Worshipped (Worshipped Series Book 1) (18 page)

I dial Karen’s number, hoping she isn’t busy. I really need her, and I need someone to tell me what to do. I’m relieved when she finally answers. “Hey, Riley! I was going to call after work. You wouldn’t believe what...”

“Karen, I have something to tell you.” I know I sound like a brat interrupting her like that, but I need her to listen. Not talk my head off.

“Oh, are you all right? Everything seemed fine when you left earlier.” I take a minute to find the words to say.

“Cammie is dead.”

Okay, maybe just blurting it out isn’t the right way. I don’t know how else to say it. Seems to be a reoccurring theme for me today.

“She’s dead? How? I don’t understand, Riley. What’s going on?”

“About an hour after we got home, a detective came by. He told us she was beaten and raped before her killer strangled her. God Karen, I don’t know how to handle this.” I break down, crying again. Karen doesn’t say anything while I let the tears fall uncontrollably. I wipe my eyes again, noticing my eyes are starting to feel raw.

“I’m coming over, okay? I know you have Isaac and Conner there with you, but you need me right now. Give me half an hour. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” I agree with Karen and we hang up. I toss my phone on the dresser, thinking, “What a fucking mess.”

Cammie was one of sweetest, most gentle, and most loving kind of person. And now she is dead. Never to live anymore or to have someone to love her like she deserved to be. She would never see her loving parents again, or her sisters. Never to have family reunions, or Christmases. She would be rotting in a box soon, while everyone else lives. It is not fair. The world is so cruel.

I need to call her mother in a few days about the funeral. I’m sure the police won’t release her body until the full autopsy report comes back. Who knows how long that will take?

Isaac and Conner come into the room a while later. They crawl into bed with me, each holding me close. I welcome their warmth. Their comfort helps me somewhat be able to deal with Cammie’s death. Or murder. Being near them is enough to keep the tears at bay. I am already tired of crying. I know I will again once Karen arrives. It’s unavoidable.

I’m startled when I hear that damn doorbell again. Looks like that is just one more thing to avoid later. Maybe I will get Conner to cut it off.

Isaac goes to let Karen inside. Conner lies with me, running his hands down my back. “We are here for you, please tell me you know that?” he asks. I nod. Of course I know that. Sometimes you just need your best friend to carry some of the weight. He gives me a light kiss, and gets up to find Isaac.

Karen walks in the room right after Conner leaves. She takes off her shoes and comes to lie with me. She wraps her arms around me, holding me tight. And just as I predicted, more tears come. She doesn’t say anything, knowing I’m not ready yet to talk. I wish I had Karen when I lost my parents. Not lost, when they were taken away from me. It took me a long time to be able to get over when they died. Robert was not the kind of guy to lend his shoulder for me to cry on.

Once my tears seem to dry up, I roll over, facing Karen. She starts speaking before I can. “I know you’re not all right, but it’s okay to feel hurt, and grieve for her. She was a part of your life for a while. I don’t want you to feel an ounce of guilt. There was nothing any of us could’ve done to protect her. The best we can do is help the police with the investigation.” Karen has a good point. I didn’t know I was making myself feel bad for grieving over Cammie. Guess sometimes you don’t realize when being hard on yourself.

“You’re right, Karen. I just hate what she went through. And knowing I couldn’t help her, that’s what cuts me to my soul. Will you go with me to the funeral?” Of course she agrees, and we lie in silence, remembering all the good times we shared with Cammie.

A week later, the police said Cammie’s parents could bury her. I never called her mother. I think a part of me worried she would be angry at me. For what, I couldn’t tell you. Maybe it was because I broke her daughter’s heart once.

When the day arrived for Cammie’s funeral, I didn’t think I could go through with saying my goodbyes. I even told Isaac and Conner I wasn’t going. I was told, like a child, I had to go. If I didn’t, I would regret it for the rest of my life. I know it was immature of me to pout, but I just didn’t want to see Cammie’s mother and father. I had no idea what it felt like to lose a child. Now that I was carrying not one, but two precious gifts, I didn’t even want to consider it.

