I held Vector's hand even tighter as he led me towards the car and then opened the door. I gave a small smile, then let him help me in, before he leaned, stealing a kiss from me and slowly walking away. Having him around helped with the anxiety, and I took in rapid breaths to help calm my nerves.I swallowed, my eyes closing as Vector finally came into the car. He placed a reassuring hand on my thigh, then smiled at me before he turned away and turned on the car ignition.I clenched my fingers into fists, then nodded again as we slowly backed out of the company premises. I laid back into the seat, my eyes closed, my chest slightly heaving as I brought my hand to my forehead. Vector placed a hand on my thigh, his eyes darting briefly to me."I am just as nervous, Red."I gave a small chuckle. "Why are you nervous?"He shrugged. "I will be meeting your father. If he decides to get back in your life, I would want to be accepted by him."I took his hand from my thigh, then brought it to m
Vector gave me a tissue, then gave a small sigh."Are you okay?"I shrugged. "I don't know. My father isn't sure he wants me in his life. What do you think?"Vector shrugged. "You can call me daddy, though."I gave a small laugh. "That surely helps."He gave a small laugh, then nodded. "Give him time, Red. He has lived so long without knowing you and, obviously, mourning your mother. It is so much to take in. There is so much to adjust to.""Yes, Daddy," I said, laughing as his eyes widened in surprise."Red, don't."I gave a small laugh, then sniffed as I turned away, my eyes fixed on the distant sunset. We fell into comfortable silence, his hand gently trailing on my back, my chest lightly heaving.I gave a small sigh. "Do you think he will come around eventually?"Vector nodded. "He would be a fool not to. You grew up so beautifully, Red."I chuckled. "You only say that because you are in love with me.""I am in love with you, and that is mostly because you grew up so well. I have h
"Running off again, huh?" Manuel said immediately we walked in, his eyes shining with mischief. I rolled my eyes, then smiled at Hillary, who immediately came to hug me. "How was your first day of work?"I shrugged. "Wasn't exactly what I expected. The boss is very nosy and wouldn't let me work."Vector broke into a small laugh, shaking his head. "Not my fault. The new secretary is super hot." Hillary broke into a laugh, and I rolled my eyes. "I will go take a shower."She nodded, and I walked away, giving Manuel a small smile as I walked up the stairs. I lost the shirt that I had only buttoned up once we got there, so Manuel and Hillary wouldn't have to see me half naked.I got out of the skirt, too, then headed straight for the shower, my hand immediately opening up the shower. I closed my eyes as the water pelted down on me, my hair flattening down my back.Slowly, I pushed my fingers through my hair, just as Vector came behind me, his fingers lacing on my stomach, his face nuzz
Vector turned to me, his brows furrowed before he turned back to the man."A threat?"He nodded slowly. "That is what she said, Sir. I am not sure what she meant because she was bleeding and looked like she had been beaten up."I held my breath, my eyes slowly blinking. I knew we had had too much peace. Way too much.Vector slowly stood up, and as if that was our cue, we all followed behind him, my hand reaching to hold his. He stopped right at the door, his eyes scanning the entire place. "Bring her here," he said after a few minutes.The man immediately nodded, then walked away, his steps brisk. "What do you think it is, Vector?" Manuel asked, his voice low and anxious.He shook his head, indicating he had no idea, but I did. Marie. She was all I could think of.Soon, the man returned with a bloody woman, her face hanging low, her hair falling in front of her eyes. My eyes squinted as the man let her go, and she slowly fell to her knees in front of Vector, her chest heaving.Her c
Hillary soon returned with the police man, and after exchanging a few pleasantries with Vector, he walked away, leaving the hospital. I gave a small sigh, my eyes blinking slowly as I looked around, my heart beating rapidly in my chest as I waited for one of the doctors to come out.It took a long while, and my anxiety only heightened with each minute that passed by. Vector held me tighter as my agitation grew, and I managed to keep it together, my eyes closing as my lips moved in a silent prayer.Suddenly, one of the doctors came out, and I immediately went to him, my lips parting."Is she okay?""Are you her legal guardians?"Hilllary immediately stepped up. "She is a distant cousin and has no immediate family. Please, Doctor Jameson. Please tell us how she is doing."He nodded. "She seems to have been a victim of severe abuse."I gasped, my chest heaving slowly, my eyes filling even more. "What sort of abuse?""We found severe marks on her privates, and she is badly injured. It will
"Are you okay? How is she?"I looked up to Vector, then slowly nodded. "I... I think she is fine. She will be okay.""You look pale. Are you sure everything is okay with you?"I nodded slowly. "I think we should go. I will come visit her tomorrow."Vector gave a small nod. "I was going to move her to a VIP ward, so you are not inconvenienced whenever you come to see her."I nodded absentmindedly, my mind occupied with the things she had just said. What was the threat? Why had she specifically asked for me to come back tomorrow? What did she mean when she said they had promised her death?I swallowed as Vector pulled me in to hug me, his fingers slowly sifting through my hair. I sighed against him, my hands wrapping around his waist, my eyes closed."We should go home," I whispered, my chest heaving.He nodded. "Let's go. I will make you lunch myself, and we can give you a hot bath."I smiled into him. "I would like that very much."He pulled my hand, then slowly led me away from the w
