“He’s new since the admin change, so I don’t have any leverage there.”
“I’ll take care of it.”
That easy, and the calm washed over Cam again. Nic made him want to break all the rules, but at the same time, he made navigating so many of them easier. “Fuck, it’s good having you here.”
“Thank you for letting me help.” Hand drifting from his back over his ass, Nic drew him in for another kiss, like he couldn’t get enough.
Cam could commiserate, getting so lost in those lips and mouth that he barely registered the knock on the door. Or was that the second one? “That’s Quinn. He’s giving me, us I guess, a ride to the hospital.”
Caution and questions clouded Nic’s eyes once more. “I can stay here, look things over, then meet you at the station as planned if that’s easier.”
Cam shook his head. “No, it’s easier when you’re with me. Always.” He dropped a parting kiss on Nic’s lips, then straightened his hair and clothes before opening the door.
“Don’t tell me you got a girl in here?” Quinn said, waggling his brows and charging in.
Apparently he hadn’t done a good enough job with the hair and clothes.
His brother drew up short, however, when he saw Nic by the table. Nic had done a better job setting himself to rights, looking his usual polished self, though Cam noticed his shoulders a tick higher than usual. “You must be Quinn,” he said, hand extended. “Assistant US Attorney Nic Price. I work with Cam in San Francisco.”
Quinn shook his hand. “You’re here to help with the case?”
“Just got in. Cam was catching me up. He’s been up all night working.” Nic gestured at the wrapper-filled coffee mugs, the mess now working in Cam’s favor.
“Well, that explains things,” his brother said, seemingly satisfied.
Except it didn’t explain things in the least, and by the look Nic was giving him, his brilliant mind was putting things together. Cam had a lot of explaining to do.
The car ride to the hospital was cordial enough, making getting-to-know-you small talk with Quinn. Nic asked about the fishing business. Quinn asked how long he’d been a lawyer, and once he found out Nic had been a SEAL, all the usual questions. When Quinn asked if he had any tattoos and Nic answered “A few,” Cam, in the passenger seat, quickly diverted his gaze out the window and slapped a hand over his mouth, muffling laughter.
It was the only break in Cam’s otherwise tense, uneasy posture. Nic had seen him like this once before, the night before he’d gone undercover with Becca’s crew, anxious and worried that he would overstep the line from present cover to past reality.
This was not the relaxed, confident, could-talk-to-a-tree investigator and friend Nic knew. He couldn’t easily write it off as family tension either. Yes, their mother’s condition and digging into Erin’s disappearance were causing a strain, but the family was still close. Angry maybe, awkward not. Nic couldn’t help wondering if the tension had to do with something else. Like Cam not really wanting him here in Boston. And did that have anything to do with Quinn’s comment when he’d arrived or with Cam’s reaction to it? Nic had covered for him, out of habit more than anything, but to say he was confused right now was an understatement.
Back in San Francisco, Cam had been the one wanting to move in together, to take things public. Nic had conceded on the moving-in part. Not necessarily by choice, at first, but after missing Cam this week and after his talk with Mary, he was reconsidering.
Except had Cam now changed his mind about making their relationship public? Because there wasn’t going to be one, kisses notwithstanding? Because he was going to move back here? It would be safer for him out of Nic’s orbit, but Nic’s chest ached at the prospect and disappointment left a funny taste in his mouth.
All of which paled in comparison to the life-and-death matters they had to deal with here and now. Squelching down his disappointment, Nic buttoned his coat as they approached the waiting room full of people he recognized from the pictures on Cam’s desk.
Cam wanted to go over some questions with his mom, and he wanted Nic there for that in case he saw some connections Cam had missed. But the family was gathered for an update on Edith’s condition first. Nic offered to wait in the cafeteria until they were done, but Cam, for all his awkward silence, shot that suggestion down like a dart. The pleading in his dark eyes was all Nic needed to see.
Though seeing a room full of dark furrowed brows over eyes glaring at him, the only other person besides Cam dressed in a suit, Nic thought maybe he should have trusted his gut and waited downstairs. His gut soured further when Cam, putting extra distance between them, introduced him formally. “Everyone, this is Dominic Price. He’s a federal prosecutor I work with in San Francisco.”
Bobby greeted him first, his blue eyes kind as he shook Nic’s hand, thanked him for coming, and for having Cam’s back last spring.
Keith, who Nic recognized from his bearing, remained standing apart in the far corner of the lounge. “Why are you bringing more people into this?” he asked Cam. “Jamie wasn’t enough?”
“Nic’s the reason your leave got extended. Show some respect.”
Keith strode forward, arms over his chest. “My CO said it was a SEAL captain that got my leave extended, not a fucking suit.”
From his conversations with Cam, Nic had expected Keith’s attitude. He even expected the bite in his words, having dealt with more than a few hotheaded enlisteds. So he’d come prepared with his zippered case of ribbons and medals, and he’d clipped in two of the most distinctive pins, rank insignia Keith would recognize, as cuff links before they’d left the hotel.
Making sure his cuff was showing, he held out a hand to Keith. “Retired Captain Dominic Price, SEAL Team 3 and Navy JAG Corps.”
Bobby whistled low, and Keith’s startled blue eyes grew wide.
The sergeant snapped to attention with his next breath, as a well-trained Marine would do. “Apologies, Captain.” Keith shook his hand. “This is a sensitive subject for our family. I’m not at my best.”
