Protecting Alabama (SEAL of Protection Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

to find Alabama. She didn’t know it yet, but she’d be seeing him again very soon. He’d contact Tex if he had to. Tex could find anyone. Tex used to be on a SEAL team, but after losing his leg on a mission he’d moved to Virginia and started his own independent private investigator business.
    Tex was still close to all of the team and he’d helped locate Caroline when she’d been kidnapped by terrorists earlier that year. Tex would help him find Alabama, and then Abe could get to work seriously getting to know her.
    Abe hadn’t been this excited to get to know a woman in a long time; too long. He couldn’t wait. Alabama wouldn’t know what hit her. She’d be his.

Chapter Four
     
     
    Alabama coughed and watched the news the next night sadly. The anchorman was covering the fire. Apparently one of the cords to a crock pot on the buffet table shorted out and caught the cheap paper tablecloth on fire. Alabama couldn’t help the mean thought that at least her veggies didn’t burn the place down; it was someone’s fancy catered food they’d brought.
    By the time someone noticed, the small flame had spread and the curtains were already on fire. Luckily no one was killed, but there were still about a dozen people in the hospital. They were being treated for smoke inhalation and burns. Too many people were trapped trying to shove out the door. The news people had interviewed a few bystanders standing around. Most had said how scared they were and how they thought they were going to die.
    Alabama recognized one couple who she’d pointed towards the hall and the door. They’d talked about how the room was dark and scary and even mentioned how someone had pointed them toward the side door so they could get out. They had no idea who it was though. The person interviewing them seemed interested at first, but then someone was wheeled by on a gurney, and apparently that was more interesting than the unhurt bystanders.
    A part of Alabama was glad. She had no interest in being interviewed or pointed out. Anyone would have done what she’d done. At least she thought they would. She hated being in the spotlight. But another part of her was a little hurt. If someone had saved her life, she sure as hell would’ve made sure she noticed who it was and at the very least thanked them. Oh well.
    Alabama’s lungs still hurt, but she honestly couldn’t complain, she was here and alive, and she’d helped many others get out. She hadn’t bothered to go to the hospital. Once she saw Christopher was being seen for the burns on his back, she’d just left. Cleaning offices for a living didn’t give her a lot of extra money, and Alabama figured a trip to the hospital and paying a co-pay for a doctor to tell her she was fine wasn’t a good way to spend her hard-earned money.
    She snuggled down into the blanket on her couch. The little apartment was all Alabama could afford on her salary. She was saving up her money for a down payment for a house of her own. She didn’t know what house, or where, but she’d do whatever she could to have her very own space. Growing up the way she did made her crave a place of her very own. Her own safe place. Even though she’d made the apartment as cozy as she could, Alabama would never feel safe until she had her own house and her own space.
    Her foster homes had never felt safe. Alabama always had to be careful of the other foster kids and even sometimes the parents. Lord knew she never felt safe with her mama. Her current apartment was perfect for now; it was small and cheap and allowed her to save money each month.
    Alabama was proud of the amount of money she’d been able to save so far. She was sure some people wouldn’t think it was a lot, but it was a huge deal to her. She scrimped and saved and tried to shop at second-hand stores to save even more. Even this tiny apartment was a conscious effort to be frugal.
    Her landlord was a slimy bastard named Bob. Alabama didn’t even know what his