Healing Love: Saints Protection & Investigation (25 page)

A week later,
Miriam lay in bed after a shift at the hospital. As tired as she was, she hated closing her eyes. Waking up night after night, fear clutching her heart, she would sit up quickly in bed. Each time the nightmares came, she would get up in the middle of the night and head to the kitchen, getting a glass of cold water to soothe her sweat soaked body.

She talked to the hospital counselor once but decided that she would not return.
I’m a nurse. I know what the hell PTSD is and that I need help.
But the realization that her experiences in Mexico were so far removed from anything the counselor could imagine had her refusing to go again.

Standing at the kitchen sink, she glanced at the clock on the stove. Two a.m.
Damn.
Forcing her mind from the nightmares that awoke her, she turned her thoughts to her day at work.
Like that’s any better,
she thought remorsefully.

Remembering the reasons behind her decision to go with the Red Cross to Mexico, she realized they still existed. The fast pace of the ER did not allow her time to bond with any of her patients. On top of that, it appeared that she had received some level of notoriety since she had last been there. The staff was pleased she was back, but full of questions that she had no intentions of discussing with any of them.

Returning to her bedroom, she threw herself across the bed, turning off the lamp on the nightstand, trying to battle the nightmares.

Her mind rolled back to the weeks that she helped take care of Mackenna’s mother who had a stroke. She loved that experience—working with a patient she had the opportunity to get to know.

It was not just the hospital that was getting on her nerves. After two nights of sleeping in her old room in her parents’ home, she was ready to move back into her apartment. Jobe had his coworkers at Alvarez Security come by to set up security. Rebecca had insisted on spending the night, but Miriam finally convinced her to return to the apartment she now shared with Thomas. Jobe wanted to stay…then her mother.

Earlier in the evening she almost lost her composure but maintained, knowing her family loved her. “Guys, you’ve got to let me get back to my life. I love you, but the only way I’m going to move on past what happened is if I can get back to what’s normal!”

They relented reluctantly and now she found herself lying in bed, the moonlight casting shadows around the room and her heart pounding as she tried to steady her breathing.
I’m in my home. Safe. No one is threatening me here.

As always when her mind cast back, she thought of her time with Cam and wondered what he was doing. It was hard letting go of him, not understanding why he walked away. Rolling from one side to her back and then over to the other side, she wondered if sleep would come.

She knew her brother saw Cam as nothing more than her rescuer…not a lover.
Oh Jesus, what would he say if he knew?

Her phone vibrated on the nightstand and she grabbed it, not looking before she answered. Rebecca, Hannah, or Jobe had taken to checking on her at night. As soon as she said, “Hello,” and heard silence on the other end, she immediately recognized her stupidity.
With the media still trying to get a story, I should have never answered.
With her finger over the off button, she heard a man’s voice, thick with an accent, “You left. That was not very nice of you, was it?”

Bolting upright in bed, she gasped, “Who is this?”

Only a deep chuckle was the answer before the phone call was disconnected.

Heart pounding, she stared at the phone in her shaking hands. Her mind raced trying to make sense of his words and who to call. She had programmed Cam’s cell number into her phone, remembering his parting words.
In case you ever need anything.

Hitting her contacts, she saw Cam’s name.

He answered sleepily, “Yeah?”

“Cam?”

“Miriam?” Hearing the fear in her voice, he quickly asked, “What’s wrong?”

“I got a call, Cam. I got a call from someone. Someone who knew I left and…and…and they said it wasn’t nice of me to leave.”

“Fuck!” he growled instantly alert. “Where are you?”

“In bed,” she replied, eyes darting around as though the shadows in her room would come alive.

“No, no, I mean what house are you in?”

“My apartment.”

“You alone?”

“Yes. I told my family that I wanted to get back to my life and not to hover.”

“I’m on my way. Stay locked in.”

“My address is—”

“I know it,
cariña
. I know where you live.”

Disconnecting, she leaned her back against the headboard, drawing her knees up to her chest and resting her chin on them. Her mind was racing.
Who could that be? And why?

