Page 49 of All Twisted Up
I chuckled, tempted to throw my arms around him.
“What the hell happened, Hampstead?”
I turned back to the boss who was walking across the patio toward us. He didn’t look happy. Smith and Good followed right behind.
“Mr. Calder,” Candy said, nodding in his direction. “You doing okay?”
Joshua glanced at me before facing Candy. “Yes…thanks to Nash’s quick thinking. He saved my lifeagain, Captain.” He looked back at me. “I’m so grateful.”
“What’s the story, brother?” Patsy asked.
“We’d just finished our workout at 24 Hour Fitness when we were on our way out,” I said. “The guy just happened to be standing at the check-in desk. I’m pretty sure he recognized us immediately because the next thing I knew, he was calling someone. I didn’t know whether the place had a backdoor, so I made the decision to walk right past him and exit out the front. Once we were outside, I called you and then we started running.”
I looked over at Joshua and smiled. “I’m thankful that I was with an ESL teacher or I wouldn’t have been certain he recognized us.”
Candy looked at Joshua. “You overheard something, Mr. Calder?”
“He said,‘Estan aqui…esos gavachos.’Roughly translated, it means ‘they’re here…those white boys’…but the word he used for white boys isn’t a polite one.” Joshua darted a sideways glance at me before turning back to the captain.
Candy nodded at Joshua. “It’s a good thing you were able to translate.” He pinned me with a knowing look. “You’ve been living in Houston since you left the Corps, Hampstead. You should’ve learned some Spanish.” He smiled to take the sting out of his words.
I exchanged a glance with Joshua who smiled sweetly. He reached out and smacked me on the bicep. “Don’t worry. I’ll teach him.”
I smirked before looking back at Candy, growing serious. “Anyway, after getting outside, we ran like hell—like I told you—rounded a couple of corners and doubled back down the alley behind the shopping center. We spotted a black car as we hopped the fence into the neighborhood, then ran until we found this place and hid.” I paused for a few seconds. “I don’t suppose you caught up to any of them?”
All three shook their heads. “Even with air support, they were gone by the time we got here,” Candy replied. “The trees on this block are thick so there’s no real good visibility to the ground from the air. We figure they changed cars because air support radioed that they located an abandoned black SUV at the end of the block. Judy is looking at satellite images but there’s only a slim chance they’ll lead us back to their leader if they changed cars multiple times before going to ground. They could be anywhere.”
I nodded. “As long as they’re not here.”
“For that we’re both grateful,” Joshua added. He looked beat but hopefully knowing we were safe, at least for now, took the sting out of not being able to find and arrest the bastards.
“What now?” I asked my team.
“The others are still trying to find the shitheads, but I can categorically say, it’s not safe for either of you to go back to your place, Hampstead,” Candy said. “There’s a very good chance they can trace your address once they realize 24 Hour Fitness probably has it on file. At this point, I don’t see any way around putting Mr. Calder into WITSEC.” He looked at me. “I guess that means you’re going to be off guard duty, Hampstead.” He turned to Joshua. “I’ll contact the U.S. Marshals Service so you can reunite with your family, Mr. Calder.”
For the first time that day, I felt gutted as the truth of our imminent separation stared me right in the face. I glanced over at Joshua when he stepped close and slipped his hand into mine.
“I’m not leaving Nash,” he said.
I curled my fingers around his as I faced him. “What?”
“I feel safe with you.” Joshua looked at me with a plea in his light gray eyes. The gold flecks in them were easier to seenow that we were standing in sunlight. “Please don’t let them do this. I need to be with you, and I don’t want to put my family in danger by reuniting with them. It’s clear they’re coming for me. I don’t want the kids in the line of fire again, Nash.” He glanced at the captain. “Can’t you just relocate us together somewhere?”
“Are you sure you want to do that, Joshua? The captain is right. You’d be safer in WITSEC with your family.”
He shook his head emphatically. “NO!” He let go of my hand and rubbed his over his face as he lowered his voice. “I don’t want to be anywhere near them. I still think staying away from them is important. These guys are after me and if they get close—”
I shook my head, feeling a strong desire to protect him, yet at the same time, the need to obey my boss.
“Please, Nash…please just let them find a way to relocate us together, far away from my family.”
I was torn, knowing he’d be safer if he was under the Marshal’s protection with the rest of his family and yet, desperate to keep him at my side for some fucked up reason. I watched his eyes, recognizing his obvious desire to stay with me. I finally broke eye contact and said to Candy, “Would it be possible to relocate us together? I’ll need to take Marvin, though.”
The captain frowned. “Who’s Marvin?”
“His fucking tomcat,” Snickers said, flashing white teeth as he smiled.
“He’s a sweetheart,” Joshua said.
