Tovar couldn’t help but be momentarily entranced by Callie’s stunning beauty.But the lure of the handsome reward quickly yanked him back to reality.He shot a no-nonsense look at his comrades, ‘Come on, guys. What’s the big deal? With 50 million, we could have a whole lot more beautiful women than her. Stay sharp, team. No messing around.’Callie clutched the dagger, ready to defend herself against these thugs.Just then, a figure charged in, taking down one of the men with a lightning-fast kick.‘What the heck?’ one of the captors blurted out.‘Callie, they won’t get past me,’ the newcomer declared.Callie was stunned by Jamison’s sudden arrival.He had burst in without a second thought, his blood boiling at the sight of Callie’s injury.However, despite his bravery, he wasn’t as skilled as Elias.Jamison had no weapons, unlike the men wielding bayonets and guns.He caught them off guard initially, but when they closed in, he was overwhelmed.A bayonet cut him, and blood flowed.Cal
Without regard for location or timing, Elias enveloped Callie in a tight embrace. ‘You scared me.’Callie, too, was fraught with fear, thinking she might never see Elias again after this ordeal.Now, as she clung to him, her arms wound around his waist. ‘Elias, I... was so scared...’Before Callie had the chance to fully share the relief of their survival with Elias, she suddenly remembered Jamison, who lay on the ground. ‘Jamison!’She pulled away from Elias’s embrace and quickly crouched beside him. ‘Are you alright?’Callie gently prodded Jamison, who had closed his eyes, only to find that he was unconscious.There were not only bayonet lacerations on his body but also injuries from the beating he endured.It was likely that his internal organs were affected.His condition was dire, and only his sheer willpower had kept him conscious until Elias arrived.Now that Elias was on the scene, Jamison couldn’t hold on any longer and lapsed into unconsciousness.Callie retrieved bandages f
Elias’s heart constricted, and he rushed to Callie’s side, gently lifting her face from her hands and pulling her close against his strong, muscular chest. ‘Callie, don’t be afraid. It’s going to be okay.’Her face buried in his chest, Callie wept silently, her tears soaking his clothes.Callie’s silent tears had touched Elias deeply.She had sought solitude, not wanting anyone else to witness her vulnerability.Elias, understanding her need for privacy, whispered, ‘Callie...’She looked up, her eyes filled with distress.She had believed she could withstand the harsh realities of their world, but when danger struck, she had felt powerless.People could be laughing one moment and then crumble before her eyes.As a doctor, she had imagined herself capable, but now she felt ineffectual.Elias took her hand and led her outside the infirmary.The cool breeze gave her a slight chill.With tearful eyes, she confessed, ‘I know why you didn’t want me to come to the border. I understand why yo
Callie’s cheeks flamed even brighter, and she silently wished Elias would wrap up the ointment application.But Elias seemed more intrigued by her bashfulness.Just when Callie thought the ointment was done, he leaned in for an unexpected kiss.It wasn’t an overly passionate kiss; instead, it carried depth and tenderness.Bewildered, Callie murmured, ‘Elias, why the sudden kiss?’Elias remained tight-lipped.‘My face is so swollen. Is this the right time for a kiss?’ Callie gestured to her puffed-up cheek, her concern evident.Elias ruffled her hair and reassured her, ‘You’re not ugly, Callie. If I say you’re not, you’re not. Now, lean on my shoulder and take a breather. We’ve got plenty ahead of us.’‘Alright,’ Callie responded with a coy smile.***Elias remained preoccupied with military duties, while Callie tirelessly worked in the infirmary.Jamison lay in a coma, his injuries severe, leaving Ramiro in charge.Callie, in her relentless commitment to aiding the wounded, barely had
‘Speak! Quit pretending to be pitiful. You, traitor, if not for you, that woman would have been caught long ago, and our boss would still be alive.’ Gunter’s words were filled with raw anger, as though he wanted to tear every strand of hair from her scalp.If not for this woman who had shot down Tovar with a gun, their situation would not have deteriorated to this extent.‘I... I’m not...’ Angelia tried to protest.‘You’re not?’ Gunter slammed Angelia’s head against the car door, his eyes blazing red.Angelia felt a searing pain at the back of her head, tears streaming uncontrollably.She loathed herself, regretting why she had turned to help Jamison.She couldn’t bear to see him, wounded and bloodied, and yet, what about Jamison?He had witnessed her being taken away by these brutes while he was helpless and injured.He had still shielded Callie even in his weakened state, which was the reason she was suffering now.If only she had chosen to escape, perhaps it would be Callie being t
Elias kept the orange-flavoured candy in his mouth, his eyes gleaming playfully as he teased, ‘Still craving it, huh? The sweetness of orange can’t hold a candle to yours.’Callie, unable to resist his allure, pulled a mock frown and quipped back, ‘Yeah, I want it. It’s my candy.’Elias leaned in, his voice husky and seductive, ‘Well, if you still want it...’Their lips met again in a passionate kiss, leaving Callie feeling slightly dizzy.She touched her slightly swollen lips and muttered, ‘You said candy’s for kids. Why are you so keen on it now? I... I don’t feel like talking to you.’Her heart was racing, and she couldn’t bring herself to meet Elias’s intense gaze.She felt a bit out of her depth, faced with his expertise in love and passion.But Elias had no intention of letting her escape.He pressed her against the cold door, his sturdy chest pinning her in place, and Callie found herself caught between the door and Elias.Elias leaned in, their eyes locking, and he confessed w
Wendy, understanding the tense situation they faced, tried to reassure Callie. ‘It’s okay. Nothing is going to happen. We’ve got this.’With Wendy’s comforting words, Callie started to believe that maybe she was just overthinking things.‘Callie, perhaps you’ve been pushing yourself too hard,’ Wendy remarked, examining the wound on her finger. ‘Look at this, it’s a bit deeper than it should be. You’ve been quite careless.’Callie nodded, not taking it too seriously. ‘You might be right. I haven’t had much sleep lately. Most of my time has been spent tending to the wounded, and when I do get a moment to rest, I find myself visiting Jamison.’Wendy voiced her concern. ‘Callie, you need a break. If you wear yourself out, you might end up losing more than you gain. I’ve got the sutures here covered; leave it to me.’Agreeing, Callie left the infirmary, but she didn’t head for the lounge.Instead, she went to the intensive care unit.Jamison had been unconscious for the past few days, stil
Harriet had always excelled on the ground, but her true passion lay in the sky, a love instilled by her parents’ careers in the Air Force.She had progressed from a humble pilot to her current role as the air force commander.‘Yes, Sir!’ Harriet saluted Elias again, her determination shining through.‘Elias, you’ve undergone quite a transformation,’ Harriet remarked, a hint of a smile playing on her lips. ‘You were different in the past.’Elias, intrigued, asked, ‘How so?’Harriet delved into the memories. ‘You might have grounded me in the old days.’Elias contemplated her words. ‘Perhaps I would have.’Harriet continued, ‘You’ve evolved into a more compassionate and considerate leader. Back then, you commanded respect and struck fear into our hearts because of your tough reputation. But now, I believe people are starting to not just respect you but also admire you. You’ve shown us that, as a soldier, you can be human, with genuine emotions and empathy. I guess it took someone like C