She looked back down at her phone and considered calling Jobe, but with Mackenna pregnant, she did not want to disturb him.
He’ll lose his shit when he finds out anyway but, for now, he needs to be with his wife. And Cam? He may not want to be with me, but he can protect me.

Before she knew it there was a knock on the door. Startled, she ran through the hall to the front door but stood numbly, afraid to answer.

“Babe? It’s me,” Cam’s voice carried through the wood.

Throwing open the door, she grabbed his hand dragging him in quickly before shutting the door and throwing the bolt.

Twirling around to face him, she blurted, “I’m sorry I called. It’s just I was scared and didn’t want my brother to lose his shit, not when his wife is expecting and I thought of you and knew that no matter how you felt about me, you’d help.”

Cam grabbed her shoulders pulling her toward him. Her long, dark hair flowed down her back, framing her pale face. Her eyes, large and unblinking stared up at him. “Babe, slow down. I’m here and fuckin’ glad you called. I’ll handle Jobe, but right now I need to see your phone.”

She handed it to him and watched as his fingers quickly flew over the keys. He then pulled out his phone and placed a call.

“Jack? It’s Cam. Sorry to disturb you but I’m at Miriam’s. She got a warning phone call on her cell, then she called me. I want to meet tomorrow. Everyone? Yeah. No, I’m taking her with me. Not leaving her here.” Signing off, he turned back to her and said gently, “Babe, I need you to get changed and pack some shit. I’m taking you to my place.”

She stood and stared, unable to process what he was saying.
Babe? He’s taking me with him?

He stepped closer, lifting her chin with his fingers. “
Cariña
? Breathe,” he ordered gently, and she felt the air whoosh out of her.

“I don’t understand, Cam. Why are we going?”

“I know Jobe had your apartment wired for security, but I don’t want to take any chances. I want you to pack up whatever you need for a couple of days and I’m taking you to my place for the night. Tomorrow morning, we’re going to Jack’s where all the guys will meet. I want Luke to have a crack at your phone to see what he can tell about the caller.”

She licked her lips nervously, glancing around. “I…I should call Jobe.”

Cam stepped closer. “You already said you didn’t want him upset with Mackenna pregnant right now.” He watched as she nodded her head slowly in agreement. “Why’d you call me?” he asked.

Her eyes sought his and she answered honestly. “I…I knew you’d come for me. I knew I could trust you.”

He stepped closer so that her front was almost plastered to his. “Why’d you really call, baby?”

Her chest heaved with each breath as she replied, “Because I wanted you. I know you wanted to get away from me once we were back but…I just wanted to feel safe and you’re the only one I would really feel safe with.”

He cocked his head as he stared at her for a long minute, then quietly said, “Get dressed and get your shit, babe. I’ll take care of Jobe…and I’ll take care of you.”

She nodded and headed toward the bedroom, stopping as he called her name.

“I got stuff I need to handle to make sure you’re safe first but then we’re talking. We’ve got things to talk about and I’m not letting you walk away again without taking care of all our business. You with me,
cariña
?”

She sucked her lips in and stared before giving a quick nod and doing what he asked. He watched her, noticing her pink sleep shorts with the matching polka-dotted camisole. Forcing his mind to the problem and not her ass, he moved about her apartment making sure it was secure before they left.

Fifteen minutes later, she handed him her suitcase as she slung her laptop bag and purse over her shoulders, following him out into the night. She had no idea what he wanted to talk about. But as long as she was with him, she knew she’d be safe.

C
am woke the
next morning, his mind instantly alert and focused on the woman sharing his bed. Her long, dark hair lay across his pillow and her face was relaxed in slumber. His mind wandered over the night’s events, resulting in Miriam in his bed…where he wanted her but had been afraid would never happen.

As soon as
Cam had her in his SUV, he called Jobe. “Bro, It’s Cam. Keep your shit, but I’ve got Miriam. She got a threatening phone call and called me. I called Tony to keep an eye on your cameras and I was there in fifteen minutes.” Cam heard Jobe immediately go into protective brother mode and he interjected, “Nope, not happening. She called me. She’s coming to my place, not some lock-down at Alvarez.” Pause. “This is a courtesy call, man, ’cause I know you’re tight with your sister, but she’s already decided she’s not bringing this shit to your doorstep with you havin’ a pregnant wife.”