I leaned away from Vector, my eyes taking in the mansion. I could feel dread fill me up, but seeing this place that had become home over the past months... it gave me comfort and solace."What car is that?" Vector suddenly asked, and I turned. To his right, there was a black van. Vector never drove vans, and he had his name as the plate number on each and every car he owned. This chronically stood out from the rest of his fleet.I felt my heart immediately sink, and my lips sucked in between my teeth. "Let me check," Manuel said as he parked the car, then got down. He examined the car and then called out to one of the armed men guarding the estate.I watched as they spoke for a while, and Manuel slowly walked back to Vector. Vector rolled down the glass, and Manuel leaned forward."They said an elderly man came looking for Red."My brows furrowed as Vector's eyes met mine. A silent conversation ensued between us, and Vector turned back to Manuel."Alright, then."He opened the door,
Dad was still downstairs when we came down, Vector supporting me as we went down the stairs. His eyes lit up, and I noticed he had put the roses together again, and they were lying on the small coffee table. The same table that used to carry guns and beer now carried roses, and that simple change alone almost made me cry."How is your knee?" He asked, his eyes taking me in.I shrugged. "Much better. Doesn't hurt too bad.""You should be more careful. Please."I gave a small smile and nodded. "Will you stay till dinner, at least?"He shrugged. "Can I make dinner?"My brows rose, and I turned to Vector. "You want to make dinner, dad?""Yes. I missed out on twenty-two years and never got to make it throughout these years. I am sorry I am excited, but...""I understand," Vector said, stepping forward. "I guess we both will make dinner today."I gave a small laugh as my dad's eyes lit up. "Sure. But... apart from the address you ledt... I don't know your name."I knew it. Vector had left h
Vector was in bed, and I slowly leaned to him, my lips gently kissing his forehead. He gave a small smile and turned to me, his eyes slowly meeting mine."Aren't you going out today?"He shook his head. "She called me dada. She obviously wants me to stay home."I broke into a laugh. "That little traitor. Betraying me like that."He pulled me in. "I could call you baby whenever you want."I broke into a laugh, my eyes darting to the sleeping child. She was just six months old, and she was closer to Vector than ever. She even took after his beautiful, different colored eyes, and I was convinced that my genes hadn't even tried at all.I kissed his forehead again, then smiled. "Everyone is coming for dinner today. Get ready, okay?""Yes, ma'am."I broke into a smile, stealing one more kiss from him, before I walked away. We spent the evening downstairs with everyone. Dad, who was more than excited to be a grandfather and was even taking lessons, Rose, who took every chance to touch Victor
I woke up naked in bed, and Vector wasn't by my side either. I turned, my eyes squinting, my chest heaving as I took the room in. There was no sign of the shower. I turned to my left, and a bouquet of roses was sitting there, with a letter hanging out from it. I broke into a smile, then sat up, grabbing the letter, a smile lighting up my lips."Come meet me in the below address in an hour. I love you."My brows furrowed as I looked down at the address, my chest heaving. I jumped out of bed, then swiftly went to the shower. I checked the time on my phone. I hadn't realized it was past twelve already, but anyone would understand how much I needed my first worry free sleep in so long. In forever. Slowly, I chose a dress, then put my hair up in a ponytail. It was a cute, flowery sun dress, and I twirled around in it for a bit, my smile big.Manuel was waiting in the car when I got down, and something about his smile made me feel like he knew what was going on but simply won't tell me.I
I wrapped Vector's jacket around me as the doctor gave us instructions to take care of the wound. Vector nodded slowly, but his eyes held mine, and I wondered if he ever actually did listen to the doctor. Manuel followed the doctor and finished with the remaining discharge processes, and I stayed back with Vector, who was finally falling asleep, fatigue, lack of sleep, and the pain catching up with him."We can go now," Manuel announced, coming up to us. I went to Vector's side, then wrapped his arm around me, while Manuel did the same to his left. That way, we got him out of the hospital and to the car. I got in the back with him, then gently adjusted him to lie on my lap, my fingers slowly pushing through his hair, my smile small.He was now weak, and it didn't take him long to fall asleep, his eyes closing gradually. I leaned to kiss his forehead, and he gave a weak smile before he finally fell asleep. The ride this time was slow, and I actually got to breathe. I watched the sig
