The ride was silent, and I turned out tobthe window once we got to the place my dad now lived in. Manuel stopped, then sighed, his eyes thin. I waited in the car for a while, my mind bracing itself for what was to come. I know how my dad was. When he got angry, he got violent. It was hard to get him to calm down, too. It's hard to get him to see reason.I sighed, then slowly opened the door. Manuel opened his door and got out, then ran out to me, just as I stepped out of the car."Red," he said, his voice low. "I know he is your father, but it isn't excuse enough for him to abuse you. I hope you know that."My eyes closed. "I will keep that in mind.""It wasn't your fault what Vector did to him. He stole from Vector. That is not your fault. He kives because of you."My eyes lifted to Manuel. "What would get you to betray Vector?""Nothing," he said, causing me to laugh. "Cause I know the man I work for. Whoevwr betrays Vector, like Alvin, Ian, your father, Don Al, Emilio, all of them.
I ran back to the car where Manuel was waiting, my chest heaving. I had felt my protective instincts kick in the moment I set foot in there, and until I got in that car with Manuel, I still felt my brqim deciding on fight or flight. Somehow, it didn't feel like I was in the midst of my father and brother. It felt like when I was with Emilio and Claire."Did something happen? Did they do something to you?"I shook my head slowly, my eyes holding Manuel's. His eyes were filled with concern, and when I didn't say a word, he leaned to me, his hand cupping my face.I closed my eyes, my chest heaving. It didn't give me half as much comfort as Vector doing the exact same thing did, but at least, at the very least."Thank you for coming with me."Manuel smiled, his thumb running along my face. "Anything for you. You are sure he didn't do anything to you?""Why do you think he will?" I asked, my eyes holding his. He slowly shrugged. "He got violent yesterday."I slowly turned back to the hous
I watched myself in the mirror in the shower, my eyes thin. My skin was scarred around my back, and my arm and I let out a small sigh. I closed my eyes, my chest heaving.Why did they do that? Taking pictures of me and sending them to Vector. I knew they probably wanted to force my decision, since if Vector had flipped, it would force me back to them. Why did it feel like they would have done something to me, though? Why did it feel like dad still held a grudge against me for what happened a year ago?My eyes closed as I thought of all the information I had gotten about my mother from Segura. Was it really because of one year ago, or was it something else? Something that Vector knew would break me?I sighed again, then grabbed a towel and wrapped it around me. I stepped out thoughtfully, just as Vector closed the door behind him, balancing a first aid box on one hand.I stopped in place, my chest heaving as I took him in. Even if, in the end, none of my fears regarding my father were
My brows furrowed as I read the words again and again, my chest heaving hard. I tried to think of some other type of contact that could have let the person drop this in my dress. Nothing came up. Marie had hugged me and caressed my neck. I remember it clearly.I swallowed, my chest heaving. Vector was still in my bed, and I closed the paper and quickly put it away. I needed to go back there. Get a moment with Marie. From this letter to the blood on her skirt, all of it unnerved me.I picked out a white dress that fell to my feet, and the back was open and held up by a cross style that extended into the neckline in front. The back had an array of buttons that were tightly out together, so it would not show any skin.With the scars on my back, was this really the best thing to wear?I peeked out, and Vector was standing in front of that painting now. His fingers were lightly caressing the frame, his eyes squinted. He sighed, then took a step backwards.I stepped out, then cleared my thr
"Red!" I heard Vector say just before I entered my room. I stopped and turned to him, my eyes wide, my chest heaving.It was the thrill and the anticipation of doom from bad decisions. I met his eyes, and he looked positively livid, his teeth lightly gritting. He covered the distance to me, his fingers grabbing my arm. He pulled me into the room and then pinned me back on the door as he closed the door."How dare you?""What do you mean?" I asked, my breaths hard."How dare you fucking kiss him in front of me?""You are one to talk, Vector. You let her kiss you too."His eyes thinned, and he let me go, his head tilting slightly upwards. "You are exhausting, Red."I swallowed, nodding, my eyes darting between both of his. "Then discard me like the others.""That's the problem," he said, shaking his head. "You are not like the others. You did that just to make me jealous? Because she kissed me? What should I do with you, then? You are the one who has been keeping me at a distance. Been
I watched the painting I knew to be of the birth mother till day break, my chest heaving. My mind ran from directions, trying, gauging, which was the best. What I needed to do. What I needed to feel.I closed my eyes. My knees felt weak under me, and I slowly went to the floor again, my hand wrapping around my knees, my hair falling I. Front of my face. I wish I could stop the nagging feeling of need. To cover the distance between Vector and I. I hated how hard it was for me to get over a man who could barely confirm his feelings for me. Who wasn't sure who probably saw me from the waist downwards. It felt weird to me that I had been through this chaos before, and I was going through it again and again. I sniffed, my chest lightly heaving, my eyes closing even tighter. Suddenly, a knock came on the door. I turned to it, just as it opened up. Manuel was behind it, his eyes thin as he balanced a tray on his right hand. He turned to me, then slowly walked in and closed the door behind
I wasn't sure how long I was there for, but I slowly came to, my fingers coming between my body and Manuel's. He let me go, his hands leaving me, his eyes seeking mine."I am... I am sorry about that."He smiled, his eyes crinkling on the sides. He wiped the rest of my tears away, then smoothened out my hair."You don't have to apologize for anything, Red. As long as you are fine."I nodded slowly, then sniffed hard, pushing my hair back. "I... I still need to go to the hospital."He chuckled. "Resilient, huh?""It will help me, Manuel. It will help me decide if I should stay here or walk away."He smiled and nodded. "Trust me, you will stay. The knowledge may shatter you, but I need to see you happy. You made me know what Vector's laugh sounds like. How he looks like when he is completely enamoured. So yes. That is the only reason I am letting you find this out."I bit down on my lips. "Is my father a bad person?"It was the question that had been burning on my lips, messing up my mi
My eyes widened, and I swallowed, my fists lightly clenching. I couldn't feel my knees, as the wheels in my head spun. Segura was built a year after my mother's firstborn. He was alive and healthy, and not a miscarriage as my father had said."Is...." I turned to Manuel. "Is there a way to locate this child?"Her eyes squinted. "May I know exactly what it is you are looking for?"I swallowed. I wasn't quite sure. Was I looking for family? Closure? Traces of a crime? Was I looking for my father's sins? The key to leaving the guilt I felt whenever I was with Vector behind?"My siblings, I think.""You were born in Segura?" She asked, sitting, as she closed the book in front of her."Yes."She slowly nodded. "Well, you could go to a police station and hand in a DNA match. If you are positive that you share a gene pool, it might take some time, but it will happen."I nodded slowly. "I need to know more about Segura."She looked down at my book, then slowly pushed it to me. "Not a lot wil
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