Healing Love: Saints Protection & Investigation (32 page)

*

The Saints worked
around the table once more. Assignments were handed out and the new cases were discussed. Bart looked at the calendar and asked, “Jack, would it be okay if I took a few days next week off? It’s been a while since I visited my grandmother in Virginia Beach. I’ve got a cousin there also and I’d like to head out for a family visit. It’ll give me a chance to catch up with some SEAL buds stationed there.”

“Absolutely,” Jack replied, then looked around the table. “Come to think of it, most of you haven’t had any sick or vacation days. You want ’em, you put ’em on the calendar and we work around them. Everyone got that?”

Everyone nodded before getting back to business.

Luke said, “I’ve got some info for Cam, but figure the rest of you would like in on it.”

Cam turned his immediate attention to Luke, but a quick glance around indicated that all of the other Saints were on alert.

“Miriam received an invite to a Red Cross appreciation event but had decided to decline. Last evening she received an email from Sister Genovia, now back with the Red Cross, still in Mexico. The email said that she would be at the event and wanted to see Miriam. And according to Cam, she has now replied that she would attend,” Luke reported. “As you can imagine, Cam wanted me to do an email trace to see what I could find out.”

Sending his information to their tablets, he reported, “The email did come from a computer located at the Red Cross main center in Los Mochis. I contacted them directly and they confirmed that Sister Genovia was returned to the Red Cross center where she has remained working in their main hospital. The storm wiped out more villages that were already damaged from the earthquake and so she’s been busy.”

“So the cartel let her go?” Bart asked incredulously.

“Apparently,” Luke said. “But not willing to take their word for it, I contacted Alberto for direct confirmation. Manuel went and visited her there. According to the Sister, after Miriam escaped and Lorainne died, someone in the cartel must have taken pity on her and allowed her to return to her Red Cross duties in Los Mochis. It could be their belief system, but from what Miriam told us, Sister Genovia was a force to be reckoned with. Perhaps, fearing the wrath of God, assisted in letting her return.”

“What about the event?” Jack queried.

“She’s got a flight into Richland on Friday evening and the event is Saturday. I also checked with the Richland Red Cross and they said the diocese will be taking care of her while she’s in the country and then her plans were to return to Mexico to continue her work.

Cam slowly nodded his head, knowing that Luke had thoroughly checked everything. Heaving a deep sigh, he thanked his friend, adding, “Thank fuck. Maybe this nightmare is about over for her.”

F
riday night came
faster than Miriam was prepared for. She had spent time with her family since returning from Mexico, but still felt their nervousness around her as though she would disappear at any moment. Cam told her that his family knew he had rescued her thinking that would make her more at ease. Instead, she now fretted, wondering what they must think of her.

Before she had time to convince herself this was a bad idea, they were pulling into the driveway of a neat home in an older neighborhood on the south side of Richland.
It looks so much like the home I grew up in,
she realized, taking a deep breath.

As the evening progressed, she could not help but smile at the family dynamics.
It not only looks like my home, but they act like my family!

Henrico and Bonita welcomed her immediately with hugs and kisses before ushering her through the house to the back yard, packed with adults and children. Cam introduced his sisters, Daniella and Bianca, along with their husbands and children. A handsome man, similar in build to Cam with a devilishly wicked smile, was introduced as his brother, Emilio. Emilio immediately took Miriam’s hand, kissed her fingers and began leading her toward the chairs set up near the tables laden with food.

“I’ve been looking forward to seeing if I could steal you away from my brother ever since he showed us the picture of you,” Emilio said, a sparkle in his eye.

“Emilio!” Bonita yelled. “Behave!”

Emilio threw his head back and laughed as Cam swooped in, grabbing Miriam’s hand while cuffing the back of his brother’s head.

Miriam could not help but laugh at the antics that reminded her so much of her family. After the meal, Bonita maneuvered her over to the side as the men talked and her daughters were watching the children.

“
Mi hija
,” Bonita said, placing her hand on Miriam’s cheek calling her daughter, “I am so sorry for what you suffered.”

Miriam blushed, not knowing what to say.

“But you have made me a happy woman, knowing such a
mujer fuerte
loves my son.”

Miriam recognized the name of the river and understood that she was being called a strong woman. “I’m the lucky one,” she confessed. “The handsome prince not only came to rescue me, but…well, he loves me too.”

Bonita laughed, patting Miriam’s arm. “Then you are both blessed and in being so, are blessing our family. I wish you
mucha felicidad y larga vida junta.
” Seeing Miriam’s questioning gaze, she translated, “Much happiness and long life together.”

Cam was watching and took a step toward her, but his father held him back.

“Let your mother speak to her,” Henrico said.

“Dad you have no idea,” Cam growled. “No idea how much she’s been through.”

“Your mother will have a care,” his father replied.