Manuel cut through the teeming traffic as he drove us at top speed to the hospital. My heart was in my throat by the time we got to the hospital, my eyes darting fearfully between the outside environment and Vector, who was now motionless.Manuel got out, then came around and opened the door. I got out first, and he leaned, then slowly brought Vector out of the car. I ran to support him, and we walked into the hospital with Vector between us.They immediately brought a stroller, and we lay Vector on it. We followed behind them as they wheeled him to the operating room."It appears to be a gunshot wound, " one of the doctors said, adjusting his gloves. "Do you have a police report?"I swallowed. Tears were running down my cheeks now, and I wasn't even sure how to control it. They wanted to wait another ten minutes to bring that man to give a police report even when my Vector wasn't even moving anymore?I turned. Vector's gun was still in my hand, and I sucked in a deep breath, my eyes
I gasped as Vector gave a small smile, his eyes darkening as he got progressively angrier. Slowly, he cracked his gun, then slowly moved Don Lucian's head, his voice low with a murderous darkness behind it. "Let's try, then.""Vector," I said, but before the word could get out of my mouth, a van I recognized drove into the port and then parked. I turned, just as my real father was brought out at gun point, his eyes wide, his hands brought up in a surrender."Dad!" I screamed, and it distracted Vector momentarily, causing Don Lucian to swing for the chance he got.He immediately grabbed me by the neck, forcing me to his body, a wicked laugh escaping his lips, his eyes thin with evil."You fool, you really thought you could outsmart me? How about living the rest of your life like that bastard pining for your Rose?""Red," Vector said, his eyes wide. I could immediately see his resolve weakening, fear flashing in his eyes. Manuel ran out, his chest heaving. "Don't shoot!"Vector blinke
I nodded, my breath hitching in my throat. The cars stopped, and for a short while, no one came out of them. I held my breath, then turned to Vector, whose eyes were thin now, his fingers clasped into each other.Slowly, the first car opened, and I watched as Don Lucian walked out of the car, his eyes thin. His eyes took in the port before it landed on Jonas' dead body.He looked up, and in the blink of an eye, the other cars he had come with opened up, armed men trooping out immediately, surrounding us.Vector gave a small chuckle, his eyes becoming a lot thinner. I know what that meant. He was getting even angrier."Deploy the men," Vector said, and I watched as the place was slowly covered by even more men, armed to the core, their guns aimed towards Don Lucian's men.Don Lucian looked cornered, his eyes wide and filled with rage. Manuel slowly came out of his car, his gun held tight and ready to shoot."Have you missed us? Don?"Don Lucian met Manuel's eyes, and he swallowed, clen
The ride was silent, and Vector called once to make sure I was on my way. He spoke to the driver, and I leaned back, my chest heaving. All of it was so nerve-wracking, and I needed to see the end to this. Has there been some sort of change in plans? Was there some sort of problem?Suddenly, the car stopped. I turned around, and Vector's car was parked by the aide. My eyes thinned as I watched the car. Slowly, he rolled down the glass, and Vector's face slowly came into view.He had a small smile and a cigar between his lips, his eyes dark. I broke into a smile and went out of the car, without waiting for him to come to me.I went into the car, and he broke into a laugh as I lunged myself into him, smile big, my chest heaving hard. He wrapped his hands around me, his lips blessing every inch of my skin available to him. My face, my lips, my neck, my shoulders, the tops of my breasts, my fingers, my arms.I guess he felt the same emptiness I had all night long."Fuck, I missed you," he
I lay in bed, my eyes watching the bright chandelier. I had lost track of time, and I just lay there. Halfway across the city to Vector, and another part of me just laying here, waiting for something, anything. Needing something to tell me that Vector was okay.A knock came on my door, and I turned to it, my eyes slowly blinking. Hillary poked her head in, then gave me a small smile as she caught my eyes."I thought you would be alone. Manuel told me they were leaving."I nodded, then slowly sat up. My phone was lying on the bedside drawer, and I sighed, watching it. There was nothing."Are you okay?"I nodded slowly. "You?""Ibam fine. Could you lend me one of your clothes, please? We are the same size and I really need to go somewhere."I nodded, forcing myself to sit up, my chest slightly heaving. I got out of bed, then slowly led her to the wardrobe. I let her choose, and she picked the simplest one, just something that looked rather plain."Is that really what you want?" I asked,
Vector closed the door and turned back to me, a small smile on his face. He leaned to me, his fingers gently massaging my scalp. "You should rest. I will be back."I shook my head, sitting up, my chest slightly heaving. "I will dress up and come downstairs. This involves me as much as it does you."He nodded, kissing me hard, his grip on my face almost desperate. He pulled away, then kissed around my face again, his eyes closed.I could hear the silent prayer in those kisses. I could tell he was nervous. He never really was, but now, because I was there, because I was a weakness, he had no other option.He was scared, just as I was. This could go either way, and this story could end with me losing him. This story could come to an end with me standing above him. I would hate for that to happen.I got out of bed, then slowly dressed up in comfortable shorts and a large sweatshirt. Soon enough, we went downstairs where Manuel was, with a group of armed men.His eyes were thin, and ever