Chapter 43
“MOMMY, aren’t you going to sleep?” Sara asked Maria when she sat up.
Maria looked at her daughter, surprised that she was still awake. “I thought you were already sleeping.”
Sara giggled. “It’s a prank, mommy!”
Maria narrowed her eyes to her daughter. “Did your Aunt Wendy let you watch those videos again on social media?”
“Hey, I didn’t,” Wendy peeked in their room. “`Must be Robert. He always lets Sara use his phone whenever he’s here.”
Maria looked at her daughter. “I told you not to watch any videos on social media, right? It might not be suitable for your young age.”
Sara snuggled behind her. “I’m sorry, mommy…” she said and hugged her tightly. “I’ll go to sleep, but promise me that you won’t leave me.”
She caressed her daughter’s hair. “Mommy won’t leave you. I promise.”
After almost an hour of storytelling, Sara fell asleep behind Maria. She watched her daughter’s rhythmic breathing and remembered again what was her heart’s condition. She reached her head and gently brushed her hair.
“Mommy will do anything just to make sure you’re safe…” Maria whispered. “I won’t let anything bad happen to you, I promised.”
Wendy went inside their room. “Is she asleep?”
Maria nodded. “Wendy, can I borrow your phone?”
“Why? Where’s your phone?” she asked, brows furrowed. “Aren’t you going to sleep? You haven’t slept since last night. Aren’t you tired?”
“I’m exhausted,” she said, letting out a sigh. “But I have to make a call. This is important.”
Wendy took out her phone on the drawer beside their bed. “Here.” She handed her the phone. “Don’t make an overseas call, okay? My mobile load is not enough.”
Wendy was talking about the last time that she used her phone to make a call to one of her customers when she found out that PO1 Chris was assassinated. She has to dump her cellphone because she used it as a way of communicating with the officer. Wendy doesn’t know that the call was overseas. That’s why she got shocked when she found out that a five–minute call consumed all her mobile load.
Maria walked outside their room to make a call. She also made sure that there was no one outside within earshot before dialing a number on the phone. After just a few rings, somebody answered.
“I heard the news…” said the male voice from the other line. “What do you want to do?”
“I’ll stick in my plans,” she said in a low voice. “But I need your help.”
The man chuckled. “Anything for you, my dear Magdalene…”
Maria heaved a sigh before she spoke. “I want them out of my way…”
“I’ll take care of them––”
“No,” Maria refused. “I want to be the one to take care of them.”
The man laughed. “That is what I like about you, Magdalene. You’re fearless and independent,” he said. “Then, what kind of help do you want me to give you?”
A smile formed in her lips. “Make a way that will send them right on my feet.”
Maria lowered the phone and was about to go back to their room when she heard gentle knocks on the door. Maria knotted her forehead. Her chest hammered in fear, not for herself but for Sara and Wendy.
But who could that be? Euclid said that their house was being guarded and monitored by undercover teams. Maria looked for something to defend herself and found the baseball bat behind the door that Robert gave them as a defense to intruders.
She ambled towards the door and waited for another knock again, but nothing came. She stopped just behind the door and pressed her ear to it. She can hear the snores and mumblings of a man. She took Wendy’s phone and looked for Connor’s number, but she found Agent Euclid’s name on the list instead.
Maria hesitated to press the call button, but Euclid should be the first to call in this kind of situation. After a few seconds of contemplating, Maria hit the call button.
A faint sound of a ringing phone aired from the outside of the door. Maria’s brows furrowed, it could be––
“It’s me, Euclid…” the man’s hoarse voice aired from the other line. “Please, let me in…”
Maria’s heart jumped at Euclid’s gorgeous voice. She opened the door and found him sitting just beside the door frame.
“What are you doing there?” Maria asked as she contained her heartbeat.
Euclid looked up at him. “I’m waiting for you to open the door for me…” he said and smiled. “I thought you wouldn’t let me in… But, you proved me wrong…”
“Are you drunk?” she asked, even it’s evident in his situation right now. She just wanted to clear the awkward air formed between them. “Come on… it’s getting cold.”
“I’m used to being cold and alone…” Euclid said as he struggled to stand. When he lost his balance, Maria helped him. “Thanks…”
“You stink…” she said and ushered him inside the house. She was about to close the door when Euclid closed it and locked it securely. “You’re still alert––”
“Just my brain muscle,” he said in a husky voice and walked his way towards the couch. He was swaying as he walks, so Maria helped him reach the sofa. “Thank you.”
“Do you want coffee?” Maria asked when Euclid was seated on the couch.
Euclid didn’t answer. His cloudy gaze was focused on her as if it were the first time he saw her, just like how he stared at her before. “I want you, Maria––”
“I’ll make your coffee.” She looked away, but Euclid pulled her hand, making her fall to his arm. As soon as their bodies touched each other, Maria felt as if a flame started between them. She swallowed hard as she tried to avoid his gaze. “Euclid, stop this––”
“Why can’t you just love me again, Maria?” he asked, his voice was hoarse, and his warm breath was fanning on her face. “Why can’t it be me… again?”
Maria pushed his chest and tried to get away from him. “Euclid, please––”
But, the man just pulled her closer and captured her lips. He pressed his lips against hers until she couldn’t fight his strength and let him punish her with his kisses.
***
