Isabel POV The air in the small room was was filled with a lot more tension than I could have imagined. Elena stood there with her arms crossed and eyes filled with a cold expression that twisted my stomach into knots making me feel so uncomfortable. I stared at her as the pent up hatred I had for her showed on my face. The first instinct when my I first saw her was to call the security to arrest her. Because each time I see her the memory of Talia's dead flashes in my memory. " Long time no see bestie." She said with an evil grin. I could hear the sarcasm dripping from her voice." You have some courage showing up here." I spat out bitterly." I only came here to deliver a message, stop poking the bear." " And you believed here was the perfect time and place to deliver your message. Fuck you Elena." " I know you might not believe me but I didn't kill Talia." She said and I could actually see sincerity in her eyes." I don't believe you, you've tried to kill me once. So you defin
Isabel POV The world seemed to get hot as I stared at the man that was leaning on my car. I just wanted the ground to open up and swallow me that way saving me from engaging in this conversation. I visible gulped as I saw his smirk even in the night darkness. It was the same cocky and arrogant smirk that I thought I had left behind in the darkest part of my memory. " Hello Mi Amor." He said again, this time he took few steps towards me while I took few steps backwards. " You know that guy?" Jamin asked beside me still obviously operating on the alcohol he had in his system.I ignored him. My eyes wete focusex and trained solely on Alex, whose piercing blue eyes had not left mine. The same gaze that once made me feel butterflies and feel loved. Right now that same gaze makes me feel small, unworthy, and terrified. My heart pounded against my chest rapidly as memories I had buried long ago clawed their way to the surface of my mind. He was a vivid representation of my past, the path
Miguel POVMy eyes fluttered open and the sun ray that filtered through the window made me shut my eyes immediately. Gradually I tried opening it again and this time my eyes adjusted to the brightness of the room. I pulled myself to sit up on the couch, as I stretched my limbs, trying to shake off the heavy feeling that had all but settled in my chest. My eyes roamed around the room before landing on a sleeping figure on the bed. The mixture of frustration and guilt filled my mind as my gaze remained on her. I was frustrated that I was made to enter this loveless marriage and guilty that I betrayed the love of my life, Isabel. Just the thought of her stirred up something in me, it came with many memories that made me smile. I had married to save myself from the shame of my past. I picked up my phone and checked the time. It was almost nine o'clock AM. I had to be at work before eleven, I had a meeting with some foreign investors. I strolled to the bathroom to get prepared. After ta
Miguel POVMy eyes fluttered open and the sun ray that filtered through the window made me shut my eyes immediately. Gradually I tried opening it again and this time my eyes adjusted to the brightness of the room. I pulled myself to sit up on the couch, as I stretched my limbs, trying to shake off the heavy feeling that had all but settled in my chest. My eyes roamed around the room before landing on a sleeping figure on the bed. The mixture of frustration and guilt filled my mind as my gaze remained on her. I was frustrated that I was made to enter this loveless marriage and guilty that I betrayed the love of my life, Isabel. Just the thought of her stirred up something in me, it came with many memories that made me smile. I had married to save myself from the shame of my past. I picked up my phone and checked the time. It was almost nine o'clock AM. I had to be at work before eleven, I had a meeting with some foreign investors. I strolled to the bathroom to get prepared. After ta
Miguel POVI glanced at my wristwatch, it was midnight already. I unlocked the door of the room in the most quiet way I could. I wasn't ready to deal with Vanessa this night. I flipped the light switch on and my heart almost jumped out of my chest when I saw a figure seated on the couch." Vanessa! You scared the shit out of me. What are you doing sitting in the darkness?" " I was waiting for you, you work so late these days." She said as she stretched, a yawn escaping from her mouth. " I've been busy, Vanessa. Stop being needy." "How could you do this to me, Miguel?" Vanessa said in a low tone. I couldn't blame her, Rosa, her sister brought her into whatever twisted plan she had. One thing I knew for sure was that Rosa was up to no good. My mind had been occupied with Elena's proposal and Isabel kicking me out of her life permanently. I haven't even been able to process all that before I was ambushed by my wife, whom I'd been keeping at arm's length since our wedding."Vanessa, I
