LOREN
Iwasn’t sure how he’d done it or how Phoebe had known, but sure enough, sitting tied to a chair was Darren Delgado, my one time stalker. Cami was practically vibrating, and I worried she was going to lose control as she paced back and forth. The slap mark on Darren’s face alone told me she’d gotten in at least one good strike already.
“Camila, focus,” Atticus boomed, gaining her attention.
When we’d gotten the phone call, the kids had been taken back to the manor with Wells and Monroe, while the rest of us met Cami at the location she’d given us. Apparently, it was the warehouse the Mascros used to house people they were questioning, the very place that Wells had been shot. I learned something new every day.
Phoebe had said she’d meet us the following day to discuss more details, but had other people she needed to touch base with first. The woman was a mystery to me that I yearned to figure out, but I was pretty sure that was the point. She kept you guessing, so you never knew which version of her was true.
“Where did you find him?” Atticus asked again, getting Cami to calm some. Darren glared at all of us but kept quiet.
“I got a phone call from one of the Sirens I know, Canary, telling me to be at a location at 8 o’clock. That I needed to stop someone from hurting anyone else. Malek was with me, so we went there together and that’s when we found him, breaking into a house.”
She lifted a finger, pointing at the man who’d held her captive. I could see the battle waging within her, from wanting to fall back into the woman she told me she was around him, and the woman she’d been fighting to return to. Walking over, I took her hand, trying to give her some support.
“You did good, Cam.”
Squeezing her hand, I felt her relax at my words. Atticus nodded to Sax once Cami had given him all the information she had, and he walked over, pulling Darren’s head back so he was forced to look at him.
“How did you escape? Whose house were you breaking into?”
“Like I’d tell you,” he sneered, fighting to hold back the wince from the hair grab.
“Honestly, it makes no difference to me. But it could buy you a less painful death. Your choice, asshole. You only get the offer for the next five minutes.”
Sax patted Darren’s cheek, dropping his head back down and walked away, setting a timer on his phone. He showed it to Darren before turning his back, effectively ignoring him.
It was pretty good psychological warfare on their part, alienating the prisoner. I’d be scared if they weren’t my men. It should make me a little put off, but watching Sax manipulate Darren had my blood pumping a little and my pussy throbbing.
“You have a choice, Cami,” Atticus said, looking at her. “Do you want any part in his death? Do you need your revenge?”
She didn’t answer right away, thinking over the words. I watched as she glanced over to Malek and I could tell she wanted to know his opinion, valuing the bond they shared.
“Go, talk it over. He has a say as well.” She nodded, giving me a hug and walked over to Malek, and they began to whisper together. Atticus turned to me, observing my stance.
“You doing okay, Bellezza?” he asked, taking my hand.
“Yeah, I’m good. Cami needs me, so I want to be here.”
He dipped his head in understanding, accepting my answer before walking over to converse with Sax. Nicco took the opportunity to come over and wrap his arms around me from behind, pulling me to his chest.
“You never cease to amaze me, Beautiful.”
“How’s that?” I asked, leaning my head back.
“You’re so good at all this and you don’t even realize it. You just step in, helping everyone, making them feel at ease. It’s such a gift and I’m truly in awe of you most days.”
“That’s sweet of you, Nicco, but I don’t think I’m doing anything. I’m just being there.”
“And that’s what makes you amazing. Most people don’t show up the way you do. Just take the compliment.” He kissed my nose, making me smile.
“Okay, thank you.” I yawned, looking back at the space. It felt odd to be standing in an interrogation room. “You know, I didn’t know a place like this existed. It makes me wonder what else I’m clueless on.”
“I thought you wanted to be?”
“I guess you’re right, but then when I learned about it, it just felt like I was hit upside the head with new information. I know I can’t have it both ways. It’s still all new, I suppose.”
“Honestly, I like that you’re not in too much of it. It helps keep it separate. Not that there’s a lot of crime amongst us anymore, but there are still some unsavory things we do that I’m glad don't touch you. I don’t want you to ever look at us differently or for it to sully you in a way that it changes you. I’m probably asking for the impossible. To have it and not let it affect us.”