Only You (24 page)

As he watched Camden sleeping on the hospital bed, he sat next to her and placed his hand on her stomach. It was hard to imagine that while Camden was fighting to live, she was also growing a life inside of her. Shane couldn't believe she was four months pregnant already. In a few weeks, they might even learn what they were having. He grinned at the thought. He was so excited to become a father.

Shane's eyes scanned the hospital room, and for the first time that day, he registered the absence of Melia. He had been shocked that she had come to Camden's first two treatments. He'd been even more shocked that she had sat quietly in the corner and hadn't said anything inappropriate or anything intended to create drama.

"Where's Melia?" he asked Javier and Brody. Brody shrugged his shoulders, but Javier replied.

"I don't know. She's been avoiding me. She's shows up for her shift, keeps her head down, and hardly talks to anyone," he explained. "I don't like it."

"Anything happening with her that I should know about?" Shane asked. Brody answered immediately.

"We had some problems with Vinnie a week or two ago. He started a fight in the bar. Something about the way Melia acted makes Javier think Vinnie might be 'mistreating' her," Brody grumbled.

Molly, who Brody thought was napping on Jack's shoulders, snapped to attention. Jack continued to snore quietly.

"He hits her?!?!" she cried.

"We're not sure, mom," Brody placated. "We're keeping an eye on her to find out."

"You had better watch closely, Brody Shepherd," Molly demanded. "That girl needs to keep herself and that baby of hers safe. If you think she's in trouble, you better get her protection."

"All due respect, Mrs. Shepherd," Javier started. "I offered her Shane's place for the time being, but she turned me down."

"That doesn't mean you quit asking, Javier. It's hard to ask for help sometimes, so you have to keep offering it, whether she takes your help or not."

Javier nodded, appropriately scolded.

"Now," Molly started," go give that girl a call. Offer again."

"Now?!" Javier asked.

"It's never too early to do a good deed," she admonished.

"I doubt she'll even talk to me, much less agree to stay at Shane's apartment," he grumbled, but Molly smiled when Javier stood and exited the room, his cell phone in hand.

By the time the phone rang the fifth time, Javier was ready to hang up. Melia's voicemail hadn't picked up, and she obviously wasn't going to answer. He growled in frustration and started to lower his phone when he heard a click.

"Javi?" Her whisper was panicked, and Javier immediately stiffened.

"Melia, where are you? Are you okay?"

"Javi," she whispered. "He's got Aiden."

"Who has Aiden, Melia?"

"Vinnie," she cried. "He was pissed about something, and he took Aiden from his crib. He said I won't get him back."

"Where are you, querida?" Javier murmured again.

"Home, Javi. I'm at home, but I don't know how to get Aiden away from him."

"You don't worry about that, Melia. I'm on my way. I'll have Brody with me. We'll get you and Aiden out of there safely," he promised.

"Okay," Melia whimpered.

"Do you trust me, Melia?" Javier asked gently.

"With my life, Javi," she whispered in reply.

***

Chapter 29

Shane woke to the chirping of his phone signaling an incoming text. He blinked the sleep from his eyes and grabbed his phone from the bedside table. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust to light from the little screen, but when they did, he halted all movement and stifled a frustrated groan. He glanced over to a sleeping Camden.

She had been having an extremely rough night. Shane hated the second week after chemo. It always seemed to be the worst week for her. She hadn’t been able to keep any food down today, and it made him worry about the baby. He was already worried about Camden. They were just eight weeks into treatment, and he could see the weight loss it was causing. Shane gently pressed the back of his hand to Camden’s forehead to check her temperature. He had given her medication for nausea an hour or so before, and she had managed to keep at least that down. Hopefully, she would be okay until morning. He couldn’t believe he had to make the two hour drive to the bar tonight.

Growling in frustration, Shane slipped out of the bed and headed to the walk-in closet. After stepping into a pair of jeans, he grabbed a black t-shirt and his black motorcycle boots. He stepped quietly into the hallway and knocked on Eric’s door before heading into the living room.

