Skin Deep (Wounded Hero Series) Read online

  Dillon cursed under his breath this was FUBAR and getting worst by the minute. “Is Danny still asleep?” Butch nodded. Not for long, I put a fresh pot of coffee on. I also checked in with Zane, Tina is safe and sound he said as he started down the hallway. Dillon just shook his head; he was going to have to get a handle on this. He took a deep breath trying to work up the nerve to go back into his bedroom and tell Camille what happened.

  Camille sat in the living room in front of the fireplace. She was still stunned by the news of her housekeeper’s death. She watched Dillon pace back and forth while he spoke on his cell phone. Daniel was nursing a cup of coffee and Butch was in Dillon’s office. She jumped when she heard the doorbell ring; Daniel got up and answered the door. When he came back, he had two men in tow. One was the chief she’d seen him at some of the functions she had been attending lately. He was a tall man with salt and pepper hair and for a man of almost sixty he was in great shape, his hazel eyes always seemed to know too much. The other man was much shorter and younger, she had seen him around he had been a year ahead of her in high school. He made her uncomfortable back then. That feeling hadn’t changed; he still made her feel uncomfortable.

  Dillon ended his call when he saw the two men enter the living room. Butch was now standing in the doorway with his arms folded over his chest.

  “Dillon, I am not going to pretend you don’t already know why I’m here. We will discuss what’s been going on later. Right now, I need to speak with Miss. Elliott alone.” Dillon stepped forward and the short stocky man shadowed his movement. “I’m sorry Chief that’s not going to happen, you’re welcome to speak with Camille but we aren’t going anywhere.” The Chief sized up the situation and realized he needed information so he would have to play nice. He had known all of them for years; He’d worked with them on some high profile cases. He respected them all and he would rather not get into a pissing contest with them. His deputy stepped up to Dillon and got right in his face. This was hard to do, since Dillon had him by eight inches.

  “We can do this here or we can take Camille down to the station.” Dillon was about to get up close and personal when Chief Morgan stepped in between the two men. “That’s enough Mason stand down, I’ve know these men since I took over this office and I don’t think you really want to take them on.” Mason didn’t back down right away, he was still sizing Dillon up. He hadn’t missed the fact that Butch and Daniel had taken up positions next to Dillon. He could take Dillon but he had enough sense to know he definitely could not take them all on. Therefore, he stepped back.

  “Miss. Elliott I am real sorry to have to bother so late, but we haven’t seen anything like what happened to Mrs. Bishop around here before. Can you tell me what’s going on? It’s come to my attention that you were involved in the incident at the hospital yesterday. The deputy stepped forward getting much too close to Camille. “Listen Camille you need to answer the chief, I have my doubts that you are just an innocent bystander in all this to begin with.”

  Dillon grabbed the deputy by his arm and hauled him away from Camille, while Chief Morgan just shook his head. Dillon was in his face now. “I really don’t give a shit that you’re wearing a badge, if you ever talk to her like that again I will personally gut you like a fish. And further more she is Miss. Elliott to you. The Chief said stand down, so I suggest you stand the fuck down.” he said through gritted teeth. His control was quickly fading. The deputy had been all puffed up and ready for a fight when he came in, but now that he saw murder in Dillon’s eyes he didn’t seem as cocky as before. He stared at Dillon but he did not utter another word. Dillon nodded in the Chiefs direction. The Chief knew Dillon’s patience was at an end he would have to get this over with soon.

  Camille do you know why someone would kill Mrs. Bishop? he asked. Camille was still reeling from all the testosterone in the room. She pulled herself together quickly. “No, I have no idea why someone would want to harm Mrs. Bishop. She was a nice lady.” Suddenly Camille started to cry again. “It’s my fault she’s dead. I should have let her know I wasn’t at my apartment. If I had she would still be alive.” she said between sobs. Daniel sat down next to Camille and wrapped his arm around her shoulders she melted into him and cried even harder.

  Dillon could never stand to see Camille cry and now it was tearing his insides apart to see her so upset. “Chief I know you need answers and we are willing to give you what we can. Can’t this wait until Camille is feeling better, I mean look at her.” Chief Morgan reluctantly agreed that this was not the time to question Camille. “Alright you bring her to the station tomorrow afternoon; I will hear what you have now though.” Dillon nodded and led the Chief toward his office. Butch stepped in front of the deputy. “You can stay here, they won’t be long. The deputy was smart enough to know it wasn’t a request; he didn’t like being told what to do by the likes of Butch it just didn’t sit well with him. They were all a bunch of assholes because they had been in the military. It wasn’t his fault that they would not take him, because of his height. He shoved his hands in his pockets never taking his eyes off Butch.

  Once Dillon and Chief Morgan where in his office, Dillon gave him the information they had compiled so far, leaving out the fact that they knew who the killer was. Chief Morgan was a good man and a damn good cop but this was personal now. Xavier would not be arrested he was going to die; he knew that would not sit well with the Chief.

