Page 48 of Healing Love
She understood and wiped her tears with her fingers. Facing the small assembly, she nodded and said, “I’m ready.”
Two hours later Cam sat with Bart, Blaise, Monty, Marc, and Alberto at a table while they ate, waiting impatiently for Miriam.
“Bro, she’ll be out soon. Go ahead and eat before you have to be interviewed,” Bart suggested.
“Not eating before she gets out here.” He rubbed his hand through his hair. His medical examination had gone quickly—he had lost a couple of pounds and needed fluids, which they said would be taken care of with his meals. His eyes cut to the door leading to the makeshift examination room where they took Miriam. “What the fuck is taking so long?”
Marc and Alberto shared a glance, before Marc softly asked, “Cam? Did she say anything? About being…” His voice trailed off, and Cam’s gaze jerked over to his.
“Sexually assaulted?” Cam growled. Gaining Marc’s nod, he let out a deep sigh. “No. She didn’t say anything, and her actions never seemed like there was a problem.” He looked down at his food and let his mind wander over what she had explained to him. “The offer was there…to become the mistress of whoever the fuck was in charge of that area of the cartel…and the fuckin’ doctor also.”
“Jesus,” Marc bit out, at the same time as the othermen had the same reaction.
“She said that was what one of the other nurses was doing. The one from California. That’s why I only got Miriam out. I know that she was the mission, but I would have gotten out anyone I could.”
None of the Saints said anything, knowing the man in front of them would have tried to rescue anyone possible.
“When I got there, it was just Miriam, the older nun nurse, and the other one who was literally at death’s door. The nun didn’t want to go anywhere, knowing the other nurse was dying. She told Miriam to go with me.”
He allowed his eyes to travel over his friend’s faces, knowing there was something they were not telling him. “You all just show up to give us a warm welcome?”
Blaise spoke first. “Partially…yeah. You’ve had a time of it, and we wanted to make sure you were all right. We finished the last major case and Jack sent us here to keep an eye on you and Miriam.”
“Think there’s going to be trouble?”
“Don’t know,” Bart stated. “Blaise is going to get a feel from the DEA questioning her as to whether or not she may need protecting.”
“Fuck,” Cam breathed.
“She might not,” Monty added. The former FBI agent was cautious by nature but didn’t want to be an alarmist.
Just then, the door opened, and Miriam walked out, her long hair hanging damp, wearing clean jeans that were slightly baggy and a T-shirt that was two sizes too large. Her eyes darted nervously around until theylanded on Cam and then he was gifted with one of her smiles.
Next to him, he heard his friends murmur under their breaths, and in the back of his mind, he knew they were appreciating the view, which shot a bolt of jealousy through him. Glancing around, he knew for sure the other men in the assembly had the same appreciation. Taking his gaze back to hers, he saw…she only had eyes for him.
Standing, he moved over, stopping directly in front of her, watching her head lean way back as she held his gaze.
“You okay?” he asked.
She heard the concern in his voice. Nodding, she said, “Yeah.” Giving her shoulders a little shrug, she added, “I got the full examination. They’re concerned about the weight loss and dehydration, so they gave me some IV fluids for a bit.” She looked down at her clothes and giggled. “I’m afraid I will have to buy some clothes in a couple of sizes smaller than when I left.”
Tagging her hand, he led her over to the table. “You hungry?”
Looking at the table loaded with deli meat, fresh vegetables, and fruit, as well as several types of bread, she nodded enthusiastically. “Oh my God, I could eat everything.”
He assisted her into a seat between his and Blaise, and across from the other men, all who greeted her kindly. “Gotta eat a bit at a time and slowly,cariña.”
“I know,” she agreed, but dug in heartily, nonetheless. She saw the looks by the DEA agents in the room andshe knew they were chomping at the bit to get her to finish so they could begin their questions. Determined to eat her fill, she just smiled at them and dug into the food, ignoring the churning of her stomach.
By that evening, Miriam wished that she had just kept eating and not stopped to deal with the DEA. The questions continued until she thought she would scream. Separated from Cam, she knew he was also being questioned, but his were more about the operation that he had witnessed. Hers was about the kidnapping, their containment, who she saw, who she interacted with, the doctor, the visit to the leader’s house…on and on!
She answered every question as thoroughly as she could, but exhaustion set in, and her head was pounding. The door to the room flew open and before anyone could speak, Cam stalked through.
“She’s done,” he growled.
“Now hold on,” one of the DEA investigators spoke, “We’re not?—”
“Yeah, you are. She’s fuckin’ exhausted and has given you everything she’s got to give. You need to cut her a break.”
