Depths of Salvation (Love on the Edge) (27 page)

Keep dreaming. This isn’t about you right now.

“And the superhero plant isn’t the only one in the
Falconer
showing this kind of potential. As you can see in the documents, I’ve listed five plants that show similar properties. Add these to the survival of grouper who live there, and I believe I’ve made my case.” She cut her eyes to Slade. “Go. Around. You can’t put a price on the dent these plants could make in the war on disease. The lives they could potentially save.”

My breath stalled in my throat as she so openly attacked Slade, called him out as the money-hungry man he was. I wanted to jump between them as his eyes stared daggers at her, wanted to shield her from whatever he surely plotted against her in this moment.

“I’d like to hear from the expert who surveyed the site.” Henrick squinted his eyes until they locked with mine. “Mr. Murphey, could you come to the front please?”

I stood up, tossing aside the hair that had fallen in my eyes. My heart raced as I walked down the middle aisle, all eyes, including Sadie’s on me. She sat down immediately, her shoulders sinking as if the wind had gone out of her sails. The pain in her eyes only amplified the sting in my chest.

Turning to the left, I stopped next to her table and crossed my arms over my chest.

Henrick raised his eyebrows at me. “Well?” he finally asked when I hadn’t said anything.

I motioned toward the folders they each had before them. “You know the right call here. It’s all there, right in front of you. And that’s just scratching the surface. What Sadie says is true.”

“How long did you survey the site?”

“Nearly every day for the two months you gave us,” I said.

“And you feel it’s worth saving.”

I glanced at Slade. His neck had gone red around his collar. “Yes.”

Slade shot out of his seat, slamming his fist on the table before him. “This is ridiculous! Your economy has flourished since I started construction on the pipeline. You can’t honestly be willing to throw that away over the word of a hippie who fell in love with a dead boat and the man who fell for the girl in the process!”

Henrick raised his hands. “Calm down, Mr. Slade.” He glanced back and forth between the three of us before pinching the bridge of his nose. The governor-general shook his head to Henrick’s left, but there was a smirk on his face. I couldn’t help but wonder how small this all seemed in the grand scheme of country matters he’d dealt with in his term.

“The information Mr. Murphey and Ms. Jenkins have provided is authentic.” Mom stood up now, her eyes sparking fire as she looked at Slade and then Henrick.

“And who are you, ma’am?” The governor-general finally spoke up.

“Dr. Cunningham, marine preservationist. My work has seen over a hundred sites salvaged and preserved. I do not take cases lightly, and this, sir, is a site that only comes around once in a lifetime.
If
you’re lucky.” She flicked her eyes to me and then Sadie. “I’m also the reason you granted
my
son an expert opinion on the
Falconer
and can assure you that his eye, training, and knowledge about the subject of preservation are above par.” I shifted my weight, barely resisting the urge to groan,
Mom.
Sadie’s mouth dropped a fraction before she smoothed her face from the shock. Well, add that to the list of things I’d have to apologize about later.

Henrick sank back in his chair as recognition clicked in his eyes. Mom had earned every part of her reputation and I’d always been secretly happy that was what she was known for now—not some dead junkie’s mother. The thought of Conner turned my stomach, but it didn’t hold the bite I’d grown accustomed to. I knew that was Sadie’s doing. It all was. Even reconnecting with my mother could be traced back to her, as easily as if she’d left a recovery line trailing behind her. The woman saved things—saved
me
—and I’d crushed her heart.

“You can’t put a price on the development happening in the
Falconer
.” Mom pointed at the double doors to the room as if she could show everyone the massive potential the ship had. “It’s damn well worth a detour. I can’t even believe this has gone on this long.” She crossed her arms over her chest, locked eyes with Slade, and shrugged. I quickly adjusted my stance, letting my arms hang loose at my sides.

“I agree with you, Dr. Cunningham,” The governor-general said, tilting his head at Henrick. “A clear-cut case to me. Ms. Jenkins has more than proved the value of the
Falconer
. Mr. Slade will go around the required thirty-mile distance deemed safe for the ecosystem to continue to thrive.”

“The hell I will!” Slade yelled, beating his hand against the table again like a mad gorilla.

