"Please."
Theo's embrace loosened slightly as Rose remained silent. The truth was too painful to understand. Rose did not easily accept the explanation, which was that Theo had never intended to take the lives of her parents. "Dream that I'll stay by your side." Rose repeatedly elbowed the surface of her husband's stomach. Strong, hard, and undeniable. Everything became so easy, and Rose never gave up. She escaped after a great opportunity opened up. Rose's steps were steady through the doorway. In her haste to descend the stairs, Rose did not look back once. "Miss, why are you in such a hurry?" Right in front of the gate Rose squeezed in with Lion. Rose's breath floats to neutralize the pounding of her heart. As quick as a flash of Lion's eyes, Rose hid her firearm behind her back. "Let me borrow your car key." Rose immediately pulled the object from the master, already preparing to pull over past Lion. However, the sound of a gunsho"Is my wife okay?" Skeptical question. Rose really didn't want to hear it. Really didn't want to supply additional pain by letting Theo's caring attitude tear apart something that was already broken, something Rose couldn't even put back together. She pushed away the arm that had accidentally touched Theo's left shoulder. Wet and red were two kinds of things that almost broke down Rose's defenses. Theo was shot—again—in a different place right after protecting her. There wasn't much Rose could say. Deliberately separating herself from and staring at the owner of gray eyes that offered shade. Many times Rose had noticed the pallor on that face, but never as severe as it seemed at the moment. The moments before Theo returned to hold Rose tightly in his arms. Or actually Theo realized Mr. Alejandro was almost no longer far away. "Fuck!" A curse so close it was followed by a hurried clatter. One more shot .... No, it wasn't. But two, with Rose a
"Theo!" Rose shrieked violently as Theo's body fell helplessly against the seductive leaves swept away by the strong wind, just as Theo's chest heaved with difficulty.Rose approached, quickly resting Theo's head on her lap. The blood from the blow was too thick. Now the surface of Rose's hand was completely bathed in the thick red liquid and the rancid scent that emanated was no less piercing. "Sorry." The single spoken word tore Rose wider apart. She shook her head not wanting to hear anything else. But Theo argued with a look that was out of place. Theo's eyes almost closed, Rose immediately grasped the same bloodied fingers. "Why did you save me?" Rose's tone was choked. The contents of her head and her movements were not well synchronized. She asked while not wanting to dive into Theo's pain whenever the man spoke. "I love you." Three words that absolutely killed Rose. She was unable to react, except for the violent pounding that continue
Trembling hugging her own body in the middle of the jungle. Rose buried her face between her bent knees. Empty, alone, and scared. The last time Rose had been in the distance with Theo's men just to ascertain how her husband was doing, when they all agreed to take the man away. While others decided to split up to look for her whereabouts, which made her have to shuffle away from civilization. And now Rose was too far away. It would be quite difficult for anyone trying to find her. Thus, after hours there were no longer any cries of name, especially Lion's loud voice calling her. Rose was thankful that at least she hadn't gone back to Theo or she would have directly—from a close distance—witnessed how unlikely the man's condition was to survive. The blood everywhere, even the blood around Rose's face as she unconsciously smothered her lips, had dried up to the point where it was pulling at her skin. Rose sobbed, just hoping that the rain would race down to wash away eve
"Axe ...." Hoping too much until hope itself hit Rose's shadow. She thought Theo would come wherever she docked. Showing that her husband would always be fine like the past events. Instead, in front of Rose, those heterochromia eyes glared at her with an unreadable expression. "How come you're here?" "Who made you in this condition? Why are you covered in blood?" Xelle's deep, hoarse voice jolted Rose's senses. Her grief suddenly overflowed in one emotional engagement. Rose crawled quickly to hug the body that was not fully ready to receive the blow. However, she was still able to balance her position and return the suffocating embrace. The sound of crying and Rose's body again returned to trembling, noticeably shaking between the embrace that was still intertwined. "Take me away from here. Please." Rose said softly. She buried her face in the line of Xelle's shoulders as a light stroke traveled up her head. "Take me away from here, Axe. Please."
