Chapter Eleven
CHAPTER ELEVEN
S alem couldn’t help worrying about Jack. Oh, she knew Gator would watch over him, but from everything she knew about him—granted, it wasn’t much—seemed to indicate that Jack was a take-charge kind of man. Following orders from Gator might rub him the wrong way. She’d simply have to wait and see.
Knowing somebody had planted cameras in her apartment while she was gone still spooked her. If they’d felt free enough to do that, no telling what else they’d do. She had no doubt it was the Amirs behind it. Probably Abdullah, Tarik’s brother. He’d been almost as ruthless as Tarik, though he’d had to restrain his more vicious tendencies because he wasn’t the oldest, and Tarik kept him in check, both physically and financially. Now that Abdullah was in charge, she feared what he would do, what he was capable of without anybody putting reins on him, keeping him in line.
She’d seen how vicious and vindictive Abdullah could be, seen the black eyes and split lips, as well as bruises, from the women he kept close. While it wasn’t a harem per se, Abdullah liked having more than one woman at his beck and call at all times, and because he had money from a trust fund his father set up, he never wanted for feminine companionship. The only person who might be able to sway him was his mother, Sayifa. The problem was she doted on her sons, feeling they could do no wrong, and if they wanted something, then they should have it—regardless of the consequences.
She glanced at the clock above the table where she sat, letting Chloe have a snack. Jack and Gator had been gone over two hours, and she was about to lose her mind. Gunner was outside, and she wasn’t afraid somebody would break in, but she also couldn’t leave until Jack got back. She’d promised.
The knock on the door startled her. Probably Gunner checking on her. Leaving Chloe strapped in her highchair, she walked over and checked the peephole, seeing Gabi and Stephanie outside in the hall. Unlocking the door, she opened it, letting them inside. She almost closed the door when a hand stopped it, and Andrea Kirkland smiled before following the other two women inside. Gunner gave a short nod, telling her without words that things were under control.
“What are you guys doing here?”
“Heard there was a bit of excitement, and figured we’d come over and keep you company.” Gabi dropped her purse on the end table by the sofa and walked over to Chloe, squatting down beside her, and kissing her on the top of her head. Chloe babbled her baby talk to her Auntie Gabi, smiling and offering her a half grape from the pile on her tray. Gabi allowed her to pop it into her mouth, thrilling her daughter.
“You didn’t have to come over, it’s being handled. Gator came and he and Jack are…” She trailed off because she really wasn’t sure what Gator and Jack were up to now. It had been two hours; surely they’d finished checking out the local office supply places. How long could it possibly take to walk in the door, ask if they’d printed the pictures and walk out? Her chest got tight when she realized they might have found the person or people who’d done it, and were with them right at that moment.
“Wow, you got really pale all of a sudden. Maybe you should sit down.” Stephanie patted the sofa cushion next to her.
“It’s okay, I’m alright, I swear.”
“Well, if Daddy’s with Jack, who knows what they’ll turn up.” Gabi looped her arm through Salem’s and half dragged her over to sit down, before heading back to the table to watch over Chloe. Gabi adored her namesake. Salem had named her daughter Chloe Gabriella Hudson after her bestie, the woman who’d been there to protect her when Tarik had shown up, determined to drag her back to Dubai by force if necessary.
And it would have been necessary because I have no intention of going anywhere with him. I would never willingly have let him control me or my baby. I learned my lesson the hard way. Her fingers slid across the scar on her cheek, remembering the pain like a bad toothache.
“So…tell us all about Jack. He’s cute.” Stephanie wiggled her brows up and down and everyone laughed, her exaggerated action breaking the ice.
“He’s amazing. I’ve known him over a year, met him in Texas when I was visiting Gabi’s aunt and uncle.”
“Wow, you’ve known him that long? Why have I never heard about him before now?” Andrea studied Salem intently, and she nearly squirmed in her seat. Andrea was nobody’s fool, one of the smartest women she’d ever met. Being married to Samuel and working for C.S.S., she probably already knew everything there was to know about Jack. Except for the fact that he’d married her to help her fight Tarik’s family. She and Jack had decided to keep that information to themselves, because the fewer people who knew the truth—that their relationship wasn’t a long-distance love affair like they told everyone—the less likely it was for the truth to come out.
