Chapter Seven #2
I felt my heart squeeze. I had no family to speak of, at least none that gave a damn about me, so hearing something like that felt odd.
“Good enough.” I moved into position as he lowered Pete to me feet first. I took hold of him by the waist and he wrapped himself around me like a little limpet.
I kissed the side of his head and lowered him to the ground.
He clung to my waist as Meggie came next.
She wrapped her small arms around me, burying her face in my neck, and holding on for dear life.
I moved out of the way as first Barbie and finally Joshua dropped to the ground. Puffs of pink insulation clung to their clothes, and I realized how brave they’d all been. Climbing into that dusty old attic and hearing all the gunfire as killers broke into their home must have been terrifying.
Barbie picked Pete up but when I moved closer to Joshua to hand Meggie to him, she wouldn’t let go. I met Joshua’s gaze, searching his eyes as tears filled them.
“Thank you,” he whispered to me.
I smiled. “Thank you for doing exactly as I said. You were very brave.”
He returned the smile as tears spilled over. He bent and spoke softly in Meggie’s ear, rubbing circles on her back. “Come on, sweet little girl.”
She lifted her face from my neck, staring at me for a minute before turning me loose. She held out her arms, and Joshua took her.
I looked at Candy. “How bad is it?” He knew what I was asking. We needed to get the family out of the house, but stepping over bleeding bodies would further traumatize them.
“There’s a clear path to the back door,” Candy said. “We’ve got the little dog too.” I searched his eyes, not wanting to ask. “He’s unharmed.”
“Garbanzo?” Pete asked, lifting his face from Barbie’s shoulder.
Candy smiled. “Is that his name?”
Pete nodded, wiping tears from his cheeks, trying to look brave.
“Well, Garbanzo is outside in our truck, Pete. Come on. We’re going to take you to him.”
“Okay.”
Barbie followed Candy and the others, holding onto Pete.
I put my arm around Joshua and when he glanced at me, I reassured him with a smile.
“Let’s go.” He simply nodded, letting me lead him down the hall, heading toward the back of the house.
The bright copper scent of blood and gun smoke hung in the air.
Glass crunched under our shoes as we headed through the kitchen to the back door.
We didn’t pass any bodies on the way outside and for that I was grateful.
Rex and Mickey were in the yard and both wore relieved expressions. I kept my arm around Joshua’s shoulders even though we’d made it outside, relieved as hell to be able to inhale fresh air.
“Thank God,” Mickey said, coming over as I finally let go of Joshua. He clasped both of my shoulders, staring me in the face. “When we got the call, we almost lost it.”
I reached up and patted him on the cheek. “Thanks for being there, Mickey.”
Rex came over and pulled me away from my best friend, lifting me off the ground. I laughed as he put me back down. The big Texan towered over me, looking intimidating as hell in his tac gear and helmet. “Reckon you was a gonner, brother.”
I felt myself blush as I stared up at him. “Thanks, buddy.” I turned to look at Joshua. “This big, old Texan is my brother Rex.”
Joshua looked back and forth between the two of us. “You don’t look like brothers.”
That got a belly laugh out of Rex. “I like this one, Nash. Reckon he’s a keeper,” he drawled.
“The BearCat is out front.” I turned as Candy strode out of the house and stopped in front of us. “The family will be safe in there until we can take everyone somewhere else.”
Joshua looked at me. “What do you mean by somewhere else?”
“Let’s get you and the kids in the armored vehicle,” I said. “We’ll talk more about it in there. I don’t want to take any chances with you or your family.”
We followed Candy down the side yard and out to the front.
The entire street was lit with the flashing lights of parked LAPD squad cars.
A fire truck had pulled up close to the unit which had been parked in front of the house earlier.
I was suddenly reminded that one of the officers had radioed in a distress call before the hit squad broke into the house.
The presence of so many black and whites could not bode well for the officers who’d called it in.
As we walked to the BearCat, I caught sight of a still form inside the car at the curb and felt my stomach do a slow roll.
Clearly, they’d been caught off guard. I sent up a silent prayer for both officers as we met Mars at the back door of our vehicle.
He grinned widely at me as he stood near the open door.
“Good to see you, brother,” he drawled.
When Joshua heard him, he turned to look at me with confusion on his face. I smirked. “This is my team. We’re all brothers, Joshua.”
“I was wondering how you could all be related since this one is British.”
Mars laughed. “Marshall Clifford, mate. Nice to meet you.” He stuck out a hand and Joshua set Meggie down. The two men shook.
“Joshua Calder.”
“Yes, I know.” Mars bent down and held out a hand to Meggie. “And I understand you’re Meghan.”