It took a couple of more minutes to get Jobe under control, but Cam finally convinced him that it was for the best. They agreed to meet at Jack’s compound the next morning. Disconnecting, Cam looked over at Miriam, seeing the concern on her face.

“He lost his shit, didn’t he?” she asked.

“Yeah,” he nodded. “But if it was one of my sisters, I’d be losing my shit too.”

They drove in silence for a couple of minutes, Miriam staring out of the window into the darkness. She lived on the western side of Richland in an apartment complex that was close to the hospital where she worked. They passed several neighborhoods before he turned the SUV onto one of the highways that took them farther west outside of the city. About five minutes later they exited and she saw that they were already in a less populated area. A few more twists and turns took them to a street with few houses on it, each with several acres around.

“You live out here? There’s so much land around and you’re not that far from the city,” she said, surprise in her voice.

“I consider it to be the best kept secret around. The neighborhood is old and small with only about twenty houses, but we all have some land around so there’s still a sense of privacy. I’m twenty minutes away from the city and about thirty minutes away on the other side from Jack’s place.” Chuckling, he added, “And just about ten minutes away from a grocery store.”

They pulled into a long driveway lined by trees and then she got a glimpse of a small, two story house before the garage door opened and they drove inside.

Cam led her into the laundry room from the garage and then into the kitchen. While not large, it was updated with new appliances. An arched doorway led into the combination dining room and living room. Having only seen him in the wilds, she could not help but look around in curiosity at what his home represented.

She saw old, comfortable furniture that appeared to be second hand while clean and neat. The table could seat eight, which seemed strange before she remembered that he also had a large family. The informal living room was filled with an overstuffed sofa and chair angled to face the brick fireplace and large screen TV mounted over the mantle. The space was definitely male—no nicknacks, no frills, but warm and inviting all the same.

Cam placed her suitcase in the hall that led toward the stairs and turned to see her looking around. “It’s not much, but it’s home…and it’s wired for security as well as anything Jobe could offer you.”

She offered him a small smile, saying, “I’m sure it is. I feel…completely safe here with you.”

As he watched, he saw a shadow pass over her face and he decided that talking was the first thing on his list of what they needed to get out of the way. He walked passed her, taking her hand in the process, and led her over to his sofa. Sitting down, he twisted his body so that as he pulled her down next to him, he was facing her.

“You want to talk about the phone call?” she asked.

“Nope,” he declared. “I want to talk about us.”

Her head cocked to the side as her brow creased in question. “Us? Um…I don’t know what you mean,” she said nervously.

“Look at me,
cariña
”,” he ordered gently and her eyes immediately sought his. “I’m a simple man, Miriam, so I’m gonna lay it out as plain as I know how. I don’t see the reason to drag this out or have either of us unsure of what we are and what we have.”

He watched carefully, seeing her gaze remaining on his although the questioning expression was still on her face.

“Okay,” she said, dragging out the word in hesitation.

“We met under strange, intense circumstances and sometimes people get so caught up in that kind of world that they act in ways that lets them know they’re alive and then the emotions get all tangled up in that as well.”

She sucked in her lips, listening to him sound so dispassionate about what their relationship had been.

“But that was not us, babe,” he declared, seeing the surprise on her face.

“What we had down there was real. What we learned about each other. What we did. And especially when we made love…it was not fucking. It was not just getting off on each other because of an intense situation. I felt it. I knew it. And I fuckin’ want to keep exploring where it’s gonna go now.”

“But…but you seemed so distant when we said goodbye,” she said, confusion warring with hurt.

“I screwed up, babe, and I see that now. The last thing I wanted to do was interfere with your family reunion. They needed that and so did you. And I knew you needed time to get back into your life. And I admit that I wondered if there was any place for me in your real world.”