“Excuse me?” The Governor-general shifted his gaze to focus solely on Slade. “Are you implying you will withdraw a three-year contract already in motion because you couldn’t convince us to destroy Ms. Jenkin’s site?”

“You bet your ass I’ll pull my company out of this so fast you won’t—“

The double doors swung open, cutting off Slade’s tirade. A young suit stalked into the room, his shoulders straight, his back stiff. “Forgive the intrusion,” he said, stopping to stand right next to Sadie.

Who the fuck?

“I’ve only just landed. Casey Williams, majority stakeholder in Slade Industries.” He glanced at Slade and shook his head.

He’s the investor? The man over Slade?

“The pipeline build will continue as laid out in the contract,” he continued, “and I’ll be taking Mr. Slade’s position to oversee it personally.”

“Williams, you backstabbing son of a—“

“Enough, Mr. Slade.” The governor’s voice boomed in the room, silencing Slade and the shocked conversation that had begun to hum around the room. “The matter is settled.” He turned to Henrick as he pushed out of his chair. “I don’t want to hear any different on the situation again. Understood?”

“Absolutely.” Henrick shook his hand before the governor made his way over to Sadie and Williams, speaking to them a few hushed words before leaving. The other members trailed out of the room as he did, and observers followed until all that remained was me, Sadie’s crew, Williams, and Slade—who had turned an almost purple shade.

He stomped the distance to our side of the room, his eyes locked on to Sadie. “You will pay for this, girl. I swear you will!” He pointed a fat finger at her but I stepped in front of him, stopping his advance with the strength of my chest.

“I fucking dare you, Slade. Give me a reason.” I glanced down at the finger that jabbed into my chest. “I’d love to finish this with witnesses that
you
started the fight.”

His eyes went wide before they turned to slits. “You fucked up, Murphey. Not only did you not protect the girl, you brought your
mommy
into. Pathetic idiot.” He lowered his voice so only I could hear. “Now both the women you love will pay.”

Red coated my eyes and before I blinked I had Slade on the floor, cranking a fist back to smash into his face.

“Connell!” Sadie’s voice cut through the rage pulsing in my head but not enough. I let my fist go and cracked it so hard across Slade’s jaw my knuckles jolted with pain. I hissed but drew back to do it again.

“I’ll fucking end you!” I punched him again, his head whipping to the left with a sickening crack.

“Connell, stop!” Sadie pled again, stopping my third swing. I pushed off the floor, raking my hands through my hair.

Williams snapped his fingers behind me, and I whirled on him, thinking for a moment that he was directing some of that better-than-everyone bullshit at me. Two men in suits came in from the hallway, immediately scooping Slade’s stunned body off the floor and dragging him out of the room.

“I’m so sorry about that, Sadie,” Williams said, turning his attention to her.

He said her name like they were old friends and it made acid boil in my blood.

“I did as you suggested,” he continued. “You were right.”

She always is.

“Slade has been dirty far longer than your scuffle.”

Who the fuck says scuffle? Easy, this is the man who Ryan assured could help Sadie.
I took a deep breath to calm the jealousy in my stomach and reminded myself to be thankful for his intervention—just didn’t realize the dude would look like a fucking movie star.

“I knew it,” Sadie said, flashing him a soft smile that made me crack my knuckles without realizing until the loud pops vibrated up my forearm.

“Right,” Williams said, glancing over his shoulder for a moment. “I will handle the matter as we previously discussed. Discreetly, but effectively. You won’t hear from Slade—or anyone who is loyal to him—again. You have my word.”

The tension left her shoulders, and she sighed. “Thank you.”

Relief cooled the jealousy that burned my skin. This suit had money—and eyes for Sadie—but I knew money and power were the only things that could put Slade where he deserved, which was prison. And that meant Sadie would be safe.

I owed Ryan a pitcher or two . . . every night for the rest of his life. Though, Sadie had convinced the suit on her own—essentially saving herself as only she could—I would forever be grateful for Ryan’s connections and his ability to let me help.

