Page 59 of The Crimson Wolf
I smile, and he turns to walk away but stops, turning on his heel. “Oh, Ms. Hoodsman. I was a friend of your father. I know he would be so proud of you. I can’t wait to see what you do next here in Dayton.”
My eyes well, and I nod, biting back my tears. Cameron spins me around, taking the champagne glass from my hand and placing it on a nearby tray. He studies my eyes. Understanding fills his own before he leans in to kiss me softly. “Dance with me.” He doesn’t give me time to answer, wrapping one hand around my waist and leading me with the other.
I giggle as I fall into step, resting my head on his shoulder and breathing in the smell of him—the smell I could bathe in.
My eyes trail around the room, catching the faces of people I swear I’ve seen my whole life. There’s the butcher. There’s the lawyer with his face plastered over every park bench. I pop my head up. “Carmen’s here!” She’s wearing an emerald-green dress and looks breath-catchingly beautiful.
I wave to her, and once her eyes meet mine, she squeals and barrels toward us. “If it isn’t my kinky brother and his mate!” she yells, slapping Cameron on the back.
Cameron releases me, his eyes hardening and his voice in a harsh whisper. “Would you keep it down!”
“Calm down, lover boy. No one cares what weird prisoner roleplay games you both enjoy.”
Cameron huffs, and I can’t help but giggle. God, I can’t wait to watch her get under his skin and bring him back to his childlike self more often. “Hey, we weren’t roleplaying. I was very much his prisoner, and you abandoned me.” I push her arm. “So much for girl code.”
She waves away the notion. “Yeah, yeah. I could see what was about to happen. Don’t act like you didn’t appreciate me leaving you with your mate once you gave in. Clearly, you’re here with him tonight on your own accord, but if he’s still trapping you, just say the word. I’d pick you over him any day.”
“Hey!” Cameron whines.
“Oh, you know I’m only kidding, big bro.” She pinches his cheeks. “Well, sort of. Not really.” She pats his chest, her eyes scanning around the ballroom. Her brows furrow. “Excuse me, I just saw an annoying pest I must attend to.” She places her champagne glass down and marches toward the other side of the room. She takes a few steps before turning back to us. “Oh, Red, let’s get coffee this weekend, okay? Love ya!” she says before twirling away.
I trail her, watching as she plants herself in front of an enormously tall gentleman wearing a grey suit. She points her finger at him, not caring that she’s yelling at the manin a room full of people. He rolls his eyes and looks down at her with disdain. Wait. I know that man.
“Sergeant Brick?”
Cameron nods. “I invited him. I thought it would be good for him to see our community. For him to understand we’re people, not just monsters.” He pulls me close to him again, swaying me to the music.
“So is he….”
“I don’t know. I can’t sense it off him.”
I place my head back on his shoulder. “Well, I guess it’s good to have the police on our side now. Even if Carmen and him don’t get along.”
Cameron picks up his gaze to watch the two fighting before laughing and shaking his head. “Hopefully, she doesn’t scare him away.”
“I don’t know. I think he likes it.” I watch as he looms over her, his gaze flicking from her lips to her eyes.
I sigh. “Hopefully with the cops on our side, it will mean the end of the Hunters.”
“I doubt that.”
“Why?” I furrow my brow, meeting his eyes.
“It’s going to mean a lot of work. We’ve been in the shadows for too long. It’s time we show people who we are and that we can’t be erased. Besides, your mother was a Hunter. People’s minds can be changed.”
I nod. He’s right.
An idea pops into my head. It involves me staying here and using my reporter skills to give my people a voice. The idea doesn’t scare me anymore. Dayton and Cameron are my home. “I think I know how I can help.”
Cameron smiles. “I knew you would.” His eyes trail my lips, and all my plans dissipate from my mind. He presses his body closer to me, and our dancing becomes more of a sway. He leans into my ear. “What was I thinking letting you leave the house like this without being properly fucked. How am I supposed to survive this night?”
I smile, whispering into his ear. “Maybe shmooze some more council members. That should get your mind off it.”
His grip tightens around me. “No, I can’t wait.” His breath is hot against my neck. He pulls away from me, grabbing my arm. “Follow me.”
I don’t have time to protest as he drags me toward the opposite end of the banquet hall. We turn a corner after the bathrooms, and Cameron wiggles the handle of a utility closet, swinging it open and pushing me inside.
I trip back, catching myself on the shelves as he shuts and locks the door behind him, hurriedly peeling off his coat and white button-down. It’s dark, but my eyes quickly adjust to his form before me from the strip of light at the bottom of the door.
