Cameron hated the feeling that everything was becoming half-truths and withheld information when it came to Daron. She promised herself that she would be patient and let Daron tell her in his own time. However, when she had to shake a tail to get to his house this was a problem that could not be ignored. After the garage incident, she gave up riding her motorcycle, switching back to the Charger.
“Did you meet the candidates?” Trenton, her computer specialist, asked.
Cameron adjusted the Bluetooth in her ears. “Alisha’s trouble but Ralph might be a good fit. I especially like Tony and Kari Baltimore but they’re not even under consideration.”
“They should be. Solves two of Daron’s problems; safety and principled leadership. That Pastor is extremely visible, has a truce in place with the criminal element in the neighborhood and Levi would be crazy to come on church grounds, talking about he owns one of those kids under Tony’s care. Tony would eat him alive.”
“Knowing Daron, he’ll probably donate to Tony’s programs but he wants a leader who has not fully tapped into their potential so that he can be hands-on in developing his vision.”
“I’ll check the database to see what I can find about Alisha and Ralph.”
“Focus on Jake for now.” She paused at the base of the driveway. “Steve’s investigating them. Let’s see what he finds first.”
“You sure that’s the only reason you have a problem with her.” Trenton cleared his throat before saying. “She’s a beautiful woman.”
“I’m not intimidated by other women’s beauty,” Cameron fired back, slightly insulted that Trenton would even insinuate such a thing. “Daron’s a grown-ass man. He either wants to be with me or he doesn’t. I’d literally have to lock the man in his house to keep him from running into beautiful women.”
“Umm, okay.” Trenton was silent for a moment. “Back to your dad.”
She jogged up the concrete stairs, looked over her shoulder to scan the area and went to the side of the house where she couldn’t be seen from either street as Trenton gave the update on Jake Stone but nothing seemed earth-shatteringly new.
“Look into Levi Diesel for me, he reminds me a little too much of Bishop,” Cameron said before disconnecting the call.
By the time she reached the front door, Daron stepped on the porch wearing slacks and a white collarless dress shirt. His gaze was intense, as though searching for answers. Her eyes roamed over his physique. He had become hyper-alert to his surroundings and that was before Levi’s threat. He was taking more calls that required him to step into the privacy of his office. This was not the same man she was dealing with prior to getting that early morning call about Tracy being missing.
“Who are you hiding from, gorgeous?” Daron tugged on her cap. His woodsy cologne enveloped her as he pulled her into his well-cut arms.
“No one.”
He leaned down, planting a quick kiss on her lips before stepping aside to let her in.
Cameron pulled off her cap, slipped off her shoes. She didn’t want to mention the covert operation required to get to his house and not simply as a part of her normal safety habits. Since it started before Levi and the situation with Katara and Tracy were handled, something else had to be going on. “I’m going to take a shower and change real quick.”
“Since we’re staying in tonight.” Daron gestured to the kitchen. “I picked up some Beggar’s pizza and made a salad.”
“I’m good with that.” She stared at him “I’m just going to freshen up. Be right back.”
“Meet me in the entertainment room.” Daron grabbed plates, then gave a half-smile “Since this is our chill with a movie night.”
She smiled back and left the room, showered and pushed all thoughts of their issues aside before heading to join him. Leaning in the threshold, Cameron watched Daron as he meticulously put salad on the plates. Cameron accepted part of the blame for the trackers. She asked him to create a legal business to purchase his security system but she had no idea his brilliant mind would create a personal security system for ladies.
“Are you coming in or are you going to continue to stand there and stare at me all night?” Daron looked back at her, lifted a plate then returned it to the coffee table.
“Don’t hate on me for appreciating the view.” She pushed away from the wall, moving toward him.
“Never that.” He chuckled, extending his hand toward the part of the couch where she normally sat. “I’m inviting you to come a little closer to do so.”