  “Dillon I know how you boys think and because this person has targeted Camille I know that whoever this person is he or she will never see the inside of a jail cell if any of you catch up with them. I can’t stand by and let you kill this person no matter how much he or she may deserve to die, there are laws you know that. And I will tell you what else I know. The shooting at the hospital has to have something to do with that woman’s death. I also know that Camille was at the hospital with you, it’s never a smart move to let a potential witness leave the scene. One of the people outside the hospital at the time of the shooting said you were with a young woman who fit Camille’s description. I think this goes a lot deeper than what your tell me.” he said looking Dillon directly in the eye. The Chief was nobody’s fool.

  Dillon kept his expression neutral. “I hear what you’re saying; I gave you what I have. If I find out more I’ll keep you in mind. That’s the best I can do for now.” Chief Morgan knew he would have to catch this killer first or all bets where off. “Just remember what I said and I will expect to see you at the station tomorrow.” the Chief said and he stood up and headed for the door. Dillon opened the office door for the Chief. “We’ll be there. And Chief you might want to make sure your deputy is not there when we get there.” Chief Morgan smiled. “Mason is a good kid, he is a little bit much at times but he means well. I will make sure he’s out in the field tomorrow.”

  Chief Morgan took his deputy and left quickly and Dillon was grateful for that. Dillon found the living room empty; he made his way to the kitchen and found Butch raiding the refrigerator. “Where’s Camille? Danny took her upstairs he said around a mouthful of food. Dillon turned and headed for his bedroom, he needed to make sure Camille was okay. Then he could focus on everything else. As he was coming up the stairs, he saw Daniel coming out of his bedroom. Daniel turned and saw Dillon coming down the hall. “I tried to get her to sleep in my room but she insisted on your bedroom. I know this is not the time but one of you is going to tell me what’s going on. Damn it Dillon, Camille isn’t one of your groupies. She thinks she’s in love with you. Whatever this is it’s going to end badly.” Dillon would not say a word he left Daniel standing in the hallway staring after him.

  Dillon entered his bedroom as quietly as possible, he saw Camille’s small frame under the covers. Her back was facing him. He walked around the bed. Camille was asleep and her tear stained face had his chest tight with emotion. He didn’t want to wake her so he pulled a chair up next to the bed and he sat down and just stared at her. It was time to admit that he loved her; was it a r
eal shock to him not really. He had realized it a long time ago. That she was the only woman for him. That realization didn’t change the fact that once this was over he would walk away from her. He didn’t know where he would find the strength to do it, because walking away from her was going to be like dying a slow death. Each day he spent with her only made it that much harder to walk away but walk away he would just as soon as she was safe.

  There was a special opts assignment that had his name on it, the Commander had called him personally. He told the Commander he had to think about it but now, it was the only way to make a clean break. He heard Camille’s soft whimper. Her body tangled in the sheets. Dillon watched her, his eyes traced a trail from her red painted toes to her firm round breasts. He stood and slowly stripped off his clothes, his cock was hard as a two by four but he would not touch her. No, he would hold her because that was what they both needed. He slid between the sheets and he spooned his body behind hers and wrapped his strong arms around her. Camille whimpered and snuggled her butt into Dillon’s groin. Dillon smiled his little minx had no idea what she did to him. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, Camille’s hair smelled of jasmine. He would never get tired of that scent because it always reminded him of her.

  Chapter Seven

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Camille woke up early, the events from the previous night came back to her and so did the pain. Her housekeep was dead. She’d only known Mrs. Bishop for five months, but she liked her a lot. Now a woman was dead because of her. A son was without his mother because of her. The weight of that realization was almost too much to take. She couldn’t seem to catch her breath; she turned over to find Dillon sound asleep next to her. Despite the pain she was feeling Dillon made her feel safe and protected she knew that nothing would ever happen to her as long as he was involved. She took comfort in that thought as she just stared at him. His thick dark hair fell over his brow and the stubble on his face gave him a rakish look.

  She watched the rise and fall of his muscular chest; she studied the dark hairs following the path as it disappeared into the waist band of his briefs. Wanting nothing more than to touch his entire body. She decided on something else. She got out of bed and grabbed her sketchpad and pencils. She positioned herself at the end of the bed so she wouldn’t wake him. Then she began to sketch. Doing what she loved most gave her comfort. She had drawn Dillon before but not like this, not when he was relaxed. He would never have stood still for her to sketch him willingly.

  Once she had several sketches she gathered everything up and she decided she was going to go to her studio, she needed to work to gain some control of her life and painting was the first step. She would not give into the urge to hide not now. She would leave Dillon to sleep because there was no way in hell he would let her go. She would be back in a few hours and he could be mad then. She could do this; she knew how to protect herself. She was more convinced now; that it was Luc who was behind some of what had been happening to her. He didn’t scare her anymore. He was a coward and she wouldn’t let him control her anymore. The thing that gave her pause was the man that Dillon and Daniel had described. Xavier, she didn’t want to run into him anytime soon. She grabbed her clothing and headed for the bathroom in the guest room across the hall.