“You’re most welcome,” Williams casually pulled out a card from his jacket pocket. “If the vibe I got from dinner was correct, you’ve already misplaced my card.” He handed her the fresh one. She took it timidly, her eyes not on him but locked on me as she held it between her fingers.

She forced out a laugh, nothing close to her real one. “I might have.”

“Well, now you have a new one. And any excuse to call me is fine. Texas isn’t far when you’ve got your own plane.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Thank you again for your help, Casey.”

“Anytime, Sadie.” He glanced toward the doors. “I’m afraid I must go. This matter with Slade will most certainly be long and messy.”

“I’d say I’m sorry, but I’m not.” She reached out her hand to shake his, but the asshole kissed it like she was some delicate flower.

Idiot. That wasn’t how she liked to be treated. She was strong, unshakeable, daring. She liked it hard and fast and dangerous. She wouldn’t fall for that cheesy-movie crap.

Right?

He smiled at her one last time, just enough to send my stomach flying again, before finally leaving the room. Sadie’s crew followed shortly after and finally, it was just me, her and . . . my mother.
Fuck
.

“You use your maiden name?” Sadie asked my mom, her eyes jumping between us.

“Yes, I do.” Mom answered softly.

“You all right?” Sadie asked me, and my heart swelled.

“When it comes to her and me, yes,” I said, stepping toward Sadie.

“I’ll just go talk to Liz about those recent samples,” Mom said as she practically sprinted out the door.

“That’s good. I’m happy for you, Connell.” Her voice was cold. No warmth like she’d put on for the young suit.

“Sadie,” I said her name like a prayer. Begging her with my eyes to understand. “I only did what I did because—“

“Don’t. I heard enough. You thought I was in danger.” She shrugged. “You think that matters? You
lied
to me.”

“I wanted to protect you.”

Tears coated her eyes, and I reached out to brush them off her cheeks when they rolled down. She flinched away from my touch. “Don’t you get it, Connell? I trusted you. Why didn’t you just talk to me? You could’ve told me what Slade was trying to get you to do, what he’d threatened to do . . . And you could’ve mentioned who your mother was. We could’ve worked everything out
together.
But no, you love to do everything on your own. Keep everyone locked out.”

“You knew going into this I’m not a sharer.”

She shook her head and released a dark laugh. “You’re right. This was
my
mistake. Thinking we had something more than good chemistry between the sheets.”

Her words shattered any hope that had built inside me, but I still tried to touch her again. “Sadie, you know better.”

“Do I?” She tilted her head, allowing me to take her hand. The simple, innocent touch set my skin on fire.

“You know me.”

She stared into my eyes like she was trying to read a book she couldn’t quite make out the words to. “Thank you for bringing your mother to my site. She’s invaluable. Her word brought the FDA on board. You’re the reason the
Falconer
will live.” Sadie pulled her hand away from me slowly, the loss of contact shooting ice through my veins. “And thanks for standing with me in the end. I won’t forget it.” She turned on her heels and walked toward the door.

“Wait,” I said, following her.

“Stop.” She put her hand out, halting my motions. “I appreciate what you did. Really, but I can’t forget everything else you’ve done too.” Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks before she turned her back on me, the doors swinging shut behind her as she left me standing alone in the room.

I sank into the nearest chair and pressed my forehead against the table, clenching my fists to keep from screaming.

Saved the site. Lost the girl.

No more than you fucking deserved.

Old wounds joined the fresh ones with Sadie’s name on them, and though I knew I’d earned every slice she’d given me, it still hurt like hell to feel the newly restored life flow out of me.

Fuck, this is why I’d stayed away from people. This is why I took comfort in the cold depths of the sea where nothing but my own thoughts could haunt me. Because loving someone gives them the ability to destroy you, and—for the first time in Sadie’s life, I’m sure—she’d managed to destroy something over saving it.

You’re better than you were
.

I told the small voice in the back of my head to shut the fuck up. I didn’t want to think logically now. I wanted to wallow in my pain, properly, just as I had done after I’d lost Conner.

Time to dive.

Only this time, I needed to be far away from this place, somewhere where the stakes were higher, and maybe, just maybe I’d go deep enough to find clarity on how I managed to ruin what little life I’d had left.