“Jack and I have been getting to know each other slowly. We called or Zoomed each other, and I’d see him whenever I went to Shiloh Springs over the last year or so. I didn’t say anything because you know how it is with long-distance relationships. They rarely work out. I guess we are one of the lucky ones, because ours did.”
“Okay, I get that. I love a good love story. I mean, look at Etienne and me. Samuel had his ‘no fraternization’ policy for the office, so we weren’t allowed to date. That was total agony because I had the hots for that man for a long, long time. It took a hostage situation in another country for us to finally allow our true feelings out. But, Salem, you got married in Texas, without any of us being there. You know we love you, girl. It just seems a little rushed. Okay, a lot rushed. What’s really going on?”
Salem looked at Gabi, a plea in her gaze. She was floundering, and any second she’d blurt out the truth, which would open a whole can of worms. These ladies, as much as she loved them, would start sticking their noses into things, because they couldn’t help it. She knew them well enough to know they’d want to help, but she couldn’t bring them to the Amirs’ attention. They were ruthless, and she was still waiting for the other shoe to drop, because she knew they’d do more than plant cameras in her apartment before the court case. Nobody stood up to them and got away unscathed. Her body bore the scars to prove it.
Gabi shook her head. “Nope. I’ve learned it’s impossible to hide anything from them. If you wanted to keep your marriage and Jack a secret, you should have stayed in Texas. Oh, wait, you couldn’t.” She started unhooking Chloe from the highchair, lifting her high in her arms. “Who’s a good girl? You, yes, you are.”
“Wait, where’s your daughter?”
“She’s having a play date with Abby at Sarah’s house, and don’t change the subject.”
Salem slumped against the couch cushion and covered her face with her hands. Before she could say anything, a loud knock sounded on the front door. Great, saved by the bell or the knock. Jumping up, she flew across the floor, flinging the door open without checking to see who was on the other side. She knew it was safe, since Gunner was out there.
“Miss Willie! I didn’t know you were back from London.”
The older woman leaned in and kissed Salem’s cheek before bustling into the apartment, a canvas tote draped across her arm. She made a beeline for Chloe, handing the bag to Gabi, and lifting her honorary granddaughter into her arms. She nuzzled Chloe’s cheek and gave a pleased sigh.
“Got back day before yesterday, but it’s been a whirlwind since I got home. Trip took longer than I expected, but we managed to get the information we needed.” She gave a pleased smile. “I might have been out of the game for a while, but I’ve still got a few moves up my sleeve.”
“I bet you haven’t lost a step, Ms. Willie.” Gabi opened the bag Ms. Willie brought and pulled out a pan filled with delicious-smelling chocolate brownies with what looked like a decadent chocolate frosting. “Ta da! I thought I smelled chocolate. Ms. Willie, you are the best!”
Walking over to one of the empty chairs, Ms. Willie sat, holding Chloe in her lap, while the little one played with the necklace hanging against her chest. She seemed fascinated with the brightly colored beads, immediately trying to stick them in her mouth. Salem reached for her daughter, but Ms. Willie simply shook her head. Though she’d never had children of her own, everybody knew the unofficial godmother of all the kids around Carpenter Security knew she was the one who always had a treat or a hug handy.
“Now what’s this I hear about you having some trouble, dear?” Though Ms. Willie had lived in the U.S. for more than a few decades, she’d never lost her upper-crust British accent.
“Forget the trouble, didn’t Samuel tell you? Salem got married.” Andrea leaned back against the cushion after delivering that bit of news.
“Married?” She narrowed her eyelids, her gaze zeroing in on Salem. “Samuel didn’t mention that little fact. He simply said you were having some trouble with the Amirs. As a matter of fact, he had me do a little digging into them while I was in London.” Shaking her head, she bounced Chloe on her knee, keeping the child entertained while she spoke. “I must say, that family has their fingers in a few unsavory enterprises, ones that my former employers are taking an interest in as we speak. You’re very lucky to have gotten away from them when you did, Salem, because I have the feeling Abdullah is about to be neck deep in alligators, as you Americans say.”
