Olivia leaned in once more, her lips brushing softly against Carlos's. This time the kiss was different— longer, deeper, and filled with a passion that left Carlos's heart racing. He felt the warmth of her breath, the softness of her lips, and the intoxicating closeness of her body. Every second stretched into eternity as they shared this intimate moment, the world around them fading into oblivion.
Carlos, completely captivated and aroused, felt a surge of emotion and desire. When he finally managed to pull away, his breath heavy and his voice low, he asked, "What was that for?"
Olivia's eyes met his, with an innocent yet sexually appealing smile on her face, as she gently caressed her fingers through his hair, "It's a token of my appreciation for everything you're doing for me."
Carlos, his voice deep and alluring, couldn't help but express his desire, "What you did there with your tongue, while kissing, if you do it again, I can't promise not to bend you over." Olivia burst into laughter, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Hmm, you liked it? I could tell it took every ounce of willpower for you not to tear my clothes apart." Carlos, with a devilish grin on his face, replied, "It sure did." But then, a subtle sound of discomfort escaped him. Noticing the sound, Olivia became concerned. "Let me see it," she said, gently removing the bandage to check his wound. "I need to redress this." Carlos, trying to downplay his pain, insisted, "It's fine, I'm okay. You don't have to bother yourself with this right now." But Olivia, knowing Carlos too well, didn't even bother to listen. She immediately got up from the bed and retrieved the bottle of alcohol and the unused bandages she had left on the table the day before. "That doesn't look fine," she said, determined to take care of his wound. Olivia's touch was a blend of tenderness and assurance as she tended to Carlos's wound, the alcohol - infused cloth gliding smoothly over his skin. The room was bathed in a soft, dim light, casting gentle shadows that danced across Olivia's face, accentuating her determined expression. Despite her careful movements, Carlos winced, a silent sign of the pain that still lingered. As Olivia worked, Carlos found himself captivated by her. Her unwavering resolve, her innate kindness, and her undeniable beauty stirred something within him. He reached out, his fingers intertwining with hers, and whispered, "Thank you, Olivia. You're too kind." Olivia looked up, her eyes meeting his. There was a depth of emotion in her gaze, a silent understanding between them. "You don't have to thank me, Carlos," she murmured softly. "I'm just doing what anyone would do." But to Carlos, her actions spoke volumes. They spoke of trust, of a burgeoning connection that transcended mere words. He squeezed her hand gently, a silent expression of gratitude and admiration. After she finished tending to his wound, Olivia sat back, their hands still entwined. They sat in a comfortable silence, the only sound being the rhythmic breathing of each other. Carlos finally broke the silence, his voice barely audible, "Olivia, I... I...." Before he could finish, Olivia gently placed a finger on his lips, silencing him. "Shhh...," she whispered, her smile warm and reassuring. "Rest now, Carlos. You can tell me whatever you want to tell me tomorrow. Right now, your priority is to heal." Carlos nodded in agreement, his pain evident to Olivia as he settled back down. She then reassured him, saying, "I'll go out first thing after daybreak to get you some medication and painkillers to help with the pain." Gratefully, Carlos whispered a "thank you" as Olivia settled back into bed beside him. And after a few hours, Olivia emerged from the depths of sleep, finding herself next to Carlos, who was still asleep. She then reached for her phone and was stunned by how late it was. "Fu*k, it's almost 12 PM." Careful not to disturb Carlos, Olivia slipped out of bed and undressed, standing before the old standing mirror in their motel room. Naked, she assessed her body, her hands instinctively going to her breasts as she caressed her fingers against her nipples, a routine she followed each morning to check for any changes. Satisfied that everything was as it should be, she sighed, "We're good." She then made her way to the bathroom, her orange towel wrapped around her, and hung it on the bathroom rack. Trying to adjust the shower to her preferred temperature, she tested the water with her hands as it cascaded down. After several attempts to get the temperature right, she gave up with a frustrated hiss. "Mtcheeeeew, I thought the motel reception said the showers were in good condition." As cold water of the shower poured over her head, she massaged her hair with shampoo. Suddenly, she heard her phone ringing. She opened her eyes to check if the phone was nearby, but the foamy soap running down from her head to her face caused her to quickly shut her eyes due to the stinging sensation. After a