Chapter 8

Tasha's been hiding in Massachusetts for over a week. Although her urges to contact Patricia was too strong, she tried so hard not to. For her and the baby's safety. Jericho is taking good care of them. He visits her every night to bring food and whatever she and the baby might need.

"Tasha, can we talk?" Jericho asked in a serious tone.

"Yeah, about what?" Tasha asked curiously.

"Our chief of police talked to me about your connection to Gonzalo." Jericho sighed heavily. He looks like he's arguing against himself. "He wanted to make you our mole."

"Seriously?" Tasha responded. She doesn't sound angry, more like shocked.

"Yeah, I said you can't do it. That it's too dangerous. But uhm, —"

"Hey, it's okay. I get why your boss wanted me to be a spy." Tasha answered while smiling. "I can come back to New York, you know."

"But Gonzalo, he will—he'll kill you." Jericho sounded so afraid to let her leave.

"I don't think so. If he wanted to kill me, I wouldn't here." Tasha started, thinking that Gonzalo had enough time to kill her back then. "I think he was using me to get Rick."

"Are you sure about this?" Jericho looks like he wanted to say 'please say no'. He seems more afraid than Tasha.

"Jer, I'll be fine. Maybe you can teach me how to defend myself?" Tasha asked, sounding excited.

"You really are unbelievable, do you know that?" Jericho said, sounding amused.

"What? Why?" Tasha asked, smiling.

"You're willing to do even the most dangerous things for the people you care about." Jericho states as he looked at Tasha's eyes. "You're such a wonderful person."

"Patricia's my friend. I found her when she had no one else. She's my responsibility." Tasha explained. "I can't let her live her life with that man."

Jericho looked at Tasha more intently. Especially her lips. The longing, care, and affection that Jericho feels for Tasha are written all over his face. "The man who could finally make you fall in love will the luckiest man alive." He said, full of sincerity.

"And what? You're hoping you could be that man?" Tasha responded while laughing. But Jericho remained serious.

"Yes, I do. Until now." Tasha was stunned by his revelation. So she stood up and walked towards the mini-kitchen.

Tasha doesn't want to make him think that something is going between them. But she appreciates the thought that he sees her as more than just a stripper. Tasha knew that Jericho is unlike any other man she's been with. But her heart has long been closed for love. She doesn't need that kind of distraction.

"Jer, you know that I don't do relationships. I—"

"I know, okay?" Jericho cut her off. "I know that, and I don't want to pressure you into something that you don't want. I'm just happy that I'm the one you came to when you needed help."

"Because I know that you're a good person and an even better law enforcer." Tasha smiled at him and gave him a drink. Jericho laughed quietly and took the drink. He was still hoping that Tasha could see him as more than just a friend.

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Gonzalo woke up hearing screams coming from Patricia's room. Thinking that someone might have entered her room, Gonzalo brought his gun and immediately went to check her. But Patricia was actually having a nightmare. She keeps on turning left and right, sweating and crying. He shook his head and put the gun down at the bedside table.

"I'm sorry I can't protect you in your dreams," Gonzalo whispered while slightly tracing every part of her face. "You're the most beautiful woman I have ever laid my eyes on. But I don't wanna be weak. I can't be weak."

When Gonzalo placed his hand on her left cheek, Patricia woke up. She was shocked and confused about her surrounding. But when she saw Gonzalo, for some reason, she felt safe. Patricia hugged him and Gonzalo was dumbfounded. Seconds later, he finally wrapped his arms around her. Making her feel protected from outside harm.

"Go back to sleep now," Gonzalo commanded before getting off the bed. But Patricia holds on to his hand.

"Don't leave me, please. Stay with me." Patricia pleaded as tears ran down her cheeks. "You can't leave me."

"Shhh, I'm not leaving you. Calm down." Gonzalo assured her but she still won't let go.

"No. You can't leave me." Patricia insisted. Gonzalo can see the fear in her eyes and felt responsible so he decided to stay.

"Okay, I won't. Come on, let's get back to sleep." Gonzalo finally agreed and lay next to her.

Patricia lay her head on his shoulder and snuggled her body closer to him. Gonzalo felt unnaturally comfortable with their position so he just hugged her and closed his eyes. A few minutes later, Gonzalo turned to face Patricia, only to realize that their faces were too close.

Gonzalo stared at her eyes searching, trying to understand what it is that she's doing. Then her fingernails traced his abdomen, up to his chest and stopped in his face. Patricia made him stare at her eyes. He was trying to understand the emotions dancing in her sky blue eyes but he can't focus.

"Take me," Patricia whispered while caressing his face. Gonzalo became confused. "Take me," but Patricia repeated her demand.

He was conflicted between respecting her even just for once and giving in to her demand. Patricia's gaze became more intense as Gonzalo lay still, staring at her blue, hypnotizing orbs. Impatient, Patricia initiated a lustful, passionate kiss while placing herself on top of him.

"When I tell you to take me, do it," She said in a harsh whisper before biting his earlobe that sent him to the edge.