"Are you sure you're ready?" Xelle's deep, raspy voice was full of doubt. The eyes met intensely, as if to bare the thoughts of the interlocutor who acknowledged the statement with a slow nod. "Or you could just stay here until the funeral is over." Rose shook her head. "I'm ready." Continuing to speak only to really assure Xelle that she would still be there. Participating in guiding the departed soul to its final resting place. As much as possible Rose would try not to be affected by anything from the outside environment. She should fight against anything that might undermine her peace of mind. It was true that after a month of living in the hideout nothing had changed in Rose's feelings. She was still as upset as she was that day. It was a little difficult to control herself, even Rose was no longer as free as she should be. The various pressures were destroying the various things inside Rose. She had to be more careful without too much activity considering t
Rose looked at Bridgette's face for a long moment. Her lips parted to say something. Slightly undecided, she eventually made a sound. "No need, Bridgette." Rose tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. She no longer had the blonde color for the sake of suppressing painful things. However, what really haunted Rose was Theo's phrase that once reminded her not to change her hair color under any circumstances. "Does Acampeliaz know that her mother is passed away?" asked Rose. Only then did Bridgette's expression turn grim. "Even if Campel knows, she doesn't quite understand what happened, Rose. I feel sorry for her. I wish her father wasn't such an asshole." A quip caught the attention of the one person in the driver's seat. The speed increased as hands tightened on the steering wheel. Xelle's jaw dropped, though the man did not utter any protest. "You must remember that two pregnant women are riding in your car, Axe." "Then, don't gossip."In reality Bri
"Theo!" Rose woke up not feeling well. Her mind was still focused on one sad name. Theodore Witson... which was clearly engraved on the tombstone Rose had found moments ago. She froze. Her feelings were crushed—crushed as often as the image of the tomb jolted her memory. "Where's Theo?" muttered Rose, no one in front of her could be trusted. For the blessed time Rose became a complete mess. She was messed up... very scared about the reality she had just known. Once again Rose wanted to get a closer look. Once again wanting to know how wet the ground was that buried her husband's body. Once wanted to feel how far her heart had been carried away. Could it die with Theo's wordless departure? Rose should have realized from the beginning. If indeed Theo recovered as she hoped, he wouldn't have taken so long to come and take her home. Rose knew Theo and her husband's desires... what could be said in more detail. Now Rose understood why Xelle had remained silent when she qu
In front of Rose, she was indeed meeting her husband's grave. Rose's eyes scrutinized a piece of land with one tall step. Slowly, she knelt down. Her trembling arms touched the damp part of the earth's crust that buried the body that Rose hadn't even seen for the last time. The particles of soil that she was now holding in her hands felt piercing. Rose didn't know what to do, but she desperately wanted to express her pain. Everything that had been pent up for a month. Rose took a deep breath. Exhaling the air roughly as she found the right words to speak. "How far have you traveled, Theo?" So soulfully Rose's fingers swept over the name engraved there. Rose smiled wryly, completely lacking the quiet passion of her life. "You saw the test pack. You knew I was pregnant, why did you leave? Now what about me, Theo?" Rose chuckled to herself. It wasn't the first time she had been hit by reality. Rose shouldn't be surprised by fate playing tricks on her. "Want to feel the presenc
There was no response whatsoever, other than that handsome face sinking further into the folds of the arms. Rose didn't want to think her husband was exactly like a little boy hiding something from her. Theo was avoiding being stared at, that much was obvious and Rose's suspicion grew more and more certain as she herself struggled to pull Theo up simply to reposition him to face forward. Rose's long breath rushed into the air. For a moment she thought of looking down to whisper something. However, the words she had composed in her mind vanished as soon as she found a box nestled deep under the bed. It was completely familiar to Rose. She reached out to touch the object. It should have been a matter of pulling out when Rose's fingertips reached one of the corners of the square box, but instead Rose's action was restrained by Theo who brushed her off and as if on purpose, one of Theo's pushes made the box jut away from their position. Rose growled in anger—suppressed b
'Miss, Travis says Mr. T has calmed down.' Rose recalled one of Lion's statements that ended up getting her back into the car. They traveled towards Theo's mansion, and along the stretch of rocks they passed Rose's gaze was only drawn to the movement of the trees that seemed to be following her. And just like that, Rose felt that the last conversation with Verasco was still looming in her mind. They were not finished yet, but Rose believed she had given Verasco a small leverage. A stare. The meaning of the tightened jaw. It was all Rose's belief that Verasco would not have given her an option if it was true that the man did not believe. Or actually because such things were still related to her father. For some reason Rose felt foolish in making a choice. It was a moment—a tense moment—she had to give up one, while her heart begged to have both. "You're right. I know Theo too. My husband has his reasons for not coming to you." Rose replied as Verasco's hose shooed