few minutes, she emerged from the bathroom and headed straight to her phone to check the caller. Seeing the caller, she muttered to herself, appearing troubled by the call. After drying off and applying her usual lotions, she dressed and then applied her cosmetics. With a pen in her hand, she wrote a note for Carlos. She then called the motel receptionist to order food for herself and Carlos. Once she finished her meal, she placed the note she had written on Carlos's food and left for the closest pharmacy, making sure the face cap she wore covered her face. Immediately after she left, Carlos woke up to the sound of running water, realizing Olivia must have already been up and about. He got out of bed, feeling a bit more rested. With a stretch and a yawn, he made his way to the restroom, relieving himself and washing his face. As he finished up in the restroom, he called out for Olivia, but there was no response. Following the aroma of food, he found the meal she had left for him, along with a note. Smiling at her thoughtful gesture, he read the note: "Morning handsome, I left for the pharmacy to get you the drugs you needed, and also some things for myself. Enjoy the food." The note ended with a big heart sign drawn by Olivia. As Carlos sat down to eat and waited for Olivia's return, he felt grateful for her care, savoring each bite of his meal. After finishing, he tidied up the room and resumed his search for the people who were after them. Focused on his laptop screen, he was startled by a knock on the motel room door. "Who's there?" Carlos called out, but received no response. He then returned to his task. However, another knock followed. This time, Carlos replied, "I didn't order any room service." Suddenly, the motel room door burst open, causing Carlos to jump in alarm. Two masked, armed men stood in the doorway, their guns pointed at him. One of the masked men shouted, "Don't be stupid!" as Carlos reached for his phone. Before he could react, the second armed man lunged at him, delivering a heavy blow to his head, knocking him unconscious.When Carlos regained consciousness, he was disoriented, trapped in a cramped, dark space barely large enough to fit his frame. With his hands tied behind his back and his legs bound, he struggled futilely to free himself. The gag in his mouth stifled his screams for help, which faded into exhausted whimpers over time. He could feel the motion of the vehicle, deducing he was likely in the trunk of a moving car. After what felt like an eternity, the motion ceased and the confined space was abruptly exposed to light as the trunk lid was flung open. Standing above him were the two masked men, looming large and intimidating. Before Carlos could take in his surroundings, one of them quickly covered his face with a sack, obscuring his vision and deepening his sense of vulnerability. The men hoisted him up efficiently, one gripping under his armpits and the other by his legs, and carried him into a building. The echo of their footsteps suggested a large, empty space — likely a warehouse. T
"Okay, sir," the response came promptly. With that, the distinct sound of Edgar's polished shoes resumed, this time moving away from Carlos. The masked men quickly approached Carlos, setting to work with efficiency. They cleaned him up using damp cloths and provided him with fresh clothes, removing the vestiges of his earlier distress. As the men worked, Carlos's mind raced with both fear and a flicker of hope. He was in a dire situation, but Edgar's insistence on cleanliness and order suggested a level of professionalism that might mean they weren’t intent on harming him. Once the task was complete, one of the men stepped away to inform Edgar that Carlos was now cleaned up. The lights remained intensely bright, but Carlos had adjusted slightly, allowing him to make out more of his surroundings. The warehouse was expansive, filled with stacked crates and industrial equipment, shadows looming in the corners. Soon, the distinctive sound of Edgar's footsteps approached once more. Edg
Carlos's heart sank as Edgar's words washed over him, each syllable chilling him to the bone. The air in the room seemed to grow colder, and the comforting warmth from the blanket could no longer stave off the deep, creeping dread that filled his body. His fingers instinctively curled into his palms as he imagined the gruesome threat becoming reality. "Please, Edgar, you don't have to do this," Carlos pleaded, his voice quivering. "There has to be another way. I can try to contact her, maybe she'll respond if she knows I'm in danger." Edgar regarded Carlos with a steady, unyielding gaze. "We've tried the easy ways, and time is a luxury we can no longer afford," he replied, his tone resolute yet tinged with a hint of regret. "This is not just about you or her — it's about a debt that must be paid. Unfortunately for you, you are caught in the middle." Carlos's mind raced for solutions, desperate to avoid the gruesome fate Edgar had laid out. "Let me try to reach out to her. Give me a
