Chapter Thirteen
NASH
I kept Joshua with me under the sweltering tarp until Candy called me by name.
I threw the foul thing back and stood, bending to pull Joshua out of the cramped space, relieved beyond all reason that my team had arrived so quickly.
Obviously, the captain had housed them somewhere near us after my phone call with him.
I could only thank my lucky stars that Candy was always thinking ahead.
Joshua was red-faced and sweating profusely when he finally righted himself, wincing.
I frowned. “You okay?” I asked, steadying him with both hands on his shoulders.
He nodded vigorously as he turned to look down at our hiding place.
“Just stiff.” He looked back and suddenly grinned, stomping his feet, probably to dislodge several spiderwebs. “Glad I didn’t become a stiff.”
I chuckled, tempted to throw my arms around him.
“What the hell happened, Hampstead?”
I turned back to the boss who was walking across the patio toward us. He didn’t look happy. Smith and Good followed right behind.
“Mr. Calder,” Candy said, nodding in his direction. “You doing okay?”
Joshua glanced at me before facing Candy. “Yes…thanks to Nash’s quick thinking. He saved my life again, Captain.” He looked back at me. “I’m so grateful.”
“What’s the story, brother?” Patsy asked.
“We’d just finished our workout at 24 Hour Fitness when we were on our way out,” I said.
“The guy just happened to be standing at the check-in desk. I’m pretty sure he recognized us immediately because the next thing I knew, he was calling someone.
I didn’t know whether the place had a backdoor, so I made the decision to walk right past him and exit out the front.
Once we were outside, I called you and then we started running. ”
I looked over at Joshua and smiled. “I’m thankful that I was with an ESL teacher or I wouldn’t have been certain he recognized us.”
Candy looked at Joshua. “You overheard something, Mr. Calder?”
“He said, ‘Estan aqui…esos gavachos.’ Roughly translated, it means ‘they’re here…those white boys’…but the word he used for white boys isn’t a polite one.” Joshua darted a sideways glance at me before turning back to the captain.
Candy nodded at Joshua. “It’s a good thing you were able to translate.” He pinned me with a knowing look. “You’ve been living in Houston since you left the Corps, Hampstead. You should’ve learned some Spanish.” He smiled to take the sting out of his words.
I exchanged a glance with Joshua who smiled sweetly. He reached out and smacked me on the bicep. “Don’t worry. I’ll teach him.”
I smirked before looking back at Candy, growing serious.
“Anyway, after getting outside, we ran like hell—like I told you—rounded a couple of corners and doubled back down the alley behind the shopping center. We spotted a black car as we hopped the fence into the neighborhood, then ran until we found this place and hid.” I paused for a few seconds.
“I don’t suppose you caught up to any of them? ”
All three shook their heads. “Even with air support, they were gone by the time we got here,” Candy replied.
“The trees on this block are thick so there’s no real good visibility to the ground from the air.
We figure they changed cars because air support radioed that they located an abandoned black SUV at the end of the block.
Judy is looking at satellite images but there’s only a slim chance they’ll lead us back to their leader if they changed cars multiple times before going to ground. They could be anywhere.”
I nodded. “As long as they’re not here.”
“For that we’re both grateful,” Joshua added. He looked beat but hopefully knowing we were safe, at least for now, took the sting out of not being able to find and arrest the bastards.
“What now?” I asked my team.
“The others are still trying to find the shitheads, but I can categorically say, it’s not safe for either of you to go back to your place, Hampstead,” Candy said.
“There’s a very good chance they can trace your address once they realize 24 Hour Fitness probably has it on file.
At this point, I don’t see any way around putting Mr. Calder into WITSEC.
” He looked at me. “I guess that means you’re going to be off guard duty, Hampstead.
” He turned to Joshua. “I’ll contact the U.S.
Marshals Service so you can reunite with your family, Mr. Calder. ”
For the first time that day, I felt gutted as the truth of our imminent separation stared me right in the face. I glanced over at Joshua when he stepped close and slipped his hand into mine.
“I’m not leaving Nash,” he said.
I curled my fingers around his as I faced him. “What?”
“I feel safe with you.” Joshua looked at me with a plea in his light gray eyes.
The gold flecks in them were easier to see now that we were standing in sunlight.
“Please don’t let them do this. I need to be with you, and I don’t want to put my family in danger by reuniting with them.
It’s clear they’re coming for me. I don’t want the kids in the line of fire again, Nash.
