"My friend at thePostwas killed last week. Jonathon threatened to kill Daddy and Duncan if I ever left him. He'd tell me that he'd make sure that Maya was hurt real bad, but he needed her alive. He also knew about Derek and Greg, he threatened them too."
"I won’t let anything happen to you. I promise!" His eyes search hers and Ana drops her gaze so he can't read her feelings. He still cares for her, but she is so broken now I don't know if she can care for him too.
"Hey, Bossman, she's right about the reporter for thePost, although the reports are he died in a car crash," Timothy says, interrupting the quiet of everyone eating.
"Okay. Maya, tomorrow I'm going with you as a representative of our solicitor and the company. We have an attorney on retainer here also if necessary. Mr. Flemish has arranged everything for you." Joshua starts giving orders.
"I won't need you. I'll have a union rep. Hiring Mr. Flemish to handle all my legal matters, plus the company, was a good idea, he's earning his money now." I laugh.
"You're a partner in my firm. I will not have them smearing your name. In fact, how about we say you were acting on the company's behalf when you went to go get Ana? Plus, after the other attack, they're going to be watching you closer."
"I already told them I was just picking up a friend. I identified myself as a police officer and Secret Service agent. They'llprobably have a problem with conflict of interest. I do know the previous attack is connected to today's attack, Jonathon all but admitted he knows who did it. I'll take whatever help you offer though, something isn't right with what went down."
"Okay."
"Wait, Joshua, did you just say Maya is a partner with the company?" Duncan asks, and all eyes focus on Joshua and me.
"Yes. She bought into the company with equal shares today." The whole room hushes. His men won't question him, although Duncan might be upset because I didn't tell him myself.
"Maya, is this right?" Yep, saw this coming.
"Yes, when we talked yesterday, I offered to buy in. You wanted me to work with you, right?"
"Yes, I do want you to work for us, baby. Can you afford to buy into the partnership though?"
"It's done. Don't worry, Big Guy." I smile at him and watch him calm instantly.
I look over at Ana. She doesn't know how strong she really is. I watch Joshua watching her. Him professing to protect her with his very life should've signaled Duncan, but he's so focused on me right now.
"Timothy, get a hold of James, ask him who he introduced Jonathon to. Also, run a more in-depth check into Jonathon's latest meetings." Timothy nods and starts working on his laptops. Joshua turns to me after giving that order. "Maya, what can you tell me about the attackers?"
Work mode, I’ve got this. I sit up straighter, feeling the pull in my ribs. I push my watch into my wrist, Derek steps up, knowing what I'm doing.
"East coast accents, trying to cover them by pretending theywere southern, they carried .45 revolvers. The one who got off the plane with Ana was supposed to be detained by TSA but was able to get away. All had no IDs on them according to Philly PD. The first shooter Duncan shot called me girly, just like the guy who attacked me at the gym did, and the guy from Duncan's condo."
"Good. Anything, Duncan?"
"No formal military training, although they appeared to have some formal training with the guns. The bloke who shot Maya did a center mass shot. Other than what Maya said, I didn't talk, I just killed. The one who shot Maya was not wearing a vest. She buried a knife in his chest before I dropped him. Now tell me about this other attack?"
"Wait, can I interrupt?" Ian asks. "Did you say she buried a knife in a git's chest? After she buried one in another's throat? Bossman, she sounds as good as you with knives." I smile at him.
"Not right now, Ian," Joshua gruffly replies. He's all business now too.
"Duncan, a guy was sent to my gym to challenge me to a fight. I thought we were just training, but he attacked the gym owner and me. When I finally took him down and handcuffed him, the cops took him away. He was killed that night in a gang fight in the jail. I never got to question him. He told me he'd kill you if I didn't stay away from you, and Ana would be hurt unless I stopped my investigation into Jonathon. After the note I received at your flat, I knew you weren't safe, even with me away from you. They're going to use you against me, just like with Ana. I won't let that happen. When I got home that same night, my second knife that was stolen was stuck in my doorwith a note about killing someone and hurting another for me. We found out that David's shooting was about me, not him."
"Anything else, Maya, I see you chewing on something," Joshua asks as he lowers his brows and gives a hard look to Ian to keep him quiet.
"I've been doing my own checking on Jonathon. He has many American mannerisms and I'd almost say Midwest slang. He moved to London about seven years ago, before that there isn't any record of him. I used my Secret Service credentials to do a more in-depth look. Jonathon Davidson didn't exist before he moved to London. I can't find out anything else about him, yet. He lost all his British when he was yelling at me on the phone. I'd like to put him in my crosshairs. When Jonathon called me earlier, he suggested that his boss didn't want me dead. I'm a part of this in a way too. I want to know why and to what end. The best man at the wedding, Stephen, a loser who I ended up relocating his junk for him, has since called me and hinted he knows where I live and where I've been. I've been under surveillance. Also, this crap with Lawrence calling and stalking me is getting out of hand. We found out the attacker at the gym was an ex-cop from the Philadelphia area. I wonder if the detectives investigating my shooting knew him or are dirty too. There were two occupants of the vehicle that followed us from Philly and a third showed up here. Where's Jonathon getting all these men? There's someone bigger up the food chain pulling the strings and paying the bills. Plus, this second stalker has hinted he knows about the other."
"The one we saw in the garage ran off when I tried to confront him. Went through the lobby, never got eyes on him again," Duncan says.
"Babe, did you growl? You’re supposed to use your words." I joke with Duncan.
"Hysterical, baby."
"Also, my stalker goes by the name Sir."
"Maya, can Timothy keep his set up on your kitchen counter? Raul and Ian, start your exterior surveillance. Ana, why don't you go lie down. You too, Maya, take some pain meds and relax."
