Page 91 of Saving You

We’re a street away from the road we need to turn down. Out of the corner of my eye, I see two different houses close their windows. This isn’t right. We shouldn’t be going to this house.

As I’m about to call out to the men in front of us, the sound of a gunshot echoes through the air. My instincts and training kick in. I find the first place I can that has cover, pressing myself against a half wall that separates two houses. I listen, trying to identify where the gunfire is coming from. It definitely came from the direction we were walking towards. Looking around, I see very few people on the street, and I know that’s no accident.

This was an ambush.

I radio in our coordinates and the situation. The radio beeps as they tell me support’s five minutes out. Closing my eyes, I look to the sky and count to three. When I’m done, I look around the wall, trying to find another member of my team. I spot Tyler at the same time he sees me. He’s positioned between two cars just up the road. He does a quick look around and, still crouched, makes his way towards me. The surrounding gun fire gets loud. When he’s half a meter away from me, he staggers as a bullet hits his chest. He manages to make it all the way to me before collapsing.

There’s no blood, so the bullet must be stuck in his plate carrier. I try sit him up, but he’s not doing anything to help me. His breathing is ragged as he lets out a scream.

“Tyler, help me out.”

He looks right through me. Pulling open his vest, I see the blood starting to pool.

FUCK!

Putting pressure on the wound, I talk to him. “Stay with me,” I yell as his eyes roll back. Pushing harder on the wound with one hand, I use the other to tap the side of hisface. “Tyler, you fucking stay with me. You’re not dying on me.”

Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck. I’m losing him.

“Caleb,” a woman’s voice calls, and something cool touches my forehead.

I look down, and Tyler is still lying there.

“Baby, you’re safe.” I know that voice. The stress in my body starts to subside. Looking down, I don’t see Tyler anymore.

“Caleb.”

My eyes flutter open, and I’m met by the most beautiful set of blue ones. Bailey smiles softly as she uses the wet washcloth on my forehead.

“You’re safe.” Her voice is soft as she continues smiling down at me while gently patting the cool cloth on my skin.

I take in my surroundings, noticing I’m in the living room and not our bedroom. Bailey is wearing nothing but her robe.

“I’m sorry.” My voice comes out weak and shame washes over me. I once again woke her up with one of my nightmares. Did I wake Charlie? This can’t happen again. This is exactly what caused Gina to leave me. She couldn’t put up with constant nightmares and me waking her from her beauty sleep.

Bailey shakes her head. “Baby, there’s nothing to be sorry about.”

My hand comes up and wraps around her wrist. My thumb stroking her pulse point. Her skin is soft under my touch and it grounds me even more now that I’ve woken up.

“I woke you up with my nightmare.”

Dropping the cloth on the coffee table, she straddles my lap and runs her hands through my hair. Her nails gently scrape at my scalp, soothing me. Every little thing she does keeps me in the present and away from that nightmare. Bailey has saved me in more ways than she will ever know.

“And that’s okay,” she says.

“Charlie?” I ask.

“Fast asleep in her bed.”

We continue to sit as I lean into Bailey’s touch. My eyes grow heavy.

“Come to bed,” she whispers as she climbs off me and offers her hand.

I rise from the couch and follow her upstairs. Climbing under the covers, Bailey comes right into my side and rests her head on my chest. Her nails gently scrape over my chest, my abs, and across my arm. I watch the movement of her delicate fingers as they trail over my skin. On her fifth trail, my eyes begin to close. I inhale deeply, the smell of Bailey’s shampoo filling my lungs, and I melt into the bed.

Home. That’s what I feel right now. I feel at home, that one place in the world where you feel safe. Bailey is that place.

CHAPTER 32

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