Moments later, a yawning and grumbling Eric entered the room, looking at Shane in confusion.

“Is she okay?”

“Yes, finally,” Shane replied. “She kept her meds down, and she’s settled into sleep. I’m hoping she actually gets some rest.”

Noticing that Shane was pulling on his boots, Eric looked at him in question.

“And where are you going at…” He searched the room for the clock before continuing. “One o’clock in the morning?”

“Just got a text from Javier. Emergency at the bar.” Shane shoved his phone into Eric’s hands and finished tying his boot.

Eric looked at the text in front of him.

Bar robbed. Cops here. Want 2 talk 2 u b/c u r owner. Come ASAP. Brody hurt, but ok. Don’t tell Cam. He doesn’t want her 2 worry
.

“Go,” Eric ordered. “I’ll keep an eye on Camden, and I agree with Javier. She doesn’t need to worry about Brody right now.”

Shane grabbed his jacket off the kitchen barstool and nodded to Eric.

“Thanks, man. I owe you.”

Eric laughed. “You will ALWAYS owe me, Shane, and I love being able to hold that over your head.”

Shane smirked and shook his head, then hurried out the door. He ran to his truck and drove like a bat out of hell. He made the two hour drive in an hour and a half. Pulling up to the bar at two-thirty in the morning was never fun, but Shane expected the presence of the police department would make it even less so. This explained his confusion when the parking lot was completely dark and vacant.

Shane stepped out of his truck cautiously. He reached under his front seat nonchalantly and grabbed his Glock 17. He gently closed the door behind him and scanned the area vigilantly as he approached the bar’s entrance. With his free hand, Shane reached into his pocket and started to retrieve his keys. He hesitated and decided to test the front door. It was secure, so he withdrew his key set and slid the appropriate key into the lock. The click of the latch resonated throughout the parking lot, and Shane strode silently into the bar.

Shadows played on the walls, the only light from the security bulbs left burning all night. Shane scanned the bar and saw that nothing was out of place. He began to lower his gun, frustration roiling in his gut. Javier had gotten him out of bed and made him leave Camden in the middle of the night for this?! He pulled out his cell phone in anger and immediately dialed Javier’s number. A light began flashing on the bar, and Shane heard the familiar ring tone of Javi’s cell. Puzzled, he walked slowly to the bar. When he reached it, the lights to the bar triggered, and the whole room was illuminated.

Shane turned, gun raised, eyes fighting to adjust to the sudden glare of the harsh lights.

***

Melia jerked awake. She blushed at the sudden memory of her dream, but she stiffened when she realized that something had woken her. Sitting in bed, she listened in the dark for any noises. She didn’t hear anything, but her heart was still racing, and her mind was alert. She knew she wouldn’t be able to go back to sleep until she checked on Aiden.

Removing the bed covers, Melia shivered at the cool temperature of the apartment. She had gone to bed wearing a pair of tiny pink plaid pajama shorts and a short sea green tee shirt. At least she was wearing a warm pair of socks. Melia grabbed her fuzzy lavender robe and slipped it on before creeping quietly down the hall. Nothing looked out of place, thankfully, and she felt her heartbeat begin to slow. She reached the room where Aiden slept and peeked inside.

There he was, sleeping like a little angel. She still couldn’t figure out how something so precious had come from such a scary person as Vinnie. Aiden’s tiny fist was resting by his mouth, and Melia grinned when his mouth started making sucking motions. She wondered what her little angel was dreaming. Melia reached forward and gently ran her fingers through his dark curls. He wiggled, and she quickly removed her hand, not wanting to wake him. She couldn’t believe it had almost been a year and a half since he’d been born.

A sudden noise caused Melia to flinch. She and Aiden were the only ones in the apartment, so there shouldn’t be noises coming from anywhere but the room they currently occupied. Suddenly fearful, she briefly touched Aiden’s cheek and hurried to her bedroom. Retrieving a large wooden bat from behind the bedroom door, Melia stepped into the hallway. She was not being taken without a fight.

