Skin Deep (Wounded Hero Series) (3 page)

As he looked at her; he couldn’t help feeling that same old pull he always felt around her. It started when she was sixteen it had been the first time he realized that he wanted her sexually, over the years as she grew up the attraction grew stronger, at times he found himself seeking women who looked like Camille hoping he could get the insatiable need for her out of his system. In the end; they were not Camille and the need for her was never satisfied. Now she was home and he had purposefully stayed away from her, after letting his control slip and kissing her. He hadn’t been able to think of anything but that damn kiss and the way her body felt with his finger deep inside her. It had been haunting him for the last six months. Not calling or checking up on her now that she was home, he knew if he opened that door he would be lost.  She needed a man who would be around for her, not traveling all over the world leaving her alone to wonder if he was ever coming home, one whose job was life threatening at times.

Dillon watched the slow raise and fall of her chest as she slept, seeing her injuries made him insane with rage, how could someone hurt her? Most of all he wanted the asshole who had dared to touch her. He settled in for the night he was not going anywhere. He knew he should call Danny and tell him what happened, he told himself he would call when he had more details.  If he was honest with himself, he wanted to take care of her just for a little while. He needed to watch over her, make sure she was safe. As he sat there watching her one thought came into his head, MINE!

Camille awoke the twenty four hours later remembering everything, when she opened her eyes she looked over at Dillon who was still there sleeping in the chair next to her bed. God he was so handsome even asleep; she thought to herself. His dark hair covered his face. Camille tried to sit up but the pain made her dizzy. Suddenly Dillon was there. “Hey what do you think you’re doing?” She looked into his green eyes, as he frowned at her. “I was just trying to sit up, but that was a bad idea.” Dillon insisted on calling the nurse. After giving Camille, some pain meds the nurse asked if she needed anything else after checking her dressing. Camille told her she was fine. Dillon pulled his chair up close to the bed. He just stared at her for a long while. Camille could feel the medication working she was starting to feel warm and fuzzy all over and there was no more pain, she felt as if she was floating.

Cam I need to ask you a few questions he said as he continued to watch her. She nodded her agreement; since her tongue felt thick. “Do you remember what happened? She took a deep breath. “Yes, I was leaving the Steinway office building downtown; it was my first real paying job. Anyway I was feeling great about how well everything went so I…I wasn’t paying attention to my surroundings. When I got to my car, something caught my attention but by the time, I realized what it was it was too late. He tried to put his arm around my neck, I kicked out with my
left leg but he jumped out of the way and then he punched me in the face.  He pulled me up by my hair and pinned me to the car. I…I heard his voice; he said he was going to slit my throat that’s when I started to fight. It all happened so fast.” Camille leaned back and sighed. She closed her eyes as one single tear rolled down her cheek. Hearing her recall what happened and to see the toll it was taking on her made Dillon’s chest ached, he wanted to protect her. The urge to do so was overwhelming he clinched his fists at his sides.  “The police will need you to give them a statement. It seems you screamed at some point and that got the attention of some people who were leaving around the same time as you. They scared the prick off.  Cam do you know of anyone who might want to harm you? She immediately thought of Luc but it couldn’t have been him, she didn’t want to have to tell Dillon about Luc. Before she could answer the question, Dillon sat down on the side of the bed carefully not wanting to cause her anymore pain. “Listen, Cam I need to know anything that you can remember no matter how small or insignificant you think it is, it could be really important.”  Camille felt tired all of a sudden, her eyelids where so heavy she just wanted to sleep. “Cam what aren’t you telling me? Camille tried to keep her eyes open but it was getting harder and harder. “Dillon I am really tired, I just want to go to sleep.”

Dillon waited for her to say more but she slipped into a deep sleep. He flipped open his phone, and dialed Butch’s number. “Hey Butch do you have anything on the mugging? Nope, but what I can tell you is something is really off about this. The man on the other end of the phone said. Dillon didn’t like what he was hearing he had his suspicions and this confirmed them. Butch I need you to find out all you can on a Luc Bordereau he lives in Paris. This has to be quiet just us Dillon said trying to control the anger he was feeling. “Who is this guy, and what does he have to do with Camille?” He was someone she had been seeing off and on, I had a friend check up on her while she was in Paris Dillon said without sounding the least bit ashamed.

Okay I will get on it; we will have to talk about you checking up on her later Butch said with a hint of amusement in his voice.

When Dillon hung up, he set about making a few more calls, when he was done; he sat back and watched Camille as she slept. She looked peaceful and beautiful. He wondered what she was hiding and he was hell bent on finding out. When she was a young girl she told him everything, and now she had been gone for a couple of years and all he knew about her he found out from spying on her. He wasn’t to feel guilty for wanting to make sure she was all right. He went to Paris a couple of times just to see for himself, that she was all right. He saw her with Bordereau once, nothing in his life felt as wrong as seeing Cam with another man. That was when he contacted an old friend and had him watch out for Camille. Dillon pulled out his cell phone and made the call that he had been dreading.

Danny answered his cell on the third ring. This better be good, what is it he said sounding irritated. Dillon closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “We have a situation, Camille was mugged, she has a black eye and a knife wound to her left side.” Dillon waited for his words to sink in and he braced himself.  Danny got up from the couch where Tina was sleeping and went into the bedroom of their suite and closed the door. “What the hell do you mean she was mugged? When did it happen? Is she alright?” Dillon kept his voice steady. “She’s fine her doctor says she will make a full recovery. It happened a little over 24 hours ago. She was leaving the Steinway building, going to her car in the underground garage. Some asshole came up behind her and tried to mug her. She fought back and then he got away. I’ve got Butch and Zane helping me find out what’s going on the police don’t know shit.

