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“Angel, I'm going to kill him. When you had your nightmare last night, you were screaming in pain.” He looks up at me.
“You'll have to beat me,” Maya interjects. “My bullet is coming for that son of a bitch. I'm sorry, Ana, you're my best friend and I let you down.” I look at Duncan, who is silent and stone-faced.
“Joshua, honey, let me up please.” He looks at me in concern and sees where I'm looking and pulls back. I walk to my brother. “Duncan?” He pulls me into him and holds me tight.
“I'm so very sorry, Ana. I failed you! Please forgive me! I'll spend the rest of my life regretting the fact I didn't pick you up at that rehearsal dinner and take you away from him. Maya and I both planned to kidnap you from the wedding. I was the one who told her no, he was yours and Father’s choice. I thought that one of us was giving Father what he wanted. I was so upset with him. I allowed this to happen to you.”
“You couldn't have saved me then, he threatened to kill you too, and I wouldn't leave with that threat. But I soon learned my lesson.”
“What lesson was that?” Maya asks quietly.
“The lesson that saved me. I wasn't supposed to talk or be around any of you. When he found out I saw Joshua at Christmas he went mad. Hurt me worse than ever before.” I pull out of Duncan's embrace, and take a deep breath before turning my back to them and lifting my hair.
“What the bloody hell are those?” Joshua exclaims when he sees the two scars running down the back of my neck from my hairline, each about two inches long and parallel to my spine.
“Oh my fucking God!” Maya yells, and that's when I notice everyone's left us alone.
“That's not all. I thought you would see the other scars last night and yesterday.” I look at Joshua.
“Angel.” Joshua walks over to me. “I'll kiss every mark he put on your body and heart, but if your brother sees another thing, I won't be able to hold him back.” I look over my shoulder at Duncan, who’s holding tightly onto Maya. His body is shaking and there are tears in his eyes. I can't stop mine.
“I'm so sorry,” I cry.
“Oh bloody hell, Angel, come here.” Joshua pulls me to him.
“Do. Not. Ever. Apologize. You're not to blame. He’s the twisted wanker.” He holds me against him with such gentleness. We stay like this for a few moments until Duncan guides Maya over to us and wraps us all together with me in the middle.
“I swear on everything, we will kill this motherfucker,” Duncan says and coughs.
“Thank you all.”
“Ana, we're all here for you. It's time for you to be happy,” Maya says as she hugs me closer to her.
We join the others in the dining room, where an early lunch is being served. I’m not sure when they left the room or how much they heard. Daddy joins us, and I hope everyone keeps quiet about what I revealed. I don't want him to know.
“Joshua, I started going over the documents Ana gave us. We should go over them after lunch.”
“Okay, Timothy, how's that to everyone else?”
Everyone agrees. I hope these help them to stop Jonathan and his boss. I want them to all return to normal lives. If life got normal, how much of Joshua would I still have? He said he has feelings for me, but what if they've changed since I told him what I allowed Jonathan to do to me. He hugged me and consoled me… Maybe he still cares.
He takes my hand and brings it to his lips, and kisses my knuckles, as if he knows what I'm thinking.
“Nothing’s changed, my love.” I look at him in shock. “You were thinking very hard, and I guessed what it was about.” I smile at him. Maybe he does still care.
Chapter Nineteen
Joshua
After lunch we converge out back in the garden so Ana can walk around and sit in the sun. She finally tells us the evidence is hidden on Maya's property in London. It's decided that Raul would head to London via Paris to collect it. He'll send it back to us as long as he can keep it and us secret. I’ve also decided for him to stay in London to help Michael. Jonathan's never seen Raul, as far as we know, and he'll go in disguise. Raul is good at making himself unseen, so he's the best choice. Raul is seated next to Ana, and they are talking quietly. The spark of jealousy is quick, but I know my girl is faithful to me, so I let it go. When the baby starts kicking, Ana grabs Raul's hand to place on her stomach so he can feel it.
“Does it hurt you?” he asks her in awe.
“No, well unless she kicks me in the ribs or bladder. She’s getting stronger. Thank you for going to get the evidence.” She smiles at him.
“I don't mind helping you.”
“I'm sorry to keep you away from your family, at least we are close to Ian's so he can see them, but your family is far away.”
