Chapter 42 #2
"Baby, you might not have seen me for three months, but I’ve seen you. I've been keeping an eye on you from a distance by the cameras; Timothy patched me into them. You’re all I’ve needed. I'll see you shortly. You won't even miss me." He kisses my forehead and looks into my eyes.
I feel something inside me crumble. Oh God, please don't take him too. He looks to Derek and nods.
"I love you, Duncan, come back to me."
"Well, it's about damn time you admitted that, sexy," Derek pipes in. I stick my tongue out at him.
Duncan jumps off on the main floor, while we continue up to my twelfth-floor condominium.
As we're climbing, I hand my gun to Ana so I can put my go bag across my body.
I pull out my MPD service weapon and put it into the back of the scrubs, thank goodness they're tied tight.
I take the gun back and get ready. I feel the pull on my shoulder and ribs from the extra weight, but I want Derek to be able to maneuver easier.
When the elevator opens, Derek takes the lead and sweeps his side.
I step out and sweep mine as best as I can.
We start down the hall toward my condo with me in the rear.
My door appears fine, so I unlock it while Derek keeps a lookout.
I'm worried about Duncan but try to focus on my task.
I enter my condo, disengage the alarm, and proceed to the windows.
"Ana, stay in the hall with Derek until I shut down the blinds."
I grab the controller for the blinds and start closing them.
I walk to all the rooms and close the blinds in each room.
My bedroom, the dining room, and living room are all on the most exposed side with the most windows.
I love my view, but I can't have another sniper or dumbass taking a shot at me. I'd do it, so I know how to stop them.
At Derek's room, I hit the switches on the light switch to shut his blinds too. Derek stays at the door waiting to engage the alarm until Duncan comes up. He turns to Ana.
"Okay, I sleep on the left on my side with my leg bent as so, you can spoon up to me," Derek says to her.
"Are you using cheesy movie lines on my best friend, Derek?" I ask
"I was trying." At Ana’s confusion, Derek shakes his head. "Ghostbusters 2."
There's a knock on the door, Derek checks the security feed and unlocks the door, letting Duncan in. I breathe a sigh of relief, and then remember I have fractured ribs. Ow!
Duncan walks to his sister and hugs her, then comes to me. He lifts my go bag off me and disengages the cinch on my SR to put it on the coffee table. He gives me a look of confusion, wondering why I have it now.
"Why do you have this bag again?"
"It had my other service weapon in it; plus, I wanted Derek to be able to move freely."
"Okay, baby, time for you to get something to eat and relax. Joshua and three of my mates will arrive shortly to help."
"I don't have enough room for everyone."
"Maya, Ana can have my room, but first, give me the deets," Derek says.
"The what?" Duncan asks
"Derek is funny, well he thinks he is. He wants to know what's going on. You tell him, honey, while Ana and I get food."
"Maya, let me put something together. You look like you're about to topple over," Ana says.
"I won't lie, this shit hurts, but I can't just sit still."
I look at my phone and notice the multiple texts. I send Greg a quick reply that I'm fine and will call as soon as I can. I hope that keeps him satisfied until we get settled.
"It's perfectly fine; besides, I love your flat," Ana says, pulling me from my phone.
"Thanks, I'm going to miss it." We walk into my kitchen. My condo is mostly open with a large gourmet kitchen.
"Maya, I'm so happy you want to move to London. I also love that you and Duncan are happy, but I know you. Are you okay? Are you ready for this? Have you told my brother everything?"
"Are you worried I'm going to hurt Duncan? I really care about him. I love him. These last three months have been a living hell for me. I'd rather be with him and deal with my fears than be without him again. I've told him a lot but not everything. I'll tell him."
"He's not leaving you. He isn't with you for the money either."
"I know, but it's the unknown I worry about. Now enough about me, how are you?"
"I need to eat, my little bean is hungry."
"I can't believe you're pregnant, but I'm here for you, always. You, Duncan, and your father are my family now. Derek and Greg have also become a part, if you'll accept them. And now we have little bean. How far along are you?"
"Three months, I'm just about done with the first trimester. Jonathon doesn't know. After I found out, I started getting everything I needed to get away. I can't have my baby in that situation."
The security phone from the lobby rings, interrupting our conversation. Who could possibly be stopping by at this hour? I know it's not Greg yet.
"Hello, George," I say into the receiver. I wish they'd fired him after all the crap he pulled with Carl and Lawrence, but I understand why the association only reprimanded him. We never figured out who on the force was on the take.