I take my time getting ready. Not that I want to look good for a funeral, I do it to put it off on going. Conner tells me to hurry, that I shouldn’t be late for this. My mind is in an autopilot state. I hear what he says, but my body is just going through the motions. I blindly stare into my closet, when I feel Isaac’s hands on my shoulders. He spins me around, making me face him.

As he shakes me, he says, “I’ve had it, Riley! You have been a walking, breathing zombie for the past week. This is not just about you. If it wasn’t for Conner forcing you to eat, you would’ve starved. What about our babies? Stop feeling sorry for yourself and deal with this.” I blink a few times taking what all he said in.

Oh god, he’s right. “Isaac….I…I’m so sorry. You’re right, I will do better. Please help me do better.” I’m begging now. He pulls me to his chest, telling me it is going to be fine. I sob on his shirt, saying incoherent words. Isaac pulls me back and kisses me.

“Finish getting dressed. The limo is here and we need to leave soon.” I’m grateful for Isaac pushing me to get through this. Maybe that is what I need.

We end up not being late. At Cammie’s wake, I mainly sit outside. I saw her and told her goodbye. They wouldn’t open her casket. She was beaten so bad, the mortician said there was nothing they could do to make her appear presentable. Like she was an object. Conner and Isaac stay by my side the entire time. Being outside away from everyone is good, I just can’t be around everyone crying. Especially her mother. She is in a horrible place right now. I want to run back to the limo when they roll her casket out. Her mother screams like she was being tortured. In some way, she is.

At the cemetery, we stand apart from Cammie’s family. I don’t feel comfortable being right beside them during this time. After all of Cammie’s family leaves, I toss a single white rose in the ground where Cammie will now rest. I feel that I got some closure with her death.

We walk back to limo, hand in hand. Right as we get to the limo, Detective James walks over out of nowhere. “Miss Blake, I have some more questions. And Isaac and Conner, if that’s even your real names, I have some for you as well”. This is neither the time nor the place for this.

“This is not the place for this, Detective,” Conner tells him. Detective James either doesn’t have a heart or he just doesn’t care.

“I need answers and you will give them to me now,” he demands.

“Please, Detective James, can we not do this at another time?” I ask him as nicely as I can. It isn’t right and it’s disrespectful of him to ask these questions right after we buried Cammie.

I’m not sure if he saw how much Cammie’s death affects me, or if he finally figures out he shouldn’t be here, but he agrees to meet us at my home to ask his questions. I feel glad and relieved. Cammie’s parents do not need to see him here. They have been through enough today. This is the last thing they need. It’s time for them to grieve in their own way.

The ride home is miserable. Isaac and Conner both seemed pissed at Detective James. I wonder what the cop found out. I knew Isaac and Conner had changed their names when they went into witness protection. Would it matter if Detective James found out about them? Surely it would benefit in finding whoever killed Cammie. Especially if Dominic is involved.

Detective James is waiting on us when we arrive at my home. He’s pacing back and forth on the porch. I don’t want to deal with him today, but I push that thought aside. I have to help anyway I can. I let the Detective inside, and we go into my office. He doesn’t wait to start asking—demanding answers.

“You do realize I could arrest every one of you for obstruction of justice. I suggest you start telling me what the fuck is going on, and who the hell you two are,” Detective James tells Isaac and Conner. I decide to leave the boys to tell the detective their story. I excuse myself while Isaac starts from the beginning.

I go outside to sit by the pool. I love being out here. It’s calming and quiet. Even with Cammie’s funeral, it is a beautiful day. The sun is shining high with a light breeze. I try to calm my mind, try to not think about what Isaac and Conner have to relieve again. I know that story, and I know how much it takes for them to retell it.

The phone starts ringing right as I am getting comfortable. I groan, wishing whoever is calling would just hang up. I don’t get up to answer it. The answering machine picks up, and then I hear the voice of a sadistic and cruel man.

I run to get Isaac and Conner and the detective. I try ignoring what small bit I heard, but his voice, Dominic’s voice would not leave.

“I’m going to find you, and when I do…..”

How does he have my number? God, I’m going to have to move and change my number, identity, everything. I know I shock the hell out of all the men in the office. I can’t catch my breath while I try telling them what was said and who I heard on the machine. I know it was him. No one could sound so evil.

