was too much to expect of Cort not tonotice.
Cort glanced at Cam’s face and hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. “Time and secrecy are crucial here. Nobody can know about this besides the two of us. This offer is off the table once I leave this room.” He paused, then continued in a rush. “The choice is yours, Cam. I- I can’t say for sure whether we would choose to pursue a case against your brother even if you decided to say no.” He looked at Cam, really looked at him, as he had two nights before. “But I am begging you, please, to sayyes.”
Cam turned away and looked out the enormous window behind his desk. Boston was shimmering in the morning sunlight, but he could barely see it. Neither choice was good. Or, no, neither choice waseasy, he realized ruefully.Decide quick, Cam. Your fear, or your brother’slife?
“And you can guarantee if I agree, Bas won’t beprosecuted?”
“It’s not a get out of jail free card. But I can assure you he won’t be prosecuted by the FBI for this particular crime,no.”
The logical part of Cam’s brain - the part which was shoved back into the tiniest corner of his mind whenever Cort walked into the room and Cam’s dick took over - reminded him the smart thing to do would be to call Drew. Was this whole scheme even legal? But it would mean admitting the guy Drew had seen him chatting with on Friday night had been conning him allalong.
And really, how amazing would it be if hecouldget to St. Brigitte? He’d prove to Drew hewasn’tweak. He’d do his duty as a Seaver and a representative of Seaver Tech, and would show up at the gala with Cort as his arm candy. He could take control of this situation, redeem it completely. All he had to do was…fly.
