Keep Left

Max POV

I was just about to board the plane to Afghanistan when a presidential security bricade approached our departing cohort. I heard them they were on the President’s orders and I watched them hand over paperwork to my superiors. They read over it thoroughly and then called my name. I stepped forward in proper formalities. I saluted them and they put me at ease.

“Maggot, you escaped us again. You’ve been relieved of your duty to the United States Military. You are being requested personally by the President himself. You have been reassigned for private duty work. Collect your things and go with these men.”

I looked at the men whom I didn’t recognize and they escorted me to a waiting vehicle. I got in to find Phix waiting for me. He was distraught in appearance and very serious when he spoke.

“President Dunn, what’s this about?”

“My daughter is missing again. You found her last time. I need you to find her again. Here’s all the information that was presented to me when she was last seen. They lost her in New York. Machen, if you find her this once more for me, I won’t meddle in your business. Chloe was upset that she discovered I had her apartment bugged. She told me, well Michael, that you and her staged the whole thing because she was trying to prove I was intruding on her privacy. She was right and I walked right into her trap. Why didn’t you tell me she was testing me?”

“Sir-“

“Nevermind, I know you care about her more than you have let on. I saw the way you tore through those kidnappers who took her to push my hand on the gun bills. Once she is safely returned and she turns 18, I won’t stop you from pursuing her. Does she know how you truly feel about her?”

“No sir, she isn’t aware that I desire to spend the rest of my life with her. I will find her.”

“She withdrew half a million dollars. Michael stupidly gave her all the money her mom left her. He told me she threatened to sue the skin off of him. She was angry and I’m not sure if she was taken and withdrew the money on her own or was coerced. Machen, she’s a billion dollar target. That’s just what she has in her possession. Her mother left all of her assets and royalties to her. It’s all worth enough to wipe out the US debt alone, trillions! I know I haven’t been there for her and she’s confided in you more than she has anyone else. I just found out her and Kevin broke up months ago! I’m sorry for assuming from my spying, I should’ve asked you and Chloe.”

“Sir-“

“No! I should have! It wasn’t right for me to pry in on her privacy. She hates me because I am not available to her like a father should be. I thought my spying was a way to keep tabs on her, but it pushed her further away. She may very well be hiding from me on purpose because of it. I don’t know, but if you can give me the peace of mind that she’s okay, I’ll accept her reaching out to you in place of me. I know you will keep her safe. Don’t be mistaken, I’m not saying you can form a relationship with her yet because she’s not of proper age, but I’m okay if I know she will reach out to you. No use in calling her on your phone, she left it at her townhome in the district.”

“What!”

“She left everything behind. I haven’t had eyes on her in two days. She’s completely disappeared since we had her in the Uber two days ago. I am begging you to bring her back to me unharmed.”

“Let me see what I can dig up, President Dunn”

“Call me Phix”

“Mr Dunn then. I need to wrap my head around this. I was mentally preparing for a combat zone, but this has me rattled moreso than that.”

He let me out at Chloe’s townhome. I told him I would stay in her apartment should she return. I went through everything in the home and found nothing pointing me in the direction she could have went. I was receiving calls all day from various people, but I didn’t answer anyone. The last phone call was from a unsaved number, but as I was about to answer it the call ended. My gut told me to call the number back. I first went through her study. It was almost 2 am. I didn’t find anything, so I decided to call the number back.

“Hello...”

I heard her voice and everything in me stilled. I was currently about to go through her underwear drawer like the man I was, but even that was paused as I came back to my senses. She ended up telling me that her father did in fact have her house bugged and that’s how he found out about us. I am glad I hadn’t went through her underwear drawer. I put the things I had pulled out away. I even straightened her room, as it looked she left in a hurry.

I left my phone in her apartment and wandered the streets until I found a phone store. I bought a new phone and called an Uber. Chloe had taken some hacking skills from a kid name Raith to learn her final grades early. I don’t know why she worried she always got an A. I put the name she used as my contact detail. Then I remembered what she said before we hung up, roll tide. I couldn’t trust that I wasn’t being followed, so I took extra precautions. Sure enough, I was being detailed. I was about to subdue a set of guards when I heard one speak into his cuff.

“Boss, we’ve lost him. He gave us the slip.”

I heard Phix tell them to find me. Wherever I was going that’s where they find Chloe. He gave them orders to bring her back, dead or alive. I don’t know what was going on, but Chloe was right to give them all the slip. I couldn’t lead them back to her. I memorized the number she called me from and sent it a text. I told her to meet me off campus in a crowded place. I’d be there in 3 hours. I needed some supplies and clothes to live off grid. I gathered my things and booked a flight to Tuscaloosa.