"Mr. Verasco also just arrived." Rose confirmed Lion's mutterings from the side. She stopped the car—turning for a moment to the man who had just stuffed his cell phone into his pants pocket. Rose guessed that Lion was sending a message to his man according to what Rose had said. She quickly got out after Verasco like a king who was greeted with respect. "Wait," Rose hesitated—not knowing what to call it. Rose swallowed harshly as Verasco waited at the end of the steps. Those eyes were sharp as if they wanted to skin her mercilessly. "I don't think I've invited a prostitute into the grounds of my mansion." Such a cynical greeting didn't hurt Rose any more than having to imagine Theo's anger which was probably still very much on fire. "What are you doing here? Changed your mind and want to sell your body?" "I'm no longer interested." The image of Rose's face kept reminding Verasco that the blood running through that body was O'Douglas' bloodlin
It was too painful when the man had left her existence. Going far away. Untouchable. And Rose was sure that the more the sturdy shoulders were built up, the more the recently demolished skeleton would be forced to collapse. Exactly Verasco's statement. Callous phrases spoken in such a cruel way that they had a profound effect on Theo and took away whatever form they took, which was even the same thing—Rose had to watch her husband build a high wall. She hasn't tried to reach it yet, but knows it won't be easy. Rose couldn't drag Theo by the arm like she had in the past and whisper soft words. Inviting her husband into the room, then Theo would say yes. None of that was easy. Not when Rose's decision was too late to make. Theo was already making his way down to the top floor in the left wing. What could Rose do as the door thudded loudly, bouncing off the mansion's skylights. Rose had never even so much as focused her mind on the highest point of the building's structure, which
Underneath the hiding place Rose's heart pounded violently. She couldn't understand how Theo could be so calm, while the man's heartbeat was Rose listening. She was a little jealous of Theo's skill in dealing with a tense situation. Verasco's presence was nerve—wracking when Rose thought she and Theo should be sharing their closeness in the presence of the man who had strictly forbidden their relationship. "What is this asshole doing?" "He's hacking into something?" There was a pause after Verasco's question aired freely. Rose hoped that Lion—who was probably still accompanying the middle-aged man—could give a plausible reason without being dishonest. It was dangerous if Verasco knew the truth about what Theo was doing secretly. "Yes, sir. Mr. T is indeed having a drop." Woe be to Lion. Rose could barely keep herself from swearing harshly. Lion was too... honest. "Hacking what?" "That I don't know, sir. You can probably ask Mr. T directly la
Waking up under the warm, soothing gaze of her husband's eyes seemed to lead Rose astray into the gray beads and thick fur that seduced her defenses. She closed her eyes again and nuzzled the surface of Theo's chest more closely. Inhaling the masculine scent that never faded a bit until the only thing Rose couldn't escape was that intoxicating fragrance. Rose deepened the sweep of her face in search of the most comfortable position, at least until Theo embraced her with his arms, but he did not. Theo gently grasped her dark brown hair, which felt just right as the man's large fingers sank between strands and then rubbed the back of Rose's head lightly. "Still sleepy, Sugar?" Theo's baritone voice was crisp as if the man had been preparing for a long time to ask her just one question. Rose pulled herself up onto Theo's body. Let her husband lower his head slightly, and she would look up to start the conversation. "You've been up since earlier?" That swee
Rose woke up amidst the silence passing through her body. She scanned the perimeter of the living room still sharing the same oxygen and other things that wouldn't change. Including her husband—Theo on the side sitting back with his beady eyes closed so calmly, as if unaffected by the slightest movement from Rose who had just removed the arm band around that solid and firm body. She didn't know the last time Theo had immersed himself in the deep sea between them. Rose only remembers the little part of her that couldn't hold on any longer, then fell asleep clinging to Theo's body. While her husband was busy drumming on the keys of the keyboard, occasionally rubbing the top of Rose's head–offering a nod to the drowsiness and heaviness in her eyes. Rose's gaze shifted momentarily to an object on Theo's lap. It looked like Theo's coding work had been completed. A horizontal green line almost a quarter full filled the empty box lengthwise on the monitor screen. Then Rose as
"You brought Esme out of the cage to meet Mr. Zever, Miss?" Lion's one swift question seemed to intimidate Rose that she had just made a big mistake. While twisting the lid of the jar of snacks that had just been removed from a whole plastic packet, Rose deliberately did not let her gaze linger on Lion for long. Neither did she deny the accusation based on the 'truth'. It was Rose, and she had no intention of simply wishing for time to turn back to fix her empty knowledge. If Rose hadn't brought Esmeralda to the main room and sent Zever into a tizzy. Maybe she wouldn't have been hounded by her own thoughts about Theo waiting in the living room and her accompanying her husband on the hack. Last time Rose had told her everything. All about the problems they had to face together. And just like that—there wasn't much of a response from Rose after she ended her long string of sentences. Theo was silent, but Rose was sure he had processed all the information well.
"Can you, Theo?" repeated Rose. Without specifying an answer she wanted to understand what Theo was thinking. Theo's silence was like ice until the atmosphere in the room changed. "Theo ...." "We can't predict what problems will happen in the future." "Yes, I'll try not to put you in any danger. But I can't promise." "I'm talking about you. Not me." To not put her in danger. Rose didn't think that was what she meant. "I know. I can take good care of myself." "But you didn't even dodge when I shot you." Rose parted the blanket between them. Her gaze fell to where she had fired hot lead at Theo. Already back to full skin, the scars were invisible—perhaps Travis had given them an elixir. Some of the wounds on Theo's body weren't as gruesome, except for the part where the shredded wound merged with a fold of flesh. "I didn't dodge, because I knew you weren't a danger to me." "It just looks that way, doesn't it? In fact, I put m