Healing Love: Saints Protection & Investigation (30 page)

Leaning forward, he clasped the necklace around her neck and the medallion hung between her breasts. Knowing that it matched the medallion that he wore around his neck filled him with pride. Taking a deep breath, he said, “There’s more.” Flipping the medallion around, he pointed saying, “On the back is a tracer. It’s tied into Jack’s security so that we can know where you are at all times.”

Seeing that she was about to question him, he quickly added, “It’s not invading your privacy,
cariña
. It’s just me making sure that you’re safe.”

He watched her twist her mouth in thought and added more. “And Bethany had one and it was needed when they had to find her. She wears it all the time now.”

Nodding slowly, Miriam smiled. “I love it…I really do. I just hope you never have to use it like that.”

A flash of fear crossed his expression before he leaned in to kiss her lips. Pulling back, he looked into her eyes and said, “Me too, babe. Me too.”

*

Cam grew increasingly
frustrated as the meeting dragged on. Nothing that Luke or any of the other Saints could find showed that Juaquim had anything to do with the phone call, but they knew that the odds of finding a link would be difficult.

“So my woman has to wonder and worry if anything is out there? Constantly looking over her shoulder?” he growled.

Blaise answered, “Right now, we’ve got no indication that she’s in danger. She gave the DEA nothing new and has stayed out of the spotlight.”

“Yeah, but that phone call sounded so personal,” Bart argued back. “Who wanted that?”

Cam shook his head before looking over at the others. “According to her, the only man she had any real verbal contact with was the doctor, who had already claimed Sharon was his new mistress. Then Juaquim, who never made any actual requests from her. She met his two brothers, but they’re still in Mexico according to your CIA contacts, Marc.”

Marc nodded his agreement, looking just as frustrated as Cam. All eyes turned toward Jack.

He rubbed his beard for a moment, then gazed at Cam. “How’s she doing?”

Sighing heavily, Cam said, “She still has some nightmares. I’ll find her gazing off into the distance at times, then she blinks and pretends that she was right with me the whole time.”

“That actually sounds pretty normal,” Chad said. “She still not seeing a counselor?”

“No, she says there’s no one who can understand what she went through.” Cam held Jack’s gaze and continued, “Except for Bethany. Those two have gotten close and Bethany seems to be helping.”

Jack nodded, giving a hint of a smile. “Yeah, Bethany has mentioned it. I think it helps her as well.” He eyed the big man sitting across from him and said, “I think we still need to keep an eye on Miriam. We can back off the twenty-four-seven, but I want us all to keep her on our protection rotation when Cam’s not with her.”

The men all eagerly agreed and Cam nodded to each of them, grateful for their concern.

*

Miriam sat with
Ann, Bethany’s grandmother, and listened to her talk about the cabins at Mountville that she and her husband built when they were first married. Ann did not know where she was or that her husband had passed away almost five years earlier and Miriam did not correct her. She finished her nursing shift and enjoyed sitting for a while with Ann, listening to her tales of old.

An hour later, she saw Cam drive up in his truck and she said goodbye to Ann before jogging to the parking lot. After leaning in to kiss him, she immediately asked, “So, was there anything new?”

He shook his head, knowing she was asking about anything the Saints had found. “No,” but then he quickly continued when he saw her fearful expression. “That’s good, babe. You’ve had no new threats and it may have just been an effort to scare you. But Jack and the others still want to keep an eye on you when we’re not together.”

She leaned back in her seat and nodded. “Cam, there’s no way I can ask the Saints to watch me! You all have other duties, assignments, and missions.”

He turned to face her, saying, “
Cariña
, look at me.”

She responded to his gentle command and met his gaze.

“You’re not a burden. Yes, there are always other assignments and mission we’re working on, but your safety is my priority. And therefore a priority to my friends.”

She smiled wanly and then said, “Are you going to have to leave soon?”

Confused, he replied, “Leave where?”

“To go on anther mission?”

“Nope. Not for a while. I’m being assigned security details and investigations around here.”

Her brow crinkled as she said, “Is that because of me? Am I hampering your career?”

Throwing his head back laughing, he admitted, “No,
cariña
. Not at all. After what we went through in Mexico, Jack’s not about to assign me something like that for a bit. And since we take your security seriously then I get the best of both worlds. I stay near you and keep doing my job.”

He lifted her chin with his fingers as he pulled her in for another kiss. “So you can toss those concerns right out of your head. Okay?”

Gifting him with her smile once more, she agreed and finally relaxed into her seat to enjoy the ride home.

*

Several days later,
Cam brought in a large handful of mail. “Hey, Miriam!” he called. “It looks like the post office finally got your change of address made.”

She began sorting through her mail while he and Bart piled up on the sofas to watch football. A few bills that she had already paid online went into one pile. Magazines into another. Junk mail went directly into the trash. A large cream envelope caught her eye and, as she looked at the return address, she noticed that it was from the Red Cross. Opening it, she sighed as she noticed her shaking hand holding the letter.

