Chapter 16

SIXTEEN

COHEN

T he anticipation had been building inside me like a coiled spring, each passing moment stretching it taut until it felt like it might snap at any second. Lennox had returned to our apartment complex with Fallon late last night and had filled us in on the situation. Lennox, Cole, and I had then spent the better part of the night and into the morning hours waiting anxiously for news of Salem's well-being. Mateo had reassured us that he would take care of her, but it hadn't made it any easier. When the first light of dawn began to filter through the windows, we knew we couldn't wait any longer. It was time to see her for ourselves, to reassure ourselves that she was safe and sound.

As we made our way to Salem's apartment, a jumble of emotions churned inside me, each one vying for dominance over the others. Fear, worry, relief—all of it mingled together in a tangled mess that threatened to overwhelm me. But as we stepped through the door and into the apartment, all of that fell away in an instant, replaced by incredulous amusement at the sight that greeted us.

There, in the middle of the room, stood Mateo, a bemused expression on his face as he cradled a one-eyed cat in a baby wrap against his chest. It was a sight so absurd, so unexpected, that I burst out laughing at the sheer ridiculousness of it all.

"Dude, what the hell?" Cole exclaimed, his laughter echoing mine as he took in the scene before us.

Lennox raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Is that a cat?" he asked, his tone laced with incredulity as he stared at Mateo and the furry bundle in his arms.

I chuckled at their reactions as I watched Mateo's antics. Leave it to him to swaddle a cat like it was a bloody baby.

Mateo turned toward us with a finger pressed to his lips and a twinkle in his eye. "Shhh," he whispered as he glanced down at the cat nestled against his chest. "The god of mischief is sleeping."

I exchanged a bemused glance with Lennox and Cole, the three of us struggling to contain our laughter. "The god of mischief?" I repeated, gesturing to the cat in Mateo's arms.

Mateo nodded solemnly, his expression deadpan as he regarded us all with mock seriousness. "Loki," he replied simply, as if that explained everything.

"He's Salem's new cat," Mateo said, stroking a hand over its head.

Cole chuckled at the sight while Lennox raised an eyebrow, clearly bemused.

"What's with the baby wrap, man?" Cole asked, grinning.

Mateo shrugged. "He likes it. I'm keeping him company until Salem wakes up."

I nodded, my mind turning to Salem. "How is she?" I asked.

Mateo's expression softened. "Still sleeping, thankfully."

Cole wasted no time springing into action, declaring that he would check on her. With a nod of approval, he left the room, his footsteps echoing in the silence that followed.

Mateo turned to me then, his gaze piercing as he issued his next command. "Be useful, Cohen," he said, his tone firm but not unkind. "Make our queen some breakfast."

The words were heavy with meaning, and I exchanged a bemused glance with Lennox at Mateo's unexpected proclamation. "Our queen?" Lennox echoed, his eyebrows raised in surprise.

Mateo merely shrugged, a smirk threatening to bloom on his lips as he met our gazes with a humorous look. "What, like it's a question?" he retorted, his tone teasing. "We all want her. She's ours."

There was a moment of stunned silence as his words sank in. At that moment, I realized the truth of Mateo's declaration, the undeniable fact that Salem held a place in each of our hearts, and not one of us wanted to give her up.

With a newfound resolve, I set about preparing breakfast, my mind buzzing with thoughts of Salem and the role she played in our lives.

The apartment felt strangely crowded as Salem stumbled out of her bedroom, still half asleep, with Cole trailing close behind. Rubbing the last remnants of sleep from her eyes, she blinked in confusion at the sight of all of us gathered there. "What's going on?" she mumbled, her voice thick with drowsiness.

I stepped forward, trying to keep my tone light despite the concern pressing down on me. "We just wanted to check on you," I said, my gaze locking with hers.

Lennox jumped in before I could say more, his voice firm and resolute. "You need to pack," he urged. "It's not safe here if Massimo finds out you're alive."

Salem's brows furrowed as she processed Lennox's words. "Where are we supposed to go?" she asked.

