~Roman~
“My drones are in the air. Uno, Dos, move to the front of the building. There are trailer and thermal shows movements on the top trailers. That’s the farthest my drones can get, since I can’t let them stoop low.”
Mateo and I were on the move as soon as we got the instructions from Nico. “Cage, your team will move from the south, Warden, cover the west….” Nico continued to give orders like a general commanding his men.
We flanked towards the front of the building, eyes focused on the scope of my AK47 as we ducked. Mateo covered my back in the same position as we reached the large, rusty metal door. There was an opening big enough to fit one person. I motioned for Mateo to move out first, covering him until he reached the nearest trailer.
~Viviana~As if they were watching me, the moment Roman stepped out of the house, a call from an unknown number came in. A voice changer muffled the voice, the kind that sounded as if it came from the deepest part of hell.The instructions were clear. ‘Follow your predictable routine and act naturally. Don’t call in sick and come to work at Brío. At exactly nine pm, go to the lady’s room on the ground floor. Someone will take you, and you will not resist. You won’t speak to anyone, not to your Outlaws friends, and not a word to Roman. We have the red light aimed at your mother’s head and a knife at your friend’s throat. One wrong move, and one of them will die.’I wasn’t even able to say hello. After the call, a picture of Maya came in, a duct tape plastered ove
~Viviana~I thought of a way I could come out of this situation alive the entire day. I wanted to know who I was up against and why.Lena. I convinced myself that she had reasons to hate me, but is Roman choosing me over her enough to result in this mess? No matter how much thought I put into justifying her actions, hurting my friend is something I could never forgive.“Why?” I asked firmly, holding my ground, even if the odds are certainly not in my favor. Lena has the number in ammunition and people, and she has Maya on the short leash.“You think you have the right to ask questions?” she spat, lips pursing in disgust. “You sure know how to act like an entitled slut.”I met Maya’s e
~Roman~ My hands have taken countless lives, and I never repent for any of them, believing I’m doing the world a favor by reducing the number of criminals wandering on the streets. I’m not a saint or hero, and never will I be. Since Abuelo died and I sat as Uno of the Outlaws, I’ve deterred myself from praying or setting foot in churches. I’m a sinner. I sold my soul to the devil for the greater good, and I’m aware that the time will come when I have to pay for my sins. Is this the price I had to pay? The media, cops, ambulance, and feds beat us in reaching the warehouse where Viviana offered herself as a sacrificial lamb to save Maya. A bullet grazed her right arm and leg, that’s what the doctors said, both flesh wounds, but she still hadn’t opened her eyes when the
~Roman~“The fuck were you thinking using fifty cal, Rio?” unphased, Rio’s eyes remained engrossed on the ceiling as the door on his quarters slammed on the wall. I left Mateo to watch over Viviana and Maya while I dealt with the mess this moron created. We turned El Sótano’s third underground level as a hideout and infirmary to tend to the wounded Outlaws.I let Warden and Cage take charge of cleaning the mess at the shipyard before coming to the hospital, but Nico can’t create any remedy for Rio’s mess.The authorities beat us in cleaning the warehouse and Nico is doing his best to wipe out every building and camera recording on the street in line with Rio’s escape.He was unharmed, but I ordered him to stay put at El S&
~Viviana~Even without seeing him, I knew it was Roman who was holding my hand.My heartbeat was loud - literally - from the vital signs monitor. The cloud-like mattress hugging my body gave little relief to the throbbing pain in my muscles.Roman had been drawing incoherent patterns on the valley of my knuckles, planted a kiss there too and on my forehead. I have to open my eyes soon, relieve Roman of his torment by worrying about me, but I like what he’s saying.I woke up with his promise of taking me on a vacation. He said he’d take me to Barrio San Jose where his mom grew up, where they used to spend their Christmas with his Abuelo José. It was hard to pretend that I’m not yet awake since he can practically see the thumping of my heart from t
