Series: Beneath the Darkness #3
Publication date: October 13th, 2020
Synopsis:
When Jenna's past was called into question, truths
uncovered, and a stunning secret revealed, her world fell
apart in the most earth-shattering of ways.
One so devastating and profoundly painful, there
was no escaping the hollowness that would remain
in her heart until she righted the wrongs of the past.
While Jenna was no stranger to a blindside, nothing
would stand in her way as she fought to reclaim the
life she rightfully deserved. However, being
confronted by one's worst nightmare, meant her
fortitude would face the ultimate test.
The problem with putting your life on the line was not
everyone would walk away unscathed.
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Excerpt
"Let me make a call, and we'll be wheels up within the hour."
"No," I said, tossing Cameron's shirt onto the bed before I pulled at my bra that was laying in a pile on top of my duffel bag from yesterday.
"No? Your mom's in Houston, right?"
"Yes," I replied while slipping a pair of leggings up over my hips. My mind was too busy running through a list of questions I planned to ask her.
"Then, I don't understand."
I turned to face him after I finished pulling a gray T-shirt over my head and hesitated with the words weighing heavy over me. "I think I should go alone." It pained me to say that out loud.
"Like fuck, you're going alone," he snapped, stepping into my personal space. "If what my PI said is true, then you going back there by yourself and being in closer proximity to Sam's Uncle is--Jesus Christ, Jenna, tell me you see the problem here."
Cameron was pissed, as evidenced by his tone, which I immediately recognized made me feel vulnerable, so I quickly shut it down and slid my protective armor in place. Sam always undermined me, and I'd be damned if I'd let anyone talk to me in that way or tell me what to do ever again.
"Oh, I see it all right, but when have you ever known me to be a coward and back down from a fight?"
"Never."
"Exactly," I asserted with a pissed-off sneer before doing an about-face.
I slipped on my flip-flops and quickly gathered up all my belongings. Considering my state of mind, when I arrived at the hotel, I hadn't unpacked much of anything, so it didn't take long for me to grab the essentials.
"Jenna, stop," he warned.
"I'm leaving, and you can't stop me."
As I turned towards the door, his hand caught my elbow. Cameron stepped in front of me and blocked the exit.
"Jenna." He'd lowered his voice while I cast my eyes down out of avoidance.
I was struggling with the storm brewing around me from every direction, and instead of being considerate of the reasons behind his trepidation, I took my annoyance out on him.
Cameron's thumb and forefinger closed around my chin. "Sweetheart, please look at me." It wasn't until I did that the severity of tension separating us became very apparent.
"I don't doubt that you can hold your own, but I'm going to go out of my ever-fucking mind with worry, you've gotta know that. You should know in your heart that I have complete faith in your ability to survive anything thrown your way. It's just--"
"I won't be alone, Declan will be with me."
"And so will Grant."
"Cameron--"
"No arguments," he asserted with a heavy sigh. "I will not bend on this. If you want to go alone, without me, I won't stand in your way, although you can be damn certain I'm going to make sure you are fully protected."
Cameron cradled my face in his palms as I worried my lip. Flying home was a trip I had to do on my own, and I needed him to not only support my decision but understand why it was important from my perspective.
Our exchange was intense, and yet, I stood my ground firmly despite the front-row seat I had to the battle he was grappling with internally. The sincerity in his eyes was empathetic while the disguise he held in place to conceal the validity motivating his concerns betrayed him. At that moment, Cameron proved he was man enough to trust me and let me fight my own battles when his stance softened, and the tension from our heated exchange dissipated.
Sometimes you must let go of your safety net and face your demons head-on like the true warrior you are.
About the Author:
Cheryl Sloan lives an hour outside Toronto with her husband, two children, and has a love for all things creative. With the unwavering support and encouragement of her husband, she decided to abandon her comfort zone and pursue her dream of becoming a published author. When she's not lost in crafting her character's world or cuddled up with a good book and her lapdog Labradoodle, she can be found spending quality time with her family and hanging out at the ballpark supporting their favorite MLB team.
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