SEVERAL HOURS AGO. OLIVIA'S POV The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden glow over the motel parking lot as Olivia stepped out of her room. She had a purpose in her step, a determination in her eyes as she made her way through the motel hallway to the receptionist's desk. The receptionist, a middle - aged woman with kind eyes and a friendly smile, looked up as Olivia approached. "Hi," Olivia greeted her, returning the smile. "I was wondering if you could point me to the nearest pharmacy? I need to pick up a few things." The receptionist nodded, her smile widening. "Of course, ma'am. Once you're outside, follow the road to your left. Keep walking until you get to the first bus stop. It's not too far from here. Cross to the other side of the road, then continue down the street. You'll see a big store, can't miss it. That's ADANN's store. They should have what you're looking for." "Thank you so much," Olivia replied, gratitude evident in her voice. She appreciated the detai
"What are you doing here?" the voice was tinged with disbelief, framing the doorway with cautious curiosity. Olivia, undeterred by the skepticism, flashed a warm smile. "Hey, Jon, how are you doing?" Her greeting hung in the air, met only by Jon's unwavering stare. Sensing the tension, Olivia tried to lighten the mood. "At least invite me in first. Are you not happy to see me?" Jon's face twisted into a scowl. "And why would I do that? You show up out of nowhere, and now you want to waltz in like nothing happened?" Olivia, knowing Jon had every right to be upset, continued, her voice tinged with desperation. "I'm sorry, but please, I need your help." Jon, surprised by her bold move despite their past differences, replied, "And why in the seven hells would I help you?" With a deep sigh, Olivia continued, knowing she had nowhere else to turn. "I know we've had our differences over the years, but please, you know I wouldn't even come to you if it's not a matter of..." She paused, th
As they walked through the front door into the living room, Olivia couldn't help but admire the family pictures adorning the walls. Stopping at one that featured Jon's wife and their daughter, she couldn't resist the temptation to touch its frame. "I take it this is your daughter?" she inquired softly. Jon, leading the way, nodded affirmatively. "Yes." "What's her name?" Olivia asked, her voice filled with genuine curiosity. Jon's smile widened with pride. "Kourtney. Named after her grandmother." "What a beautiful name," Olivia remarked, her fingers lingering on the picture's glass. "She's pretty, just like her mom. And her eyes... she has her mother's eyes," she added, referring to Jon's wife's eyes. Jon nodded in agreement. "Yes, she does. She's a carbon copy of Hannah through and through." As they settled into the living room, Olivia took a seat on the couch. Jon, standing in front of her, asked, "Would you like to have anything?" "I'm fine," Olivia replied. Jon went to the
Hidden in the woods, Olivia watched as Carlos was pulled out of the old, decrepit warehouse. The sounds of frogs and crickets filled the air, and the first light of morning began to pierce through the darkness. Tears streamed down her face; her mission was accomplished. Although every atom in her body wanted to rush to Carlos as he was loaded into the ambulance and tell him how sorry she was for all he had suffered because of her, she restrained herself and quietly left the premises. 'THREE WEEKS LATER' In the late hours of the day, Carlos sat on his couch in his Manhattan residence, his phone in his hands. Pictures moved on the large flat TV in the background as he scrolled through several unanswered messages he had sent to Olivia over the past weeks, trying to reach her to know if she was safe. Her safety was paramount to Carlos, and he felt responsible for Olivia. As he contemplated, he muttered to himself, "Something is definitely wrong. Why is she not responding to any of my
As Carlos and his friends stepped into the restaurant, they were enveloped in a completely different atmosphere, like stepping into a new world. The scent of tantalizing Italian dishes filled the air, enticing their senses. Finding empty seats in a corner, they quickly settled in. A waitress approached their table, menu in hand, and greeted them warmly. "Welcome to R&S, my beautiful people. What will you be having today?" Toby, taken aback by her beauty, looked up and jokingly asked, "Do you come with the menu? Because I'll have you all day, all night." The waitress, smiling, flashed the ring on her finger and replied, "Sorry, I'm afraid not." Toby, disappointed but amused, responded, "That must be one lucky man." The waitress nodded in agreement, "Yes, he is." Witnessing the exchange, Carlos picked up the menu and politely interjected, "Give us a minute to go through the list. We'll let you know when we're ready to place our order. Thank you." "Of course, sir," the waitr