She smiled a gap-toothed grin at him, shyly returning the handshake. “Meggie.”
Mars slapped a hand over his heart dramatically. “Now that’s what I call a right proper name. Let me help you into your chariot, m’lady.”
I watched as he took her hand and helped her hop up into the back of the BearCat.
As I climbed in behind Joshua, I spied Barbie sitting with Pete and Alain.
Pete was grinning as he held onto a wiggling Garbanzo.
The puppy looked no worse for wear, evidenced by the way he was licking Pete’s face.
Meggie rushed over to them. I sat on one of the benches beside Joshua as Joy handed him a bottle of water with a welcoming smile.
“Alain Joy, at your service,” he said, introducing himself as they shook hands. “Glad to see you all in good health.”
I knew that was Alain’s way of saying in one piece.
Our medic had the softly spoken and often understated way of speaking some Brits had.
I watched him pass blankets to Barbie and Joshua who wrapped one around each kid and themselves as Candy joined us in the back, shutting the door and crouching down in front of us.
“So, I wanted to tell you where we’re going.”
Joshua darted a glance at me. “You said you were going to discuss our protection before all this happened.”
I threw an apologetic look at Candy. “I never got around to explaining everything before the cartel came knocking.”
He patted my knee. “That’s okay. So, this is what’s going to happen. For the night, we’ll be putting you all up in a hotel and in the morning, we think it best to set you up in the witness protection program, at least until we have this cartel mess cleaned up.”
I watched as Joshua frowned. “I can’t do that,” he said quietly. He glanced at his sisters and Pete before looking back. “Barbie has school and so do the kids. I have two jobs and I’m working on my Masters. None of us can just leave our lives behind. What’s going to happen to the house and—”
I reached over and put my hand on his knee. When he turned to me, the worry in his expression spoke volumes. “We’ll work it all out, Joshua.”
He shook his head, frowning at me. “I can’t, Nash.
None of us can just leave. Barbie has a girlfriend who’ll be devastated if she just up and disappears.
She’s set to graduate high school in only a few months, and I’ll lose my job.
Bruno can’t work around a long gap in my schedule and I teach ESL classes at the college.
Even if I can somehow work out a way to do online classes, I can’t just abandon everything.
People are counting on me.” He rested his warm hand over mine. “Please.”
Candy cleared his throat and we all turned to look at him.
He was staring at the way we were touching.
I suppose I should have been embarrassed, but the way he declared his trust in me so publicly, didn’t bother me in the least. Candy cleared his throat again.
“Unfortunately, that’s the way it has to be, Mr. Calder—at least for now—I’m sorry to say.
The U.S. Marshals are prepared to set you up in the WITSEC program for as long as it takes. ”
Joshua shook his head, gripping my hand hard. “I want to cooperate with the FBI. I really do, but if I leave, questions might be raised with Child Protective Services and I can’t have that. You don’t understand.” His eyes filled. “I can’t lose my family.”
Candy frowned. “I assure you, we’ll coordinate with them. The U.S. Marshals won’t be able to tell them where you are, but they will explain the situation. Agencies work together at times like this.”
I glanced back at Joshua to find him staring at me. “Will you stay with me? Barbie should take the kids and go into WITSEC, but I can’t leave.”
I didn’t know what to say. What he was asking was highly irregular. Even the President of the U.S. and First Lady didn’t split households for protracted periods of time due to the limited resources of the Secret Service. “I don’t—I don’t think I can.”
“You want to stay here in L.A. even if your family is relocated elsewhere, Mr. Calder?” Candy asked.
Joshua dragged his gaze to his small family and when he turned back, the pain etched on his face was evident. “I can’t imagine not being with them, especially if it lasts a long time…but I just can’t go.”
“I understand, Mr. Calder,” Candy said. “Unfortunately, we have to protect you until this situation is all said and done.”
He nodded. “Well then…I suppose I have no choice but to agree.” He looked directly at me, and I nodded.
Candy seemed to ponder it. “I’ll talk with the Marshals Service. Are you willing to take charge of Mr. Calder’s protection, Hampstead? It’ll mean taking a break from the team since your focus is going to be on keeping Joshua safe.”
It would mean my brothers would be out there trying to clean up this mess. It could take months but as I looked into the pleading expression on Joshua’s face, realizing that he was giving up a lot more than I was, I couldn’t imagine saying no. I glanced back at Candy. “Whatever it takes, boss.”
“Okay then.” Candy rose to his full height and walked to the back of the truck where he exited. Moments later, we were driving away from Joshua’s house, heading into a future none of us could possibly predict.