Derek

"When I asked you to help her, I didn't mean to run away with her." Cole chuckled on the other end of the line.

I tossed my bag onto the bed and sat down, rubbing my forehead. "Yeah, well, things got a little complicated."

Complicated was actually an understatement. The last 24 hours had been a cluster fuck, although I'd never tell Camryn that. After I left her last night, I called Will and set everything in motion. It should have been as easy as that, but most things never are.

My team needed time to work over at Camryn and Robby's house. The problem was Robby had left Camryn hours before, promising to return soon, and we had no idea how long that actually would be. Despite Will's protests and my better judgement, I tracked Robby down myself. The terror in Camryn's eyes as she told me what happened was more than I could bear, and I wanted to be sure there were no mistakes made here.

I wanted to handle Robby myself.

Last Night

Robby was sitting in a bar not too far from their home in Tribeca. He was alone, but there were about ten empty shot glasses in front of him. It made my skin crawl to be within 50 yards of the guy, but I wouldn't trust this to anyone else. Not after the look I saw in Camryn's eye.

I wasn't exactly sure what my plan was, but I had come prepared for anything. On my way in, I had slashed one of Robby's tires. When we left, I would offer to help him fix it, and he'd have to open up his trunk to get the tire iron and spare. Once it was open, it would be easy for me to spill the vile of Camryn and Riley's blood that I brought, and plant a few strands of hair and broken fingernails we'd collected from them earlier this week. The more ways he could get caught, the better. And once all of our planted evidence piled up, he was drunk enough he might even think he'd actually done it. That would be even better.

I made my way over to him and sat down two stools away. The bartender came by and I ordered a bourbon, and at the sound of my voice, Robby looked up.

"Derek." He slurred. "Hey man."

"Hey Robby." I acted surprised to see and not nearly as repulsed by him as I actually was. "It's been a long time!"

"It has." He agreed, scooting over to the bar stool next to me. "How are things going, man? Business good?"

"Business is booming." I took a sip from my drink. It would be strange for me to be in a bar and not drinking, but I had to make sure to keep my head straight. "How are you? How's the family?"

"The family is great. Looks like dad is going to win his seat uncontested again." He chuckled. Yeah, it was uncontested alright. Because his father and his campaign managers either threatened or bribed anyone who stood a chance against them until they dropped out. "Work is good. Cam and I are thinking about having another baby. You remember my wife, right?"

Oh, I remembered her. The gorgeous brunette who was staying in my penthouse right now because her prick of a husband couldn't keep his hands to himself. The one I'd be on a plane to Canada with in about 12 hours.

"Yeah, I think so." I bit my tongue.

"I'm sure you've met her at a few events." He ran his fingers through his hair. Was that blood still on them? Did this bastard come into the bar and not even bother to wash his wife's blood off of his hands? It was taking every ounce of restraint I had not to take care of this son of a bitch right now. I could take him out back and beat him within an inch of life, terrify him the way he had done to Camryn, and then finish him and toss him into a dumpster. I couldn't think of a soul in the world who miss him."Well, anyway, life is pretty good."

"That's good to hear, man." I clenched my jaw. I needed to keep sight of what was important here. I needed to get Camryn and Riley out of the country and to safety before anything could happen with Robby. Death seemed like too easy of a way out for him. I'd much rather see him rot in a prison cell for the rest of his life. Prison was a scary place to be for a cop, and I was sure there were plenty of men ready and waiting to get their hands on this motherfucker.

We small talked for a little while longer before he got up to leave. "I better head home now. It was good to see you, man." He said, shaking my hand.

It made me sick to my stomach to touch his hand, still red with her blood. I couldn't get away from him fast enough and back to the office, where I could keep my eye on Camryn and Riley. "Let me walk you out." I said, following him out of the bar.

"Damn!" He hissed, seeing the slashed tire on his car.

"That's a bummer, man. I've heard there has been an uptick of petty crime like this in this area. I can help you change it."

"Thanks, Derek. I appreciate it." He walked around back and opened the trunk, just like I had been expecting. He grabbed the spare tire and headed up to the front. When I was sure he was occupied, I took everything out of my pocket, drenching his trunk in evidence. This alone would be enough cause for arrest, and it would be all downhill from there. Not even a crooked cop could get himself out of this mess.