Cam may have had the TV on, but was constantly attuned to her and immediately stood up, walking over as he heard her sigh. “What is it?”

“It’s an invitation to a Red Cross appreciation reception,” she answered glumly.

He squatted next to her chair, cupping her face with his large hand, pulling her gaze to his. “Babe, you don’t have to go. You don’t have to do anything you’re uncomfortable with,” he emphasized.

By now, Bart had turned the TV volume down and looked at his best friend holding Miriam. “Cam’s right,” he interjected. “You take care of you first. To hell with the Red Cross event.

Smiling, she said, “I know I don’t have to go. But it’s not the Red Cross’ fault I got kidnapped. It says it’s just a reception for those of us locally who have served in the last year. I won’t be singled out.”

Cam watched her carefully, seeing the shadow pass across her expression, then reached over and plucked the invitation out of her hands. “That’s it. You’re not going.”

She blinked up in surprise. “You can’t just declare I’m not going,” she said, irritation showing in her voice.

“When I’m the one holding you at night when you can’t sleep from the nightmares or I see you stare off into the distance and know that you’re somewhere dark in your mind, then yeah, I can make that decision for you,” he growled.

“I am dealing with things the best way I know how, Cam,” she argued back. “If it’s such a burden being with me, then I can easily move back to my place.”

“Don’t put words into my mouth—”

“Whoa, you two,” Bart interjected. “It’s none of my business, but I still gotta jump in. You two have been through a lot, but you’ve done it together. Don’t get mad at each other because you’re both trying to make things better.”

Cam looked at Bart in surprise, never having seen a sentimental side to him but, before he could speak, Miriam touched his arm gently.

“I’m sorry, Cam. I know you’ve had to deal with a lot with me.”

He turned, forgetting Bart’s presence, and lifted his hand to cup her face. “
Mi amour
. I only want what makes you happy.” He pulled her gently in so that her face was pressed to his chest, next to his heartbeat.

“You’re right. I’m not ready for this event. I’ll send my regrets,” she declared and felt his approval as he released a deep breath.

“Thank God, you two. Now let’s watch some football,” Bart said, plopping back down on the sofa.

M
iriam slid into
Bethany’s car in the parking lot of Golden Arbor and the two friends headed back to the Saint’s compound.

“The men are still meeting and I knew that Cam had dropped you off at work, so I jumped at the chance to visit Gram and pick you up at the same time,” Bethany explained.

“I’m glad you did,” Miriam replied, smiling. “It’s a nice surprise.”

For a few minutes, the friends talked about mundane things before falling into a comfortable silence. Miriam noticed that Bethany kept glancing over at her without saying anything.

“You want to tell me what’s on your mind?” Miriam asked.

“Sorry,” Bethany said. “I do have something to ask you, but I’m…well, quite frankly, I’m kind of scared to bring it up.”

Miriam twisted in her seat and said honestly, “I know we’re still new friends, but I’d like to think that we could talk about anything.”

Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, Bethany began, “You know what happened to me, when…when I was captured by that killer last year. Well, I have found a psychologist who specializes in victim trauma. She practices in Richland and even runs a group. I want to go…just to check her out and see if it’s worth trying, but I really…well, I was thinking—”

“Yes!” Miriam blurted out.

“Really?” Bethany asked, her nervousness now replaced with hope.

“Absolutely. In fact, I was thinking that I needed to do something. Cam and I actually had a fight the other day for the first time about him being there for me.” Shaking her head, Miriam said, “That came out wrong. Cam doesn’t mind being there for me, but he doesn’t want me to make things worse.” Then giggling, she added, “Bart was there and actually had to help us stop the argument.”

“Bart?” Bethany asked incredulously. “I’m just getting to know all the guys, but he strikes me as the happy-go-lucky, never get involved type of guy. I don’t think he would know love unless it came right up and bit him in the ass!”

“Well, it’s probably because we were interrupting the football game.”

“Yep, that sounds like Bart!”

Pulling into Jack’s driveway several minutes later, they saw the men piling out of Jack’s house. Cam’s eyes landed on the car and a smile lit his face. Miriam bounded out of the car almost before Bethany parked, then was uncertain as to how much public display of affection Cam wanted with his friends around.

She should not have worried. Cam hurried down the last few steps and lifted her off of her feet into a bear hug before she had a chance to greet him. With one arm around her waist and one at the back of her head, he swung her around several times before leaning back to gently kiss her hello.

By the time Miriam was aware of the others, Bethany had snuggled into Jack’s embrace and the rest of the Saints were smiling.

With a wave of his hand, he continued to walk-carry her over to his truck, settling her inside. Once they were heading down the road, he nervously glanced over to her, catching her eye.