Page 38 of Among the Stars

Taken away? That didn’t sound positive. “Taken away from your father?”

“By my father.”

Cam’s heart rate accelerated, and she kissed his chest. “You don’t have to keep going.”

He squeezed her hand. “I don’t talk about this much.”

Even without the details, she didn’t blame him. “Just talk and I’ll listen,” Veronica said. “Stop whenever you want.”

“My mother died when I was three,” he said. “He slammed her head against a wall. I didn’t know that until I was older.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, kissing his chest again.

“She was a junkie. And young. She had me when she was seventeen.”

The lack of emotion was eerie. “Do you remember her?”

“No. After that, I spent eighteen months living with my grandmother—my mom’s mom. I’d hear her and my aunt talking about my father coming to get me. There were no men around to fight him off, and I lived in fear of the day it would happen.”

“Was he in jail?” Veronica asked.

“Yes. But he got out in less than two years.”

“And he came for you.”

Cam nodded. “In the middle of the night.”

That poor little boy. She wanted to travel back in time and protect him. To save him from a nightmare she could hardly imagine.

“When I was sixteen, I ran away. I don’t know if he ever even looked for me.”

“Did you go back to your grandmother?”

“We were in Chicago by then. I did what I had to do to survive. I did things I’m not proud of.”

He didn’t need to go on. “The important part is that you did survive. That’s what matters. That you’re here now.”

Dark eyes met hers for the first time since his story began. “There were days I didn’t think I’d make it.”

“But you did.” Veronica edged up his body to press her lips against his. “You fought and you won.”

A strong hand slid into her hair. “You’re good for me, Veronica.”

Laying her head on his shoulder, she replied, “You’re good for me, too, Cam.”