Isabel POVThe air was thick with tension as I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the black box I had just retrieved from my drawer. My hands trembled as I opened the box, revealing its contents: a stack of aged documents, a faded photograph of my mother holding a baby—but not me—and a small, ornate key. My mind raced. If the box held secrets about my family, then the key must open something important. But what?Before I could go further, my phone buzzed. Jamin’s name flashed on the screen. I hesitated before answering.“Isabel, we need to talk, its important.” he said, his voice low and serious.“Talk about what, Jamin?” I replied, trying to mask the unease in my voice.“Not over the phone. Meet me at the diner near Greenfield Park in an hour.”“I… I am not your…”He hung up before I could argue. A sinking feeling settled in my stomach as I glanced at the photograph again. Who was the baby in my mother’s arms? And why had Jamin suddenly become so cryptic?Miguel POVThe conferenc
Isabel POVThe shot echoed through the factory’s walls. My ears rang, a deafening silence pressing in around me as I pushed through the shattered remains of my calm. Whoever had pulled the trigger wasn’t visible from where I stood, but the chaos in the air was intense. My breaths came fast and shallow, heart pounding as if trying to escape my chest. My grip on the small key from the black box tightened. I ducked behind a rusted beam, trying to steady myself and listen. Footsteps—rapid and heavy—pounded the concrete, followed by grunts and the sharp clang of metal against metal.“Miguel, you can’t keep running!” Gideon’s voice snarled.Miguel? My head spun. I peered around the beam just in time to see him. Miguel had a gun in his hand, but his movements were defensive.“Give it up!” Gideon shouted.Another figure appeared, slipping from the dark. It was Alex, moving like a predator through the maze of machinery and debris. He wasn’t aiming for Miguel, though. His attention was fixed o
Isabel POVI’ve always heard that silence can be deafening, but I never truly understood it until now. The quiet in Miguel’s penthouse was suffocating, broken only by the distant hum of the city below. Miguel leaned against the window, his back to me, staring out at the glittering skyline as if searching for answers among the lights. Alex was perched on the armrest of a chair, while I sat on the couch, clutching the small key in my hands.My mind spun with questions I couldn’t answer, doubts I couldn’t silence, and fear I couldn’t shake. “We need to move,” Miguel said finally, his voice breaking the tense silence. “Gideon’s not going to stop. If we wait, we’re giving him the upper hand.”“Move where?” I asked, my voice steadier than I felt.Miguel turned to face me. “Wherever that key takes us.”“And how exactly do we figure that out?” Alex interjected. “Unless one of you has a map stashed somewhere, we’re running blind.”“We start with what we know,” Miguel said, his gaze shifting t
Isabel POV“Why hasn’t the power come back yet?” the doctor demanded, his voice strained as his hands pressed firmly on Diego’s chest. Sweat clung to his forehead, his arms moving in a steady rhythm.The silence was deafening, broken only by the doctor’s rhythmic counting.Miguel’s flashlight wavered as he clenched it tighter. “Why isn’t this working? Where’s the backup generator?”The scarred man had disappeared from the room, leaving us in the dark with nothing but the dull beam of light catching Diego’s pale, lifeless face.Marissa pressed her back against the wall, breathing hard. “I’ll check the hall again.” She said as she walked out sluggishly.Miguel’s voice cracked. “You’re not going alone.”Marissa’s eyes met his, calm but serious. “Then stay here and make sure Diego keeps breathing. I’ll handle it.” She said promisingly.Miguel hesitated, then nodded. His focus stayed locked on Diego as the doctor kept pressing.Miguel POVThe doctor’s hands never stopped moving, his voice
Isabel POVThe hospital lights cut out, plunging the entire room into complete darkness. The machines keeping Diego stable went silent, and the sudden void pressed heavy on my chest.“Marissa? Miguel?” My voice was tight, barely above a whisper.“I’m here,” Marissa’s voice echoed from near the door, tense but steady.“I’m fine,” Miguel called back, his voice closer, more protective. “Isabel? Diego?”I felt Diego’s hand, still warm but unmoving. My fingers pressed lightly against his wrist, searching for the pulse. It was there—weak but steady.“I’ve got him,” I whispered, relieved but on edge. “He’s still here.”“What the hell just happened?” Marissa hissed; her countenance and expression barely visible against the window’s faint glow.Miguel fumbled with something, the sound of rustling fabric before a dim beam of light cut through the darkness. He’d switched on a small tactical flashlight, the narrow beam sweeping the room.The soft, shallow rise of Diego’s chest was visible again.
Isabel POVThe hospital lights cut out, plunging the entire room into complete darkness. The machines keeping Diego stable went silent, and the sudden void pressed heavy on my chest.“Marissa? Miguel?” My voice was tight, barely above a whisper.“I’m here,” Marissa’s voice echoed from near the door, tense but steady.“I’m fine,” Miguel called back, his voice closer, more protective. “Isabel? Diego?”I felt Diego’s hand, still warm but unmoving. My fingers pressed lightly against his wrist, searching for the pulse. It was there—weak but steady.“I’ve got him,” I whispered, relieved but on edge. “He’s still here.”“What the hell just happened?” Marissa hissed; her countenance and expression barely visible against the window’s faint glow.Miguel fumbled with something, the sound of rustling fabric before a dim beam of light cut through the darkness. He’d switched on a small tactical flashlight, the narrow beam sweeping the room.The soft, shallow rise of Diego’s chest was visible again.