” He glanced at the captain. “Can’t you just relocate us together somewhere? ”
“Are you sure you want to do that, Joshua? The captain is right. You’d be safer in WITSEC with your family.”
He shook his head emphatically. “NO!” He let go of my hand and rubbed his over his face as he lowered his voice. “I don’t want to be anywhere near them. I still think staying away from them is important. These guys are after me and if they get close—”
I shook my head, feeling a strong desire to protect him, yet at the same time, the need to obey my boss.
“Please, Nash…please just let them find a way to relocate us together, far away from my family.”
I was torn, knowing he’d be safer if he was under the Marshal’s protection with the rest of his family and yet, desperate to keep him at my side for some fucked up reason.
I watched his eyes, recognizing his obvious desire to stay with me.
I finally broke eye contact and said to Candy, “Would it be possible to relocate us together? I’ll need to take Marvin, though. ”
The captain frowned. “Who’s Marvin?”
“His fucking tomcat,” Snickers said, flashing white teeth as he smiled.
“He’s a sweetheart,” Joshua said.
“A goddamned cat?” Candy asked.
“Hey, some people like cats,” I said, trying not to sound ungrateful if he decided to make the effort. “Besides, I wouldn’t want him adopted by some fucked up cartel douche if they manage to find my apartment. He hates automatic weapons and dickheads.”
Candy’s lips twitched. “I thought all you cared about were those fucking houseplants.”
No, there was someone I cared a lot more about now…but he wasn’t talking about the smaller man at my side. “Um…someone will have to water them too. My coleus is very temperamental,” I said, perhaps too quickly.
Patsy snorted as Smith barked a laugh.
“You two are assholes,” I said, pointing at them one by one.
“What?” Patsy asked. “Afraid the wee plants are gonna get root rot, boyo?” he drawled, reaching out to punch me in the shoulder.
“Bite me, Irish.” I rubbed the sore spot as I glared at him.
Candy turned to look at them. “Just for that, you two get to water the fucking plants.”
“Hey!” Snickers said. “I didn’t say anything, Cap!”
Patsy hooked an arm with our larger brother. “If I have to be arsed to water the feckin’ plants, so do you.”
“Leprechaun!” Snickers shot back, yanking his arm out of Patsy’s hold.
“That’s enough,” Candy said. “You’re both watering the damn plants…
and I’ll figure out a way to have the cat go with you, Hampstead.
” He pulled out his phone. “I need to call this into SAC Bradley and let him know what’s happening.
Mr. Calder, if you’ll wait with Nash and these two children, I’ll start making calls. ” He turned to walk away.
“Will do, Captain.”
“And I suppose you’ll be wantin’ Snickers and me to pack up the jockstraps again?” Patsy called at his retreating back. Candy just gave a thumbs up, not even bothering to look over his shoulder.
“I never liked those things,” Smith said, glancing over at us.
“You really should try them,” Joshua said, smirking at the big man as he gestured to his groin. “Keeps things in a nice, tight package.”
I tried not to think about his fucking sexy jockstraps as Napoleon shook his head, frowning slightly. “Maybe, but I could never get used to my ass being out there for the whole world to see.”
“I don’t know why not,” I added.
“What are you getting at?” Napoleon asked with a lifted brow.
“Weren’t you the one bragging that the last guy you dated enjoyed going commando, Smith?” I asked.
“Yeah…what about it?” he asked.
“I’m only saying there’s a very real possibility that you’ve been tea bagged with sweaty balls so much, it could explain why your breath smells like gym socks.” I smirked at my friend.
“And wee broken promises,” Patsy added, doubling over with laughter.
Napoleon glared at him. “Fuck all, y’all.”
I glanced at Joshua who was laughing too.
When he looked up at me, he shrugged. “What? You guys kill me.”
When Candy came walking back to us, I nodded at him. “How’d he take it?”
“Like a prostate exam,” Candy growled.
I laughed. “So, what now? Where do we go while we wait for SAC Bradley to find us a safehouse?” I glanced at the house’s sliding glass door where a Hispanic woman stood, glaring at us.
The frown on her wrinkled face couldn’t be mistaken and the wooden spoon in her hand looked lethal.
“Uh oh…if we don’t get out of here soon, she’s gonna make us kneel on corn. ”
“What?” Candy asked, frowning at me.
“It’s something the new guy told me.” When he looked like he still didn’t get it, I rolled my eyes and explained. “When Miguel Huerta got in trouble as a kid, his abuela would make him kneel on uncooked corn as punishment.” I leaned forward, stage whispering, “On her tile floors.”