~Viviana~While I was recovering, Roman made sure we’d spend more time together. He stayed with mom and me and moved his things to my room. We shared my closet, my bed - of course - and everywhere I glanced, he had his stuff here and there. My room began to look crowded, but I’m not complaining. I enjoy having him around. Mom doesn’t seem to mind either. In fact, they’re getting along more than fine. There are days I find it hard not to paint a future with Roman.I mean, he comes home to me every night after work with flowers, chocolates, and small gifts. He cooks dinner and sleeps beside me. The best part of my day was waking up to his embrace, and I couldn’t ask for more. As silly as it is, I think there’s something good that came out of all the chaos after all.On the third wee
~Viviana~It was nice to do something normal again. We’re dressing up in Tina’s room for the party intended as a celebration for Roman’s return. It’s a little too late, but with everything that has happened, anything to unwind will be good for all of us.Maya was right. We needed this weekend to be stress free.“You look beautiful,” I commented, admiring the way Tina’s white polka dot wide leg jumpsuit complimented her curves. She tied her fiery hair in a low ponytail, applying light makeup on.It was only a simple celebration, they said, and there will be a lot of games for the kids and of course, plenty of food.Tina gave me a once over through the vanity mirror, rolling her eyes as
~Viviana~“Can we go yet?” I leaned closer to Roman. Inside Nana Carmen’s humble abode, we sat with our friends, accompanied by the elders of Barrio San Jose.Under the table, my boyfriend - officially - placed his hand above my knee, squeezing. “Thirty minutes more,” he whispered back, listening to Father Anton reminiscing how Nico, Mateo, and Roman were a headache as children.The street is now empty. Everyone went home after cleaning the remnants of the party, but the elders invited us for tea.Lacing my fingers with his, I rested my head on his shoulder, whispering in his ears. “I’m in pain, mi cariño.”He planted a kiss on the crown of my hair, moving to wrap an arm
~Viviana~ Our wedding passed by like bliss. I hardly paid attention to everything that we rehearsed, the vow I’ve written, the food we’ve taken time to choose, and the toast by Nico and Tina for Roman and me. Everything was perfect, I’m sure, because now I’m wearing my wedding ring and have Roman’s name. All I wanted to do was get Roman alone. If it was up to me, I would invite him to miss out on our own reception and act as though we’re eloping teenagers, get away with him. But I can’t do that. Nana Teresa was here, and she’d kill us if we did - literally. My mom, who walked me down the aisle and handed my hand to Roman with teary eyes, might understand our eagerness to be alone, but that won’t stop her from chastising us. We cannot just abandon our friends who witn
~Roman~ It’s funny how time flies by when it felt like yesterday; I was naked, kneeling down on one knee, pleading for Viviana to accept me and be my wife. Three months have gone by since then. In our villa’s guest room in Las Mencía, I studied the reflection of the man staring back at me in the full-body mirror. A perfectly pressed Prussian-blue suit clung to his body with crisp white dress shirt underneath and a tie with light blue and silver patterns clinging to the collar. A boutonniere of white orchids and lavenders attached to his lapel, a miniature version of his wife’s bridal bouquet. What he wore looks expensive, a magazine-worthy attire, but that isn’t what he wanted to freeze at this moment. It’s the happiness
~Viviana~ It was no surprise that everyone was already out of the villa when Roman and I stepped out of our room. No wonder they put me far from everyone’s room. I don’t know if I should be thankful to my friends for torturing me. They knew how much I missed Roman and still kept this a secret from me. Anyway, what matters is Roman is here. I won’t feel rueful to have fun while he’s still working. “You should’ve told me.” I nudged his shoulder as we walked down the stone path leading to the beach. We were both sporting casual beachwear. Topping our swimwear with white tanks, khaki shorts, and flip-flops. Sunglasses protect our eyes, but our smiles mirror one another. Roman had his hair tied in a low ponytail while mine was in a high ponytail.
