It has to be me.
As soon as Simon is close enough to me, I see Cameron stand, and I know that this is my moment.
“Mine,” I say out loud with this unknown confidence, as Simon’s face contorts with shock as I lift the knife. There’s a split second of consternation on his face before I again experience the familiar sensation of a blade in my hand cutting through flesh. It’sonly a matter of seconds between when I claimed the kill for myself, and his throat being slit before me.
His hands immediately raises to the slice as he tries to speak, but blood gurgles out of his mouth. He falls to his knees then crumples to the floor, blood pooling around him. Cameron is instantly at my side as I drop the knife and almost immediately lose consciousness, my body falling to the ground. What have I done?
Simon Maher is dead.
Chapter 25
Cold Shower
Leyla
The world around me is blank.
I feel the ground beneath me moving, but I can’t seem to open my eyes. Am I dead? Is this Hell? I don’t know what happened, but I sense the world moving faster around me. I open my eyes and everything blurs together before slowly snapping into focus. Turning my head, I see a worried Cameron in the driver’s seat.
Car. I’m in a car, and we’re going… somewhere. His knuckles grip the steering wheel, white from tension; and he looks like he’s been crying. A quiet groan escapes me when I start to sit up but my head is killing me. His head whips towards me, his face instantly softening.
“Hey hey, Cherry-girl. Take it easy, slow movements.” His voice is so sweet and gentle that I feel my breath catch. My eyes focus and the events of the day pass through me in a whirlwind.
The meeting with Alex. The phone call with Cameron. Simon.Simon… I killed Simon.It sounds so absurd to even think to myself, but I know it’s true. I can feel the pocketknife clutched in my hand, and I can see the bloodspoutingfrom his neck.
I begin to hyperventilate, but his hand is on my cheek, trying to calm me down with a gentle caress with the pad of his thumb. “Baby girl, you’re safe. We’re almost home and we’re gonna get you cleaned up. I promised you there was nowhere you could go that would keep me from you and I meant it. This is gonna be just fine. You’re gonna be okay. I won’t stop fixing it until you are.”
I don’t remember closing my eyes, but the next time they’re open, we’re parked and I’m in his arms as carries me into his house. I lean my head against his chest and his touch is gentle, yet purposeful. I have so much I want to say, it’s like there’s a block that just won’t let me do anything about it. He’s here. I’m safe. Simon is dead.
Once inside, he gently sets me onto his bed. The world around me is coming in and out of focus, but the constant is that he’s here.MyCameron is here.
“Cherry, I’m gonna start the shower, okay? I’ll just be in that room right there, you can see me from here.” His voice is so gentle, somehow once again knowing exactly what I needed to hear. He takes the time to explain everything to me that he does. I force myself to give a soft nod, a shiver running down my spine. Moments pass before I hear running water and just like he promised, he’sback in front of me. Cameron kneels down in front of me, gently lifting my chin, thoroughly examining me for injuries.
“C’mon, baby girl, I’m gonna undress you now, okay? Let me take care of you,” he adds on. My face must be expressing some sort of fear, but he doesn’t relent. “I’ve got you, Cherry. You’re safe.” He repeats as he begins to peel off my blood-soaked clothes.
Simon is dead and I was the one who killed him.
Cameron takes his time undressing me until I’m fully naked. He stands up carefully, holding his arm out for me. I slowly reach my hands out as he leads me to the bathroom with the shower running. He steps into the shower first, fully clothed, but it doesn’t seem to bother him. He pulls me into the shower with him, my body tensing up from the shock of water hitting my clammy skin.
“That’s my good girl. Just breathe, okay?” Cameron’s voice is so relaxing and calm. Pulling out a rag, he lathers up the soap and begins his gentle ministrations along my arms. I feel my legs giving out, and, as if he and I are one, he helps me to the ground and gently speaks into my hair. “You’re safe, you’re clean, and you’re going to be okay.”
I believe him, too. Without hesitation, thought, or reason. I don’t know why, but I justdo.
We sit in the shower for what seems like hours as he gently lathers shampoo into my hair and begins to comb his fingers through it, unraveling any knots with the care that you’d expect a giant taking care of a sick kitten. Maybe that’s apt. Maybe I’m losing my mind, after all.
No. Be in the moment. Nothing good will come from questioning anything today, there’s no telling where my mind willtake me but I know that if it’s not pertaining to this exact moment, I don’t want to go.
A soft breath escapes my lips as he massages my scalp. The things that I know, and the things that I feel, are at war with each other, but at this moment I know it’s where I’m meant to be.
I close my eyes and take a deep breath as Cameron wraps his arms around me.I am in love with this man; there’s no way that I can be. I shouldn’t be.
“We can talk about that later, Cherry. Let me just take care of you right now.” My cheeks flush with embarrassment. Shit, I said all that out loud, didn’t I? Cameron doesn’t pause what he is doing, worry etching his features.
Cameron slowly stands, my body already missing the warmth of his touch. Turning off the water, he gently steps out of the shower and grabs a towel before turning towards me. He cautiously picks me up, helping me stand as I step out of the shower close to him.
Simon Maher is dead.
Words are still too hard and my entire body aches. As I look up at him, his face is lined with pain and concern as he wraps me up in the towel. Slowly patting me dry, he wraps me up again, picking me up in his strong, steady arms and carries me to his bed.
