Page 34 of Saving Salem
“No, thanks. Jack, what you did today, I’ll never be able to repay you. You saved my baby’s life. My daughter is alive because of you.”
“I’d never let anything happen to Chloe.” He didn’t add the “or you” though it was implied. The shy smile touching her mouth said she caught it anyway.
“See you in the morning.”
He pulled the bedroom door closed and headed for the guest bathroom, jumping in the shower to get rid of the smoke and soot covering him. He brushed his teeth and cleaned up, before heading to the other bedroom. Stripping down to his boxers, he settled onto the bed, hands behind his head, and stared at the ceiling. Even though he was weary to the bone, he couldn’t fall asleep. Thoughts whizzed around in his brain, and he tried to make sense of everything.
Nobody would be surprised if the Amirs proved to be behind the fire. They didn’t have proof that they were behind the cameras planted in the apartment, or hiring Bubba to deliver the pictures. And who was the woman who made the phone call to Bubba, the one calling the shot?
He wasn’t sure how much time passed until he heard sounds coming from the other room. It wasn’t Chloe, which meant it was Salem. Climbing from beneath the covers, he moved into the hall and stood outside the door, listening.
Muffled sobbing. The sounds he heard was Salem…crying.
Easing the door open, he stepped inside, allowing the soft light from the hall to illuminate her leaning against the headboard, a fist pressed against her mouth, trying to hold back the sounds. Her cheeks were streaked with tears and the sight broke his heart.
“Salem?”
“Oh. Sorry if I woke you.” She scrubbed at her cheeks, wiping them dry with the edge of the sheet. There was enough light for him to see the flush of pink spread into her cheeks as well as her red eyes.
“It’s okay, I was awake. Couldn’t sleep.” He shrugged. “Can’t seem to turn my brain off tonight.”
“Me, too. Everything keeps going round and round inside my head. I guess I got overwhelmed for a minute.” He watched her, a look of indecision on her face. He wished there was something he could do to make things better for her. As it was, he was doing the best he could, but it wasn’t enough.
“Salem—”
“Would you stay? I don’t want to be alone tonight.” Her voice was so soft he almost didn’t hear her, but when her words sank in, he crossed the room. When she patted the bed beside her, he pulled back the covers and slid in beside her, pulling her body against his. She laid her head against his shoulder, and it felt right. Holding her in his arms felt as natural as breathing.
“Go to sleep, sweetheart. I’m not going anywhere. Things will look better in the morning.”
“Thank you. I know I haven’t said it nearly enough, for everything you’ve sacrificed to be with me. I know it’s not fair, because I’m getting everything and you’re getting nothing in return.”
“I never asked for anything in return. I volunteered for this, remember? Marrying you was my idea. Moving to New Orleans was my idea too. You didn’t ask or coerce me. I’m a grown man, able to make informed decisions after weighing the facts. It’s what I’m trained for. So, believe me when I say I want to be here with you, by your side in this battle against the Amirs. We fight for Chloe together. And we’ll fight to make this marriage work together.”
“That’s what I want too. But, Jack, if you ever decide you’ve had enough, that you want to leave, I’ll understand.”
He smoothed his hand over her head softly, letting his fingers tangle in her long auburn hair before tilting her chin up. “How many times do I have to say it before you believe me? I’m. Not. Going. Anywhere.”
“Maybe one more?” She snuggled closer against his side with a contented sigh.
He pressed a kiss against her forehead. “I’m here and I’m staying, sugar. Get used to seeing me around, because I’m stuck like glue. Now go to sleep. We’ve got a big day ahead of us tomorrow.”
“Good night, Jack.”
He held her tight long after she fell asleep and hoped he wasn’t setting himself up for heartbreak. Not that it mattered at this point, because he was so crazy in love with her there was no turning back. Not now, not ever.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
The next morning,Jack finished his call with the arson investigator, who officially confirmed the fire as arson. He also reported there had been no casualties, only a few minor injuries which had been treated at the emergency room and released. Most of the contents of the apartment might be salvageable, though a good portion of the furniture and appliances were a total loss. He’d check with Salem, but he doubted she had a lot of stuff there that she’d want to keep.
Salem and Andrea, along with Gunner’s wife, Maggie, had gone shopping to replace clothing and other essentials for her and Chloe, while Chloe was having a play date with Ranger’s daughter, Abby. He’d already told Samuel they’d take the apartment and found out as one of the perks of his employment with Carpenter Security Services, as part of what Samuel classified as his elite team, the apartment was considered part of his sign-on bonus and salary, and came rent free. Which was a great perk, because he wasn’t sure how he’d have afforded something like that on his salary—though the salary was extremely generous.
Now he was headed downstairs to the conference room, to join Samuel and Jean-Luc for a meeting. He’d found out Jean-Luc was second in command of C.S.S., and that he and Samuel had been friends since childhood. In fact, most of the elite team had known each other and worked together for years.
Walking through the door, he froze when he spotted a dark-haired woman seated at the conference table. One that he knew, and she spelled trouble with a capital T.
Jennifer Baptiste.
The woman who’d come to Shiloh Springs last year looking for Gabi on orders from Tarik Amir. She’d really been looking for Salem, but knew if they found Gabi, they’d find Salem. Luckily, she’d been discovered and picked up by Rafe’s deputy before she managed to follow Gabi to Salem’s hidden location.
