Heart of Light (32 page)

“No matter what happens, promise that you’ll stand by me.”

He slowed his movements. “What makes you think that I won’t?”

“Nothing,” she responded quickly. “Just promise me.”

He leaned down, kissing her. “Of course. I’ll always stand by you. I love you, Jolene.”

A lone tear escaped and she became overwhelmed by the love that Cam had for her. “Say it again.”

“I love you, Jolene.”

Her body tensed up as Cam pushed into her at a quicker pace, his motions still gentle. She dragged her fingers against his back, digging in her nails, and she felt that unique tingling sensation begin to course through her body from her head to her toes.

“Come on, Jolene. Don’t hold back.”

“Oh, Cam!” she screamed out, her eyes wide as waves of gratification washed over her.

“I’ll never tire of watching that,” he commented, pushing into her one last time before he buried his head into her neck and grunted her name, finding his own release. “God, you feel amazing.” He took several deep breaths, savoring Jolene’s scent. Once their breathing slowed, he raised himself up and stared into her vibrant eyes.

“Did you feel my love?”

“Yes, Cam. I did.”

“Good.” He climbed off her and pulled her body into his. “Whenever you need to feel my love, I’ll be right here.”

Jolene flipped around to face him. “Really?”

“Yup. But, truthfully, I hope you don’t think you need to sleep with me to feel my love. I hope you can feel it no matter where you are. Even when we’re not together, I want you to be able to feel the love I have for you, comforting you.”

“Cam, I…”

“Hush. Sleep. You need your rest for what I have planned for you tomorrow morning.”

Raising an eyebrow, she smirked flirtatiously. “Tomorrow? Why wait?” She pushed him onto his back and began circling his midsection, teasing him, waking him back up.

“I
JUST
NEED
TO
FILL
up with gas really quick,” Cam said the following afternoon as they made their way from Key West back north. He pulled off the highway and into a truck stop just north of Miami.

After starting the pump, he turned to Jolene as she sat in the Lexus with the top down, warming her skin in the Florida sun. “Want a water or anything?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

“Be back soon, peaches.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek before running toward the convenience store. “I fucking love you!” he shouted so the entire truck stop could hear.

An infectious grin on her face, she relaxed back into the seat, putting on her sunglasses and closing her eyes as she listened to the busy sound of the interstate.

“Excuse me, ma’am?” she heard a familiar rough voice say a few minutes later.

Dread overwhelming her, she opened her eyes, turning to stare at an overweight man standing next to Cam’s car.

“You haven’t seen this woman, have you?” he asked her, holding a photo of a blonde-haired version of herself in front of her face.

Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm herself, her entire body trembling as she gazed into the cold, hard eyes of Falconi’s right-hand man.

“No, I’m sorry,” she responded in a feeble attempt to mask her voice. “I wish I could be more help.” She faced forward, hoping he would get the hint and leave. When he remained locked in place, eyeing her, she looked at him once more. “I’m not from around here. Perhaps you’d have better luck asking one of the employees, don’t you think?”

“That hasn’t been working,” he admitted dejectedly, surveying her for several awkward moments. “Well, if you do see her, here’s my number.” He reached into his pocket and grabbed a card, handing it to her. “I hope to hear from you soon.” He walked away from the car, approaching a family sitting at a picnic table, eating their lunch.

Jolene let out the breath that she had been holding as she fought back the tears that wanted to fall. She saw Cam run out of the truck stop toward her, smiling wide.

“Here’s your water, peaches.” He handed her the cold bottle before observing a dramatic change in her demeanor. “Are you okay?”

She nodded quickly. “Yup. Fine. Can we go?”

He paused. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“
Yes
!” she shouted, clearly agitated. “Please. Just get me out of here.” She scanned the truck stop, Ralph eyeing her again, walking toward their car once more.

Cam shook his head. “Okay. Okay. We’ll go.” He grabbed the gas pump from his car and replaced it, jumping behind the wheel and getting back on the interstate.

The entire ride home, Jolene was silent, thinking about almost being found and what would be waiting for her once she returned to the beach house. There was nowhere left for her to go.

“Do we have to go back?” she asked nervously as Cam crossed the bridge to Amelia Island.

