Chapter 44
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
DUNCAN
We're lying in bed, her in my arms. I'm glad that Joshua finally talked her into taking a pain pill. Her breakdown in the bathroom ripped me to the core. I never want to see my girl cry like that again. She's so slight against me, soft to my hard, her strength astounds me every day.
I keep replaying the fight in my head. I can hardly breathe, she's got me so tied up.
When she left me after New Year's, I thought I'd die, but today was even worse.
I remember the first time I saw her in that tactical gear, I wanted to get to know her.
Then the first time I saw her get off that motorcycle I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life between her beautiful thighs.
I thanked God above I was going to get to know her.
I feel the blood coagulate in my body thinking of living without her.
I need to get Jonathon away from her and Ana.
I'm going to be an uncle. I think of Joshua kneeling in front of Ana, vowing to protect her.
I've known him for many years, he never makes promises about safety. Maybe he's finally forgotten his Angel.
Watching my baby spank down Ian will be a memory of my life. What a day. My phone beeps on the nightstand.
Jonathon
Hold her close, because I'm going to take her away from you just like you took my wife. They'll both be ours before the sun rises.
"Bloody motherfucker." I groan. Maya bolts awake and cries out as she pulls her ribs. Damn I need to calm myself.
Me
You will die, you bloody wanker.
Jonathon
You and those men can't protect them. Ask your sister what I'm capable of.
Me
Come get them, wanker. I've plenty of bullets and my friends are better than yours.
"He's taunting you now? He threatened to kill you before too." She murmurs next to me.
We both get up and dress. I help her get into a bra and T-shirt and yoga pants. She looks so tired and in pain. We head out to the main area where Timothy is doing work, and I hand him both of our phones. How does he know she and I were in bed together? There's some way he's getting information.
"The fucktard is texting me. Run those feeds of the cameras in the area and see if anyone else is piggybacking our feed."
Just then Maya's phone rings. It’s the fucktard.
"Answer it, Maya," Timothy says as Joshua walks in.
Maya
I slide my finger across the display and put it on speakerphone.
"Hey, fucker, you're up early."
"So are you, cunt. Where's my wife?"
"Not sure. Maybe dancing with a singing Elvis in Vegas."
"You have six hours to give me my wife, and make sure she brings those files with her, or someone will die."
"Dude, I don't know what you mean."
"Maya, Ana told me enough about you. I know you feel responsible for your parents’ deaths. You don't want Ana and Duncan to feel that pain. You'll bring her to the Washington Memorial in six hours or I won’t be responsible for what happens."
"Look, dickhead, you go right ahead and threaten because that's all you got. I'm not afraid of you."
"How about that partner of yours, want to lose him? Or maybe his father?"
"Nope, keep guessing."
"How about Duncan? Don't you snipers say that people die before they know you're there?"
Just then, there’s a crash and glass breaking in the living room. I look over as Duncan pushes me down and lies on top of me. I look to where Derek was sleeping on the sofa. Please, not him.
"I'm okay, don't worry," Derek calls from the living room.
"That would be a friend leaving a calling card, goodbye, Maya. Oh, and the same to whoever else is listening in, maybe Joshua. Josh, maybe you should ask Ana about the last time I caught you near her." He hangs up and we all turn to Joshua, who's fuming.
Duncan rises and pulls me up to him. We step into the living room and find Derek already looking for evidence.
"I was asleep on the couch when the window blew out."
"That's it! You have a private jet?" I look at Joshua and he nods. "Get them out of here. I'll take care of what I can from here."
"No, Maya, I'm not leaving you," Duncan says from behind me.
"Duncan, I need you to get on that plane. You heard him, he won't hurt me. Take Derek and go. I can do this by myself. Get Ana and James to safety, he won't hurt me. I can finish this now. I'll meet him at the Washington Memorial but not how he expects."
"I won’t leave you again, Maya. You're my life. We do this together, as a team." He pulls me into his arms and holds me to him.
"Listen here, Maya, I won’t leave you either.
You're my family and my partner. Dad would never forgive me if I allowed something to happen to you too.
Besides, you don't put someone in your crosshairs without me, remember.
You're not alone anymore, all of these people are here for you too," Derek says as he walks up to Duncan and me. I reach out and take his hand too.
"Okay. I spent some money on a piece of property and made sure my name wasn't on it or could be linked to me.
I bought it through a different solicitor.
I'll explain more when we figure out how he knew you were here.
" I point to Joshua. "I'll resign tomorrow, Joshua.
Then we're going somewhere safe for Ana and her baby. What do you say, partner?"
"I say stop talking so cryptically. What do you mean by all that?"
"Maya, are you sure about this?" Duncan asks as he turns me into his arms.
"I purchased a vacation residence. Duncan, I'm very sure of this."
"Give me the address of your purchase and we will run it," Joshua says.
I turn to him and look around the room. The commotion woke up Ana, who's standing next to Duncan and me. Trust is hard, but these men would die for Ana and Duncan, so who's the snitch?
"Not until you tell me how he knew you were here. Plus, what was that crap about you being around Ana." Ana gasps beside me and starts fidgeting with her hair.
"Timothy's been running a sweep on everyone for surveillance equipment. Ana is the only one left. Although he'd have heard her say she's pregnant. Do you trust everyone in this room? How about the doorman?"
"All good questions. I do trust you all, and Derek has already proved himself to me.
He and I are a family, so there's no doubt I trust him.
George, the doorman, now that's an excellent question.
I've been wondering about him for a while.
I've had visitors allowed up here without me giving permission.
He's also peeved off that you didn't identify all the guys.
Furthermore, he just started driving a real nice car.
I turned him into the condo association back in December.
Plus, we've never figured out how my security codes were bypassed before you installed a new system. He has to be the snitch."
"He also said he didn't see the guy from the garage when I knew he'd passed right by him," Duncan says.
"Duncan was right. Someone was piggybacking our feeds on the cameras in the area. Maya's place is under surveillance. Ana has a tracker on her shoe, but no sound equipment. We need to get out of here, we're sitting ducks," Timothy interrupts.
"First things first, let me take care of Jonathon's sniper. Then have the guys take care of George."
"Are you sure the sniper is still there?" Joshua asks.
"I'd be, plus Jonathon wouldn't have threatened if he were just playing around.
However, I don't think this sniper is a rock-solid professional.
I'd have never shown my hand regardless of what Jonathon thinks.
I can find him now and he'll die. Honey, I need my gun.
Derek, we'll use infrared and night vision.
If this is the guy from London, I can take him.
I let Carl think he's the better shot in college and on the team.
If this is him, he'll see the error of his ways.
Text Dad and let him know we're playing. Let's go dark, brother."
"Wait, you can't do this, baby. Your shoulder and ribs."
"I have no choice and I'll be as careful as I can. This is a game of patience and I'm usually the best at it. Derek, get the .50 cal ready also for you to shoot if we need it."
"On it, sexy, going dark. Let's play, kids." He always gets into a mood when we do this.