We arrived back to the club where I had Julio take the girls to the loading dock. I couldn’t chance them ever speaking about this. His orders were to kill them and dispose of their bodies, which he did expertly.
I walked over to the bar and asked the bartender for a bottle of bourbon, 2 glasses, and a bucket of ice. I then walked over to the VIP section where Monte, Maximo, and Joe were watching one of the girls dance on the pole.
I sat next to Maximo and handed him a glass, of course he already had one, so I handed it to Julio when he joined us.
“So, how’d it go?” Maximo asked, curiously.
“It went.” I stated dryly, downing my bourbon. Maximo took a deep breath in and exhaled sharply, annoyed. I thought ridding the person who took my baby from me would make me feel better, but I still didn’t have my baby. I still could feel my incision and the pain he had caused me.
I set my glass down and decided to leave. I walked out of the club, Joe was the only one who followed me. I pulled my land rover keys out of my purse, but he grabbed them quickly and helped me into the SUV. I felt thankful he was here, but I missed Claire, Miles, and James.
I needed to call and update them on what happened. James would be upset if he found out through anyone else.
Joe drove us back to the penthouse and helped me out of the land rover. He led me to the door and up to the penthouse. Something was wrong. I had the worst feeling in the elevator. “Joe, something isn’t right.” He stepped in front of me and pulled his gun, he must have felt it too.
The door opened and we stepped into the penthouse. He motioned for me to stay behind him the entire time. Joe checked the entire penthouse, but nobody was there. “Maybe just from the difficult time I’ve had lately. Sorry for worrying you.”
“Don’t worry about it, Mrs. Hernandez, anything to keep you safe. Sleep well.” He said before walking out of the master suite.
I began to undress, but something still didn’t feel right. I decided to brush it off and step in the shower.
I heard the bathroom door open and left the water running but pulled my pistol out of my holster I had left on the counter.
“Fallon.”
“James.”
I stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around me before running to him. He pulled me into a hug and held me.
“I meant to call you, James.”
“I have my ways of obtaining intel, Fallon.” He paused, I could see he was sad. “I just didn’t expect this to happen. It wouldn’t have happened had you stayed with me.”
My eyes dropped and tears began to fall. “I know.” I was sobbing uncontrollably. “I’m sorry.” I was a mess. James just held me. He helped me into bed and took the wet towel. I pulled the blankets up, but he handed me an oversized shirt.
“Come back with me, Fallon.” He grabbed my hands and pulled them to his lips. “Come back with me and be safe, Fallon. Please. I would never forgive myself if anything happened to you, I can’t forgive myself now.” He was sad, he wasn’t crying, but I knew he was upset.
“James, I can’t. He threatened everyone I love and their safety, their lives, your life. The only way he wouldn’t kill any of you is if I came back to him and stayed.” I paused. “I can’t James. I wish I could, now more than ever, but I can’t lose you too.” He held my hands.
“Okay, what do you need from me then, Fallon?”
I looked into his gorgeous eyes. “I need you to stay, stay with me. Please don’t leave me again.”
“To be fair, I didn’t leave you, Fallon. You left me.” He again pulled my hands up to his mouth and kissed my fingers. I forgot how much I loved James. My first love. The man who taught me how to be who I am.
We were so busy we didn’t hear the elevator open, and Maximo enter the room. “What the fuck is this?” He slammed the door against the wall, leaving a hole where the doorknob was, causing Monte, James, and Julio to run into the room.
“Maximo, calm down. Remember our agreement.”
“Fuck that, Fallon, get the fuck away from her, bodyguard.” He said bodyguard with such disgust and distaste, it made me cringe.
“Maximo, you don’t scare me. Fallon is my only priority at this moment, as your father tried to have her executed. She needs me more now than ever, and I intend on staying.” James was now standing in front of Maximo. They were about the same height, but Maximo was taller, drunk, and highly unpredictable.
“Get the fuck out before I kill you, motherfucker.”
“If he leaves, Maximo, I leave.” This made him even more angry. He tried getting past James to me, but James blocked him and shoved him up against the door with his elbow in Maximo’s neck.
Then I heard the click of the safety being turned off on Julio’s gun. “Get out before I pull this trigger.” Julio ordered. James didn’t move. Everything was happening so fast.
I jumped out of bed, not remembering I didn’t have underwear on. I stepped between Maximo and James. This gave Maximo the opportunity to grab me by the neck and pull me close into his body.
“Get the fuck out or I will kill her.” Maximo warned, but I didn’t feel it was a warning as he began squeezing my neck. I lost my air. I tried pulling his hand away but he had a tight grip on me and my neck. I tried to get out of his grasp but he wouldn’t let go.
James finally backed off. “Don’t hurt her.” He hissed at Maximo before leaving the penthouse.