  Dillon turned over and reached out for Camille’s warm body, he had become accustomed to reaching out for her in the early morning hours and satisfying his urge to touch her. Each time he found her he marveled at how much he seem to need her. However, this time as he reached out for her what he found was a cold empty space. He opened his eyes to find that Camille was not in bed with him. He listened for the shower he heard no water running. Dillon sat up in bed and ran his hand through his hair. Where was she? The hairs on the back of his neck where standing on end. He got out of bed and pulled on a pair of sweats, as he did that he noticed a piece of paper on the floor. When he bent down and picked it up. He was surprised it was a very good sketch of him sleeping. He had forgotten how talented Camille was. Suddenly it hit him like a two by four to the head. When she was upset, she painted. She would not have left without telling someone right? She had to know how dangerous that was.

  He checked the bedroom across the hall. The only sign that Camille had been there was his tee shirt lying on the floor in the bathroom. Camille had been wearing the tee shirt the night before. Now all his alarms where going off. He turned and went back into the hall and he started to check each room. When there was, no signs of her upstairs he went down stairs. When he got to the kitchen, he found Butch and Trace drinking coffee. “Have you seen Camille this morning?” Butch and Trace exchanged looks before Butch answered his question. No, I thought she was upstairs with you. “Why.” Butch asked leveling Dillon with a serious look.

  Now Dillon was nervously running his hand through his hair. “I woke up and she was gone, I checked all the rooms upstairs nothing.” Trace cleared his throat, which got both men’s attention. “I...I was late getting here this morning.” he said not looking at either man. Dillon leveled him with a look that could make any sane man nervous. “Fuck, she’s gone. Get on the phone and find out where Zane is and tell him I need him to check her studio ASAP.” Before Dillon turned to walk away, Butch stopped him. “I know where he is, he called in about an hour ago. He made sure Tina go off okay and now he is tracking down some information about Xavier. He’s downtown.” Dillon thought about that information for a minute then the wheels where turning. And he didn’t like where his thoughts were taking him. He wouldn’t let his fear paralyze him. Trace stepped forward as he scratched his head. “I’m sorry Dillon I didn’t think to check in with you like you told me to.” Dillon could not be concerned with apologies he just wanted to find Camille. “We don’t have time for that now Trace; we’ll talk about it later. You and Butch get ready to move out as soon as I get dressed.”

  Trace nodded and turned on his heels and was gone. Butch just shook his head. “We will find her. Did you check to see if she left a note or something?” Dillon turned and sprinted up the stairs and Butch was right behind him. Dillon entered the guess bedroom scanning for any signs of a note. Then he went to his bedroom and did the same thing and there it was sitting on the nightstand next to the bed. It was Camille’s handwriting. He picked the note up his hand was trembling.

  Dillon, I needed to clear my head so I’m going into my studio for a couple of hours, don’t worry I will make sure no one follows me. Please don’t be mad I just cannot sit around any longer.

  Camille.

  Dillon balled the paper up and threw it. He turned to look at Butch. “Damn it she went to her studio to work. Get Danny up tell him we need him.” Butch turned and headed back downstairs to get Danny. Mean while Dillon dressed quickly, pulling on a pair of jeans and a tee shirt, he grabbed his boots and was out the door. As they left the house, Dillon was calling Camille’s cell phone. No answer just voice mail. He cursed under his breath.

  The drive into town was the longest, Dillon had been unusually quiet and Butch knew that was a bad sign. Dillon was worried about Camille and the danger she might be in. Everyone was sure that if Xavier had been watching her apartment; then he was watching her studio to. However, he knew it was more than that, Dillon only got this way when he was close to losing control. Dillon kept the dark side of his personality under tight control but Camille was pushing all of his dominate buttons. He had watched Dillon become more possessive over the last few days and he knew when Dillon caught up to Camille the fireworks where going to go off. Dillon would not be able to control the need to dominate Camille to prove that she was his and only his. Dillon had fought for years to control the need he had for Camille. God help them if anything happened to her. Butch would not think about what would happen if Dillon found her unharmed. Butch thought back to a time long ago when he felt that same insanity about a female. He muttered a curse under his breath.

  When they arrived at the building that Camille’s studio was in Dillon waited until everyone was in
place. Dillon jumped from the van; never turning back, he strode through the front door. Luckily, the security guard had his hands full with a mixed up delivery. He never saw Dillon. He took the service elevator because it was quicker.

  Trace was fidgety as he and Butch took their place in the underground garage. “What the hell is wrong with you Trace what’s got you so twitchy?” Butch asked. Trace just looked at his cousin, not wanting to voice his thoughts. “What do you think Dillon is going to do when he finds Camille? I…I mean I really did forget to check in with him or you. And over sleeping was just stupid.” Butch put up his hand to stop Trace. “Listen Dillon will deal with you later and your right you didn’t think and not thinking can cost lives. Just do what I told you when he catches up with her we are killing everyone’s microphones for one hour. Just make sure you don’t fuck that up okay kid.” Trace nodded and that was it. He would ask no questions he would just do the job he had been given. He was curious as to why he had to kill the microphones but he would not be stupid enough to ask. Butch had a few questions of his own, but now wasn’t the time to bring them up. His cousin had been distant lately and he wasn’t always where he was supposed to be. He’d have to get to the bottom of it sooner or later.