Chapter 19
19
J ack eyed his group carefully as they met the next morning in the main conference room at their compound. He took his responsibilities as their boss seriously, not only wanting to know about the mission, but keeping a pulse on his men as well. Cam’s hair and beard were trimmed closely again as he sat stoically at the table waiting for the meeting to begin.
“Good to have you home, Cam. We’ve read the reports coming in from Marc, but we’ll get to your assessment in a few minutes.” Jack reported the ending of the recent serial killer case that they had all been working on, including Cam before he was re-assigned. The case had just been resolved. Much to Cam’s surprise, it ended much closer to home than any of them had anticipated.
Jack divvied up the newer security assignments, pleased that none of them required travel at this time except for a few visits to Washington, D.C. for a couple of them. Turning back to Cam, he said, “Okay, let’s hear it. I’ll still need your written report, but until then, give us your version and where we need to go with this.”
Cam recited his observations of the mission, the camp, the compound, and the rescue. His words were precise, clinical. Non emotional. He noticed the glances of the others around the table, but he was not going there. No fuckin’ way are they getting more.
Jack listened, taking notes as Cam spoke. When the report was given, he turned to Blaise. “What does the DEA say? More security needed?”
Blaise answered, “The agents I talked to yesterday seem to think that this is over. Miriam and Cam’s interviews didn’t provide any new information, just confirmation of what the DEA already knew. Juaquim is the local leader of that area. Made a shit load of money on the backs of the farmers who barely make enough to feed their families. Miriam was able to give them some information on his private compound and the activities of a Dr. Villogas, but, other than that, they felt like she’s in no danger. Nothing that would make anyone want to come here to harm her.”
The group was silent as their eyes gravitated toward Cam. Jack turned back to Cam and asked, “What’s your opinion?”
Sighing heavily, he said, “Got no reason to think that she’s in further danger. We’ve got Alberto and Manuel working on having the DEA keep her out of the media, but that’s not to say that it won’t be noticed soon. Probably everyone she worked with at the hospital knows she was missing and when she shows back up, they’re going to have questions. How was the local news?”
Bart replied, “News reporters camped outside her parents’ home for a while until Jobe and the rest of Tony’s men convinced them they needed to move along. When no news was coming, the reporters left looking for bigger stories. Now that she’s back? Don’t know.”
“I’ll stay in touch with Jobe to make sure the family is covered with security, although Tony’s probably already taking care of his needs. I want us to work with Alvarez Security on that,” Jack added. The others nodded and he saw a flash of gratitude in Cam’s eyes.
“Then are we all agreed to keep Miriam Delaro on as a security risk for now?”
“Absolutelys” and “fuck yeahs” were heard around the table. Eyes twinkling, Luke grinned and said, “Right. Then I’m going to set up a continuous intel link into Juaquim’s setup.” He looked over at Blaise and said, “What I find for the DEA, it’ll be your call to let them know, but I’m only keeping an eye out for anything that pertains to Miriam.”
The others chuckled knowing how Luke lived for hacking into the computer systems of those they were investigating.
Blaise nodded in agreement as Jack noted that he would inform Jobe and Tony about their plans.
The meeting adjourned and the eight men headed upstairs to the main level of Jack’s house. As soon as they reached the living level the scent of cinnamon filled the air. Bethany was standing in the kitchen having just pulled out a huge apple cobbler from the oven .
“Jesus, I missed this,” Cam exclaimed, rounding the breakfast bar to get a better whiff.
Bethany turned her face toward him and, once she set the hot dish on the cooling rack, she walked over, offering him a hug. “Welcome home, Cam.”
He returned the hug, saying, “Hear a lot happened while I was gone.”
Letting go of the large man and turning her attention to Jack as he prowled over to her, she smiled. “Yeah, it’s been kinda crazy. I guess Jack filled you in?”
Cam nodded and watched his boss kiss the top of Bethany’s head. Jack thought he’d never be able to fit Bethany into his world. Guess he found out that she fits perfectly with him.
Offering a sincere smile, he said, “Good to see you two together.”
Jack accepted his congratulations, before saying, “You’d better serve this up, babe, before the crowd gets restless.”
Laughing, Bethany dished out hearty servings of the cobbler to the Saints and they all retired to Jack’s large deck overlooking his property with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background.
The group settled into comfortable conversation, Bethany joining right in, as they devoured the treat. Jack often held post-meeting gatherings here or in his massive den. Having served in the Special Forces, he knew the importance of bonding with the men who needed to have your back and understanding them so that you could have theirs.
The conversation slowly turned toward Cam’s latest mission as Bethany asked, “Tell me about Miriam once you escaped? How did she handle everything?”
“She was great,” Cam responded quickly. “Never complained. I told her straight out that she needed to follow my every command, even if she didn’t understand it. She had no problem doing it and it probably saved our lives several times. She ate what I had for her, slept when we could. I did the paddling, but she worked to keep the canoe afloat when the rain was pouring down. When we had to climb down a steep mountain side, taking the canoe with us, she did everything just right.”
The group fell silent listening to their comrade describe his admiration for Miriam.
“Sounds like an amazing woman,” Bethany said softly, seeing the struggle in Cam’s expression. “Like someone worth knowing. Maybe even…worth fighting for.”
“Babe,” Jack warned, giving her a little squeeze.
Cam’s eyes jumped quickly to hers, but instead of seeing mirth, he saw understanding. Nodding slowly, he said, "I agree, Bethany. She is someone worth fighting for. But the right person needs to be doing the fighting.”
He watched as Bethany cocked her head to the side and knew the other men had stopped eating and were watching him carefully.
Jack spoke first. “Sounds a lot like me a couple of months ago, thinking that my life had nothing to offer a woman like that.”
Bethany put her hand on Jack’s chest, glancing at him before turning her gaze back to Cam, who was staring off in the distance.
“We shared something down there,” Cam finally admitted. “Something special. Not going to talk about it, but I will say it gave me hope. Hope that someone like her could be happy with someone like me.”
The group said nothing, waiting for the big man to gather his thoughts.
“Watched her last night with her family. They’re tight. Tight as my family and I didn’t think anyone could be that tight. She’s good. They’ve got her covered. Just not sure I see myself fitting into her world right now.”
“But—” Bethany started, but Jack once more gave her a squeeze.
Cam continued, “She saw shit down there. God-awful shit that no one, especially a sweet nurse, should ever have to see. Down there? I was her rescuer. Now that we’re back? I might just be a reminder of what all she went through.”
Bart, feeling his friend’s pain, said, “Man, you’re taking that choice away from her just like Jack was with Bethany. You’re deciding what she’ll feel. What she’ll remember. Maybe that’s not what she wants at all.”
Sucking in a deep breath, Cam looked down at his empty plate. Standing, he looked at Bethany saying, “Appreciate the cobbler. It’s just as good as I remember.” He walked to the sliding glass door that led inside before turning once more toward his friends. “I get what you’re saying. But that will have to come from her. I’m not about to walk her back through those memories unless she wants me to.”
With that, he left Bethany and the other Saints still on the deck.
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 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 past what happened is if I 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, carina . 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 I need to see your phone right now.”
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. “ Carina ? 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.”
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.