Carlos stirred awake on the couch, blinking against the soft morning light that filtered through the small window. His body was stiff from the awkward sleeping position, and his side throbbed where the bandages clung to his skin. As he shifted to sit up, he realized Edith was already awake, sitting quietly in an armchair across from him, her hands resting on her lap, her gentle eyes studying him.“Good morning,” she said, her voice soft, almost maternal.Carlos blinked again, his thoughts groggy as he adjusted to the new reality of his surroundings. “Morning…” he muttered, rubbing his face with his hands. The events of the previous night came rushing back to him— the escape from the hospital, the train ride, the blood, and Edith’s unexpected kindness.“How did you sleep?” she asked, her tone genuine, filled with concern.Carlos stretched, wincing as the pain from his wound flared up again. “As well as I could, I guess. Thanks for… everything,” he said, glancing down at the fresh banda
Carlos sat back in the plush, worn armchair in Edith’s cozy living room, the fireplace crackling softly in the background. It had been nearly a week since he’d arrived at Edith’s doorstep, injured and desperate for refuge. Since then, the days had been quiet but comforting. Edith, with her nurturing demeanor and the warmth she offered, had created a safe space for him to heal, both physically and emotionally. Her cat, Molly, often curled up on the couch, her soft purring filling the room like a calming lullaby.Now, Carlos found himself engrossed in conversation with Edith, her lively voice drawing him in as she recounted stories from her past. The air between them was light, comfortable, as if they’d known each other for years rather than days. They’d both been through so much, and this quiet moment of sharing felt like a rare reprieve.“I was a dentist,” Edith said, her voice tinged with nostalgia as she looked down at her hands, her fingers tracing the edge of her teacup. “Well, re
Carlos called out to Edith, his voice low but steady. “It’s okay, Edith.”The words hung in the air, but Carlos could barely hear himself speak. His mind had frozen the moment he heard the name— Olivia.Olivia. A ghost from his past, one he’d tried so hard to pursue, but was impossible, and now crashing back into his life with just a knock on the door.He pressed his back harder against the wall, feeling his heart hammering wildly in his chest. He felt his wound pulse with every beat, his breathing shallow, as memories of Olivia flooded back. Her name had been a sealed chapter— until now. His hands trembled slightly as he wiped the sweat forming on his brow, but the flood of thoughts was relentless.How had she found him? Why now, after all this time? She'd made sure to disappear, to stay off the grid, when he was trying to find her. Even with the help of the US secret service. And after everything that had happened, after all the lives destroyed— his best friend, Trevon… Abby.He cle
Carlos crouched beside Molly, his hand gently stroking the cat’s soft fur as the weight of the moment pressed against his chest. The cat whimpered slightly, sensing the tension, and he let out a soft grunt, as though the simple act of bidding farewell to the cat tore at his insides. Molly’s eyes reflected the warmth and the connection they’d shared in such a brief time, but Carlos knew he had no choice but to leave.“Take care of her, Edith,” he said, his voice thick with sincerity. He rose slowly, turning toward the door. “And thank you. For everything.”Edith watched him, her arms crossed but her gaze soft. “I didn’t do it for you,” she replied flatly, but the underlying kindness in her voice betrayed her. She had risked more than she would ever admit, and Carlos understood that even though she claimed no attachment, there was a bond between them now. She had saved his life, and even though she acted like it didn’t matter, it clearly did. With one final nod, Carlos pushed open the d
Carlos kept his eyes on Olivia, absorbing everything she had just said, the weight of her words sinking in slowly. The revelation that she had saved him from the crash left him speechless for a moment, his mind racing with questions he didn’t know how to articulate. He could still vividly remember that day— his car tumbling, the screeching sound of metal grinding against the asphalt, the fear that had wrapped around him like a shroud before everything went black.And now, Olivia was telling him that she had been the one to pull him out of the wreckage? His thoughts were in disarray, his emotions torn between gratitude and confusion. He stared out of the window as they sped down the road, the New York skyline fading in the distance as they drove farther and farther away."Olivia…" he started, his voice barely above a whisper. He turned to her, watching as she gripped the steering wheel tightly, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. "Why didn’t you say anything? Why didn’t you come to me af
Carlos stared out the window, his thoughts still swirling from the conversation they’d just had. The tension between him and Olivia was thick, the weight of everything that had been left unsaid hanging in the air like a heavy cloud. Outside, the abandoned parking lot stretched out in all directions, desolate and empty, a reflection of the emptiness that seemed to have settled between them. He shifted in his seat, glancing over at Olivia, who had her hands still gripping the steering wheel, her knuckles white. She hadn’t spoken since pulling over, and the silence between them was becoming unbearable.Finally, Carlos broke the silence.“This where we’re staying tonight?” he asked, his voice cutting through the stillness like a sharp knife. His eyes scanned the lot outside again, taking in the overgrown grass, the cracked pavement, the distant silhouette of a rundown building. It looked like a place where no one had set foot in years.Olivia didn’t respond immediately. She exhaled slowl
Carlos shifted in his seat, feeling the tension still lingering between them. He didn’t say anything for a while, just stared out of the window as the trees zipped by in the darkness. His mind was racing, filled with questions he wasn’t sure he wanted the answers to.After what felt like an eternity, he spoke again. “Olivia,” he began, his voice low and hesitant, “what exactly are we running from? Is it just Edgar, or is there more to this than you’re telling me?”Olivia’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, her knuckles going white again. She kept her eyes on the road, her jaw clenched in that same determined set that Carlos had seen earlier. He could tell she was trying to think of the right thing to say, the right way to answer his question without giving too much away.“It’s complicated,” she finally said, her voice quiet but firm.Carlos scoffed, shaking his head in frustration. “Complicated? Everything with you is complicated, Olivia. I need to know what’s going on. I deserve
“Abby, huh?” Olivia’s voice sliced through the heavy silence of the car, startling Carlos slightly. Her eyes were still fixed on the road ahead, but there was a sharp edge to her tone, a curiosity that Carlos hadn’t expected. The quiet hum of the car’s engine and the dark expanse of highway that stretched before them suddenly felt more oppressive.Carlos shifted in his seat, his eyes narrowing. He hadn’t sensed this kind of curiosity Olivia before. Why now? His fingers drummed lightly against the armrest, his mind racing. “What about her?” Carlos asked cautiously, his voice low and guarded.Olivia glanced at him, her expression unreadable. “Tell me about her,” she said softly, turning her attention back to the road. “I want to know what she was like.”Carlos frowned, suspicion flashing in his eyes. “Why do you want to know about Abby?” His voice had a hint of challenge in it, as if daring her to push this conversation further. “Why are you asking about my dead fiancée?”There was a m