Cam could not relax until he saw Miriam smile and embrace his mother. Letting out a breath he did not know he was holding, he grinned as she turned her smile toward him.

Saying their goodbyes later in the evening, Bonita proclaimed she wanted to meet Miriam’s family and would invite them all over soon.

With thoughts of their two huge, in-their-business families together, Cam and Miriam looked askance at each other before heading home.

*

Miriam dressed with
indecision, trying on and discarding several outfits.
What should I wear to a Red Cross event?
Since her main garb was nursing scrubs, she finally called her sister over for some fashion advice. Rebecca quickly chose long, black, silky pants covered with silk netting over the top. When she walked, the loose material fell perfectly off her ass, flowing down to the floor. An emerald green, silk, wrap-around top with long sleeves completed the classic appearance that Miriam wanted. A strand of pearls at her neck with matching pearl studs in her ears finished the polished look.

Rebecca stood in the bedroom of Cam’s house, smiling as she watched her sister prance in front of the mirror.

Miriam caught Rebecca’s smile and cocked her head to the side. “What?”

Rebecca smiled wider, answering, “It’s good to see you more like…I don’t know…yourself right now.”

A shadow passed across Miriam’s expression as she walked over, grasping Rebecca’s hand. “Have I been difficult?”

“No! Not at all difficult,” her sister exclaimed. Looking down at their hands, she continued, “Just different. Kind of lost. Sad.” Her gaze jumped back to Miriam. “That’s completely understandable, of course, but as your family, we didn’t know how to help you.” Then, giggling, she added, “Mama’s been doing a lot of housework and washing dishes.”

Miriam joined in shared laughter knowing their mother prayed during her household chores, saying that for every dish or room she cleaned, she prayed for the person who used it. As the laughter died down, Miriam sighed heavily. “I know everyone was sick with worry when I was gone and then when I returned…I…well, it was hard on everyone.”

“Dad kept saying that as long as you were back, we could handle anything you needed from us.”

Miriam enveloped her in a hug. “I love you all, you know? Not being able to be with you while I was gone was the hardest of all.”

Rebecca returned the hug, her tears mingling with Miriam’s. “But now, you’re home, have a new career, and a gorgeous man.” Pulling back, she gazed deeply into Miriam’s eyes. “I know those things don’t take away your memories or terrors, but…”

“Yes, they make everything worthwhile,” Miriam finished for her. Turning back to the mirror, she said, “Now what do we do with my hair?”

Clapping her hands, Rebecca quickly dried her tears and the two women continued their afternoon.

*

Cam drove Miriam
into Richland that evening, parking in the garage near the elegant, restored Richland Hotel in the revitalized downtown area. He noted her anxiety and clasped her hand in his, entwining their fingers.

“You okay, babe?”

She licked her lips and nodded nervously. “I don’t know why I’m anxious. I’m excited to see Sister Genovia again and well…quite frankly, that’s the only thing I care about. All of this other stuff makes me self-conscious.”

He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. “Just know that you’re the most beautiful woman here and I don’t mean only on the outside.”

She turned her face up toward his, gifting him with her smile. Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, she nudged his arm and said, “Okay, big boy. Let’s get the show on the road.”

The dinner was rather ordinary and their table companions were several older couples who had worked for the local Red Cross blood drives. She deflected their questions as to what she did for the Red Cross but was surprised when the main speaker asked all nurses who had answered the Red Cross calls during the previous disasters to please stand. She hesitated, but then saw that many of the event goers were nurses and no specifications to Mexico were made. Quickly sitting at the end of the applause, she heaved a sigh of relief.

Cam threw his arm over her shoulders and pulled her in closely, whispering, “You’re doing fine,
cariña
.”

She smiled, feeling for the first time since she was rescued that she was truly going to be fine. “I just wonder where Sister Genovia is,” she murmured, her gaze darting around the large, filled room.

Cam found himself searching the room as well, hoping the Sister would be here after Miriam had expressly come to see her. A movement out of the corner of his eye had him quickly turning his head to the left, seeing Manuel Reyes standing near the entrance. He noticed when Manuel’s eyes met his and gave a head jerk, silently asking Cam to come to him.

“Babe, I see someone I need to speak with. Stay here and I’ll be right back,” Cam gently ordered.

What the fuck is he doing here?
Knowing that it must be serious for one of the DEA operatives to be seeking him out, he hustled toward Manuel.
Jesus, it must be bad news if he’s come to tell me about it.

Glancing around as Cam stalked toward Manuel, she continued to search for Sister Genovia. Her gaze landed on a woman, dressed in a nun’s robes, standing on the far side of the room. The nun turned and Miriam smiled as the woman waved toward her.

“It’s her. I see her,” she said, pushing her chair back then, remembering that Cam was not there, felt foolish talking to herself. Offering excuses to the dinner tablemates, she wound through the multitude of tables toward her friend.