Page 249 of Cross the Line
I don’t know what else to do but apologize for the ways my family failed her. The ways our church failed us both.
“What did you want to ask me?” I say, trying to gather my thoughts.
“I see the way you and Eli are together, and I overheard some conversations with Presley and your father about the two of you after you left the Fellowship. If you loved him from so young, why not marry him?”
“The elders didn’t allow it.”And in my gut, I knew something was wrong.
Never did I think it was that Presley hurt Eli. I assumed Eli felt obligated to me, and I didn’t want to be the tie to Havenview he’d grow to despise.
“It seems sinful to waste something as pure and good as love,” she whispers, fussing with the chin-length waves framing her face. “I know the scriptures say our souls should belong to the Lord alone, but I don’t know... I think... I...”
“You can say it, Salem. The scriptures are antiquated.”
“Yes.” Sitting taller, she rubs the curve of her belly with a wistful sigh. “I see that now. I saw it when Casey loved and cherished me when my husband didn’t. I obeyed and honored him like the scriptures told me to, and all I got were beatings and... and... hurt.”
“He’s going to pay for all of it. You know that, don’t you?”
I, for one, cannot wait.
I grab the cooled tea and crackers from the coffee table and hand them to her before settling next to her and Blanca. It takes me forever to put something on the TV.
My gaze keeps drifting to the armchair, and my thoughts spiral back to Eli sitting there, watching Jayden fuck me.
Whether I knew it or not, that’s where we changed. Where our lives shifted. Not only mine and Eli’s, but JJ’s too. Our strings tangled together into one messy rope that has become stronger with every knot.
My wrist vibrates at the same time my insides buzz at the heated memory. I swear I can still hear JJ’s gruff voice in my ear. The deep gravel rasping with his raw need as he pounded into me.
I tap my bracelet a few times in return. Like I’m peppering kisses all over them. It’s exactly what I plan on doing when they get home. Making sure they know how grateful I am for their love and all the ways they regale me with it.
“That’s my favorite chair in the apartment,” Salem croaks, her voicestill hoarse. “Sometimes when I can’t sleep, I curl up in it and watch the ocean. If I get the angle right and pull a blanket tight around me, it kinda feels like someone is holding me. Most of the time, I imagine it’s Casey. That the come-and-go of the waves is his steady breath. It’s stupid, I know.”
Oh, my heart.“No, it’s no—” I pause at the loud knock on the door.
Blanca bolts up with a high whine, sprinting toward the sound. Following, I try to slow my hammering pulse with shallow breaths. I know we’re safe because, after Salem showed up, Eli and Jayden spoke to the doormen to make sure they don’t let anyone upstairs, even if they share our last names, unless they’re on the list they gave them.
Still, after this morning, I’m on edge. Natasha can protect Salem’s and Eli’s identities from the public, but Presley will know it’s them pressing charges. He’s evil enough to remember every way he hurt them; part of me wonders if he’ll get a kick out of this. Of knowing how much pain he’s caused them.
“Fin, are you in there?” Eli’s voice calls from the other side of the door with a heavier pound.
How are they back so early?I throw open the door and launch myself at my…man. “Where’s Jayden?”
My stomach drops as I cling to him, using his shoulders to hoist myself higher to see behind him.
“Management called him to give his statement for the inquiry the league is launching. They called Rio and Dylan, too.” His arms coil around my thighs; he buries his face in my neck and nips at my pulse. “Figured I’d come pick you up, and we can take you for dinner. Rest day tomorrow, so we can go watch that new Disney movie you and Jayden have been fawning over.”
Shoot.“That sounds good, but?—”
“What’s wrong?” He pulls back to read my face; his stare flicks past me. “Is Salem okay? The baby?”
Eli sets me down as I nod. His hand holds mine, leading me inside with attention-hungry Blanca hopping and circling. After a quick fuss over her, he turns to Salem at the end of the hallway.
With purposeful steps, he takes us to her. “I have some good news for you,” he says just as I rush out, “We met with Natasha today.”
“Why?” Eli asks Salem, voice soft as his hand cradles her shoulder lightly. “I told you that you didn’t have to do that.”
“I wanted to,” she says, offering a faint smile. “And I have to do everything I can to protect myself and my baby. Presley can’t touch us if he’s locked away.”
“He wouldn’t be able to touch you in Chicago.” Salem’s eyes go big and round, and my heart squeezes tight for her. “Brett called Lex this morning. He spoke to the Cavanaughs, and they invited you to the funeral.”