“I can do that.” Cameron was really hoping she wouldn’t have to give him space. She had gotten accustomed to having him in her life. However, she had to think about the main reason she closed up shop and allowed her crew to take over. What if the men who were following her, happened to see her while she was with her mother?
“How’s following your dad going?” Daron picked up the remote, starting John Wick.
“Hard man to follow but he seems to be more interested in Dr. Oakley, Dr. Metra, and Dr. Sibley out of all the doctors he’s visited.” Cameron bit into the pizza slice, wishing she had fries instead of salad. “Trenton’s looking to see what their specialties are and if we can find a common thread.”
“Let me know if you need any assistance.”
As they ate and watched a movie, Cameron couldn’t stop staring at Daron. His eyes were on the television but he seemed lost in thought.
She picked up the remote and turned off the television. “What’s going on with you?”
He polished off the portion in his mouth. “Aunt Bee’s mission to unearth Troy’s killer has me thinking about the past.” Daron reclined until his he rested on the couch. “I’m amazed at how well my family kept things from me. I didn’t realize until my mom died that for a short period people thought my dad ran Bishop’s organization. That’s how we ended up in Morgan Park. They weren’t really known in the area. Dad took a job at the Ford plant.”
Cameron cuddled into his side, recalling the stories Bishop used to tell about his partner in crime. “Your dad was Rook?”
Daron nodded.
She looked up at him, wondering if something else had prompted the reflection. “Bishop talked about him quite often.”
Her cell vibrated on the table. She was surprised to see her friend, Kathleen Frost’s name on the screen.
“Who is it?”
Cameron turned the screen display his way.
“Your mysterious female friend.” Daron sat up, reaching for his drink. “Are you going to answer?”
She swiped, then said, “What do I owe the honor?”
“I got business in the city and thought I’d holler at you for a minute.” Kathleen’s voice was slightly muffled.
“Do you need me to come be your bodyguard?” Cameron always teased Kathleen for the amount of attention she drew back in the days when they worked together on a few assignments.
“I should be guarding you the way men fall at your feet,” she shot back.
Cameron glanced at Daron. At the moment he was the only man she wanted and the place Cameron wanted him was definitely not at her feet. “I don’t even know how you manage to be so stealthy when your ass causes tremors when you walk.”
Daron’s eyes widened as he cocked his head, staring at her.
“Damn you’re still crazy.” Kathleen chuckled. “You down to meet tonight?”
“Can I meet tonight?” Cameron stared at Daron waiting to answer until he nodded. “Yeah if you don’t mind me bringing a man who’s visibly shocked I have a female friend.”
Kathleen chuckled. “Does he have any handsome single friends?”
“He does, but are you and Jamar still doing your off and on thing?” Cameron tucked the phone between the shoulder and ear to help Daron as he started to clear the dinner plates off the coffee table.
Kathleen didn’t respond.
“I’m going to take that as a yes.” Cameron made plans to meet, then laid the cell down. “Hey, if you really want to stay in, I’ll call her back and arrange to meet with her another time.”
Daron pulled her into his arms. “I don’t want to miss out on the opportunity to see Kathleen in person. I can’t ever recall Bishop mentioning her.”
“Kathleen comes from a family who are talented at being undetectable,” she explained, heading into the bathroom to put in the brown contacts. “Their services are high in demand.”
“Is she as lethal as you?” Daron followed her, leaning in the door frame.
“Her craft is getting in and out of places undetected.” Cameron watched his expressions through the mirror. “She can defend herself, she’s a great shot, but she’s not an assassin or gun for hire. That’s her oldest brother’s thing. I’m surprised that Bishop didn’t warn you about the Frost family.”
“I find it interesting you’re giving me such a hard time about retiring when your tribe is filled with tethers to your old life. I should be the one worried, not you.”
“I was never the face of any organization.” Cameron put an index finger over his mouth as he opened it to speak. “Tonight is about meeting a friend, not rehashing old shit. Drinks, friendly conversation and no drama.” At least she hoped, there would be no problems.