I arrived just before 6 pm. She met me down by the stadium. There was a concert going on so it was busy. I saw her before she saw me or I thought so. I made my way to where I thought she was but she was gone. I went to sit in my concert seat and wait for her to reappear again. She sat behind me and spoke.

Meet me by the entrance, you were followed. After a few minutes she left and I followed. On my way to meet her I noticed a large crowd exiting the restroom area. I was pulled to the side quickly and my mouth was covered. I went into fight mode and was about to subdue my captor when I realized it was Chloe.

She covered her lips with one finger and pointed. Phix men. She beckoned for me to follow her. We walked for some time before she spoke.

“They must’ve followed you from the time you left the airport. Wherever you left your things it is now compromised, so you’ll have to get new things.”

“Chloe, what is going on?”

“I don’t know exactly right now, but I know whatever it is, my dad is in deep, and I believe evil may be the reason. Thank you for coming, Max.”

“So what are we going to do?”

“Figure out first, what is going on, and then form a plan on how to go about things. Then, go from there.”

“I’m glad you’re OK. I was very crazy until I heard your voice on the phone.”

“Machen, you did not have to worry about me. If you’ve learned anything from me, is that I can take care of myself.”

“This is true. But my love for you is even stronger than before, so of course I worried about you. Your father canceled my assignment last minute, just so that I could come and find you. He said that if I found you, he wouldn’t interfere in our relationship. However, When I was giving my tail to slip, I heard him say he wanted you back dead or alive.”

“What! Are you sure you heard correctly?”

“I’m sure and was equally as shocked.”

“Then all I can think of, this has to have something to do with uncle Mike, transferring all the money my mom left for me into my account. I only withdrew half a million, but that was so I didn’t have to swipe my card and they wouldn’t know exactly where I was at any given time.”

“I know why you did it and I’m glad you did because there are some scary, powerful men looking for you. I have military training, but some of them will still give me a run for my money.”

“I wanted to give myself a makeover, and this is the perfect time to do so. That way I can hide in plain sight.”

“Clearly, your father underestimated you. Where are we going?”

“To our new place I bought using my fake ID. I am now Ava Wright.”

“You used my last name?”

“Actually, Raith gave me the ID with the name and I liked it. It just so happens that this made up person has the last name Wright.”

“I still feel special”

“Glad that you do. I was hoping you would know it was me or no one would suspect anything since your family name is the same.”

“Smart!”

“Here’s my car.”

“An Audi A5, nice! Can I drive it? I’ve always wanted to share the front seat with you.”

“Sure, eat your heart out”

She put the address into her built in navigation system. I drove and arrived at this house that looked like a normal family home. She got out and asked me to follow. Her neighbor stopped us.

“Hey Ava, is this your husband?”

“Yes, Mika this is Van, my husband. He just got in from the airport.”

“Oh, nice to meet you. I was telling Ava you guys bought the right home to start a family. Everyone on this block and the next have kids. We’re very family oriented. We won’t bother you two too much until you have some kids.

“Nice to meet you Mika. My wife and I are excited to be here.”

“Thank you for your service as well. Most men come back different, but I see the sparkle in your eye and the love you have for Ava by the way you’re guarding her. My husband Ted is military as well.”

“My wife and I have been away from each other for some time. I would like to get inside and talk over some things with her. Also, don’t take it the wrong way but I’ve told her about talking to strangers. We won’t be outside much. We are pretty quiet neighbors for the most part though.”

“I understand. Well welcome and we are glad to have you both. Ava I do hope Van here will let you come out to play some. We have women’s night with wine every last Tuesday of the month.”

“I don’t drink but I do hope I can change his mind about you being a stranger.”

“Very well then. You two have a good evening.”

We walked to the entrance at the back of the house. She showed me around and I finished setting up the cameras she bought. She had ordered furniture and had it delivered. She told me when she saw that her townhouse and the dorm was compromised she went into survival mode.

She informed the University that she would be acting as Ava Wright and they were to notify all staff that they didn’t have a Chloe Dunn. They would be tested and if anyone compromised her safety in any way they would be dealt with accordingly. She hadn’t made any friends yet, so she didn’t have to lie to friends. She bought this house on a hunch it was a quiet neighborhood and somewhere she could lay low key. She was dying her hair while I set up the last camera. I came down from the ladder to see her in the bathroom washing out the ginger eye.

It complemented her grey eyes well. She blushed as she caught me drooling over her. I smiled and walked away before I was tempted to take her bent over the sink. She finished up her hair and out it in a messy bun. She cleared away the sink and made us dinner. She moved with ease in the kitchen. We were eating the meal she prepared in no time. We talked over how she planned to continue classes. She instructed all her professors to inform anyone looking for Chloe Dunn that she withdrew from their class.