Chapter 4

An alarm goes off and I check my phone. I see that our invited guests have arrived. I walk to the door and have them follow me as I show the cleaners to the deceased uninvited guest. Emo takes out a hand scan and puts the dead mans hand on it then he leans down and takes a picture of his face. Donya gives the cleaners their last instructions and we leave them to it. We leave the room and I have Donya and Emo follow me back to the living room to join Branton.

"Branton, this is Emo, he is our top computer tech and Donya's significant other."

Branton lets out a small chuckle, quickly clears his throat and says, "Hi Emo, sorry about that. I mean no disrespect. Please, no offense meant, its just when I pictured a guy named Emo, I pictured a long haired skinny guy wearing all black not a guy that could easily be my opponent in the ring."

Emo smiles a very kind smile and responds, " No offense taken man. I am used to it. My real name is Laremo. My family was, lets say, creative with names. I was nicknamed Larry till I met Donya and Lexa, they renamed me as Emo, I have to say I like it better than Larry, so it stuck. I would only be the guy opposite you in the ring if it was for charity. I hate fighting without reason, but I love to fight for a cause. Donya and Lexa gave me something to fight for. Donya gave me reason to live, but that story is for another day. "

"Well now that that is out of the way, we can get down to business." said Donya.

"Ok, well first thing is first, me and Branton will be moving to my house tomorrow. The forest behind the house is difficult to secure and since we have already had two attempts tonight, I think my home is best option." I say quickly watching Donya's reaction.

I have never brought anyone to my house besides Donya, Emo, Jonas and Sam Williams. I do not entertain clients there or allow anyone to know where I live. I have anti tracking defense on my car and on my phone so I am not followed, thanks to Emo and Donya. My house is quiet, private and very secure. I like it that way. I told her earlier about leaving for my house but I didn't wait for a response at that time.

She looks back at me deciding her words before speaking, "We have safe houses. Why are you taking him to your home?"

I continue to maintain eye contact with her as I mull over my options again. I look up at her after deciding with finality. " My home is best and most safe option. This case is different. This case feels different. I am beginning to feel like something big is just over the horizon. I don't know where the feelings are coming from or what they mean."

Branton shifts next to me uncomfortably. I look at him and apologize softly looking down at the floor, ashamed of my confusing and blunt statement in his presence. He looks at me and smiles nodding in acknowledgement as if saying he feels it too. I look back at Donya and she has a complete blank but faraway expression. Emo breaks the silence.

" Ok well, the prints come back to a low level assassin on the Gidalo family payroll. It doesn't take genius to figure out that the Bowen's are ultimately behind this."

I look over at Emo and Donya, sighing before I speak, "Yeah, I figured as much. I was really hoping the Gidalo family was not involved in this. I know they do business together but I didn't know they would be part of this as well."

Donya looked at me and pursed her lips before responding, "I assumed they would be involved. I have been looking into their business practices and finding weak points. We will find a plan to neutralize their threat but it will take time." I nod my head as she seems to be studying me, looking for something before shifting her eyes to Branton then quickly back to me.

She narrows her eyes and starts to speak, "What is going on between you two?"

My eyes involuntarily widen and I force myself to composure again before I answer as best I can " He is my client. I am going to keep him as safe as possible till this ends. I do not know what happens after that nor do I want to allow my mind to go there but what I can answer is that he is different. This case seems more important than any before. I do not need to allow feelings to cloud my judgment. I need to protect him first then go from there. What else can I do?"

Donya shifts her body to face me and we make eye contact and says, "Allowing your self to fall is not a distraction. Love can be a powerful motivator. It has power in it. I am not saying marry him tomorrow and ride off into the sunset. I am saying allowing yourself to feel isn't a bad thing. Allow the new emotions you feel to fuel you and allow things to develop. Do not close yourself off to something just because you do not understand."

I turn and look at Branton with sudden realization of my confession in front of him, "I am sorry Branton, I have to be honest with you as well as everyone else. I have a sense of familiarity with you even though I have no knowledge of you before we met, yesterday. I do not understand it myself. I feel drawn to you but I am struggling to maintain a wall to keep you out. I will work through it but in the mean time your safety is all I can think about besides ending the Bowen legacy for good and I need to do that first."

Just as I finish speaking alarms start to go off. I look at my phone and realize that we are about to be ambushed by at least 10 men just as the back picture window gets blown out. I reach under the table and flip it on its side revealing two handguns. I see Donya and Emo Pull their weapons from heir holsters as me and Branton grab the guns strapped under the table. We start to shoot anybody that wasn't our team as I was grabbed from behind and spun around. I head butt him in the nose and spin to kick the gun out of his hand. I grab his face inserting my nails into his eye cavities forcing him to start to buckle then I stomp his knee causing it to break. I shift behind him quickly to put him in a sleeper hold,neutralizing him, so I can interrogate him later. I look up and see all intruders down but two that are in all out hand to hand combat with Branton. I see Donya taking control of the scene so I start to run over to Branton. As I make my way over, I see that he has it under control as he breaks one of their necks while smashing the other mans nose and he drops as well. I run on over and throw my hands around him startling us both. I pull back quickly assessing his injuries and seeing none except a small bruise on his face and some bloody marks on both hands. I let out the breath I didn't realize I was holding and release him and turn back to the grizzly scene in front of me.

Donya starts giving directions for our cleaners and the guards that were waiting out front.

"We have 3 still alive ready for interrogation. We have nine dead, five from gunshots the rest from other means. We have no casualties from our side only minor injuries that will not even require a medical attention. I think we will send the prisoners to the Williams's to be put in their interrogation rooms."

" That is a good idea, it is time to bring them in on this one, this can get out of hand fast. I also want to call in more guards for a few hours, me and Branton will be leaving here tonight to go to my house, we need cover till we get out of here and get away." I say scanning the room.

Donya picks up her phone and sends an alert and location to the rest of our team then looks up at us, " Done."

I turn back to Branton " Go pack, we got to get out of here. Take everything that is dear to you. They will be back, whether your here or not, they want to send a message. I will help you gather your things, we need to do it quickly. We will take my car we will have yours driven back to the Williams Estate, my car is bulletproof and can not be tracked even if a tracker is placed on my car. Leave your phone here, it can be tracked. I will get you a new and secure one when we get settled at my house. I live a half hour from here I will have Emo and Donya follow us till we are sure we are not being followed. My house is more secure than a prison, you will be safe. I NEED you safe."

Branton nods his head without breaking eye contact with me then turns to walk to his bedroom. I turn to Donya and she sends me a soft understanding smile and I start to help her organize the cleanup as we discuss the next moves that I have laid out, when I am sure the scene and details are handled I turn and head to Brantons room.

I got to get him to safety for both our sakes.