Page 3 of Healing Love

Not knowing why he agreed, Cam nodded. Glancing at his watch, he saw that he had missed the rendezvous with his friends anyway. They were going to hit another store.They’ll just have to hit this one themselves.

Cam did what was asked, going home, and spending the evening with his family. Later that night, news traveled through the neighborhood. His two friends hadbecome embroiled in a shootout with the police as they tried to escape the robbery. One was killed, and one was arrested after shooting a police officer.

For weeks Cam could not sleep, his mind continually playing over thewhat-ifs. He had attended the burial of his friend, Jose, and stared into the ravaged expressions of the parents’ faces. He knew Carlos’ fate in prison would be little better than being in the casket.

He didn’t go out or hang with other friends. His parents were worried, but he wouldn’t confide or share his thoughts. Finally, he went back to see Father Martinez.

“How did you know?” he yelled, his face torn with anguish.

Father Martinez didn’t ask what he was referring to. Motioning to a pew, the two sat down, very similar to their last meeting. The older, wiser man leaned over, taking Cam’s hand into his own. “I can’t give you a definite reason, my son. Your mother came to see me, and I told her to send you over. I had been thinking about you and then about your namesake, seeing such similarities. It just seemed to be the right time to let you know that it is never too late to make a change in your life.”

Cam hung his head, unfamiliar tears stinging his eyes. “You heard? About my friends? One dead and the other going to prison on a lot of charges, including shooting a cop?”

Father Martinez nodded his headsadly.

“That coulda been me,” Cam bit out. “That shoulda been me.”

“No. That was on them. Their choices. God gives us the ability to make what we choose out of our lives. You may have been on that path with them, but you made the decision to come here instead, even if it was just to placate your mother.”

He held the younger man’s gaze steadily while repeating, “It was your call, and it was the right one to make. Now, only you can decide what you will do with your life.”

Reaching into his pocket, Father Martinez pulled out a silver pendant on a chain. “St. Camillus,” he stated, holding the medallion out for Cam.

Cam reached for it, rubbing his fingers over the emblem before slipping it over his neck.

The silence that followed no longer seemed heavy. In fact, for the first time in many years, Cam breathed easier. Sucking in a huge gulp of air, he let it out slowly. Nodding to Father Martinez, he stood and slowly walked out of the chapel. Out into the summer Virginia sunshine, feeling the warmth down deep.

2

TEN YEARS LATER

The clink of the metal bar hitting the supports echoed in the early morning gym. Cam was in an old facility mostly used by local boxers and, at this hour, he had the place to himself. He had given up on the other, more populated sports gyms, hating the crowds and the looks that came his way from a few of the women running in designer gym wear on the treadmills. He was not interested; he barely had time for himself, and a high-maintenance woman would not fit into his lifestyle. Not that he was against having a relationship—he just hadn’t found the right woman yet. So, for now, the occasional fuck buddy would work just fine.

Cam worked the free weights, pressing as much as he did years earlier. He loved the burn, the time to focus on muscle groups, and the results. A large man, he worked his body like a machine. One that would perform whatever task he called it to.

Swiping a towel from the bench, he wiped his facebefore slinging the material over his neck. Glancing at the clock on the wall, he headed home, needing a shower and wanting to have time to grab a bite of breakfast before going to work.

Just the thought of work brought a smile to his face. He knew he was a lucky fuck.Or maybe luck had nothing to do with it, he thought for the millionth time, seeing the Saint medallion around his neck. His grades in high school had sucked but he attended Richmond Community College and earned an Associate degree. He started out as a business major, only because he could not think of anything else that interested him, until he met another man at the gym one morning who was in police science.Police Science—who would have ever thought that would have interested me?

Changing majors, he graduated with honors, was accepted into the police academy, and worked his way up the ladder, finally taking on an undercover operation bringing down a local gang that was making inroads with a national gang.

Last year, his cover had been blown after two years, but the operation was successful. Working undercover had been rewarding, but difficult. And a man his size was too easily recognizable.I needed a change.Through his contacts, he met his new boss, Jack Bryant.

Jack’s business, Saints Protection & Investigations, was just what Cam had been looking for. A former Special Forces soldier, Jack had brought together a team of men from various backgrounds, including DEA, SEAL, CIA, FBI, weapons, and explosive experts, using their combined specialties for a security business thatflew under the radar. Private and government contracts provided lucrative enticements but every one of the seven men who were Jack’s elite would have taken their jobs for a lot less money. The chance to investigate crimes and protect, without the bureaucratic bullshit that hampered each of them in the past? Pure gold.

Opening the door, he stepped into his house, tossed his gym bag onto the floor, and immediately walked toward the bedroom, heading to the shower.

“Oh, so you’re here now?” Lisa’s sarcastic voice called out.

“What?” he asked, passing by her as he pulled off his sweaty T-shirt, tossing it into the laundry basket.

“What? All you can say iswhat?” She stood, her hands on her hips, foot tapping and a glare on her face.

He looked at her stance. Long hair pulled severely into a neat twist at the back of her neck. Designer clothes from blouse to heels. Perfectly applied makeup. There was a time when he would have tried to placate her, but this was not the time. The Saints had been working around the clock on their latest mission and Lisa’s hissy fit no longer mattered. Heaving a huge sigh, he should have known their fuck buddy relationship was not going to last much longer. A beautiful woman with a business in D.C., Lisa would see him every time she was in town and recently that had been more often.

“Cam, seriously? I got in late last night and I only have a few hours. You’re gone when I wake up and,” she hesitated as her nose wrinkled up, “you’re all sweaty.”Cocking her hip out further, she demanded, “I want to know when you’re going to focus on me.”

He hung his head for a moment, counting to ten as Father Martinez had taught him to quiet his temper. Sucking in a huge breath, he let it out slowly before lifting his head and staring directly at her.

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