Double Take. Leigh Riker

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СКАЧАТЬ longer mattered. “Of course, I also have bills to pay.”

      Considering the circumstances, Cameron felt a strange sense of welcome peace wash through her. Even his total estrangement from James couldn’t override her relationship with him. With Kyle she wasn’t alone in this…whatever it was.

      She didn’t buy Ransom’s theories about Destina. But Kyle, it turned out, wasn’t as sure. While Ransom filled him in on his version of Destina, he listened intently.

      “So you think Venuto is responsible for our father’s death?” he asked Ransom. “And Cameron may be his target, too?”

      Cameron clenched her teeth. She wouldn’t say a word. Let Kyle sort this out, come to the same conclusion she had, send Ransom on his way. For that alone, she might forgive Kyle. When Ransom finished his rant about the still-open investigation, Cameron added, “But no one has tried to reach me.” She held both arms out. “See? I survived last night by myself. I’d have been fine all day without you staking out my employer’s apartment, watching everyone who came and went.”

      “The doorman and I found a lot to talk about.”

      “Revenge?” Kyle was still working through Ransom’s theory. “After all this time? That’s hard to believe—”

      “Destina swore to destroy your father for his testimony. He was always a threat,” Ransom said. “Isn’t that why your family went into the program in the first place? But apparently you didn’t agree about the need to keep out of his way.”

      “I left WP for reasons of my own. That’s between me and my father—between Cam and me now. I didn’t leave because I thought Destina posed no further danger to my family. I was just willing to take my chances in the light.”

      Cameron frowned at his surprising admission. The same old sense of loss she’d experienced since Kyle left “home” years ago raced along her nerve ends. The last quarrel with their father, the shouted words that couldn’t be taken back, words she didn’t quite remember, Kyle leaving in the middle of the night…

      Ransom stuck to his guns. “Your leaving years ago doesn’t mean Destina can’t strike for vengeance even now. Or try for that missing money. He’s still a powerful man.”

      “So is his son,” Kyle said. “Have your people interviewed Tony Destina?”

      “When he stood still long enough. Tony’s been busy. Since his father’s release from prison, he’s had Venuto in some pricey private clinic. Right now no one seems to know where that is.”

      He didn’t say more, and Cameron glanced away from Ransom’s dark eyes to exchange a look with Kyle. In contrast to Ransom, it was easy to read her brother’s face—composed yet concerned—and she could almost hear him thinking, I’m here for you.

      But would he stay? Cameron blinked back the tears.

      Oh, Benjamin.

      The sudden thought of his birth name, so long unused, overwhelmed her. For that single instant she had allowed herself to see him as the boy he’d been years ago, before the program, before they lived in hiding and fear, before the trial and Destina. Then in the next breath he betrayed her all over again.

      “I think Ransom is right. You’re in danger now, Cam.” He still didn’t look at Ransom, but Cameron did—and saw a flash of victory in his eyes. Her own brother had helped him. “I don’t like your being here alone,” Kyle said. “I don’t like you working until all hours then walking home by yourself. You didn’t even hear me coming tonight.”

      See? Ransom’s gaze echoed the statement.

      Cameron looked away. She busied herself putting the disinfectant back in the first-aid kit, then neatly lined up a stack of bandages in the case.

      “I can—” she began.

      “Take care of herself,” Ransom finished for her. He prowled the other end of the living room, not far enough away from her for Cameron’s taste. Why couldn’t she seem to ignore him as she wanted to? Why didn’t he go?

      “I disagree,” her brother said, making things worse.

      “Kyle…”

      “It’s all very well to be independent, Cam—under normal circumstances. But obviously, this is not normal. Until Dad’s killer is caught, you aren’t safe either. If Destina feels you know where that money is—that damn money—he sure can’t learn that from Dad. He won’t stop until you tell him.”

      Cameron shuddered. “I don’t know where it is! I can’t believe this. I thought you’d be on my side.” She turned a beseeching look on him, probably the same look he’d seen the night he left WP, left her. “My job keeps me sane. I can’t sit around here worrying. Wondering. Feeling afraid again.”

      He glanced around the spare room. “Then come with me tonight. To my hotel.”

      She started to shake her head, but he took her hands and held them, searching her eyes with his. “My place isn’t fancy—” he glanced at her living room “—but it has furniture. The second bed’s already made up. You can stay with me.”

      “Until when?” she said. “Until you find another position in Houston, in Detroit, or Seattle?” To her horror, her eyes filled. “I need my space here, Kyle.”

      Kyle looked toward Ransom, who was still walking her carpet. If he wore a hole in it, she’d kill him. She sure as heck wouldn’t meet that heated gaze of his again. Or, at the moment, Kyle’s cooler one. Why were they joining forces against her?

      Kyle gripped her hands tighter. He blocked out Ransom and lowered his voice. “I don’t care for the marshals any better than you do, but we need to end this thing. In the meantime, I’d feel much better with you beside me.”

      “I know you would.”

      “Yeah, yeah.” He’d heard the sarcasm in her tone. “I know, I’m being the older, overly protective brother. Let me be just that, Cam. I’ve missed you for too many years.”

      True enough, on her part.

      Yet, in that moment, she realized she wasn’t ready to simply trust him again. Trust didn’t come easily to Cameron, and Ransom had a point. Why had Kyle shown up now? she wondered. Because he was in trouble? She’d been in New York for almost three years.

      “Too many years,” she agreed. “I’m grown up now.”

      He smiled, his gaze running over her in approval. “No more scrawny kid with big eyes and scabs on her knees. You turned out good, Cam. Now, about tonight…”

      “I’m staying right here. Alone,” she emphasized. “I don’t believe there’s any threat to fear. Besides,” she added, taking a breath before she admitted, “I’m not ready to forgive you yet.”

      With a sigh Kyle folded her in his arms. “I was afraid of that.” She felt him look over her head at Ransom, felt the long-missed warmth of Kyle’s body.

      “We heard the lady,” Kyle said.

      Ransom crossed the room. “Then good night. I guess.”

      “You’ll СКАЧАТЬ