"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&M is consensual, not you taking the lead without her permission," the blond man says. The gasp and crash get everyone's attention.
"Shut it, Ian, you bloody bastard," Duncan hollers as he beats me to the kitchen.
"Ana, it's okay, it was a joke in bad form. They don't know." As all the new guys look in the kitchen, the cuss words start to fly.
"Bugger me, I'll kill the bloke who laid a hand on her," the blond says.
"He's dead," Joshua exclaims. I know he only saw her back, but now her face confirms his worst fears.
"Damn, that motherfucking maggot is dead," Raul says in Spanish.
"I'll bury his money and make it hard for him to ever get money again," Timothy says.
"Duncan, we're on this," Joshua says again. I push past them all, holding my ribs to keep from jostling them.
"Come on, Ana, let's get you off center stage." I walk her to the sofa and direct her to sit. Duncan and the others follow.
"Okay, introductions, this here is my sister, Ana; 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 havemygun when you pry it frommycold, 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.
