Page 62 of Harboring Shantae

"No one is ever getting that close to you again. You're my world and I can't lose you."

"You won't lose me. No matter what."

Chapter 29

Camronshieldedherfromseeing what his team did with Zion. She wanted to ask, but wasn't sure she was ready to hear the answer. The sounds that she heard as Camron repeatedly punched Zion would stay with her for a long time. She hated Zion, but she didn't want to be the reason he died.

"How are you holding up?" Jennie asked.

Camron had dropped her off in Wes's office where Jennie was already waiting, while he went to clean up. At first, he had insisted she go with him, but she needed a minute alone to think.

"Kinda running the gauntlet of emotions, so not sure how best to answer that."

"That's understandable. Don't feel like you have to right now. But know that everyone is here for you when you are ready to talk about it." Jennie offered her some comfort.

"Are things always like this here?" she asked.

Everyone seemed so calm. She couldn't imagine how she would get used to constantly being in danger. Is that what her life was now that she was married to Camron?

"No, they aren't. I mean sure, yes, these situations are how everyone seems to meet their significant others, but no, I wouldn't call this the norm."

That made her feel marginally better, considering she was the reason this most recent threat landed on their doorstep.

A soft knock had her jumping.

"It's okay. It's just Panther. He said he was on his way back up."

Jennie went to the door and let him in. She gave Shantae a small smile before slipping out to give them time alone.

"Hey." Camron slipped onto the couch next to her.

"Hi," she replied back in a small voice.

He had cleaned the blood from his hands and changed his clothes. Jennie had been nice enough to give her a fresh set of clothes, so there was no evidence of what happened. Shantae wasn't sure how she felt that the whole incident could be washed away that quickly for Panther. It hadn't been for her because she could still see it playing like a movie when she tried to close her eyes.

"How are you?"

"Not good." She broke down and started crying.

Panther was sure this was it; the moment Shantae realized that she couldn't live this life. He knew things were going too well. She said he wouldn't lose her, but that was during all of the excitement, before things calmed down, before the shock wore off. Now everything was hitting her at once.

Panther pulled her into his arms and stroked her hair. He let her get all the emotions out. If she was going to leave him, then he wanted at least one more moment with her. Just to hold her in his arms and soak up her presence.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered. "I know it's a lot. My job is a lot to handle."

He would give it up if it meant keeping her and the happiness she brought to his life. He loved the work, but not as much as he loved her. Losing her would be worse than if he lost his career.

"It's not," she hiccupped.

She was still crying so much that it tore him up. His heart ached knowing he was the cause of this pain.

"What's not?"

He waited until the crying slowed down before he asked.

"Your job. It's not a lot. I'm just overwhelmed by everything that happened today and I'm having a hard time dealing with it all."

"Wait, so you're not leaving me?"