I finished up and then went around the front to help him. He was so trashed, he could hardly screw it on. I got it tightened quickly, not wanting to waste anymore time. We said our goodbyes, and I followed him home just to be sure he didn't crash and hurt anyone else. I couldn't care less if Robby killed himself in a car crash, but I wouldn't let him hurt anyone else.

When I was sure he was home safe and sound, I headed back towards my office. Before heading to my own penthouse for the night, I peaked in on Camryn and Riley, who were both sleeping peacefully. Even when she was sleeping, Camryn had a slight frown on her face, and she wasn't peaceful. I couldn't imagine what it would be like to be so on edge all the time and I hoped eventually she wouldn't have to be.

________

"Complicated as in you might have a little crush on her?" Cole teased on the other end of the line.

I rolled my eyes. I knew he was going to get to this, eventually. "You're the one who asked me to help her, or don't you remember that?"

"So not a no." Cole chuckled. "Well, safe travels, bro, and I'll see you in a few weeks."

Not a no. I wasn't sure exactly what I was feeling towards Camryn. She was beautiful for sure, and there was no way to deny there was at least a little chemistry there. And I enjoyed making her smile. If I ever was going to settle down, she seemed like a woman that could make me. But like I had told Cole, things were complicated. I was literally smuggling her and her daughter out of the country to escape her abusive husband. She was guarded, and sometimes I found myself wondering how much of her she was still masking. She'd no doubt gotten good at hiding certain personality traits over the years, and once in a while, I would see her feisty demeanor. I knew I was a long way from knowing the real Camryn, though. So for now all it was was complicated, and it would probably always be that way.

I hung up with Cole and went back out into the living room to check on the girls. Riley was standing at the window, looking out over the bay.

"There's another one, momma!" She giggled, pointing to a plane that was about to land in the water.

"Wow!" Camryn smiled, kissing the top of her head. "That is pretty amazing, isn't it?"

"Derek, come look!" Riley called, waving me over.

I joined them at the window right as the plane hit the water and slowed to a stop. "Do you like those?"

"They're amazing!" Riley stared wide eyed.

"Would you like to go in one tomorrow?" I asked, arching my eyebrow at her.

Riley about passed out from excitement. "Can we really?"

"If your mom says it's okay, I'll take you up in one tomorrow and we'll go see if we can find some whales." I glanced up at Camryn, who was staring at me skeptically.

"You know how to fly one of those?"

I shrugged. "Can't be too hard to learn right?"

Camryn's face twisted. "That's reassuring."

"I'm kidding. I do. My mom's parents lived here while I was growing up and Cole and I came to visit all the time. I had my pilot's license before I had my driver's license."

"Really?"

"Does that surprise you?" I chuckled.

"A lot about you surprises me." Camryn gave me a small smirk. Was she flirting with me?

"Can you really see whales?" Riley asked, interrupting the moment.

"Of course!" I turned my attention to her. "The big black and white ones."

"You mean orcas." Riley folded her arms over her chest. "They're endangered. Did you know they talk to each other with little whistles and that they can swallow a seal in one bite?"

I let out a sharp laugh, looking back to Camryn.

She shrugged. "She's obsessed with National Geographic. The magazines are literally all she lets me read to her before bed."

"Well then, we're definitely going to go find us some orcas tomorrow." I grinned.

"Is that really safe? I thought we were going to be lying low for a while." Camryn asked, the playfulness in her eyes fading. It was as if she briefly forgot why were here.

"Yes. News of your disappearance is only a big deal in the states, but we'll still be cautious. The airfield is private and it will only be the three of us in the place. If you're worried about it, we definitely don't have to go. I just thought it might be nice to take her mind off of everything."

"It's a great idea. Thank you so much." She softened. "For all of this. It hasn't quite set in yet that this is real. That we're..."

"Safe?"

She nodded.

"He's never going to get to you either of you, Camryn. I can promise you that."

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***If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence of any kind, please reach out to someone in your community. In the US, that number is 1-800-799-7233**