"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.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
MAYA
Isit back and watch Ana look around uncomfortably. I've never asked her about Joshua, but from the looks of it, they are going to play like they don't know each other.
Everyone turns to look at her. Her shoulders are hunched, her posture caving in on itself. She is going to close up and not talk, but I need her to tell us. It will be a step toward her healing, she needs to do this. She looks at me and I reach out to take her hand. I hope she knows I'm offering her strength and support.
"What do you want to know, Mr. Donovan?" she asks shyly.
"Mrs. Davidson, how about you tell me a little about your husband?" he asks.
"My husband, Jonathon, works for a consulting firm. He works with foreign diplomats. Mostly, he met them through my father's connections to the British Consulate in Tel Aviv. Iknow he has worked with some Pakistani, Ukrainians, some Palestinians, and I believe some men from the Philippines and even here in the States. His job is highly stressful and he can get angry. I decided several weeks ago that I needed to get out. Last evening I got on a plane to come to Maya. I guess he's not happy, as Maya says." She presses her other hand gently to her face.
"Mrs. Davidson, can I call you Anabel?"
"No, but you can call me Ana."
"Ana, what did Jonathon mean he 'wants it back'?" I ask her. She shakes her head.
"Can you ask me another question? I'm not ready to answer that question."
"Ana, we need to know what we're up against to protect you," Joshua says
"I'll not go back to him. If you don't help me, Maya gave me enough money to disappear, and I will."
"Ana, we aren't asking you to go back. We won't judge. I'll not judge. I want to protect you," he says as he kneels in front of her and he takes her hand in his.
"I met Jonathon at university. He was such a gentleman when we met. I tried to tell him I wasn't interested. I was seeing someone else at the time, but he'd always be waiting for me. When that relationship ended, we saw more of each other. I began to suspect he wasn't truthful with me. I never met any of his family. He'd say he was raised in London but didn't know his way around it. He'd say words like Maya does. The first time he hurt me I can't talk about right now. After our engagement, he beat me so severely, I had a hard time hiding the bruises from Daddy. In December, the beatings got worse. I had to stayhome to hide the damage. Finally, in January, I found out I was pregnant. I won’t raise my baby around him. I need to make sure he doesn't take my baby from me or hurts my family." She pauses and takes a deep breath. "He has meetings at the flat sometimes, so I recorded a few of them. Also, I copied his emails, paperwork, and some videos. They're all hidden somewhere safe and he wants them back."
"You took the documents?"
"No, I copied them, then gave some of them to a friend who works for thePost."
"What!" Duncan and I exclaim. Joshua grabs her hand again to focus her on him.
"What's the name of the firm Jonathon works for? Do you know anyone's names? Also, where's the information hidden?"
"It's called Consulting Incorporated, I think. I wasn't allowed to go to work functions. The only names I know are Lawrence Andrews and Stephan Landers, they'd come to the flat for meetings sometimes. Lawrence is my Uncle Marcus’s nephew. Something happened in December that made Jonathon mad at Lawrence. There's another man who calls Jonathon a lot, but I don't know his name; Jonathon calls him Sir. Another American, an angry one, started calling too. I don't know any more than that couple. The documents and emails have some names attached. I've overheard him talking to a couple of different men who scare him. The evidence is hidden back in London, I can't tell you where yet. It's the only collateral I have to protect myself and my baby."
The phone for downstairs rings, everyone except Ana and me jumps up. Derek answers, and grants access to the deliveryman. Joshua hands him some cash to cover for his men. Afterthe deliveryman leaves, Duncan brings a plate to both Ana and me.
"Ana, does Jonathon know you're pregnant?" Joshua asks.
"No."
"Your father is safe for now, and we need to keep you safe."
