"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.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
MAYA
Derek and Duncan get the condo ready. I'm getting down on the floor by the kitchen entrance, across the condo from the windows, when Duncan walks up with a sleeping bag and the pillows from my bed. He also has the tactical vest he bought me for Christmas. He helps me into it, cinching it up as carefully as he can.
Based on where the bullet hit, and even though my windows are almost to the floor, I need to put some distance between me and the windows to get a better aim. My condo being on the twelfth floor gives me the height advantage. I also have access to a private roof, but I don't want to expose us that much. I lie on the sleeping bag and Duncan puts the pillows around me. I've changed into all black under my tactical vest, even though it killed me to do it. The pain meds have worn off, so I'm at full functionality.
Joshua and Ana are by the entrance to Derek's room. Tim is behind the solid kitchen counter to my far left. Ian and Raul are on the street. Timothy has all our comms linked.
Derek and Duncan lie on each side of me and are going to help with spotting. They're also in black with tactical body armor on. Derek has my .50 cal ready if we need it. He likes to shoot it, and in my condition, I won't be able to handle the recoil of it. Tim has the remote for the blinds and the guys on the ground are all ears.
"Joshua, should we contact the authorities to let them know what's going on? Derek let Greg know, but should we also call the police." I need to know because I'm technically the authorities and the private company here.
"I've contacted all the attorneys. I'll contact the authorities after you do this. Our first priority is protecting Ana." I see him pull her into the shadows more.
We open all the blinds, the one that took the bullet functions slower. It's delaying our search. I start doing the calculations in my head and have a good idea where the shooter is. Sure enough, I find him. Motherfucker!
"Son of a bitch! Derek, Duncan, back off into the kitchen, behind the counter. We won't need the .50 cal, I can take him with my gun." I know this shooter isn't going to shoot me, but he'll kill any man near me. "Tim, unblock the blocked number for Carl from my phone, dial it, and put it on speaker. Everyone else, stay back."
"Maya, I'm not leaving your side." Duncan is angry, he thinks the sniper spotted me.
"Duncan, honey, he hasn't spotted me yet and he won't hurt me. You, on the other hand, he'll try to kill. Please do as I say,don't disturb anything, because if he has infrared, he'll have us all in about 30 seconds." The call connects to the speaker.
Very carefully, I lie further down, flattening myself out more. I’ve got him and I know I can't kill him, but I'll make him sorry for doing this. After four rings, he picks up. I watch him in my scope as he answers. He still hasn't spotted me. He's scoping the room looking for the others.
"My love, I knew you'd call me. I don't want to hurt your friends or you again, but I will if you don't come back to me. You took my job and life away from me. I want it back, and if I have to kill them or you, I will."
"Carl, I'm not your love. I'll never go back to you. Don't do this, I don't want to kill you, but I will. You lost your job because you're a loose cannon. Did you kill your partner?"
"He was going to tell you everything. I had to stop him. As for your sugar daddy, I would have killed him if he hadn't turned. I'm not going to kill you quickly; I'm going to make you suffer. Here is an example of my anger right now. I think I could take care of that English guy who flew in on the private jet." I can't look over or take my eyes from him. He just sealed his fate.
"Don't threaten my family again, Carl."
"Love, I want that fucking money and I want what you took from me. If you'd listened to me after Jonathon had that idiot deliver those flowers in London, we wouldn’t be here. Jonathon says the money is his and he says there's way more than what you actually have."
"That money isn't yours, it was my family's. If something happens to me, you won't be able to touch it. As of right now, I gave it to someone else. Last warning, Carl, stand down."
"Maya, you're good, but you don't even know where to look for me. Why did you open the blinds? Trying to make it easy for me? You never were as good as me, girly. I've been watching you in my shadow for years. I was never really interested in you, but Sir wanted me to control you."
"Girly? Carl, did you hire the guys who have attacked me? Were you the one in London? You were never in my league. Again, last warning. I don't want to kill you, but I will." I ignore the part about him being put in my life. I'm going to make him miserable.
"If you hadn’t distracted Duncan, I'd have had him. As for the men who attacked you, I was one of them. I wish I had hit you harder. Maybe I should've used that knife of yours on you instead of your door. I've been in that condo of yours. Do you know how easy it would've been for me to rape you that night?"
"Okay, that's all I needed to know. Nice knowing you, Carl." I nod to Tim to end the call.
"Joshua, you and Ana step back further into the hall."
