“Hurt me?” Cam echoed. “How could you possibly hurt me more than you alreadyhave?”
Cort swallowed. “Damon didn’t cause the crash, so, who did? Who benefited most from your parents’ deaths,Cam?”
Cam frowned. “Nobody.”
“Is that really true?” Cort stood and grabbed Cam by the upper arms, forcing him to look at Cort, forcing him to listen. “Your brother inherited the company. You told me about it the first night we met, remember? A very wealthy, powerfulcompany.”
Cam’s eyes widened as he finally understood. “And you think Bas…” His eyes hardened. “But why notme?I’m the president of the company, afterall.”
Something flickered in Cort’s eyes. Cam barked out a laugh. “Oh, Jesus Christ. You actuallydidthink I might have had something to do with my parents’deaths!”
Cort shook his head emphatically. “I thought so at first but after the first night we talked, I knew better. I knew you couldn’thave.”
“How did you know?” Cam demanded. “How do you know I didn’t justoffthem so I could have moremoney,since money is obviously the only motivation anyone has for doing anything in yourworld?”
“Stop!” Cort said, shaking Cam slightly. “I just know better.” He lifted one hand to cup Cam’s chin. “I know it or I wouldn’t be here now, I wouldn’t be telling you allthis.”
Cam shook his head and huffed out a laugh. “But you still think it was Sebastian?” He broke away from Cort, paced away from the bed. “You’recrazy.”
“Sometimes you think you know people,” Cort ventured, but Cam whirled to facehim.
“Listen to yourself. The NTSB investigation concludedyourbrother was at fault, but I’m supposed to believe hedidn’tbecause youknow your brother better than that.Meanwhile, you’re trying to convince me thatmybrother is a murderer, because that helps to sell the story you’ve been telling yourself. But youdon’tknow Sebastian. You’ve never even met him. So, what will you do if I tell you I knowmybrother, and I know it would be absolutely, positively against his nature to do anything likethis?”
Cort hesitated, and Cam could see the pain and indecision in his eyes. He wanted to believe Cam, but if he did, it would mean he didn’t believeDamon.
They were at an impasse. Cam had no idea what it meant for him and Cort. Had this all been part of some larger game? Cam’s head hurt from crying, his entire body felt wrung out. He wanted space andpeace.
“If you really believe Sebastian is involved in this? Why isn’t the FBI here officially?” Cam demanded wearily. “Why isn’t there an open investigation trying to prove hisinnocence?”
“How would that go, Cam?” Cort took a step toward him, then stopped, running both hands through his hair. “After the crash, Sebastian ran Damon’s name down in the press so badly, he became a punchline. How could Damon possibly get a fair shot? You might like to believe the FBI investigations are fair and impartial, but I knowbetter.”
Cort leaned against the end of the bed and folded his arms across his chest, totally unconcerned by his nakedness. Despite everything, Cam fought not to react to the sight ofhim.
“If I tell the FBI he’s alive, theywillopen an investigation, but with the intent to charge him with manslaughter if nothing else. Then it will be out of my hands, and out of his handstoo.”
“So you’re waiting for him to call you? And thenwhat?”
“I don’t know,” Cort said, his eyes burning into Cam’s. “I’ll talk to him and then…see.”
See if he had enough information to investigate Sebastian, hemeant.
Cam shook his head.Oh, Cam. You are an idiot who will never, neverlearn.
“You’d do the same,” Cort said, almost defiantly. “If you had to save yourbrother—”
“Ididdo the same,” Cam agreed. “That’s how you got me to come here, in case you don’t remember. And now, by bringing you here, you’re telling me I’ve essentially fucked him over instead.” Cort frowned, as though he hadn’t considered this. “You used me.Again.”
“No,” Cort said, stepping forward, reaching for Cam. “It wasn’t like that, Cam. I didn’t expect this.Us.”
“Us,” Cam echoed, stepping away, holding his hands up, warding Cortoff.
He’d thought he was completely cried out, that his body couldn’t spare any more tears, but the damn things were welling up behind his eyes anyway, and this time he’d be damned if Cort saw him breakdown.
“Cort, there is nous. I thought…” He shook his head, willed his voice to stay strong. “I was stupid, again. So, that’s on me,again. There won’t be a thirdchance.”
“Cam, take a minute. Think. Youknowbetter,” Cort pleaded. “Yousaidyou wouldn’t run. You said you’d trustme.”
Cam hesitated. Was he running? Was that what thiswas?
