Chapter 8 #2
Zain looked between them. “Well, that’s a yes. I don’t suppose this has anything to do with those past issues you mentioned earlier? What you called ugly memories.”
Mac moved in front of Foster, leaning on him as if she needed his strength. “You don’t have to go into details, but maybe you should tell them his name. Just in case.”
Saylor pressed her lips together to stop from screaming. She swallowed, barely getting it down without choking. “Why? He won. The charges were dismissed shortly after I moved here.”
“But he was encouraged to retire. And he’s the kind of vindictive asshole who might want payback. ”
Saylor raked her fingers through her hair, praying her legs didn’t just buckle. “It’s like every failure’s coming back to bite me in the ass.”
Zain shuffled closer. “If some asshole hurt you, that’s not your fault. Just like the Vigilant . Regardless of what happened, the storm ultimately sank that ship. None of this is on you. But if you give us a name, we can at least make sure that creep isn’t in town.”
Saylor let her head tilt back. “What’s that saying?
No good deed…” She took a breath, wishing the floor would just open up and swallow her.
“Keith Watson, former Coast Guard captain. The bastard slipped something into my drink when a group of us were out at a bar after returning from a TACLET tour. He tried to jump me in an alley afterward, but…”
Zain held her gaze when she finally managed to look at him. “You fought him off.”
“Not sure fought is the right word. He handed me my ass, but I got in enough strikes a couple of the Navy SEALs we were drinking with heard the ruckus and came running. Watson tried to say he’d interrupted the attack, but there were some camera feeds.
He was arrested, then released on bail pending a trial… ”
Zain frowned. “And they what? Just dropped everything?”
Saylor tapped her head. “I have amnesia.”
“Of the ship sinking, not of this asshole assaulting you.”
Chase groaned, then moved in beside Foster. “But it’s still a traumatic brain injury. Watson’s lawyer probably claimed that your memory can’t be trusted because they don’t know how much damage was done.”
Saylor nodded. “They gave me six months, but when nothing returned, they said I wasn’t a reliable witness, anymore. That I’d lose, and it was better to drop the charges knowing I could charge him, again, if the situation changed. Though, that’s a long shot.”
Zain looked between her and Chase. “They had the bastard on video and still let him off?”
“They didn’t have the full attack on camera, just him entering the alley before me. Several frames with him pinning me to the wall. But without my testimony, he could spin that however he wanted. And he outranked me. While that shouldn’t matter, we all know it does.”
Zain clenched his jaw, that muscle in his temple jumping, just like earlier. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.” He sighed when she merely nodded. “It’s beyond late, and we’re all exhausted. We should call it a night.”
Foster waved them toward the backdoor. “We’ll have Bodie check out Watson, just to safe. And we’ll take turns running patrols tonight, Zain, so for once, keep your ass inside.”
Zain scoffed. “Security’s my responsibility.”
“I know, but tonight, you’re gonna let your brothers do the heavy lifting.” Foster placed his hands on Mac’s hips. “I’d hate to accidentally shoot you in the ass thinking you’re a threat.”
“I’m sure it would really eat you up inside.”
Zain placed his hand on the small of Saylor’s back and guided her toward the kitchen door. They made a dash for his place, storming through the door before shutting out the wind and the rain behind them. Soft lighting filled the main area, not a hint of anything out of place.
They kicked off their boots before she followed Zain into the great room, nearly colliding with him when he suddenly stopped, then turned.
She looked up at him, trying to figure out if he was edgy about her security or if it was just the aftermath of the attack, when he tugged her against his chest and wrapped his arms around her.
Safe.
That’s what he felt like. What she’d been searching for since she’d woken in the hospital with nothing but faded memories and a sense of foreboding — as if she’d missed a threat.
He blew out a rough breath as he tightened his hold. “I’m sorry.”
Saylor sighed. “For what? Saving my life, again?”
He eased back, tucking some of her hair behind her ear. “For putting you on the spot tonight. I know it was necessary. That we can’t help you if we don’t know what we’re up against, but…”
“It would have eventually come up.”
“But on your schedule. When you were ready to talk about it.”
“Not sure I was ever gonna be ready. And at least this way, you won’t be surprised when I wake up screaming in the night. Which I do. A lot.”
He lifted one hand and brushed it along her cheek. “Maybe you just need someone to help keep the nightmares at bay. ”
She nuzzled against his palm. “I really hope you’re volunteering.”
He leaned in — dropped a soft kiss on her lips. Not hurried or intense, more of a promise. “There’s nothing I want more than to hold you all night. Whether we take it any further’s up to you.”
Saylor chuckled. “How many times do I have to throw myself at you before it sticks? Because we’ve been dancing around this moment for months.”
He stared at her for a second before his mouth kicked into a sexy grin as he lifted her against his chest, helping her wrap her legs around his waist as his arms settled across her back and beneath her ass. “Are you sure? While it takes me some time to get any traction, once I commit…”
She smiled as she leaned in close. “There’s not much I’m certain about these days. But I’ve been crazy about you since you jumped off my boat in order to help save my best friend.”
“Then, you’d best hold on because this is going to be epic.”