“If you have Butch and Zane on this then there’s more. What aren’t you saying Dillon? You know what never mind Tina and I will be on the first flight I can get out of here and she can stay with us till she gets better.” Dillon took a deep breath. “Listen I know you’re worried but it’s not a good idea to take her to your place, we don’t know what’s going on and my place is off the grid no one knows about it but the four of us. Think about it; you don’t want to put Tina and the baby at risk.” There was a long pause over the phone line. “What’s going here Dillon? I’ll ask you again, what you aren’t telling me?”  “Nothing that makes any sense right now.” Dillon said making sure to keep the concerns he had to himself.

Daniel was quiet on the other end. Dillon knew he was thinking a weighing the options. “Okay, take her to your place. It will take me at least twenty-four hours to get out of here. I will call you when we land.” Dillon breathed a sigh of relief, he wasn’t going to let anything happen to her and he could let himself enjoy taking care of her for a little while, that would have to be enough for him for now.

Chapter Three

CHAPTER THREE 
                                               

As Xavier washed his face he stared at his reflection in the mirror, he had made a big mistake. He had under estimated his female target. If he where honest with himself he had been sloppy, thinking he would get in make the kill and get out. His client had been very specific. Make sure he killed the female target.  The client had been adamant about one thing; that she suffered. The way she died was entirely up to him. He had to admit to himself that he wanted to have a little fun with her. That wanting to have some fun is what caused all of his problems. She’d fought him like a wild cat. Had he not stabbed her, she would have gotten away. She’d known how to defend herself.

The next time he would get in and out, his client could relax the job would be done. After washing his face; he went to do what he should have done in the first place. He always did his research or at least had whoever his client was at the time, give all the information they had on the target they wanted killed. However, this time he took the clients word because he had done many jobs for this client and his friends. He had the file his client sent him; he never even looked at it. Walking over to the desk, he pulled the file out of a side drawer. As he sat down; he took a sip of the scotch in his glass. The burn felt good it was a familiar feeling, one that let he know his was still alive and that he could still feel something, anything. As he opened the file. What he saw on the very first page, almost made him choke when he read the information. Camille Abigail Elliott was twenty-four years old both parents were dead; her only living relative was her brother ex Military officer Daniel Elliott. He was staring at a photo of the woman and her brother; her brother captured his attention. He was staring into the face of the man who had taken his Brother Nicholas’s life. Six long years searching and there he was. He pushed the drink aside; he would no longer need the alcohol. He would need a clear head for this mission, he was going to kill the female in front of her brother and then he would kill the man who had changed his life so drastically. He would not charge his client for the brother that would be on the house. It would be for Nicholas.

With this new revelation, it was as if he had come alive again, the dull ache and numbness was slowly going away. He touched his face and when he looked at his fingers, they were wet, he was crying and for the first time in six years, he would finally be able to put his beloved brother to rest. He would take his time and do it right there could be no mistakes. He would come up with a plan and then set the wheels in motion.

Five days after her attack Dillon and Camille arrived at his house in the afternoon, he had quickly taken her to her place to pick up some clothes and anything else she might need. Camille had fallen asleep during the ride; he lived an hour outside the city. When he pulled into the driveway Camille woke up, a little dazed and sore she rubbed at her eyes and then looked up at the two-story villa styled house. She turned to look at him. “Wow this place is huge. Whose place is this?  It’s mine he said with a smile. A smile that had her wanting to jump him if she
could. No one ever made her feel the way Dillon did, just one look and she was ready to get naked with him. He got out of the car, walked around to the passenger side and opened her door. He slipped his arm around her shoulders, just enough to support her as she got out of the car, being careful of her wound.

Once inside Dillon helped Camille over to a large sofa. Camille looked around amazed at how spacious the room was and how masculine the decor. There was a large stone fireplace with pictures of Dillon, his father and mother and pictures of Butch, Zane and Daniel. The picture that caught her eye was an old picture of her standing in front a large painting. It was the first time she had entered a contest at school and she’d won first place. If she remembered correctly it was Dillon who had taken the picture. Now it was front and center on his mantel. She couldn’t help but be touched. She looked up into those green eyes. They weren’t giving anything away. Like why he still had that picture of her after so many years.

This place is great she said wondering why she had never known he had a house. “Thanks I brought it a few years ago before dad died.”

As nice as it was having Camille in his personal space, he needed to get serious. “I called Danny the day after your accident to let him know what happened to you. I told him to stay put I had things under control.” Camille bit her bottom lip. “Was he really mad? Dillon gave her a sinful smile. “What do you think? I half expected him to meet us at the hospital but it seems they couldn’t get a flight out for a few days. He said something about the weather being too bad for travel; of course he has been calling and checking in.” Dillon kept it to himself that each time Daniel asked to speak with her; he made up some lame excuse. She would find out soon enough. He wanted to keep her all to himself for as long as possible.

Camille laughed aloud she was nervous and a little scared. I hope he stays put and finishes his vacation; I will be fine she said her voice a little shaky. Dillon put his hand over hers and their gazes locked. Your damn right you will, he said. The heat from his hand had her whole arm on fire. She could only imagine what it would be like having his hands all over her body.

He stood up and reached for her hand. “Come on let’s get you upstairs so you can take a nap, you must be tired.” She was tired she thought to herself, she was tired of wishing for something she could never have but in the last couple of days, she had begun to re-think things. Dillon hadn’t left her side the whole time she had been in the hospital. He watched TV with her and eat with her. She was going to hate it when it was time to go back to her life. This was the most time she had ever spent with Dillon alone and she wanted more. She had to snap out of it, it wasn’t likely that she would get what she really wanted.