Reminder; You’re mine!

ARLO'S POV

All night, I struggled to hold myself together, pacing restlessly, sitting and unsitting.

Sending Lori to that party was like sending her into a den of dogs and wild predators.

For each passing moment, my fear deepened. What if I lose her again?

What if she never comes back?

"I put the tracker on her for a reason," Willis

said as if he could read my thoughts.

"But..." He added, "I am about to say something that may upset you."

"Then don't say it," I snapped. I was already in torture, anything else would ruin me.

But I knew Willis, he would say it anyway.

"She is not Lori."

Willis's words silenced every voice and thoughts in my mind and all I could hear was "Not Lori,"

As the words sank, rage built up inside me.

“You were right, I am upset." I growled, storming away.

Furious, and disoriented, I pulled out my phone and dialed her number. I didn't care if she was successful or not, I was going to get her from that party.

Seeing her at the exit of Sheraton Hotels, Willis's words replayed in my mind.

"She is not Lori"

"Damn you, Willis," I muttered angrily.

The moment our eyes met, my pent-up anger and fears all dissipated like it was nothing.

I wanted to ask how the night went, and what information she extracted but I remained quiet, afraid that if I said anything, I would confess that I'm relieved to see her.

"Am I really free now?" Her voice broke the

silence in the air.

My grip on the steering wheel tightened. And all the anger and frustration rushed back in.

"Your find will determine that," I said rather coldly, clicking on the dial button.

Willis’s voice came on and before he could say anything, I stopped him. "She's back, alive, and well."

"Lori? Are you really alive?" Willis ecstatic voice tightened my heart.

"Yes, I am, and I've got some juicy news for you."

As the call went dead, Lori's giggle echoed in the car like an angelic melody.

I couldn't help but steal a glance at her. She seemed cheerful, like she had fun.

Finally, we arrived my mansion, the guys were already gathered in the large meeting room, their faces bore their curiosity, as they eagerly waited for whatever she was able to gather.

They were champagne and whiskey as per our tradition after every successful case. I just didn't realize the guys were going to do it on her account as well.

As soon as we settled at the table, Lori pulled out the hair clip at the back of her head, and her strawberry blonde hair fell covering a better half of her back.

Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she clicked on it. An old groggy voice began to play.

"The government must know that not every foreigner should be allowed into our country. As an ambassador of this country to the outside world, I have to protect it, so I ordered a small unit of soldiers that work for me to dispose of some foreigners at border...”

Before the voice recorder finished, Willis popped a bottle of champagne and filled her glass.

"Champagne?" She squealed, "I didn't do much, really,"

"Don't sell yourself short, you didn’t just get us evidence, you gave us the man who called the execution.” Willis said, and again, that unfamiliar feeling stabbed me in the chest.

The second, and the third bottle of champagne was opened, the first pour went in Lori's glass first. She got along with the boys quite well, laughing and chattering about.

If this was some elaborate ruse, she was playing it to perfection. The woman before me looked like Lori but her words, her demeanour- it was like she was someone else entirely.

I glanced at the time and realized it was almost morning.

"That’s enough you guys, everyone back to your quarters.

Me and the young lady have some things to discuss."

Willis gave me a sharp look but smiled understandably.

"We have an early morning to the government house boys, it's better to get

some sleep."

"Again, good work, Lori." Willis said.

She nodded with a smile.

We sat in silence, with unspoken words filling the room.

"You seemed to have a lot to talk about with

Willis." I jeered.

"It was exciting," she spoke finally, her voice

slurry from the alcohol. "I was nervous at first but, when I finally cracked the info from that old man, the thrill was indescribable. I never thought I could do something like this."

My heart tightened with anger, "Lori, you've played spy for me on several occasions. When will you really stop this charade? It is..."

"I'm really not Lori," she interjected. "I really, truly, honestly, have not met you in my entire life, and if I have, then I must have lost my memories..."

"I will remind you," I growled as I jumped to my feet and yanked her out of the seat.

"This should remind you," I whispered, pressing my lips to hers.