Best Defense

United.

...Sean Danial Warner POV's....

The roar of the Jeep engine Rudi was driving could be heard entering the front yard. Not until five minutes later, his footsteps rang out along the hall, he entered the living room with two other Interpol members. I don't know why his face looks so grim.

I'm watching him closely. "Is there a problem?" I said while leaning my back against the back of the sofa.

Rudi gave me a glance, then walked back and forth and looked agitated. "You called him?" he said after a while.

"What do you mean?"

"Don't pretend to be stupid, Warner! You know what I mean, you called your wife. What's on your mind? Don't you not remember we're guarding his safety?"

"Of course I remember. That's why I'm here." My reply was fierce. "I just want to hear his voice..."

I knew the consequences of my actions yesterday, but there was nothing else I could think of. Letting her constantly cry over 'my death' didn't help at all, it just made it harder for me to do everything. I won't be able to think clearly as long as Franda isn't okay.

"Did you know your wife and sister called the police and asked about the accident again? He even mentioned an important item that should be among the evidence found at the scene." Rudi pointed towards my hand. "Your stupid wedding ring!" sharpened says.

I bowed, staring at the ring that was coiling on my ring finger. I don't know why I sent him that ring photo yesterday, and now I regret it. I realized things might get worse after this.

"You know? Syaiful is very close to Bagoes! Right now the Bagoes must have heard everything, so you better hope he doesn't expose this to Syaiful, or your wife will be in danger. And you'll regret it."

***

I stared out the window from my room, observing some of the interpol members guarding down there. They are seen spreading around the courtyard as well as the front porch of the building. But there was no sign of Erick or Rudi leaving the place since last night.

After Franda and Dean made a small furore with their questions about my accident, a team of police investigators began to be sent back to investigate the case. From what I heard, they brought Dave back to Jakarta for inspection. He will face a series of charges, about the fake contract and also about the drug-reducing charges.

I have never felt this uneasy, as if all my fears for the weeks since Syaiful set foot in Jakarta were gathered into one. And even scarier than all of that is that Syaiful hasn't been caught up to this point.

Irjen Bagoes has said something to him even though I'm not sure about it. But if that's true, then Franda's not safe. Syaiful will definitely use it to know of my existence. Then in the end all my efforts to protect her would be in vain.

I observed two men standing guard near the gate walking towards the guard post, apparently talking to one of his colleagues inside, then the towering gate slowly opened and I saw the car Rudi was driving in quickly entering the front yard.

I turned around from the window, rushed across the room and out of the room. There was a commotion along the corridor as I galloped towards the front room, as if something urgent had happened. It makes me anxious and can't wait to hear something from them.

"I want you to comb the outskirts of Bandung, place some people around Lembang. Maybe we can get information or anything from there." I heard Rudi's voice talking as well as the sound of footsteps walking down the corridor.

I stood in the front room doorway, watching Rudi stop in the middle of the room, surrounded by four of his comrades. Tension was clearly implied from the look on their faces.

"Use your eyes and ears everywhere" Rudi said. "Shaiful's allies who are still loyal to him will probably help him get out of the country, and we can't let that happen. Syaiful must be arrested within twenty-four hours, before they make a move."

Rudi turned his face and realized my existence. He looked at me for a moment before turning back to his partner. "Stay tidings as long as you split up. I want you to report to me every hour, you understand?" They answered with a nod. Then Rudi dispersed the crowd.

"Is the situation getting worse?" I said as I looked at him walking towards me. I could see something else in his expression. "What's wrong?" tanyaku.

Rudi put his shoulders. "We were trying to find him, but the man was really slippery like a snake." He stood up to his waist with a look of annoyance.

Rudi turned to look at me, his eyes filled with anxiety and looked sad at once. "Well, everything has consequences." he murmured softly, sounding cautious. "We've been guessing what's going to happen since you called your wife the other day, the effect will fall like a domino, it's just..." He stopped his words in a huff, raised one hand and rubbed his hair rough.

I fell silent while raising an eyebrow, asking him to continue his sentence.

"Your wife came to see Dave today, and she asked him about a lot of things."

I jumped with my eyes wide open, then looked at Rudi. "What's? Why did you let him?" my growl.

"We don't allow anything, sir. Someone in the police department did it. Maybe it's the Bagoes, but we don't know for sure."

"Yes, but you're supposed to get in the way." I shook my head, completely clueless as to what care they meant. "My wife will be Syaiful's target now."

"I knew. Look, we're watching him. My boss will make sure he's okay, so calm yourself."

I was just about to reply to her, and then suddenly the sound of her phone stopped me. Rudi stared at the phone screen at a glance before finally answering the call. Instantly the look on his face turned dark as he listened to someone talking from across the phone. I just heard him say one or two words, then disconnected the phone.

Rudi looked at me anxiously. "From my boss," her tone was tense. "He said two of Syaiful's men had just barged into your sister-in-law's house, but luckily our men were already there and arrested them before they could hurt your family. Now my boss is bringing your wife here."

***

I folded my hands together restlessly, completely alert to every sound I heard. Everyone took turns going in and out of my room to check on me or make sure I had everything I needed. But the only people I've been waiting for haven't come yet. Makes anxiety more and more on me.

I sharpened my ears when I heard footsteps walking towards the door of my room, and then someone spoke.

"He's inside, you can see him." That's Erick's voice. "I still have to do something" he said again, but it was not lawful to reply.

I waited impatiently when I heard the door knob opening. I quickly stepped towards the front door that separated the living room and the room, and stood there. Awaiting him.

I saw him walking into the room. His face was pale, definitely due to the events he had just experienced, but his brown eyes were shining with hope. Watching him not far from my place, I suddenly felt my throat choked. My chest tightened from a longing so painful, it hurt more than I've ever felt in my entire life.

He stood to the edge of the bed, then paused for a moment and looked around the room. As if trying to calm himself. I can't believe I could do such a stupid thing and put him in this predicament. My franda.

Unable to hold back any longer, I put my foot closer to him. My steps were slow, but quite clear to hear in his ears. Franda. His body was frozen, his eyes were staring at me, tracing every inch of my body as if I were not real.

I stopped right in front of him and gave him a gentle smile. Then with her trembling hands, she cupped my two faces while looking at my two eyes in turn.

His roar was shaken, his lips trembled withstanding the cries. "It's really you..."

I pulled her into my arms, then kissed her head many times. In that instant she cried until her shoulders shook violently. Her hand covered her face while her other hand hugged my neck tightly.

I let him spill all his feelings while rubbing his back many times. "I'm sorry, baby." I muttered softly, barely whispering.

After a while, he calmed down and pulled back and looked up at me. His hands moved up his face to my hair. "Sean.." he murmured softly, looking into my eyes. "Please, don't do that again, I can't face something like that."

I smiled at her, with one hand tucking her hair behind her ear, then rubbed her cheek with my thumb. "I promise." My head slowly came forward to kiss her cheek. "I'm not leaving you, Franda."