"Yes, Ms. Aaron, there are four gentlemen here in the lobby. The only name I can get is a Mr. Donovan and his associates. He won't give me the names of the other three gentlemen."
"Let them up, George. Put Mr. Donovan on my visitor log, also add Duncan Preston too, please." I'd add Ana, but I don't want further confirmation for Jonathon.
"Yes, ma’am. Are you sure you don't want me to add these other gentlemen?" I know he's fishing for names.
"No, just Mr. Donovan and Mr. Preston."
A few minutes later the doorbell rings. I look at Duncan and Derek, they're ready just in case. I pull the gun from the back of my scrubs.
"Open up, mate, it's your drinking buddies. Get off the wee lassie." I laugh and Duncan winks at me. I open the door and put my gun back into my waistband and greet our guests.
"Well, hello, aren't you a bonnie lass. Wait a minute...I saw her first, Duncan," a tall blond, muscular guy says as he waggles his eyebrows.
"Hello, come in. We will introduce ourselves once everyone is in."
"As long as I get your number, lassie, I don't care what your name is," the blond says, and Duncan growls at him.
"Well, that's a good sign. Pulled your willy out and stepped up I see," the blond says to Duncan.
The guys all file in with Joshua coming in last. I recognize them all, even the blond with the mouth.
He was the guy trying to pick me up in front of the hotel after the Israeli gala.
Joshua's eyes search the room, and when he sees Ana's back in the kitchen, he visibly relaxes.
He takes me in his arms and gently kisses my cheek.
"Glad to see you and the Big Guy patched up your relationship.
I was getting tired of picking his arse up at the pubs.
" He chuckles. "Heard about the shooting, how are the ribs?
" He leans closer and whispers, "The solicitors got all the paperwork arranged today and filed.
It's official. Also, I never mentioned the other attack to Duncan. " I sigh in relief.
"I fractured a couple, have a couple lacerations that didn't need stitches, and have a very bruised shoulder from the residual shock. Other than that, pretty good. Thanks for taking care of him. He heard but hasn't questioned me yet about it."
"What, Big Guy, you beating on your girl already? S Maya, my girlfriend; and Derek, her partner. These guys are my team. My boss, Joshua, and Raul, Timothy or Tim, and finally Ian," Duncan says as he points to each. I know the introductions are for Derek and Ana's benefit.
"Welcome to my home and thank you for coming," I say. I pick my rifle up from the coffee table and start for my room with it.
"Oh, lassie, let us big guys handle the firearms."
I hear the snicker from Derek and watch as Duncan and Joshua bump each other. Okay, they're letting me take care of this in my way. I plant a cute smile on my face.
"Okay, ‘big guy,’ Ian, is it?" I look over at Duncan and wink at him.
"The proper American term for this situation is, 'You can have my gun when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers.
' Also, if I hadn't fractured a couple of my ribs earlier today, I'd show you what happens to most men who underestimate me.
Today alone I made one goon cry like a girl after I used his ass to wipe up his own blood and I killed a second with a throwing knife.
Now, if you want, I'm pretty sure if you ask my partner over there, he'll confirm that I don't sweat 600-meter shots.
If you don't mind, I'm going to put this away while you pick up your jaw, then I'm going to order some food for us.
Again, as I told Joshua when we first met, we can whip them out, I'll still kick your ass, but my honey over there gets very jealous.
He doesn't like me to see another guy's junk, plus as a second-degree black belt in Krav Maga, I don't want to kill you. "
"Bloody hell, Big Guy, your lassie just gave me a stiffy."
"Sod off, you tosser. She needs to eat and take some pain meds. Furthermore, don't make me kick your arse right here," Duncan exclaims.
"How'd she fracture her ribs?" Raul asks Duncan.
"Barking lass took two bullets to the vest, one meant for me," he growls.
"What?" the guys all say.
"Time to talk about this. Timothy, unpack your gear, start the searches, and set up the feeds," Joshua says and then looks at each of us with orders.
"Maya, you and Ana take a seat. Derek, order food. Duncan, stop being an alpha."
"So, I'm taking orders from him now, sexy?" Derek asks me.
"Please, Derek, for now. I'll explain in a few." I only partly explained our now involvement with Securities International.
"Okay. Anything for you."
I take a seat and wait. Duncan took my gun to my room. It's Ana's turn to tell us all why we're gathered here. I'll do whatever it takes to protect her. I think I already proved it, but I'll do much more for her if asked.