“What do you suggest we do? Run away and join the circus? I need to work, and I’m sure you do, as well.”

“I’m set for a while,” she said. “I can afford to take a little time off right now. Get out of here…out of this place. Far away from Florida. Stay hidden.”

“Jolene, what’s going on?” He glanced across the car at her, noticing that she was nervously fidgeting with the hem of her skirt.

“Nothing,” she replied, her voice heavy with apprehension. “I guess I’m just worried that we had such a great time in the Keys and it will all be different now that we’re back home.”

He grabbed her hand, planting a delicate kiss on her knuckles. “Not on your life, peaches.” He winked.

Anxiety washed over Jolene as Cam turned off the main road and down the narrow street toward her ocean-front prison.

“Feels good to be back home, doesn’t it?” he asked, putting the car in park and running around to help her out. Grabbing her bag out of the trunk, he walked her up the front deck before unlocking the door.

“Where do you want your bag?” he asked, entering the living room.

“Just leave it,” she replied, following him in, startled when she saw David sitting on the couch in the darkened house. She lowered her eyes, her heart falling into the pit of her stomach.

“Who the hell are you?!” Cam demanded, his temper flaring. “And how did you get in?!”

David raised himself up, striding over to where Cam stood protectively in front of Jolene. “She gave me a key,” he explained, dangling a key in front of his eyes. “Apparently, she gives one to all of her clients. It’s part of the package. That way, we can come and go in a discreet manner. There’s no telling how many other keys are floating around. I know I’m not the only one.”

Cam’s eyes flashed to Jolene, searching for an answer as to why this man, who looked oddly familiar, was standing in his living room saying that he was a client of hers. Was it all an act?

“But I can’t do it anymore,” David said, interrupting Cam’s thoughts. “It’s wrong. You see, we met almost a decade ago when I was at a conference. It’s been quite a few years since I’ve seen her. This summer, I purchased a vacation home here. You could imagine my surprise when I went to Slider’s one night to grab a beer with a few friends and saw her slinging drinks. She approached me with a proposition and we had a few fun nights, but the guilt ate away at me. I tried to break it off, but she’s completely irrational. She’s been blackmailing me since then, demanding that I pay her for sex. If I refused, she threatened to go to the media, all because I let temptation come over me all those years ago. I’m a U.S. Senator, for crying out loud! Should I have to lose my career because I was momentarily led astray by her angelic smile?” His apologetic expression turned severe.

“But I’ll tell you something. That whole innocent victim act she has going on… Well, that’s exactly what it is. It’s an act. I fell for it and, by the looks of it, you did, too. She’s calculated. I wish I had resisted her when I first met her, Dr. Bowen. I’m sure it’s been hard for you to resist, too, especially when she pretends how she hates to be touched, making you think that she’s endured something horrific. She’s not the one who’s endured it, though. It’s very easy for the abuser to play the abused.”

“Jolene,” Cam said softly, spinning around to face her. “Is it true? Did you give him a key? Were you sleeping with him?” His voice was barely audible through the lump in his throat.

David stared at Jolene over Cam’s shoulder, giving her a heated look and raising his eyebrows as if reminding her what was at stake if she said anything that contravened the story he had just given.

“Cam…please,” she begged. “He…”

“What we’ve been doing is wrong,” David interrupted, glaring at her before softening his expression. “I know that now. I just pray that God will forgive me for my sins. And I’ll pray for you, too. Pray that you finally see the error of your ways.”

“Answer my question,” Cam demanded, ignoring the man preaching in the living room. “Did you give him a key so that he could come over here? Have you slept with him here in this house? A simple yes or no, Jolene. Did you?”

“Yes,” she replied meekly. “But I can explain.” She reached out, grabbing his arm.

“Don’t. Touch. Me.” He backed away, sick from falling into her trap.

“Please, Cam…” She fell to her knees, sobs overtaking her.

He shook his head, all the signs finally making sense. No wonder she had no problem telling him exactly what she wanted when they were intimate. It was all a ruse.

