Now, it was those same eyes that helped Elijah see through Camden’s bluster. Yeah, on any average day, Camden’s confidence probably choked the air out of a room, but at this moment, fear billowed off of him in unmistakable waves. Camden wasn’t just anxious; he was afraid. Somehow, that seemed wrong.
Camden had lost that fire that intoxicated Elijah upon their meeting, and witnessing that made his skin tight and uncomfortable, like it was missing some essential vitamin to keep it soothed and supple. Bizarre, because it was so opposite from who Camden was. But it was also strange because Elijah had firsthand experience on how devastating it was to lose that kind of confidence in yourself.
When Elijah was attacked, it was the first time he remembered ever being afraid. The first time he’d ever been concerned that he wasn’t enough to get the job done. That doubt that formed while he was being beaten and bloodied was far worse than any of the resulting physical injuries he’d sustained. He’d lost his belief in himself during that assault. But somehow, observing the same thing happening in Camden’s eyes made Elijah’s chest ache in ways it hadn’t when he’d experienced the same bottomless hell.
Sympathizing with Camden’s loss, Elijah tightened his hold on Camden’s hand, hoping his actions could convey what his words couldn’t.
I’ve been there. I know how this hurts.
The vibrating phone in Elijah’s pocket broke the spell. He cleared his throat, trying to dislodge the lump of emotion sitting in his airway before he answered.
“’Sup.”
“It’s Searlington,” his captain answered. “You and your new roomie kill each other yet?”
Elijah ran his hand over the under braid taming his locs and laughed. “No, not yet anyway,” he replied as he stole a quick glance at Camden. He wondered what it would take to remove the worry from his now-serious face. They seemed, for the moment, to be on the same page. How long this unexpected reprieve would last was beyond him, considering how easy it was for Camden to get on his nerves.
“I just got off the phone with your friend, the DA,” Captain Searlington commented, instantly knotting Elijah’s stomach into a ball of nerves. What had Lindsey done now? “You and Mr. Warren were like a match to gasoline in my office. I knew something was up, so I took your friend out for drinks to get her to spill her guts. E. Why didn’t you tell me you had that kind of history with this dude? She didn’t give me all the specifics, but she said the two of you had a thing until Camden fucked it up.”
Elijah rolled his eyes and vowed to strangle Lindsey and her loose-ass lips when they met again. He saw enough pity in the eyes of his fellow officers and superiors after his injury. He didn’t need his captain—the person who’d stayed with him, holding his hand until his family had arrived at the hospital—feeling sorry for him because of a one-night stand gone wrong.
“That was a long time ago,” he answered, trying to keep his side of the conversation light for Camden’s sake. “Believe me. It’s not as deep as she makes it out to be. I think her job makes her put a dramatic spin on everything.” Elijah looked into Camden’s eyes, still tethered to the pull their depths had on him. “It was no big deal. It didn’t mean a thing. It won’t affect me doing my job.”
His chest tightened as he spoke those words. He’d intended them to be resolute, to reassure Captain Searlington she had nothing to worry about. But even he could detect something was off as he spoke. Something made even Elijah doubt that this messy situation was anything but in his control.
He gave himself a mental shake. It didn’t matter what had occurred in their past. Elijah would do what he was assigned to. Was he attracted to Camden? Would he rather not be on this case at all? The obvious answer was yes to both those questions. But the way Camden had discarded him all but ensured there would never be anything beyond this case between them. Even if Elijah wanted to act on this thing that pulled at him whenever he was in Camden’s presence, he couldn’t. Camden didn’t want him.
“Nonetheless, I’m sorry, Elijah,” Captain Searlington answered. “Now that I know the deal, if you want me to, I’ll go to brass, see if I can get you pulled from this without it blowing back on you.”
Elijah couldn’t tell if it was relief or fear that washed over him. He closed his eyes, pinching the bridge of his nose as he contemplated his freedom. He was ready to give her the yes she was waiting for, but then he caught sight of Camden, still watching him, still weighed down with worry.
Elijah was a tactician. Except for that last sting where he’d moved without having all the information needed, Elijah had always followed the smart play. Oh, he was all about going in with guns blazing, but not without a plan to ensure he came out victorious—and alive. Taking Captain Searlington up on her offer was the smart play on many levels. He wouldn’t have to worry about fucking up this investigation or worrying about if he was the right cop for this job. He’d be free of Camden and the sexy web the man spun as naturally as he drew breath. Agreeing to be removed might be the best course of action for them both.
But the sight of him wearing Elijah’s T-shirt and sweatpants, looking less intimidating and more vulnerable without the armor of his three-piece suit, and Elijah hesitated to respond.
“Did you hear me, Stephenson?” Captain Searlington asked. “I’ll have someone relieve you tonight, and you can be done with this.”
There was his ticket out. All Elijah needed to do now was take it. He tried to say yes again, but Camden started biting his bottom lip, as if he somehow knew Elijah was about to ditch him and his case. It would’ve been fitting. Elijah walking out with no more notice than Camden gave him all those years ago.
“Nah,” Elijah replied as he hoped he wouldn’t regret this hasty decision. Camden might be a pretentious asshole who probably deserved more than an ass-kicking or two. But he didn’t deserve to live in fear of his life. “Don’t worry about it. I’m good till it’s done.”
He ended the call, folding his arms casually over his chest, wondering why he hadn’t taken the easy way out. It would’ve been so simple to walk away from this assignment. An assignment Elijah knew would cost him grief either professionally or personally. Maybe even both if his luck didn’t hold out.
A quick glance at Camden, and Elijah noticed his charge had stopped biting his lip long enough to muster up a weary smile. The smile was weak and tentative, as if Camden were silently asking Elijah for something. In that moment, Elijah instantly knew why he’d chosen to stay. Camden needed him. He’d made Camden a promise to protect him. It was a promise Elijah knew he had to keep, even to his own detriment.
Too afraid to dig deeper, he walked to where Camden stood and clapped him on his shoulder. “Come on,” Elijah murmured. “Let’s go see what’s on TV.”
When Camden seemed confused and didn’t follow behind Elijah in the hallway, Elijah turned to look back over his shoulder. “Hurry before I change my mind about letting you have my remote.”
Chapter Seven
CAMDENwas bored. There was no other way to describe it. He’d been in captivity—or quaintly phrased—protective custody for only a few hours, and there was nothing left to do within these walls. Well, there was, but he was tired of watching TV. Anything else he might have been interested in doing was strictly forbidden by Lieutenant Pain-In-The-Ass. He couldn’t use any of his virtual accounts because logging in would give anyone looking for him their location. No social media, no reading from his e-reader app, hell, he couldn’t even log into work and reference anything in the law library. There was nothing to do, and the pervasive silence would drive Camden out of his mind.
He looked through the last sports magazine Elijah had lying around and tossed it on the coffee table. “How the hell does he stay here in all this quiet without going insane?”
“Who says I’m not already insane?”
Elijah’s unexpected presence in the room made Camden jump from his reclined position on the couch while clutching his hand against his chest to soothe his startled heart.
