Easter's Lilly (31 page)

Max laughed. “Yeah, yeah, I’ll tell him. Get Hector out of your mind, got it?” He always made jokes to ease the tension.

“
I’m just messing with you,” I said.

“
I know,” he added. “Get Miranda for me,” he said. “And Lilly?”

“
Yes daddy.”

“
I love you.”

“
I love you more,” I answered.

“
Not possible,” he said. I handed the phone to Miranda.

“
I told you that I’ve heard you call him that,” Johnny said. He smiled and grabbed my hand. “It’s gonna be all right. Max is tough. Iron Man we used to call him. He isn’t easy to kill, trust me, I know.” I smirked at him.

Miranda hung up the phone. “I’ll need to hook your phone up to a trace,” she said. “Steve and I are going to intrude for the next 48 hours. Max wants to make sure you stay alive, will you be okay with that?”

I looked at Johnny. I knew he was disappointed. I was thrilled. “Thank you,” I replied. “I’m worried, this time.” My little boy curled up on my lap. “Uncle Max is the best in the business,” he repeated. Something he had heard Max say a hundred times. “He won’t let anything happen to us or the baby.”

“
I know,” I said, “I know.”

—

Dieguito finally spent the night in his own bedroom. When I woke the house was aromatic again with breakfast. I had definitely been blessed with men who cook. The FBI agents were eating the breakfast John had prepared. “Wow,” I said. “You are totally going to spoil me.”

“
That’s the plan.”

“
Watch it, John,” Miranda warned. “Max told me to keep an eye on you.” My phone rang and I looked at Miranda. She and Steve ran into place and she turned on some machine. “Make him think you’re worried about him,” she said. “Try to remain calm and do
not
tell him the baby isn’t his. That’s what is keeping you breathing.” She put a set of headphones on and pointed to me.
“GO!” she directed. I picked up the phone.

“
Have you seen the news?” the voice asked. “I shot your lover.”

“
Are you all right, Diego?” I asked. I looked at Miranda with worry in my eyes about Max. She shook her head and motioned for me to keep going.

“
You don’t care if I’m all right,” he answered. “You’re worried about your boyfriend. My brother.”

“
I’ve been thinking about you,” I continued. “Can I do anything for you?” Miranda gave me a thumbs-up.

“
I wish you could have heard Max beg for mercy. Go ahead and turn on the TV?” Miranda motioned for John to turn the TV on and he did.

“
Maxwell Montiago, Lieutenant for the FBI was shot today by notorious gangster Diego Montiago, his half brother. Maxwell is currently in critical condition. Jorge Montiago, also the half brother of Maxwell is currently in custody. He was arrested by brother number four; Hector, also an agent for the FBI. Diego Montiago is still at large. Talk about brotherly love.”

“
It would be a shame for him to die right now, wouldn’t it? Never to see my new born baby?” Diego taunted.

“
What are you talking about?” I asked.

“
I’m sorry Lilly but he’s on his way to hell now.”

“
Diego, it isn’t worth it,” I said. I could feel my voice start to shake. I was so full of panic, which wasn’t my strong suit.

“
Sure it is,” he said. “I have to make sure Max is dead before I come and get you.” There was a short silence.

“
Why?” I asked. “Why can’t you just leave him alone?” I could feel my cool exterior start to slip.

“
Johnny is weak,” he went on. “But Max is strong. He won’t rest until he finds you. He must be eliminated. Then…” He paused. “Then I will come for you.” He hung up the phone.

“
NO! No this isn’t happening!” I shouted. “Max, critically injured. No, this can’t be happening.” I put my hands over my ears. I couldn’t breath.

“
It’s not,” Miranda said. “It’s a ploy to lull Diego into false security. He was wearing a vest; he’s fine. He called last night.”

“
I want to talk to him,” I said. I was growing impatient with all this make-believe.

“
She dialed the phone and handed it to me right away this time.”

“
Max?” I asked.

“
I’m fine,” he said. “Just trying to throw him off the scent a little.”

“
How did he get away?” I asked.

“
Don’t you worry about the details. We got Satan,” he reminded me. “Now we just have to get Diego before he finds you,” he continued. “Is John behaving?” I paused. “I’ll kill that son-of-a-bitch if he touches you,” he scolded.

“
We’re fine,” I said. “We’ve got FBI everywhere, what could happen?”

“
I may come home, Lilly,” he finally said. “I have a bad feeling that he may have found you.”

I was silent. Miranda grabbed the phone. “Sorry Max, but she’s just so worried. See you soon,” and she hung up the phone. “I’m going to check on the trace. It looks like…” she paused, “he’s here.”

“
What?” I asked. “Here?”

“
Stay put!” she ordered. “Lock the door behind me. I’m going next door.” The two of them left.

“
What’s happening?” I asked John.

He quickly got up and reached for my hand. I pulled it away. “We’re running out of time,” he said. “Max will be back, probably tomorrow. Lilly, we’re finally alone.”

“
Are you kidding me?” I couldn’t believe him. I was thankful my son was so addicted to video games.

“
Just give me a chance,” he said. He pulled me close to him and grabbed my face. He looked at me hoping to see something. He was searching my eyes for the love he had hoped had been re-born. But he found nothing. Then he let me go. “You
do
love him, don’t you?”

“
Yes,” I conceded. “I’m sorry Johnny, it’s just too late.”

Just then I heard a gun cock. We both didn’t move for a second. I looked up and saw Diego at the back door. He was pointing his gun at me. “Give me your gun, John or I’ll spray the walls with her blood.” John took out his gun and handed it to him. “I told you he was weak,” Diego said to me. “Max has amazing instincts. He would have shot me dead for sure by now.”

