My phone had been ringing nonstop. I peaked at the clock, it was 3am. I picked up my phone. 54 missed calls from Maximo and 20 text messages. “Hello?” I answered when he called again.
“Why the fuck haven’t you answered any of my calls or texts?” I was speechless. “Fallon? Answer me!” He was yelling. He sounded drunk.
“Sorry, Maximo. I’ve been busy worrying that your child is going to die inside of me.” I was mad. He was making this all about him, again! He laughed.
“My child? How do I know it is my child, you whore.” I threw the phone down and hung up on him. What an asshole. I decided to answer his text.
Maximo, I’m done. I want a divorce.
You will never leave me, Fallon. He had answered so quickly.
You will never meet your child, Maximo. I am not yours and I will never be again. It’s over. You are dead to me.
I shut the phone off. I looked around the room. Claire was sleeping in the chair, and I saw James, Miles, and Julio talking outside of the room through the window. I saw Julio pick up his phone and quickly look into the room at me. Based on his body language and his lips, he was speaking in Spanish to Maximo.
I saw James and Miles look at each other and they came into the room and closed the door. “Get ready.” James said to me, and Miles woke up Claire. “Pack your things, we need to leave.” I nodded my head and peaked out the window to see if I could see Julio.
“He’s not there, he walked down the hall on the phone.” Miles had answered my unasked question. “Let’s go.” He picked me up and we ran out the room. Julio was facing the other way and didn’t see us leave the room. Miles ran to the elevator at the end of the hall and quickly got us onto it when the doors opened. “Did I ever tell you my mother is from Columbia? I grew up speaking Spanish, Fallon. Maximo is on his way here.” My heart was pounding in my chest. “We must get you somewhere safe. I called my buddy in the marines, he sent a helicopter hours ago. It’s waiting around the corner on top of the hotel across the interstate.” He was calm, but his voice almost quivered.
James and Claire hailed us a cab and we piled in. Miles spoke to the driver and he peeled out of the parking lot. He was heading for the hotel. I’m sure by now Julio saw we were gone and alerted Maximo. James’s phone kept ringing, it was Julio. “Answer it.” I told James. “play it off like we went to get some fresh air.” James answered and spoke with Julio. He was yelling on the other end.
“Fallon wanted some fresh air so we walked outside to the garden.” Julio obviously didn’t believe him so James hung up and threw his phone out of the window. “Phones.” He ordered. Miles kept his until we made it to the hotel to meet his friend.
Miles carried me into the hotel, in the lobby a large, handsome man was waiting, talking with the lady behind the counter. “Miles.” The man said running over to us.
“Anthony, good to see you. Thank you for coming on such short notice.” Anthony nodded and ushered us to the elevator. He pressed the 25th button for the top floor. Once we got to the top floor, he led us to the stairwell leading for the roof. He opened the door and helped Miles get me up the stairs. He helped all of us on the helicopter and closed the door. He gave us all helmets and climbed into the cockpit. He spoke into his headset and started up the helicopter. It roared to life. We were up and off. Miles and Anthony talked in the front. I didn’t know where we were going, but it couldn’t be to anywhere Maximo knew I had property. I leaned on James’s shoulder. He embraced me and pulled me into his chest.
“It’s okay, you’re safe now, Fallon.” I wanted to believe him, but I knew Maximo would find me, wherever I went. I was pregnant with his child; he would never give up on finding me. I took a deep breath and tried to relax, but I knew that I was far from being safe.