Salem quirked a brow but said nothing. Everybody present knew Ms. Willie had a colorful past to say the least. She’d worked for British Intelligence with MI-5 and then MI-6, and had been an accomplished agent until her fiancé was killed. She’d moved to the States, where she’d worked for Samuel Carpenter as a housekeeper for what seemed like forever. When they’d relocated the company from Dallas to New Orleans, back to Samuel’s hometown, Ms. Willie had naturally moved too. Now, she took care of everyone at C.S.S. in both an official and unofficial capacity, and nobody could dream of a time when she wasn’t around. Samuel had provided her with a luxury apartment in the building, above the offices, and she divided her time between there and Gator’s house, since they’d been an item for a couple of years. There was even a pool going around the office about when the two of them would get hitched. So far, they didn’t seem to be in any hurry.
“The Amirs have served me with a custody case. They want full custody of Chloe.” Salem’s voice broke on the last word, and her body shuddered even thinking about the possibility. “Abdullah’s the one who brought the case, but I can guarantee it’s Sayifa who’s behind it. Abdullah couldn’t care less about Chloe, but Sayifa is her grandmother. Chloe is her only tie to Tarik, and she says she wants to teach Chloe their customs, their beliefs.”
“Nonsense. A simple check of the facts by any court would reveal the truth of what happened in Texas. That excuse won’t fly.”
“They are also suing Rafe Boudreau, since he is the sheriff of Shiloh Springs, as well as the county. They’re bringing a wrongful death case.”
Ms. Willie shook her head. “Again, Sheriff Boudreau was cleared after a thorough investigation by the Texas Rangers, and the Attorney General’s office for the state of Texas. I’m sure the Amirs can bring a case, but it’ll be thrown out of any reputable court the minute a judge sees the facts.”
“It’s not just that, Ms. Willie. The Amirs are saying Salem is an unfit mother.”
“Balderdash.”
“It’s true.” Stephanie leaned forward, her gaze locked with the other woman’s. “We all think the Amirs are going to claim that because Salem is a single mother working two jobs as well as going to school, Chloe is being neglected. Which is total B.S. Nobody loves their baby more than Salem, but the facts can be twisted, making it look like she doesn’t spend enough time with her child.”
Salem remained silent because every time she talked about the Amirs and what they were trying to do, it made her ill. She wasn’t sure how she’d go on if she lost Chloe.
After a few moments of quiet, Ms. Willie smiled. “I guess it’s a good thing that Salem isn’t a single mother anymore, isn’t it?”
Every eye in the room swung toward Salem, as if a collective lightbulb went off over everyone’s heads. Gabi didn’t say a word, but she sent a look toward Salem as if to say “see, I told you they’d figure it out.”
“Salem, you and Jack? Is that why you got married?” Andrea was the first to speak. “Is this a marriage of convenience, to keep the Amirs from getting Chloe?”
Salem took a deep breath, trying to figure out what to say. She and Jack hadn’t wanted to tell anyone why they’d gotten married, but these were her friends, the women who’d supported her after Chloe was born. Had helped her heal physically and psychologically from Tarik’s abuse. They deserved the truth.
“Okay, what I’m going to tell you, you have to keep to yourselves. I need you to promise.” Each one gave their verbal consent, so she continued. “When I was in Shiloh Springs, Jack was there almost every day. When I met with Chance the first night, Jack was at the Big House, and he heard all the details of what the Amirs were doing. I mean, it seemed only fair since he was one of the men who was there the night Tarik almost killed me and Gabi.”
“He was the Texas Ranger, the one who’d been visiting Rafe.” Ms. Willie whispered the words, before grinning. “I love Texas Rangers, they’re all so handsome. Rugged with a touch of danger. Deliciously yummy. Is Jack—”
“Oh, yeah,” Stephanie answered, her head bobbing.
“Absolutely,” Andrea added. “He’s definitely a hottie.”
“Wait until you meet him, Ms. Willie.” Gabi leaned closer to Ms. Willie and whispered, “He’s totally besotted with Salem, though she can’t see it.”
Heat flooded Salem’s cheeks at Gabi’s words.
“Ignore them, dear. Go ahead with your tale.”
“Jack heard everything. All the things the Amirs were accusing me of, their threats to take Chloe back to the U.A.E. Their threats against Rafe and the county. He went to Chance and Ivy, who’s my attorney, and asked if my being married would help with my case. Then he proposed.”
