The Agent and the PI (Sequel to Falling For the Undercover

He's Been Released

Michael's POV

"How in the hell did this happen?"  I was screaming at Chad even though it wasn't the poor guy’s fault.  He had just told me that Garret Reedway was just released from Federal custody this morning.  "The judge ruled in his favor and until we produce the star witness, your woman, he's free to do and go as he pleases." I looked at him with worry and concern in my eyes.  "She's not safe you know, that right?"  Chad nodded in agreement. "We aren't taking on any assignments and we are even getting a few more guys on the squad that are going to be dedicated to guarding her.  I realize it's not ideal and a bit dangerous but I also think it would be best if you move back into the house to better guard and protect her."  I looked at Chad and said "you know why I can't do that."  "I know why you shouldn't do that but the bigger picture is that he's free and we have no way of stopping him from coming here and hurting her.  Without the two of you there is no case he knows it and he's going to do anything in his power to make sure that she doesn't talk. Of course, we know he will try and come after you as well so be on your guard."

I had to call the guys they needed to know their sister was in danger because their uncle had been released.  They weren't going to like this information any.  It scared me to think of what damage could be caused to her. Not just from a sudden flux in her memory but also from the potential danger her uncle posed.  She was just finally getting to accept that she was a mom and had forgotten her pregnancy.  We were bonding as a family.  She would love that I moved back in with her and the girls. Could I really do this to her and not cause her any harm?  I needed to talk to the brothers. I dialed up Larry "where are you?" I asked.  He told me he was a home in the billiard room with the rest of the guys.  "Is Elizabeth anywhere around?"  He told me that Priscilla and Amber took her shopping for clothes and stuff for the girls and they weren't going to be home for a few more hours.  "I'll be there in a few minutes then.  I need to talk to all of you so nobody leaves it's important and in regards to your sisters’ safety."  With that I hung up the phone, got in my SUV and headed towards the place I had once called home and hoped to again.

David’s POV

Larry hung up the phone and the look on his face told me that the person he was just on the phone with had something important to say.  At first I thought the security detail flanking Elizabeth and the girls had called to report something terrible had happened.  But then Larry broke through my thoughts and said “That was Michael, he doesn’t want any of us to leave he said he has something very important to talk to us about and wanted to make sure that Lizzy wasn’t around.”  f**k!  That means it’s happened.  Somehow that f*****g asshole has been released.  I knew from the conversation I recently had with the thugs that he was working on a way to get out of jail.  Chad knew as well but we didn’t fill anyone else in on the details as it would cause nothing but sheer panic and Lizzy would pick up on it.  We didn’t need to stress her out any because of her fragile mental state and I sure as hell didn’t want Michael stressing out he was already strung so tight emotionally that I was afraid he would snap.  If something happened to Lizzy he would be a goner for certain.  I suggested that we make our way to the billards room that way if Lizzy and the girls came home while were talking they wouldn’t catch to much of our conversation for one and for the other Lizzy and the girls rarely invaded that room as it was dubbed the guy’s cave.  Everyone else agreed that was the best location to have whatever conversation that Michael needed to have with us.  All the guys were anxiously awaiting the news while I sent a text message to Chad.  “Michael is on his way here.  Did he get out like we thought he might?  How is his mental state?”  A few seconds later I got a reply and I didn’t like what I was seeing.  “Yes our problem was able to get released.  I will let Michael fill you in on the details.  He’s not happy as we figured he wouldn’t be.  I need you and the rest of the guys to convince him to move back into the house with you all.  He’s not safe either and it would be easier on the squad if they were together.” I understood what he was saying and replied “got it.  I will do my best.  I know that if I get adamant about something the guys usually follow along with me so hopefully Michael will see reason with all of us.”  Chad replied with “thanks buddy see you soon.  Are you sure you don’t want to rejoin the agency?  We could use someone like you on the squad.”  I just laughed silently to myself.  Ever since he found out my skills he has been trying to get me to join his squad and I just don’t want to leave the private sector. 

