Page 3 of Harboring Shantae

There was only one person she trusted. One person who knew every detail about her life. Except her name. Sixteen years of letters and she still hadn't told Camron her name, or who her family was. But he knew everything else. Things she refused to tell anyone.

Stepping into her apartment, she headed straight for her closet. Hidden behind a wardrobe she barely tolerated was the only important thing left in her life. A box packed full of a few mementos from her grandparents and every letter she had ever received from Camron over the years.

Who knew that a publicity stunt during her junior year in high school would lead to one of the longest friendships she ever had?

No, that wasn't true. Camron wasn't just her friend. He was so much more than that. Somewhere over the sixteen years, she fell in love with him. She loved a man she’s never met, never laid eyes on. It was true love based on his heart and actions. The things he said and told her about had her slowly falling for him until she was in so deep that just the thought of dating anyone else felt like cheating.

It was why she stopped writing him. Three hundred and sixty-one days ago she sent her last letter. She couldn't pretend that he was just her friend anymore. She couldn't lie to herself or Camron. There were a dozen times she wanted to say those three little words, but she forced herself not to.

So instead she wrote him and explained she could no longer continue their constant communication. That she needed to step back and focus on her family obligations and future aspirations. It took her days and so many tears to get through that letter. And the four she received in return only made it worse. She broke two hearts that day. She thought that was the end, but now there was no one else to turn to.

Shantae took out the familiar stationery and pen she only used for this purpose. It had started as a joke when she was given the assignment. It seemed so old-fashioned that she laughed when she chose the obnoxious stationery and fancy pen. But over the years, it became her lifeline. The only thing she could grab when things were rough. They reminded her of a person whose words calmed her.

With one last deep breath, she penned the shortest letter. Before she could think better of it, she was racing back outside and dropping the note in the mailbox on the corner.

It wasn't until she was in her bed thinking over what she wrote that it dawned on her that she forgot to sign her name. Muscle memory. That was the only excuse she could come up with as to how she forgot. Sixteen years and dozens of letters meant she was used to never signing her name.

Camron would figure it out though. She knew what he did for a living, and after her message, she was sure he would come. Camron would never abandon her. At least she hoped not. She had to convince herself that he would never ignore her plea for help after she cut him off.

She replayed the words in her head on repeat until she fell asleep.

I can't live like this any longer. Please help me.

Chapter 2

Camron"Panther"Jonesmovedat a fast clip through the halls of the barn. He had texted Ray barely thirty minutes ago with the P.O. Box number. It should've taken the intel specialist less than half of that time to get the requested information, so Panther didn't feel the least bit sorry when he walked into Ray's office demanding an update.

"You only called me half an hour ago with the address. What do you think I am, a magician?" Ray didn't bother to look up at him.

"Actually, yes," Panther answered with probably more attitude than was necessary.

He liked Ray a lot, but right now he didn't have time for the man's usual banter or smart-ass comments. Not when the woman he had spent sixteen years writing back and forth with was in trouble.

Two short sentences and everything he knew had changed. Panther never had any intention of them meeting in person. That rule was drawn in the sand years ago, and for the most part, he was fine with it. Why complicate something that was going great? But something happened and she changed the rules with a few simple words.

"Then I guess it's a good thing I am, in fact, a magician." Ray finally looked up at him, and despite his carefree words, his gaze was intense. "The owner of that address you sent me is one Shantae Adams. Thirty-two-year-old legal aid. Daughter of Senator Adams and, according to yesterday's gossip columns, yes that flagged immediately when I searched her name, newly engaged to Zion Harris."

Panther tried to ignore the pain at hearing she had a fiancé. Up until two minutes ago, he hadn't even known her name. There was no reason he should feel jealous that, while he couldn't hold down a relationship, she was off getting engaged. It wasn't like they ever talked about the future. It was one of those topics that remained innocently oblivious.

"What do we know about the senator and fiancé?"

He needed to understand why Shantae—it felt weird finally calling her by a name—sent him a letter asking for help when it had been a year since she last wrote him. She'd made it very clear in her last letter that she never wanted to speak to him again.

A letter that hurt more than he cared to admit, even though he knew it would come one day. His career choice made it hard to have a wife and kids who understood his need to leave at a moment's notice. Panther long ago accepted a family wasn't in his future. He'd confessed that to her once, only for Shantae to never bring it up again.

"See, that's where things get interesting. Up until the announcement last night, there was never any hint of a relationship between the two. They didn't attend the same events. At least, not together. Never photographed together. Hell, even looking at phone records, I can tell they've never spoken. Now, the fiancé and the senator, or even better yet, the senator and the fiancé'sfather? Now there, I see a whole lot of overlap."

His blood ran cold at the new information.

"Arranged marriage?"

No, that couldn't be. People didn't still do that. Did they?

"That's my guess. Unless they were able to keep their relationship a secret from the press, and I find that hard to believe considering what I dug up on the fiancé."

His friend looked disgusted and that pit in his stomach at hearing Shantae was engaged only grew larger.

"Tell me," he demanded.

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