“Oh, my. He’s your knight in shining armor. Or in this case, your savior in a Stetson.” Chloe clapped her hands, as if she understood Ms. Willie’s words.
“Ladies, it’s not like that,” she protested. “He’s doing this to save Chloe.”
“Girlfriend, let’s look at the facts, shall we?” Gabi started counting on her fingers. “One, he proposed marriage to help you keep custody of your daughter. Marriage to somebody he barely knew. Two,” she continued over Salem’s protest. “He willingly moved to another state to be with you and your daughter. Three, he left a job that he’d had for almost a decade, a prestigious job where he was well respected and had opportunity to advance. A job that he immediately resigned so he could marry you and move to New Orleans. Four, he took a job with a company he didn’t know a thing about, except by reputation. Again, so he could marry you and relocate. And five, the man has goo-goo eyes every time he looks at you. Somebody who doesn’t care wouldn’t make those kinds of sacrifices.”
“Sounds like the man has feelings for you.” Andrea reached over and squeezed Salem’s hand. “The bigger question is how do you feel about him?”
Salem looked at each one of the women seated around her, each one her friend, there to lend her support, a friendly ear, or anything else she needed, and she felt blessed to have them in her life. Less than two years ago, the only one in this group she knew was Gabi, and now she had women who had her back, who trusted her and that she trusted.
“Honestly, I don’t know. My brain tells me I can’t afford to get involved with any man, not after Tarik.” Her hand went to her cheek without thought, covering the scar. “I haven’t wanted anybody. Then Jack…he was there when Tarik died. He’s been around Shiloh Springs a few of the times when I visited Ms. Patti. He makes me feel…cherished in a way I can’t describe.”
“That’s what your head’s telling you. What is your heart telling you?”
Salem gave a watery chuckle, and Chloe reached for her, calling “Mama?” She reached over and took Chloe from Ms. Willie, placing her onto her lap. “Shh, it’s okay, sweet pea.” Looking down into her daughter’s face, she decided to try and put into words how she felt. “Jack makes me feel like I’m the only person in the room when he looks at me. Like he sees the real me, past the persona everybody else sees. I try to pretend I’m strong, that I can face the world, take on the Amirs or anybody else who strikes at me, but the truth is I’m scared. But somehow when Jack’s with me, that fear goes away. I’m terrified if I open myself up to a man again, it will end in a disaster. I’m gun shy after Tarik, even though I know Jack is nothing like him.”
“Do you want this marriage to be more than words on a page in front of a judge, or are you willing to let Jack go when the court case and the custody battle is over?”
“That’s the big question, Steph. I’m afraid to let myself care again, to give my heart to somebody only to have it stomped on, or worse, find out that he can’t care for me in return. Maybe it’s best if we keep being friends, and not take a chance on losing everything.”
“Oh, love, I understand far better than you’ll ever know. But I can tell you from personal experience, if you don’t take that chance, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life. Taking a chance on love is always worth it. Yes, you might get your heart broken, but you may also find the best thing that’ll ever happen to you. Fate has stepped in, given you an unexpected chance at finding something special, a once-in-a-lifetime chance. Nobody can give you promises that everything will work out the way you want, but isn’t the possibility of happiness worth the risk?”
There was a faraway look in Ms. Willie’s eyes, tinged with sadness. Her words spoke of love lost and a broken heart. Fortunately, she knew Ms. Willie had found true happiness with Gator, knew she loved him with all her heart. Seeing them together, she knew they’d make it for the long haul. She wanted that, wanted to find somebody who looked at her the way Gator looked at Ms. Willie. The way Samuel looked at Andrea, and Etienne looked at Stephanie. The way Dylan looked at Gabi.
All of her friends had found their happily ever after with men who adored them, thought they walked on water.
What if there was a chance for her to find that with Jack? Should she take the chance, jump in with both feet and see where it could go? She might drown, but she also might rise to the top happy and whole.
“You’re right, Ms. Willie. True love is always worth taking a risk for. I don’t know how Jack feels, but I’m willing to see where things might lead. After we’ve dealt with the Amirs.” A chorus of groans met her words.
“Okay, enough about me. I don’t want to think about sad stuff anymore today. Somebody give me a brownie, I’m in need of a chocolate fix.”