Chapter 42
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
MAYA
We head south, back to DC. We have about an hour left of our drive when my cell goes off. I look at the screen on the dash. Damn it, I wish this motherfucker would go away. I pick up the phone and bypass the Bluetooth so Ana can't hear him.
"Well, you survived I see."
"Ya, dickhead! What do you want?"
"I want my wife, now, you cunt!"
"Now. Now. No name-calling. I put her on a plane heading west."
"Liar, I know she's in the back seat of that fancy truck. Put her on the phone, now, Maya. I'll kill Duncan if you don't. He'd be dead if you hadn’t jumped in front of that bullet. Such self-sacrifice, what a joke."
"No! So was it you who sent the guy to my gym to try to beat me up?" I signal Duncan to push Ana down in the seat.
I put my finger to my lips so they both stay quiet and activate the Bluetooth. I've started to slow down and merge off the freeway, watching my mirrors. Duncan bristled when I mentioned the attack at the gym. Joshua must not have told him.
"You listen up, you fucking bitch, if you didn't have a vest on, both you and that meathead would be dead.
As for the gym, that was a friend sending you a message.
The guy wasn't supposed to rough you up so much.
He just hated losing to a woman. I don't care what my boss wants, I'll kill you if I get the chance.
You're more trouble than you're worth. I agree with our friend, you need to be taught a lesson.
" I look at Duncan to make sure he stays quiet and to see how he reacts to the "boss" revelation.
Someone is pulling Jonathon's strings, but my other stalker is a part of this too.
"Well, I'm hearing what you're saying, but again I sent Ana away. If I can keep her from you, I will. You don't scare me. Come and get me, asshole."
"Put my fucking wife on!" he yells. I see Ana flinch from the back seat.
"I can't." I see the tail get off with us. Damn, this is bad. I accelerate back onto the freeway, taking the median in an attempt to lose the tail.
"You cunt! I'll get my wife back. She has something of mine and I want it now."
"Hey, Jonathon, be careful, your American is showing. I know you're not English; I know a little about you. You will leave Ana alone or I'll kill you."
"Fucking bitch, I won't say it again! I'll kill James if I don't get my wife back.
Is that clear enough? Ana, do you want to lose another parent?
How about that friend of yours, Greg, is it?
One phone call from me and a friend who has been trying to teach you a lesson will kill anyone I want.
" I look over to see Duncan furiously texting and Ana is trying to sit up.
I reach between the seats and push her back down.
I bite my tongue to bleeding to avoid the groan of pain that could be a sign of weakness coming out.
"Okay, fucktard, you've done pissed me off. Goodbye." I hang up and focus on getting ahead of the tail by some distance.
We're still a good way from my service area. I know I could get assistance from the Baltimore PD. I'm driving at excessive speeds in hopes of attracting some police, but it doesn't work. I get to just outside of District 5 and open the center console and pull my radio off the top of the gun safe.
"Officer needs assistance," I say into the radio.
"Officer, what's your location? Please identify."
"This is Officer Aaron, badge number 365492 of the Metro ERT. I'm in a black Ford Raptor Crew Cab on US50, New York Avenue, and getting ready to cross the Anacostia. Need assistance with an aggressive driver following me, a four-door sedan, dark colored. Appears to be two individuals in it."
"Officer Aaron, a patrol car is diverting from South Dakota en route to your location. Don't engage if you can."
"I'm currently driving eighty-five, I'll be exiting at North Capitol Street Northeast."
"Officer Aaron, this is patrol Three-William-Ten, we've just gotten on the 50."
"Patrol Three-William-Ten, I'm passing you now. The vehicle is about three behind me."
"Officer Aaron, is that you?" Another responder cuts in.
"Ya, man, where are you at?" Thank God he's listening in.
"Waiting at our exit, I'll call." My cell rings and I pick up the call through the Bluetooth.
"Hey, sexy, what's this with you getting your cherry popped without me? You know the rules. Besides, Dad is pissed." He jokes, and Duncan growls. "Whoa, what was that? Did they give you that male hormone shit to heal your wounds?"
"That was her boyfriend, wanker. Who the bloody hell is this?" Duncan growls.
"Ah, Duncan, stop, that's Derek, he's joking."
"I know enough about what popping a cherry means, Maya."
"Ah...he's talking about me being shot."
"Hey, Duncan, do we need to have this talk again?
