"Baby, please talk to me," Duncan says. Derek pulled him back behind the counter. Derek knows Carl will kill.
"Stay back, Duncan. I'll tell you what's going on in a second, must shoot someone now. He'll spot me in about ten seconds."
"No, baby, please." My gun fires, I groan from the light recoil, and the room explodes with movement.
The glass didn't blow this time, as I went through the same pane as Carl had earlier. Duncan is jumping to my side and Derek is in motion to cover me also. Both of them are over me, but I keep Carl in my sights until my team is safe.
"Ian, a block over, there's a parking garage, you'll find a guy with a broken gun. He also has a bullet in his shoulder. Hisname is Carl Nelson, he needs to be taken into custody; he killed a police officer."
"What?" Both Ana and Duncan exclaim at the same time.
"Duncan, you heard him, he's the one who shot at us in London, he shot David, killed an ERT officer, and threatened to rape me. He also helped hire the men who attacked us today and the guy from the gym. He tried to beat me up at your flat. I knew there was something about that girly comment. Carl used to call me girly and say, 'a girly can't outshoot him.' Ana, you know why he wants me. He confirmed that all these men are connected."
"Baby, you didn't kill him?" Duncan exclaims.
"No, he isn't worth it. Plus, he's only doing this because he wants my money. That's the only reason he dated me in college. He was focusing on the back, trying to shoot Joshua. He was getting ready to take the shot, so I took out his shoulder and gun. It was the best shot I had other than a head shot."
"What did he mean by your money?" I knew this question was going to come soon enough.
"We can't stay here any longer. Joshua, let's get this group into a hotel until our meetings later today." Joshua has his arm around Ana. Duncan knows I changed the subject.
"Baby, are you okay?" I lower my head now that I see Ian and Raul take Carl into custody. I'm so confused by all this. How did he know about the amount of money? Why does he think there's more? I'm rich, but the way he's talking makes it sound like Elon Musk wealthy.
"Duncan, he knew about you. He'd have killed you because he sees you as a threat to what he felt was his money. I'll explain more in a second. Close the blinds, Tim." Duncan helps me offthe floor and secures my gun. I can do this, I look at Ana, and she walks to me, taking my hand.
"You can do this, Maya. He'll not react as others have in the past." She knows me so well.
"What's going on, Maya? I know about your money, but you're acting like there's something more with this money." Duncan is starting to get angry. Joshua walks up to him and nods too.
"Big Guy, just listen to her."
"First, we need to arrange a secure hotel for tonight. Second, we need to arrange for flying into Scotland. I bought an estate there with barns and cottages, plus a large manor house. I have workers there already doing construction on it and remodeling what needs to be done. We can secure it and I'll be able to see anyone coming. Joshua, as for the partnership, we're opening a second location in Scotland. I can finance everything now. Greg helped me bury the ownership."
Joshua nods again and looks to Duncan. The waves of anger coming off Duncan are similar to the waves of indecision coming from me. Can he handle this? I told him I was rich but not how rich.
"How can you finance this?" Duncan asks
"Duncan, I have to tell you something. This is the last secret, the rest of you can hear it. Ana already knows. Derek, I haven’t told you or your father completely either. I'm wealthy, not like I won't have to worry about working for a year or two, but more like our great-grandchildren will never have to worry. Duncan, I wanted to tell you, but I didn't know how after Carl. I didn't know how to trust someone with it. It was blood money to me for so long, I only got it after everyone I loved died.Your father helped invest it and it just kept increasing. Savta was so worried about the Nazis that she just kept amassing property, art, and money. She was never going back to a concentration camp if she could help it. Do you understand? A few months ago, I walked away from an amazing man because I was scared. No matter how much money I have and if I spend it or not, I was alone. I don't want to be alone anymore. I live in the dark and I'm tired of it. I'm sick of being a monster. This money will take care of all of us, that's what my parents and Savta would want. The solicitor I visited in December said it would take him years to find all of Savta's properties throughout the world. You're it for me and I don't want to stop saying that. Ana's baby, Ana, James, Derek, Greg, Joshua, and the guys even, they're all my family now. I was looking through that scope and realized who was on the other end of that gun. I realized I don't want to hide my heart or my life anymore. I want you, Duncan. I want our great-grandchildren to have my money if you'll still have me."
"Oh God, baby, there hasn't been a day in nine months and there will never be a day I don't want you. I don't care about the money except that it would help us. That's hard to top though, so here goes..."
He lowers to his knee in front of me and pulls a ring from his pocket. "I bought this in December when I bought your bracelet. I knew you were my forever girl back then. You know me like no one else. You know about the nightmares I fight and jealousy I can't hide. That's why I kept pushing you. This was burning a hole in my pocket. I needed to claim you and all you wanted to do was run. I'll always follow you. No more running. I love you and would give my life for you, please marry me, baby."
"Really? Already? It's so soon, isn't it?"
"Maya, baby, I don't care, I just want you. It doesn't have to be tomorrow or next month, just when you're ready."
"Okay...yes!" He puts the ring on my finger, stands and kisses me.
The ring is a beautiful platinum band that divides with a large solitaire diamond over the narrow space the bands make. More diamonds are lining both of the separate groups. It's not too large and it’s something I love.
The room erupts in applause as Ian and Raul walk in. They turned Carl over to the authorities, just another problem I'll have to answer for tomorrow. Ian has a strange look on his face but then smiles. The authorities also took care of George.
"Way to go, mate. ’Bout time you claimed this lassie." Everyone walks over to hug us and congratulate us.
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
MAYA