Michael’s POV

When I got to the house, I let myself in and made my way to the billiard room where the guys were all waiting.  Brian had a beer in his hand and I asked for one. With the information I was about to unveil I needed the extra courage.  Then turned to the rest of the guys and told them that they may all want one as well.  They all looked at me with concern in their eyes. I took a deep breath and said "I need to move back in here and be close to Elizabeth and the girls." I started by saying.  When they all started to make noise about why I couldn't do that I stopped them.  "I know why I shouldn't be doing this but you all need to know that your uncle was released from Federal custody last night. We have no way of tracking him or even stopping him should he want to come here.  We know he's going to come this way because without her complete testimony his case will more than likely be dropped."  I was bombarded with a million questions.  The very same questions I had asked of Chad.  I relayed the information that I had received from Chad to the guys. "It's just better for her at this point that we not force her to testify. Your uncle will make sure that information is brought to light in the harshest way possible and it would most definitely cause damage.   If we tread carefully with information and actions with me here, we should be able to keep it fairly under control.  But I know if she has to go testify that he is going to have his attorney bring up things that will most likely cause the memory to come back like we are trying to avoid.  I can't risk losing her and the prosecutor doesn't want to risk it either.  The case hasn't been thrown out but he gets to walk free until the star witness, Elizabeth, is able to testify.  Your uncle is going to do everything in his power to make sure she doesn't.  Especially once he realizes that his goons failed the first time.  He will handle things on his own that's how he operates."  

After the discussion we all agreed that I was moving back in immediately.  We also agreed we were going to tell Elizabeth that she made a better argument for me living here than me living away.  When she got back home with all of her new purchases, she was happy to see me there.  She ran into my arms and asked me why I was there.  I told her about how I couldn't argue with her about not living here with my family because she was right.  Of course, she was ecstatic that I was going to finally make us a full family living together.  I had to smile at her enthusiasm.  I just wish it was because she was whole.  Her memory and body completely healed.  I just don't know what the future holds but I'm doing my best.  A few days after I moved back in, she got the birth certificates for the babies in the mail.  We didn't take into consideration the information that was on the birth certificates.  When I walked in the door I was met with many questions.  The biggest one being why did she list me as being dead on their forms.  Where had I been?  Why would she do that?  I had to tell her that at the time the girls were born we weren't together.  We had been apart for almost all her pregnancy.  She got really upset with those words and stormed out of the house towards the lake at the back of the property.  She needed her space to think.  But I also needed to keep her safe.  But damn there was nobody here to keep an eye on the girls.

As soon as someone came home, I explained the situation to them and took off for the lake to find her.  I had to make her understand that while we weren't together there were reasons.  That at the time the babies were born she had to believe that I was actually dead. Given the fact that she knew my actual profession she would easily accept that explanation.  I could only hope that she would understand and forgive me.  It crushed me to think that she was hurting because of me.  I had already caused her so much pain that she didn't remember to think I was causing new pain was killing me because when she finally remembered what she was missing the betrayal would double.  I found her sitting by the lake shore, she was crying and it tore my heart in two.  "Why weren't you on the birth certificate?  Why is their father listed as deceased?"  I heard her say through gritted teeth.  "You had to believe that I was dead, the world had to believe that I was dead.  I didn't want it to happen that way but it had to."  She looked up at me with tears in her eyes and said "were we ever in any danger?"  I looked at her and told her that as long as she believed I was dead she was ok. But that the bad guy had been put away for life and everything was ok then.

Just then my phone rang, it was Chad.  "Hey buddy right now isn't such a good time."  Before I could get to much more out, he had cut me off telling me that the uncle had been spotted in the city near to where we were living.  He was sending men over immediately but I should be on the lookout.  Just as my gaze started to look over the horizon, I saw him.  He was coming straight us and had a gun pointed in our direction.  She caught me staring and as she turned around to see what I was looking at she saw him.  "Uncle" was all she got out before he had backhanded her so hard, she fell to the ground.  I dropped the phone with the line still open and lunged at him for hurting her like that and he pointed the gun at me.  "Two birds one stone.  Thanks for making it easier on me know I don't have to hunt you down.  Both key witnesses against me will be dead and the case will be dropped."  Just then a shot rang out and I felt a burning sensation in my chest.  I felt myself falling to the ground and I heard Elizabeth scream.  I watched in horror as this man turned to the love of my life and fired two shots into her.  She crumpled onto the ground, blood pooling around her body.  My vision was blurring, the love of my life was dying in front of me and there was nothing I could do.  Reedway delivered one hard kick to my stomach before he walked away certain that he had completed his task.  I could only hope that the guys would make it before we both died.  Please God save her yet again.  The world could do without someone like me but needed someone like her.