" Derek’s voice comes over the speaker. "I'm not interested in your girl, she can kick my ass.
And it's about time you got on a plane to chase her down, she's driving me crazy.
I can't keep taking her to bars and keep her from boarding a plane to London. Plus, no one will spar with her anymore, they’re afraid of her kicking their ass. "
"Derek, shut up!" I yell. "I'll see you at the condo." I hang up, now I have to explain Derek.
"Duncan, you know Derek is my partner, spotter, my best friend, and my roommate."
"I know, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Why does he always have to pick you up?" Duncan growls, and Ana sighs. She knows about Derek's and my relationship.
"He's like a big brother to me. Duncan, I explained to you in London about Derek's and my friendship.
He has been anxious about me sinking again.
Please, Duncan, don't be jealous of him.
I love you! However, he's a crucial part of my life, too!
These last few months, I wouldn't have survived without Derek or Greg.
Please, Duncan, understand he's the only friend other than Ana I have.
I swear that you're the only man I think of that way, but he's a part of my life that I won't give up. "
"Okay, baby, I'll put up with him until we move to London."
"Thank you, Duncan, but he's moving with us. Ana, sit up and put the vest on the floor back on. Also, lift the large part of the seat next to you and use your thumb to open the gun locker under it."
"My thumb?" she questions as she lifts the seat and it locks into position.
"Yeah, it's a fingerprint scanner. Only yours, mine, and Derek's are programmed. Before you freak, Duncan, I'll add you tonight."
"Okay," she says as we pull into the underground parking garage with Derek hot on our tail in his Charger. I pull in next to our bikes and throw the truck into park. I open the center console and unlock the case, then remove both my Sigs and the shoulder holster. I groan as I try to put it on.
"Baby, stop, you're going to hurt yourself more." Duncan grabs both of my Sigs and shoves them into my go bag, then pulls his Sig and starts to get out.
I turn around to Ana. "Hand me my rifle." She does. She then gives me a couple of mags and I load one and chamber a round. I put the extras into my cleavage and the pockets of the scrubs.
"That's fucking hot, baby." I giggle at Duncan as he closes his door. I turn to see Derek is suited up and at my back door.
"Hey, sexy, who's the hottie? Wait, you're Ana. Your pictures are all over Maya's condo. We finally meet, gorgeous." He bows and smiles at her.
Duncan walks around to help me out. He helps me strap my SR-25 to my back, cinching the harness without it hurting me too much. I reach into the go bag and pull out my Secret Service issued Sig 9mm, clear it and cock it for ready.
Derek reaches into the toolbox, unlocks the special chamber, and removes the .
50 cal, along with a couple of mags for it.
He pulls it over his body and lets it rest down his back.
He has the strap of his M4 wrapped around his right arm and the gun in his hand.
If we need the .50 cal, some serious shit’s hitting the fan.
Derek has been with me for so long I forget how much he has gone through.
He looks like an avenging angel right now with all his weapons.
He’s lethal and will fiercely protect Ana and me.
He jokes that I kick his ass, but he's a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Between him and his father, I never lack for learning new fighting techniques.
"Let's do this." I set the alarm on my truck as we walk away.
My radio chirps, letting us know that the two guys who were tailing us were taken into custody; finally, a small break.
My cell goes off in my pocket, but I can't take the time to answer it.
I'll call him back later. After a few seconds, Derek's starts to go off. He looks at me and rolls his eyes.
"He isn't going to wait long, let's get this parade started," he says with a smile and nods at Duncan and me.
"Duncan, is Daddy safe?" Ana asks, causing me to stop and look at her.
"Yes, Joshua sent two guards and is moving him to a safe house."
"Thank God!"
I see Duncan has my go bag in his hand. I can't let my other service pistol out of my sight.
We make it to the elevators—me leading, with Ana in the middle, and the guys in the back. As the elevator door closes, I see someone step into the garage.
"Well, damn, there are a lot of people at his beck and call."
"Saw him too. Let me off here," Duncan says, pressing the button for the next floor.
"What? You can't stop him by yourself?"
"Baby, I’ve got this. Get Ana into your flat, I know which one." Before he hands Derek my go bag, he pulls out my Sig MCX semi-auto rifle. "Baby, we really need to talk about your choice of toys." He smiles at me and leans down to kiss me.
"How do you know which condo is mine?"