Gonzalo switched their positions and wasted no time. He was dominant as always but this time, with passion. Letting his real desire for Patricia to take over. And it was the first time they both satisfied their needs and longing for each other.

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Tasha came back to New York after three weeks of staying in Massachusetts. This is despite Jericho's wish for her to stay instead. He doesn't want to let her come home alone but he can't secure approval from his boss immediately. As she enters the boundary marker of New York, Tasha's heart beats faster.

She chose to come in the middle of the night to avoid the eyes of Gonzalo's men. She doesn't want them spotting her immediately. As she reached her house, Tasha watched the surrounding just like Jericho told her. Trying to spot any unwanted entities lurking around. When she saw no one, She parked her car and went inside the house.

"Thank God, they didn't do anything in my house," Tasha exclaimed when she saw that everything are mostly in place.

"Let's get you to your room, kiddo," Tasha whispered to Tommy.

After placing him in his crib, Tasha began installing CCTV cameras in and out of the house. Jericho taught her how to do it and saved some tutorial videos on her phone. When she finished installing the cameras, she turned on her computer and watched every CCTV feeds. Those feeds are automatically being transferred to Jericho's office computer and his laptop.

Then she took out all of the stuff that Jericho gave her. Untraceable phones, credit cards, microscopic cameras with a recorder. And her very own Glock G42 that Jericho picked for her. It fits perfectly on her hands and is easy to use. She felt like an actual detective and is excited about it.

"I hope Patricia's fine." Tasha prayed for her friend's safety. Three weeks is a long time and a lot of things can happen.

"I want to see her but I have to wait for the perfect time. I can't show up as if nothing happened. No matter how confident I am that Gonzalo never intended to kill me that night, does not mean he won't if I make a mistake." Tasha told herself. Realizing how dangerous Gonzalo could be.

Tasha became alert when she heard a small movement in her backyard. She grabbed her gun and positioned herself by the wall. Then she heard the backdoor opening. As the footsteps approach, Tasha gulped and prepared herself for the possibility of firing her gun.

"Oh my God! What are you doing here!" She whispered angrily when she saw who the intruder is.

"I'm sorry, I just don't want anyone to see me coming here." Jericho apologized while laughing.

"Damn you, Jer! You scared the hell out of me." Tasha slapped his shoulder which made him laugh even more.

"You should have seen yourself," Jericho responded in between his laughter.

"Damn! I almost fainted!" Tasha heaved out a sigh of relief. In truth, she's thankful that Jericho followed her because if the real danger arises, she doesn't know what she's gonna do.

"Do you really think that I'm going to let do this alone, huh?" Jericho replied then winked.

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Gonzalo woke up in the middle of the night. He smiled when he saw Patricia sleeping soundly beside him. Her face is buried on his side and her left hand on his face. It felt good. He never imagined he would feel this way. He closed himself for a long time, trying to avoid any emotional connection to anyone.

But despite his efforts to be mean and harsh towards Patricia, something is happening inside of him that he can't resist. A feeling that is not welcome is trying to surface without him knowing it. Gonzalo decided to leave Patricia and go back to his room.

"You said you wouldn't leave me." But Patricia woke up when she felt his absence.

"Go back to sleep, now." Gonzalo goes back to his distant, domineering self.

"But you promised." Patricia complaints.

"I don't want to sleep here." Gonzalo lied.

"But you already did. Come on, please." Patricia pleaded. "I need you here."

"You can go to sleep without me. I have to get back to my room." Gonzalo started to walk towards the door.

"You can go back to hurting me in the morning. Just please, stay with me tonight." Patricia begged. Gonzalo was nailed on the spot when he heard the desperation in her voice. "Please, Gonzalo. I'm scared."

Gonzalo stayed on the spot, contemplating his actions. He doesn't want Patricia to think that there is something between them. But he remembered her cries and screams earlier. She was scared. Thinking it wouldn't be a big deal if he sleeps in her room for the night, Gonzalo turned around and went back to bed.

"Fine, sleep now." He said in a demanding tone as he goes back to bed. But Patricia has something different in mind.

The moment Gonzalo lay his back on the bed, Patricia placed herself on top of him again.

She started kissing him but this time, in a more commanding and demanding manner. Like she wants to be in control. Patricia kissed him harder as she grinds on top of him. Adding pressure in each move. When Patricia started taking off his clothes, he stopped her. But Patricia won't let him. She placed his hands on her breast making him moan a little.

"Don't leave me," Patricia whispered in his ears. "Don't."

For the second time in just one night, Patricia managed to control Gonzalo. He lay still, letting her do whatever she wants with his body. He let her take control of everything. Something he has never done in his entire life. Every kiss, every touch, sends him into a place he has never been before. Her every moan makes him drown in his own confusion.

Gonzalo tried to get up and take control but Patricia just pushed him back. Biting his lip lightly, sending unknown shivers in every fiber of his body. "Let me," Patricia said, it sounded like a request but in Gonzalo's ear, it was a demand that cannot be denied. So he let her.