LOGINThe drive was long. Kyla fell asleep in his arms.When she woke again, she realized the car had already stopped. She searched Carlos’s face and found him watching her.“How was your sleep?” he asked softly.“Nice,” she said. “Why didn’t you wake me?”“Didn’t want to interrupt your beauty sleep.”“Or you like to watch me sleep. How do you enjoy that, though? I look weird and, as you said, I snore sometimes.”“You believed that?”Kyla’s eyes went wide. “I knew it. I knew you were teasing me.”“Shit. Now I’ll have to find another thing to tease you about. For the snoring part, you do that once in a blue moon when you are tired down to the marrow of your bones and end up sleeping in a weird position.”She snickered. “Maybe. I like watching you sleep, too. You’re less bossy.”“You don’t like me being bossy?” His eyes darkened slightly.“Who said I don’t?” she smirked and leaned to bite his ear.They stepped out, and Kyla froze when she saw a helicopter waiting for them. They got in, and Ca
Carlos forgot to breathe. The world narrowed to her face, to the small smile on her lips, to the way her fingers were still tangled in his hair. “Kyla,” he called as he straightened and cupped her cheek. “Hey. Remember me?” She nodded. “Of course. I remember you, Mr. Redd.” Relief washed over him.“That’s my girl.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Welcome back. You did well.” She sniffled, caressing his hands. “How long was I unconscious?” “Two months.” Guilt flashed in her eyes, then happiness. “I heard you every day. This memory of you. It wasn’t mine. I fought it and…” “It’s okay.” Carlos kissed her cheek. “Thank you for coming back.” “And thank you for waiting.” “Always, Wildling. I’m never leaving.” She swallowed, as if wanting to say more. He knew that look, the kind that was afraid to let him leave again. “I love you,” he said without hesitation. Kyla released a breath as if she had been holding it in. Tears dropped from her eyes. “You don’t know how long I’ve w
"You were a good actor back there," John said to Carlos as they drove back to the hospital."Not as good as you, though. For a moment, I thought you were going to put a bullet between my eyes," Carlos muttered, hands tight on the steering wheel."Good thing we talked about it before coming here," John said."Hm. Figured she’d use that against you," he glance briefly at John. "We cool?""Yeah, of course" John didn't hesitate to answer.The car fell quiet, saved from the hum of the engine and sounds of other vehicles."We let out more than what we planned back there," John muttered, and Carlos immediately glanced at him."You know I don't mean shit about how I feel about you, right?""Yeah, yeah. I don't mean mine either," he said. "What about what you said you feel towards my daughter? Was that a lie too?"Carlos exhaled a shaky breath.Before he could speak again, Carlos received a call from Vee, which he picked up immediately.Vee's voice was shaky on the other end. "Where are you gu
Gasps and screams erupted around the restaurant. Mothers shielded their children. Couples clung to each other. When someone reached for their phone, Cordelia’s guard raised his gun in warning.Meanwhile, laughter escaped Carlos’s lips as blood stained them.“So this is how you repay me, John? I’ve fought beside you, side by side,” he sniffled. “I won wars for you, even saved your life.”“Yet you disgust me,” John muttered. “You’re never going to be okay, Carlos. You are sick, and you need help. I thought you were getting better,” he shook his head gently. “But now I know the truth. The monster Fred created in you still lives. I coaxed it out for a little while, and that time is exhausted. It is back, staring at me without remorse for ruining my daughter’s life!”Carlos snickered, his hand clutching the bleeding part of his chest. He stared at John with heavy emotions swirling in his eyes.“Is that what you’ve always seen me as?” Carlos’s voice cracked. “A monster? I thought you saw me
John blinked, looking confused.“Let me help you.” Cordelia leaned forward. “Your friend was supposed to be her protector, her handler. Not crawl into bed with her and brand her as his. He took her to the very same club, into the very same lifestyle you were against. Carlos has always had something with crossing the lines, hasn’t he?”John swallowed the excess saliva in his throat. His face paled as sheet. "What?"Cordelia looked satisfied by John's expression to the news. “He set rules, treated her like a desire, and when your daughter wanted something real, he left. And that led to her taken.”“Is that true?” His question wasn't directed at Cordelia. It was to Carlos, who was listening on the other side. “Was everything she said true, or is she just simply drunk?”Carlos sighed low on the other side. The silence that followed was heavy. Then finally...“It's true, John. I'm sorry…”“Fuck,” John muttered, his eyes shutting momentarily as if taking in the news. “Fuck, Carlos. Fuck.”
Carlos froze, his hand still clutching the doctor's neck tightly. His chest heaved as if every breath had been knocked out of his system.Kyla will die?“How do we stop it?” John asked, his voice cracking from behind.“Only Cordelia has the solution. She'd prepared it in case things go wrong. She is probably still with it,” the doctor cried. “Please spare my life. I'm just another hostage to Cordelia. I have a family I haven't seen in five years… I beg you.”Carlos released the doctor, letting the man crumple to the ground, and immediately rushed to Kyla.He held and kissed the back of her hand.“Hey, Wildling,” he said, swallowing as his lips trembled. “If you can hear me, I want you to stop fighting it. Or you're going to kill yourself.”Kyla’s head moved, her body shivering.“Wildling, please. I can't lose you,” he said.“She can't hear, sire,” the doctor said, and Carlos slowly glanced over his shoulder, his expression tight with anger.“She probably also doesn't know that fightin
Roaring engines echoed through the desert, dust gushing at the harsh wind like an explosion had just occured.John and the others inside the van bounced as the military van galloped. The chair squeaked, and a gunshot blast through the air as Alex and Raymond shot at the cars chasing them.For the p
KYLA For a heartbeat, her mind went blank. No sound. No word. Only the repeating echo of “dead” in her head. “What did you just say?” Her voice trembled. “He is gone, Kyla,” Josie said, trying to keep her voice calm. “They found him this morning in his cell.” “Cell?” Kyla frowned. "When did
CARLOS.It was morning, and the first thing that greeted Carlos was the sweet scent of meat, something buttery, and faintly spicy. With half-opened eyes, he entered the kitchen."Look who is awake. Good morning, sleepyhead." Kyla greeted in apron focused on cooking.Carlos had came to a conclusion
Carlos’s eyes fluttered open in the room, the light so bright he squinted to adjust.Panic and confusion shot through him. Taking in the surroundings, he realized he was in a hospital and wearing a hospital gown.Luckily his glasses were nearby. He put them on and pushed them up the bridge of his n