Lennox's expression softened as he replied, "I've arranged a secure house for all of us in Westchester County."

Salem hesitated, her mind seemingly caught in a whirlwind of disbelief and apprehension. She glanced around at each of us in turn as if searching for reassurance amid the uncertainty. Cole stepped forward, his gaze steady as he met Salem's eyes. "We'll be safe there, Salem," he said calmly. "Trust us."

Salem stood off to the side, her gaze fixed on Mateo as he cradled Loki, in his makeshift baby wrap. There was an amused smile tugging on her lips, but she didn't say anything.

With a sigh, Salem nodded slowly, resignation flickering in her eyes. "Okay," she murmured. "Okay, but first, I need coffee."

I nodded in understanding, grateful for the opportunity to be useful. "I'll get you a cup," I offered, moving quickly to pour her a steaming mug of coffee. As I handed it to her, our fingers brushed briefly, a small but reassuring point of contact amid the chaos.

"Breakfast is nearly ready," I added, gesturing toward the table where plates of food were already laid out. Salem nodded gratefully, taking a sip of her coffee before joining us at the table. We settled into our seats, and Mateo finally put Loki down. The one-eyed cat twirled around Salem's feet as she picked at her food. There was comfort as we sat with one another, each of us lost in our own thoughts but bound together by a shared purpose.

Lennox broke the silence, his voice cutting through the quiet that had settled over us. "I've sent the new house address to Remington," he announced, his tone serious. "He's agreed to meet us there in a week."

A ripple of anticipation ran through the room at Lennox's words, the prospect of a new beginning offering a glimmer of hope amid the uncertainty that still loomed over us. Salem nodded in approval.

"Sounds like a plan," she said, her voice steady and hopeful. We finished our breakfast in companionable silence, the gravity of recent events gradually lifting as we allowed ourselves to believe that, perhaps, there was hope for us yet.

I cleaned up our breakfast dishes before we all gathered to help Salem pack. Clothes were hastily stuffed into suitcases, toiletries thrown into bags, and any other essentials grabbed in a frenzy of activity. Salem moved with purpose, her actions quick and efficient as she sorted through her belongings while the rest of us worked to ensure that nothing was left behind.

Once Salem had collected everything she needed for herself and Loki, we gathered at the door. I could feel the weight of Lennox's gaze on Salem, his eyes studying her bruised and battered form with concern and simmering anger.

Before we made our way downstairs, Lennox stalked forward, his presence commanding as he reached out to cup Salem's chin in his hand.

I watched in silence as Lennox's thumb brushed over her cheek. "I want a list of names." His voice was low, his words a quiet demand that brooked no argument. There was a dangerous edge to his tone, a warning that lingered long after he'd spoken. He wasn't asking for information—he was demanding justice.

Salem's gaze met Lennox's, a flicker of defiance dancing in her eyes despite the pain and exhaustion etched into her features. But beneath the facade of strength, I could see vulnerability lurking just beneath the surface.

He waited for her to nod before he turned and walked out the door, leaving us to follow. We

made our way downstairs to where Mateo's car was parked and loaded Salem's belongings into the trunk before driving across town to pick up Fallon.

She was already waiting for us when we arrived, her bags packed and ready to go. Fallon flashed us a smile as we approached, her eyes bright with anticipation. "My bestie's riding with me," she announced to us with a rebellious glint in her eye.

Before any of us could protest, Fallon turned to Lennox and added, "Oh, and we're borrowing your car." There was a riotous challenge in her tone as she spoke, a bit of defiance that we had all come to expect from her.

Lennox raised an eyebrow in response but didn't argue as Fallon gestured for Salem to join her in the passenger seat of his prized Maserati. Salem hesitated, her gaze flicking between the car and the rest of us, uncertainty written across her face.

"Go on, Salem," I urged, giving her a reassuring smile. "We'll meet you there." She nodded in understanding, her expression one of fortitude as she took Loki from Mateo and climbed into the car beside Fallon.

As the Maserati pulled away from the curb, the rest of us piled into Mateo's car and set off in pursuit.