“
Diego,” I said calmly. “How did you find us?”

“
I told you a long time ago that witness protection was for amateurs.” He motioned for me to get closer to him. “Max is dead,” he told me. “I had my… connection call the hospital. It looks like I killed your hero.” I knew I was supposed to look shocked and angry but I knew he was fine. “In shock, Lilly?” he asked. “He’s dead! You’re coming with me now and I’ll take care of you and the baby.” He paused for a minute. I could tell he was getting anxious. “It’ll be just like old times, except this time the baby
is
mine. Where is he? Go get him.” I stood there unable to move my legs. “Let’s go!” he yelled at me, shaking the gun. I guess I was being defiant by not crying and coming to him.

“
Go,” John said. “He’ll kill you, Lilly.”

“
No he won’t,” I argued. “Not until he has my baby.” He walked to me and shoved the gun into my temple. “I killed Olivia for less,” he shouted. “You will not be any harder to kill.” He grabbed my arm and pushed me down the steps that lead to the outside. There were only three steps and I fell down all of them and landed on the ground. My son came running outside, “Mommy, mommy…”

“
Go back inside, Dieguito!” I screamed.

“
My son,” Diego called. “Come to daddy.”

“
You are not my daddy!” he shouted. Diego’s face became enraged.

“
You told him?” Diego asked me. “You told him!” He was growing angrier by the minute.

“
Calm down,” I pleaded. “We can work this out.” I pulled my son towards me and crawled as far away from Diego as I could. We heard a loud BANG! Not a sound that was unfamiliar anymore but definitely not something you ever get used to. Diego hit the pavement and John ran outside and grabbed me. I turned around and Max was standing there with the smoking gun. Diego was not dead but he shot him in the thigh and his gun had flown out of his hands. John picked Diego’s gun up off of the ground and handed it to Max.

“
How did you know?” I asked.

“
Querida,” he paused and smiled, “I just knew.” Hector showed up behind him. I finally realized that it was almost over. Max ran to me and hugged me. “Baby girl!” He kissed me deeply.

I could see Johnny out of my peripheral vision unfavorably watching us. “She kissed me, you know,” he said. Max pulled out his gun and pointed it at John. Hector came up behind him and grabbed it. “Not now, Max. Maybe later, but not now.” Max kissed me again. “You can tell me all about it later. Right now, I just want to feel you against me.”

“
Get a room,” Hector blurted. Max laughed.

Miranda came up behind him. “Good job Miranda,” he said sarcastically. “Where the hell were you?” Hector was handcuffing Diego. Then he slapped handcuffs on Miranda and started reading her rights to her. We could hear an ambulance off in the distance.

“
Whose the dirty cop in Arizona?” I asked.

“
Felix in Arizona,” Max answered reluctantly. “Miranda, right here with you.” I couldn’t believe how the ones most trusted ended up being the bad guys.

Chapter 25

The Boyfriend?

Max and Hector spent the night with us in the safe house. Diego was rushed to the hospital under heavy guard and Max had a few things to say to Johnny. But before any of that there was one very important thing Max wanted to do.

“
Please, Lilly let me see our son.” Our son. It felt wonderful to hear him say that.

I went into the bedroom and brought him out. Everyone had come back into the house and sat somewhere comfortably in the living room except for Max. He waited impatiently outside the door. He held out his arms and I delicately dropped him into his waiting arms. “Well look at you,” he said. He walked over to Hector and Hector grinned.

“
Sad, but man he looks just like you.” He reached over and touched his tiny cheek.

“
I know, it’s amazing,” Max said. I had never seen such a satisfied smile on his face. He looked up at me with tears in his eyes. “I am so sorry I wasn’t here.”

“
I know,” I told him.

“
I stepped in,” John said. But Max did not like that.

“
What’s his name?” he asked. “I hope you didn’t name him after me.”

“
Christian Maxwell,” I answered.

“
Lilly, I wanted him to have his own name.” He was still smiling and cooing at the baby.

“
He does. He has Christian. We can call him Chris. But there was no way you weren’t going to be in there somewhere.” John smiled at me. Max handed me the baby. He’s sucking on my finger,” he said. “I think he’s hungry.”

“
Johnny and I will go… take a walk,” Hector said. “You two spend some time together.”

“
I’ve seen her nurse,” John said. “I’m fine with it.”

Max’s face seemed to catch fire when he said that. “We’ll talk later. Now, go and leave us.” The two went outside and I unbuttoned my blouse to feed the baby. “I think I’m a little jealous,” Max said with a smile. “Okay, I am definitely jealous. When is it going to be my turn?”

“
Hang on,” I said. “Let me feed him first. Then it will be your turn.” Truth be told, I could hardly wait. It had been almost a year that we hadn’t been in each other’s arms. I missed him so much. It was like part of me was missing. When I finished feeding him, I laid him in his basinet. Max scooped me up and carried me to my bedroom where he laid me down in the bed. Dieguito came running inside. Max rolled over on his back and started laughing. He jumped on top of Max calling, “Uncle Max, Uncle Max, we
really
missed you!”

“
I
really
missed you too,” he said, rolling back over and tickling Dieguito. “Now, why don’t you go play so that mommy can tell Uncle Max how much
she
missed him.”

“
Eww!” He got up and ran out. We both laughed.

I got up and locked the door. “Let me show you how much your baby girl missed you.” I crawled back into the bed on all fours and jumped on him. He started pulling my clothes off like it had been ten years since he had seen me.