"It says they're from a D. Preston." I know Duncan wouldn't have let this man past the doorman and he knows how I feel about flowers right now.
"Let me call him and see what he says."
"Okay, never mind. I'll leave them here." He gives in too quickly.
I watch him put them down and continue to watch as he leaves the view of the camera. I see a man enter the elevator and wait a minute more. I unbolt and open the door after I check my gun and holster it at my back. I step out and am immediately hit as I bend down to pick up the box. My gun is pulled and thrown into the apartment. I roll, knowing they have the upper hand now that I'm on the floor.
"I knew you wouldn't open the door. I knew you'd wait until that damn delivery guy got into the elevator. I didn't expect it to be so easy to get you, though." That voice, I've heard that voice before. He kicks at me, but I roll away from him.
I pop up onto my feet and get into my stance. He’s wearing a mask, but his eyes look familiar. As I'm sizing him up, I see he's preparing to punch. He steps into a straight punch aimed formy face. I slide to the side, dodging his hit and use both my forearms to deflect his punch. Using his forward momentum, I throw him into the wall across the hall and dive back into the flat, slamming the door closed with my feet. I rise up to my knees and engage the locks. Turning to the panel, I hit the panic alarm and notice the delivery is lying on the wood flooring next to me. I open the box to the familiar delivery of a dozen black roses and a single red rose. The note catches my eye.
Maya, my darling,
You'll always be mine. I'll kill Duncan if you don't leave him now. I've had a sniper, a good one, on him for days now. You have twenty-four hours. No more warnings, Maya. Leave him now.
Love always,
Sir
My insides clench. I will not lose him too. I put the note in my pocket as I hear pounding on the door.
"Open up, Maya. It's Timothy." I check the camera and let him in. He looks at me as the fire alarm starts blaring through the apartment. I turn and run for the kitchen. My Bolognese is ruined. I dump it into the sink and turn off the burner as Duncan comes storming into the condo.
"What the bloody hell is going on? Why are the panic and fire alarms going off?" He looks at me and instantly stops when he sees the flowers on the floor. "Bugger me. Baby, are you okay?" He rushes to my side and pulls me in. I feel all the bumps and bruises, but I feel the terror for him more.
"A delivery man came to the door. I refused to open the door and he left the flowers outside. I opened the door and a second man attacked me. I knew the voice, but I couldn't place it. He was wearing a ski mask. He had to have passed Timothy."
"No, baby, the corridor is empty." He looks at the flowers. "What do they mean? Was there a note?" He looks at me carefully. I need to lie. I will not be responsible for his death too.
"No note. The black means ending, death, a new beginning. The single red rose means life-long devotion. I think he's telling me he'll try harder. The attack was new, though."
"I can't let you go back to the States with this stalker after you. Timothy, check the feeds, find out how he got up here and how he escaped."
"I tried to cook you dinner; sorry, in the attack it burned." I attempt to change the subject so he won’t see the actual terror in my eyes. I scan the windows and wonder where a sniper could get to us here.
"It's okay, baby. Come on, let's get you cleaned up." He pulls me back into the hall toward his room.
It takes over an hour to get everyone out of the condo and us to get some food. Duncan and I are now in the tub soaking and relaxing. I know he's upset about the attack.
"Baby, what does your tattoo mean?" I wondered when he'd ask.
"Well, of course, the Star of David is for my heritage. My parents' names are in Yiddish at the side points. My father's name is also in Hebrew below the Yiddish, my mother's in Gaelic, to represent their cultures. The top is Savta's name, Uriella, in Yiddish as the head of the family. The bottom is French and says, 'Until everyone accepts all God's personas, there will be fighting.' It was something I did while in college and I've added on to it. Now tell me about yours." Distraction is the best key. I don't want to end this, but my clock will run out fast.
"Baby, I love it. The one on my back is, of course, for my mum, she's the angel protecting Ana from that car accident. No one knows how Ana survived when Mum was killed. Plus, I feel she's always watching my back. The one on my ribs is the SAS emblem with a mate's name below it."
"Whose?"
"Christopher. He and I had been friends since grammar school. He died in my arms while I was serving under Joshua." He takes a big breath behind me as I rest between his legs. I know he's dreading me flying home. Every time we make love, he acts like he's imprinting himself on me. He doesn't know, but my soul is his. I just can't let my heart go there.
"Tell me about Christopher."
"Our team was pinned down after we were ambushed. All the guys were there around us. Joshua and Raul were both shot—just minor hits. Timothy was working on Christopher. Ian was providing our cover fire. Christopher had an eight-month-old baby and a young wife. He looked me in the eye and asked me to watch over his family and told me it was worth it. He then died."
"I'm so sorry. Is he the one you have nightmares over?"
"Sometimes. I served three more years trying to put that day behind me. I can still smell the guns, blood, dirt, and death. I pray I never have to go through that again, but he taught me to live by dying." Duncan inhales and exhales slowly. I don't know if he's struggling with the memory or something else.
"I'm so sorry." I rub his thighs as my heart hurts for him.
