Page 56 of Stanton Unconditional

10

Natasha

I shuffle to the wall as Max pushes me aside. My eyes widen with fear.

“What’s going on Max?” I whisper. “Sshh,” he answers as he listens. “Clear,” one man says.

“Clear,” another yells.

“Max, tell me what’s going on,” I whisper again more urgently. “Joshua has a hit man after him. He might be here,” he replies as his grip on his gun readjusts. His eyes don’t leave the door.

“What?” I shriek.

“Hit man, what hit man?” My heart rate picks up as my eyes bulge.

“He was attacked just before we got to LA in what the police think was an organized hit.” My eyes widen.

I drop my head as I think… the bruises.

“Why wasn’t I told? This is total bullshit,” I whisper angrily.

“Sshh. Listen,” he says as he cranes his neck around the corner to see what is going on.

I pull my arm out of his grip. “You explain this right now.” My whispered voice rises as I start to panic.

“Shut up,” he snaps. “Joshua didn’t want to frighten you,” he whispers as his eyes stay firmly on the door. “That’s why the security has been upped but it could also be just a case of simple carjacking. We are not sure.”

I frown in horror as I watch his face. “Why aren’t you sure? He pays you to be sure. What kind of security people are not sure?” I put my hands over my mouth as I start to hyperventilate. Oh my God, oh my God, oh my fucking God.

Max’s eyes flick to me. “Stop it. Don’t even think about freaking out right now. I don’t have the time.”

I hold my hand over my mouth in shock and I nod. He’s right, we don’t have time for my dramatics.

We both stand deathly still and listen as Max stands defensively in front of me, gun drawn. This really is NCIS action, if ever I saw it. I bite my bottom lip as I think. Hit man… my beautiful boy has someone after him. I drop my face into my hands.

“It’s clear,” the bodyguard snaps as he leaves the apartment and walks toward us. Max nods and drops his gun.

“Looks like an interrupted robbery.”

Max immediately gets his phone out and starts to dial the police. “Are you sure they are gone?” I whisper to the guard as I grip my bottom lip.

“Yes, no one is in there. We checked everything.”

I nod, still deep in thought. Who would want to kill Joshua?

Is this really happening?

“Hi, Ben,” Max snaps down the phone. My eyes search his face and I punch him in the stomach. I shake my head angrily at him. I don’t want fucking Ben here.

“Natasha’s house has been robbed,” he snaps down the phone.

His eyes flick to me and he shakes his head.

I cross my arms angrily and narrow my eyes at him. This is bullshit!

“Okay, see you soon.” He hangs up. I open my mouth to speak but he cuts me off.

“Don’t you dare say one thing. I work for Joshua Stanton. He pays my wage. Not you. I am here to protect you at his insistence and I will be informing him if I think you are in danger in any way. So, don’t waste your breath.”