Reaching the front door, he took one last look at Jolene as she sat on her knees. Grabbing his wallet, he threw a handful of bills on the floor in front of her. “I hope that covers it then,” he said, his voice shaking from having his heart broken. He stormed out of the house, slamming the door behind him.

Jolene fell over, wailing. She brought her knees to her chest, her sobs rolling through her body as she realized that the only man who would probably ever love her just walked out. All because she couldn’t say what she really wanted to. She couldn’t say that it was
David
who was blackmailing
her
. Cam probably wouldn’t believe her anyway. David was right. He was a well-respected politician. And she was just a whore. That was all she ever would be. She was fooling herself to think that she was anything else, that she actually had worth. The life she had led the past few months was nothing but a lie.

“I love you, Cam.”

“Well, isn’t that sweet.”

Jolene shot up, glaring at David. “Why did you do it? Why did you have to say all those lies and make him think that I’m…?”

“That you’re what, Jolene?!” he roared. “Say it! You know what you are! Say it!” He pulled her hair, yanking her off the floor.

“Why can’t you just leave me alone?!” she screeched.

“Because, Jolene!” he yelled, his face inches from her own, red with anger. “Because I don’t share! I was very clear what the rules were and what the repercussions would be if you failed to obey my specific set of guidelines! Now where the fuck did you go this weekend?! I came over here and you were gone! I flew all the way down here from Washington to see you! Come to find out you went away for a romantic weekend with Cameron?! Did you let him fuck you?!”

She stared, wide-eyed, her blood boiling.

“
Answer
me
!” he demanded. “
Now
!”

“You want an answer?!” she screamed. “
Yes
! I let him fuck me!”

“You little slut!” His nostrils flared as he brought his hand back and slapped her across the cheek.

She fell to the floor and tried to inch away from him, crawling on the hard wood.

“I don’t think so, Jolene!” He raised his leg and kicked her in the back.

She collapsed on her stomach, sharp pains coursing through her. She wanted to scream out, but refused to show fear.

“Did you forget about our little arrangement?! You’re mine! I come over when I want to and I expect you to be here! And what happens?! I came over late Friday night and you weren’t here!” He raised his leg and kicked her aggressively in the stomach.

She curled up protectively and coughed up blood. She didn’t know how much longer she could put up with his assault on her body. She was fairly certain she heard a few bones crunch under the force.

“Please. Stop!” she begged. “No more. Please.”

He stalked over to her, violently grabbing her by the hair again, raising her off the floor.

She howled, her head throbbing from the pain of him viciously pulling her across the living room and up the stairs.

“Oh no, Jolene. There will be more. There will be so much more. And I don’t need to remind you what is at stake if you don’t do as I say.”

“What is at stake?!” she shrieked, her face flaming. “What?! That you’ll tell Tony where I am?! That you’ll attempt to get Cam’s license revoked?! Go ahead! Then he’ll know that you’re the cold-hearted bastard you truly are!”

He threw her body against the wall, slamming her head. She slid to the ground.

“I traded one prison for another!” she cried. “My life is no different here than it was in Chicago. So please. Go ahead. Tell him where I am. I’m done living in fear of you. Or of him.”

He knelt down in front of her, running his hand against her cheek. “Is that what’s going on? Are you scared of me?”

“I used to be.” She glared at him. “But I’m not anymore. I’ve been through hell and back. You can’t break me. I was broken years ago. So go ahead, you fucking sorry excuse for a man. Give me your best shot. But know that I am done lying idly by while you do whatever you want. You like a girl with fight in her? Well, you’ve found one.”

“Oh you think so?” he asked, a hint of amusement on his face.

Slowly nodding, she met his eyes. “Yes,” she said quietly.

He smirked. “Well, that’s too bad, princess, because I don’t.” He grabbed her head with both hands and smashed it hard against the wall.

And the darkness was back.

~~~~~~~~~~

C
AM
STORMED
INTO
HIS
house. He should have known it was too good to be true. How stupid could he be? He poured his heart out to her, but it was a front so that she could have a place to stay on the beach while she earned money sleeping with anyone who would have her. He wondered how many times she had a man upstairs in her bed while she flirted with him on the front deck, batting her eyelashes. She was good. He fell for the act, but that’s all it was…an act.