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I want to keep Joshua's hand in mine but know I have to do this their way. As the elevator closes, Joshua watches me, and I whisper my love to him. He smiles, then turns cold and whips around, a long knife coming from around his back. He will kill Nathan, and I’m not sure I’m mad about that.
The elevator is quiet as we descend to the ground floor. The doors come open and Derek steps out and looks around, then directs Maya and me to follow. Maya grabs my arm so that now I'm walking beside her instead of behind. We make it out to the Rover, where Duncan is waiting. I can tell he's mad that he had to sit and wait instead of coming in guns blazing like he likes. He looks over Maya, then me and Isabella. Maya pushes me in first, then snaps Isabella into the base of her car seat. She jumps into the front, Derek is left standing on the curb.
“Everyone buckled in and ready?”
“Let's go, baby,” Maya says after she snaps on her seat belt.
“Please, can we wait for Joshua?” I beg.
“No, sis, he wants to search for Nathan, and we need to try to lose him if he follows us. Joshua has to do this.”
“Wait, what if Nathan hurts him?”
“He won't. I've run into Nathan before, he just wants to talk. The problem is now we think Nathan might be working for Jonathan.”
“Why can't you just let Maya kill Jonathan and end all this?”
Maya laughs from the front seat. “I like her plan.”
“Duncan, why did Daddy come to the hospital the other day and not come see me? Is he upset with me?”
“Dad hasn't been to the hospital since the last time I brought him. Why do you ask?”
“Son of a bitch,” Maya exclaims and starts talking into her communication device again. “Guys, he's had access to both the girls for a while, nursing staff identified him as Grandpa. The nurse from the NICU said he's been there several times to see Isabella.” I watch as Duncan rips out his ear piece, the yelling is loud but I can't understand what is being said.
“Is everything okay?”
“Joshua is bloody losing his shit right now.” Duncan looks at me in the rearview mirror.
“We thought the nurse was talking about Daddy, not someone else.”
“It’s okay, sis, he's just upset Nathan has had access to you both. He'll never forgive Nathan for what he did to Patrice, or what he forced Joshua to do.”
“What do you mean?” I fear what he’s going to tell me. This is the pain I see in my love’s eyes.
“He’ll tell you soon enough.”
I stare out the window, worried for the man I love and the team.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Joshua
Watching those doors close with my family on one side and me on the other rips me up. The image Ana drew of him still haunts me, it was so like I remember him, except for the gentleness in his eyes. He actually looked happy. I'll kill him if he's here to harm them. The fact he's been close to both of them and not hurt them doesn't go unnoticed in my thoughts. I wonder if he's forgiven me for shooting him. I'll never forgive him though, I should’ve never been put in that position. I sometimes wish I wasn’t shaking so bad and had killed him. Instead, I shot him in the shoulder. My heart starts to race remembering him coming after Mum. He took her away from me once and without Michael I wouldn't have her back. If he takes my angel or daughter, I will tear this world apart to find them, just like Michael did.
I shake myself from my thoughts, I need to find him and end this. I pull my Bowie from my back. I won’t kill him, but I will hurt him. I search the floor and meet up with Ian, who searched the rest of the floors. Derek stayed on the ground floor to search the parking lot. Maya gives us further information about how close he’s really been to my girls, and I start cussing as we head back up to the NICU. The nurse Maya described is not currently on shift. I ask the other nurses, and they confirm a man other than James identified himself has Isabella's grandfather and has been watching her for days. How did he find us? I remember the night I was holding Isabella, and I mentally kick myself for not heeding the threat then.
“Anything, Derek?” I ask into our communication pieces, maybe he found him in the parking lot.
“No cars pulled out with them, but if it were me, I'd have hightailed it down before we mobilized and moved my car up the block to follow.”
“Good plan. Call Duncan on his cell and warn him.”
“Got it, Bossman. By the way, she was still begging to wait for you. Duncan told her not happening.”
“Thanks, man. Thank you for protecting them.”
“Not only is it my job, it's a privilege.”