Isabel POVThe footsteps grew louder. My pulse raced as I exchanged a glance with Miguel. Marissa raised her rifle slightly, ready but controlled.The door creaked open.Three men entered, dressed in dark suits, their expressions cold and professional. No visible weapons—but their rigid postures told me they were trained for this kind of situation.Miguel shifted, moving slightly in front of Diego. “Who the hell are you?”The tallest man, with a scar just above his eyebrow, raised his hands. “We’re here for you, Miguel. Your father sent us.”Silence fell over the room.Miguel’s expression twisted, a mix of relief and anger. “And where is he?”The scarred man kept his voice even. “Unavailable. But we’re under strict orders to secure your safety and assist with your brother’s care.”Miguel exhaled, shaking his head. “Of course, he sent his thugs instead of showing up himself.”The man didn’t react. “We’re here to help. That’s what matters.”Marissa POVMy finger hovered over the trigger
Isabel POVThe buzz of the drone overhead made me freeze mid-step. Marissa cursed under her breath; her rifle still hidden beneath her coat. Miguel’s grip on Diego tightened, his expression grim as he glanced up at the sky.“They’ve got eyes on us,” Marissa said sharply, scanning the horizon.Miguel’s face was tense. “We need to keep moving.”“Wait,” I said, holding up my hand. “Diego can’t handle this. He’s not ready to be moved like this—he’s barely stable.”Miguel hesitated, his jaw tightening as he looked down at his brother. Diego’s face was pale, his breathing labored.“She’s right,” Marissa added, her voice softening. “If we keep running, we’ll kill him.”Miguel exhaled sharply. “Then what’s the alternative? We can’t stay out here.”I glanced back at the hospital. “We go back in.” I said sharply.Miguel POVMy instinct was to argue, but she wasn’t wrong. Diego couldn’t handle another step, and the drone above us meant we were out of options.“Back in?” Marissa asked, incredulou
Isabel POVThe nurse's whispered warning hit me like a slap. "You're being followed."Miguel stiffened beside me, his grip tightening on Diego's arm as we half-carried, half-dragged him into the small hospital lobby. "Who's following us?" Marissa demanded, her tone sharp and low."I don't know who they are, but they've been asking questions. They came through here earlier, showing pictures. They're still nearby.""We don't have time for this. My brother needs help."The nurse hesitated, her eyes flickering between Diego's pale face and the tension in Miguel's stance. Finally, she nodded. "Room four. Down the hall. I'll get a doctor."Marissa moved to the door; her rifle hidden beneath her coat. "I'll keep an eye out," she said, her voice calm but firm.I followed Miguel down the hallway, my heart racing. Miguel POVI lowered Diego onto the examination bed, his weight sinking into the thin mattress. His face was ashen, his breaths shallow."Hang in there," I murmured, gripping his sh
Isabel POVThe burst of static from the hidden comm device made my heart stop. The voice that followed was unmistakable.“Don’t move. You’re surrounded.”Miguel tensed, his eyes narrowing. Marissa gripped her rifle, scanning the forest for movement.“Gideon,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.“Congratulations,” the voice said, almost amused. “You’ve made it farther than I expected. But it ends here.”Marissa glanced at me; her expression sharp. “He’s bluffing. If we were surrounded, we’d already see them.”“he’s not the kind of man who bluffs,” Miguel said.The comm device crackled again. “Miguel, Isabel, Marissa... even Diego. your little escape. Impressive, but futile. Surrender now, and I might let you live.”Miguel’s jaw tightened. “Not a chance.”Marissa POVI hated the way Gideon’s voice got under my skin, as if he was already one step ahead. But I wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of seeing us panic.“We need to move,” I said quietly, keeping my rifle raised. “Now.”
Isabel POVThe sharp crack of gunfire echoed through the ravine, bouncing off the rocks. I froze. It wasn’t close, but it wasn’t far either.“They’ve found our trail.” Miguel said.“We need to move. Now.” Marissa said, her tone sharp.I glanced at Diego, slumped against the rock. His eyes fluttered open briefly, and he let out a weak groan. He wasn’t in any condition to walk, let alone run.“We can’t leave him behind,” I said firmly.Miguel didn’t even look at me as he slid his arm under Diego’s, hauling him upright. “We’re not.”Marissa scanned the trees, her rifle ready. “The sound came from the west. If we head east, we might have a chance to put some distance between us and them.”“Lead the way,” Miguel said, his voice strained under the weight of his brother.Miguel POVEvery step felt like a battle. Diego was dead weight, his head lolling against my shoulder, but there was no way I was letting go.Marissa moved ahead, her movements quick and quiet. Isabel stayed close, her breat
Isabel POVThe faint murmur of voices drifted through the trees, low but distinct. My pulse quickened, every instinct screaming at me to move, to run.Miguel crouched beside Diego, his head tilting toward the sound. His expression hardened, and he motioned for me to stay low.“They’re close,” he whispered.“Too close,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.Marissa slipped through the brush; her movements nearly silent. She crouched near us; her face drawn. “Four of them,” she said. “Armed. Moving toward the hollow.”Miguel cursed under his breath, his grip tightening on his rifle. Diego stirred, his eyes fluttering open.“We can’t fight them,” I said, keeping my voice steady despite the growing panic in my chest. “Not with Diego like this.”Marissa nodded. “Agreed. We’ll have to outmaneuver them.” She said her voice very firm.Miguel glanced at Diego, then back at us. “You two take him. I’ll lead them away.”“No,” I said sharply. “We stick together.” My expression very firm and