Isaac has to make me sit down and helps me get back to breathing normally again. Damn Dominic and his fucked up games! “Tell me everything, Riley,” Detective James says.

I calmly tell him about the phone call and ignoring it. And then the message on the machine. He is writing all that I say down, and calling the station. Conner goes with him when he asks to see the answering machine. I stay with Isaac holding onto him like a lifeline.

“He knows, Isaac. He knows where I live. Where I work. He knows you and Conner live with me. Oh god, he knows everything!” All I can think about is getting the hell out of here and protecting everyone I love. “We have to leave. We are not safe here, Isaac!” I tell him, pleading with him to agree.

“Let’s wait until Detective James hears what was on the tape and we will decide then. We don’t know for sure if Dominic knows where we live. We can’t panic okay? Trust us, Riley; we will not let anything happen. We have more at stake now. I will not let him touch you or our babies.” I know he is right. I’m in panic mode.

There is no way in hell I am letting this bastard break me down into a helpless woman. Not happening. Conner and the Detective come back in a few moments later. “I’m going to take this tape for evidence. There were some serious threats against all of you on there. I’m going to have a team come in, in a few hours to set up a phone tap. That way if he calls back, maybe we will get lucky and have a location on him.”

That sounds promising. My guess is, Dominic is not stupid. He has been killing and doing only god knows what for so long. He knows how to get past the police.

“As for the information you gave me today, I would bet my life on Dominic being the one who killed your friend. He is out for revenge, so if I were you, stay indoors. Or go to a hotel for a few days. I’ll also have some officers stand watch at all times. If he decides to come, we will catch the fucker before he hurts anyone else.”

I’m not so sure this plan will work, but I agree, not knowing what else to do. Conner and I head to my room to pack a bag. I pack as quickly as possible. I want out and away from this. Maybe we won’t be safer at a hotel, but I can’t stand being here anymore. Dominic has had a man watching my house for who knows how long. It gives me chills thinking about that.

Twenty minutes later, we’re ready to go. Isaac is still talking to the Detective. Conner and I get into the limo, and the officers Detective James called go inside. I hope they are here to put the tap on the phone. Isaac walks out moments later and gets into the limo.

“We are going to drive around a bit, and then we need to ditch the limo. It’s too conspicuous. Dominic’s men will be looking for it,” Isaac tells us. I don’t say anything. What do I know? I trust Isaac and Conner to handle this.

“Riley, you should call Sharon at the bakery and let her know you won’t be in for a few more weeks. I can’t risk you going, especially if we are being followed,” Conner tells me. I get out my phone and dial the bakery. I tell Sharon I have the flu. I can’t tell her the truth. I can’t put anyone else at risk.

Sharon, bless her heart, tells me she will take care of everything. I am giving her another raise after all this shit is done.

We ride around for a good two hours. Isaac stays on the phone. It sounds as if he is calling in his troops as well. Conner sits beside me, holding my hand, trying to help me stay calm.

Then I remember I have an appointment with Karen in a few days. I smile and place my hand over my belly. I’m not showing very much, but I know our babies were there. Karen thinks she can tell the sex of the babies at our next appointment. Conner puts his hand over mine. I can’t wait until we can start to feel them move. I look up at him and give him a big smile. No matter what we are going through, at least we have a reason to be happy and fight for our happiness.

Once Isaac is satisfied with a rental place, we ditch the limo for a black BMW. Conner makes me sit up front with Isaac while he sits in the back. I like watching Isaac drive. He is in total control, just like when we are in the bedroom having kinky sex.

I can tell he is worried. He keeps clenching his jaw, and his hands grip the stirring wheel so hard they turn white. I don’t say anything to Isaac or Conner on our way to the hotel. I know Isaac needs time to process what his plan is.

I have to admit I am a little surprised when Isaac pulls up at the Hilton. This is where Isaac took me to the charity ball. And when I first slept with Conner. I remember that night like it just happened. I wish I had known before that Isaac and Conner liked to share, it could’ve saved me from feeling so guilty afterwards.

Isaac gets us the master suite. I’m not sure how long we will stay, but I am glad to get away from the chaos for a bit. We make our way to our suite. I can’t figure out Isaac’s mood. He doesn’t seem angry anymore, but I can tell something was bothering him.