~Viviana~Saturday morning, Penny practically knocked down my door and strutted into my room. I lay on my front, covering my head with a pillow, when she tried to wake me up. When I kept on refusing to get out of bed, Penny dropped her voluptuous blond ass on my back.“Get off!” I groaned, wiggling from under her, but she shifted and draped her entire frame over me like there was no human being under her.“It smells like shit in here,” she murmured, lying eagle spread above me, her front pressed on my back. “No wonder Roman isn’t eager to go home to you.”“Shut up,” I groaned, voice muffled by the mattress as Penny made herself comfortable.It has been six agonizing days s
~Roman~Three days. That’s how long I’ve been away from Viviana, and I was already losing my cool. Turns out, Rio didn’t only make a mess at the Phantom’s pub, but he also messed up a business deal Red was trying to close that night.No wonder Red was damned pissed he didn’t even want to answer my calls. I had to get to the bottom of the situation before seeing him personally. We might be friends, but just like me, he also answers to the people he’s working with.“What do you want?” Was Red’s warm welcome to me, a scowl etched on his face.He kept the door of his Malibu mansion wide open. I took it as an offer to come in. If this was any other guy, I wouldn’t walk through the angry lion’s den. But Red and
~Viviana~Sometimes, knowing the truth doesn’t truly set us free. Sometimes, knowing pulls us back into a limbo of twisted emotions from which we are trying to run away.Mathew told me another piece of the past dad hadn’t written in his journal.Did dad know I would cross paths with Rio? Did he anticipate I would try to kill him? Maybe he expected me to seek justice for his death and find Rio, kill him. Did he purposely withhold the truth to save me from the pain brought by the knowing?Rio didn’t choose his mother over my father. He tried to save them both, but dad knew Summit would find a way for Rio to suffer. He knew his end was about to come in the hands of his student, no less.Did he also tell Rio not
~Viviana~One could hardly tell Rio and Roman’s relationship based on their looks. Roman had electric blue eyes while Rio had smoke-gray hues. Roman had sharp jaws, high cheekbones, while Rio had soft-edged jaws and delicate-looking cheeks.Last I saw him, his figure was lean, not too muscular but taut enough that you’ll know he’s taking good care of his body. Now, he’s almost flesh and bones. His hollow cheeks forced his cheekbones to look edgy, the kind that tells a story on its own. He’s deprived of nutrients - by choice or not, I couldn’t tell. His skin was dry as if one scratch and he’ll bleed. The white shirt he had on and jeans were hanging loose on his body as if they were two sizes too big on him.Even in this state, my heart is void of sympathy for him. All I have
~Viviana~After making sure that Roman had already boarded his flight to California, I also boarded my flight to Colorado.I never thought I would exploit having Zia as a friend, but she and Xavier were more than happy to help me, tossing in Bo as my company. As the miles between me and my hometown grew thinner, my heart kept pulsing against my temple, turning my vision hazy and the knots in my stomach twisted painfully.It had been seven years since the last time I set foot in the states. Even when Lu told me it was already safe for me to go back, I refused to do so. His warning to stay away from US grounds gave me a reason not to visit the painful memory this place had given me, and I kept holding onto it up to this day.Tot steps, I told myself. I have to face my fear
~Viviana~ After giving me a chance to catch my breath, Roman slipped out of bed and headed to the ensuite just in time for the dawn to break. The explosion of orange, yellow, and delicate pink slivers passing through the ajar balcony door bounced on my face, making my eyes squint. Groaning, I groped for a pillow and shielded my face from the soft morning light. The soft tap of Roman’s feet on the carpet mingled with his hearty chuckle. “Come on now,” he scooped my tender frame in his arms, taking me into the bathroom. I sighed as soon as my body submerged into the warm water he filled the tub with. He set me in the middle, sliding in behind me, his masculine scent mixed with the evidence of our coupling, and violet mist demanded me to keep my eyes closed.