She crept silently throughout the apartment, first checking all the windows and doors to ensure they were still locked. As she traveled through each room, she also checked any available hiding places. When she finally had begun to relax, Melia heard a man yell. Her eyes widened, and her hands began to shake.

She followed the sound, her heart suddenly pumping in double time. As she reached the
front door of the apartment, she heard him yell again. The sound was definitely from downstairs. She didn’t want to leave the safety of the apartment, but she had to make sure that Vinnie wasn’t there to get them. She unlocked the door and walked uncertainly down the hall.

***

“You can put the gun down. There wasn’t a robbery, and there are no intruders.” Shane heard the melodic laugh that followed the statement and his brows furrowed in confusion.

“Daphne?!” he shouted. As his eyes finally focused, he took in the woman standing in front of him. She was still curvy in all the right places, but her hair was red instead of blonde, and her clothing was sluttier than he remembered. And after actually being with Camden again, he realized that Daphne really didn’t resemble Camden as much as he had thought a couple years ago.

“In the flesh.” She grinned at him expectantly.

“What are you doing in my bar? And what do you mean there wasn’t a robbery?” he demanded. “I got a text from my bar manager.”

“You’d be surprised, Shane, how easy it is to visit a bar and ‘borrow’ the bartender’s cell phone when he’s not looking.” She giggled and started to walk seductively towards Shane.

“Why would you steal Javier’s phone?” Shane didn’t know what was going on, but he knew he didn’t like it.

Daphne frowned. “I didn’t steal it,” she protested. “I just borrowed it. And only because that jerk wouldn’t let me talk to you,” she whined. She reached Shane’s side and traced her fingers gently down his cheek. Shane recoiled at her touch, and Daphne’s eyes flashed in anger. He took a step backwards, distancing himself from her.

“Why did you need to talk to me, Daphne?” His tone was sharp, and Daphne looked puzzled at his anger.

“I’m out of the service, Shane. We broke up because the distance would be too much. Distance isn’t a problem anymore.” She smiled, as if this argument was indisputable.

“We broke up,” Shane enunciated each word slowly, “because we didn’t love each other, and we were better as friends.”

“I DID love you,” Daphne pouted. “I DO LOVE YOU!” she yelled.

Shane’s eyes widened at her outburst.

“It isn’t going to happen, Daphne. I’m with someone now, and I’m very serious about her.”

Daphne’s eyes narrowed. “I know you’re with Camden.” She spat Camden’s name as if it were vile. “She broke your heart once, Shane. I’ll never do that,” she promised.

“I love her, Daphne. I've always loved her. We’re having a baby.” Shane tried to remain calm. What wasn’t she understanding?

“But she’s dying,” Daphne whispered. “I can take care of you and the baby.”

Fury filled Shane beyond any anger he had ever experienced.

“SHE IS NOT DYING!!!” he roared.

A squeak from the stairs caused both Shane and Daphne to still.

“Wh-wh-who’s there?” a timid voice called. “Vin, is that you?”

Shane’s shoulders relaxed, and he audibly sighed as he turned and ran toward the stairs.

“Melia? It’s me,” he called as he ran. “Shane.”

Melia hurried down the stairs, bat still raised comically above her head. When she saw Shane, her arms dropped to her side. Hands still shaking, she dropped the bat, and they heard it clunkily roll down the stairs.

“Shane?! What are you doing here?” she cried. “Is everything okay with Camden?” She hurried to the bottom of the stairwell.

Shane smiled at her genuine concern. “Yeah, she’s home sleeping. What are you doing here?”

“Well, you see,” she began nervously. “Javier said that I could use your place to hide from Vinnie.” Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. Shane grabbed her arm and pulled her into a hug.

“That’s fine, Melia. Use it as long as you need.” He gently pushed her to arm’s length and looked her over. She looked okay, thankfully, as far as he could see. When she stepped into the light, however, Shane gasped audibly. Her black eye was yellowish-green and in the process of healing, but Shane was livid.