Alex's POV

"Where did you guys go?" Lucas inquired as soon as we arrived at the stable. He was brushing the horse, getting  it ready to saddle.

I shifted my gaze to Clara Bell, with a knowing smile, thoughts relieving that sweet moment. And I would trade everything just to have that short moment with her and maybe pause it. I was unconsciously grinning from ear to ear as I remember how she clung onto me, responding hotly to my kisses. His tongue expertly parried with mine. I quickly shook the thoughts off as soon as I felt my crotch starting to feel uncomfortable. Damn!

A felt her elbow connected to my side and my attention drifted to her. She faked me a smile that has a silent meaning "zip it!". I grinned at her. It's still a wonder how her facial expressions changes and yet it warms my heart. I can't wait to have her wholly, to wake up seeing her face first in the morning and before I go to bed at night. And when I come home from work, she's waiting for me with a bright smile on her face, a glowing love on her eyes.

"Dude, your eyes spitting out hearts!" Lucas taunted causing me to frown at him.

He just burst into a laughter that died down quickly. "I just asked what took you so long? You got lost," Lucas grinned then he cocked his head to the side, eyes held mischief.

I shook my head, ignored him as I let my thoughts drifted away...

A silent painful groan escaped my lips as I pulled a little away, all my body still felt tingly, especially my lower region. My crotch had never felt so tight until now, I feel like I'm about to explode. Her sweet scent didn't help at all, it never failed to drive me to no end.

GP, I'm gonna kill you!

"What are you doing here in the pantry?" I asked, rather snapped and reluctantly pulled away. Clara Bell fixed her hair and her riding top. Face flush as she rightened herself.

As I turned to face GP, my hard cock rubbed painfully against the fabric, and isn't the most pleasurable feelings. My face twitched at the unpleasant contact.

GP let out an annoying chuckle. He stepped out from the cabinet holding an opened bottle of what it looks like a nutella and a spoon. He was licking the spoon as he moved to the long island counter, and I could now see him clearly with the help of the hanging chandelier over the marble island counter.

"I got hungry. I didn't eat enough this morning," he shrugged his shoulders as he put down the opened Nutella and spoon next to the bottle.

I shook my head. Not really his fault, I was lost when Bell look at me with with an intense passion on her cerulean eyes matching mine. Shifting my legs, I tried to hide the bulging on my crotch.

"You guys, hungry?" he asked after a short silence. And then he spoke again before I could retort. "Oh yes, you guys had just eaten," he said, though his face held so much mirth, "each others." He muttered softly but too clear in my ears.

I felt Clara Bell's palm connected on my shoulder with a hard slap. When I looked at her, she doesn't look pleased. Embarrassed she tugged on my hand and whispered, "let's go."

I let out a sigh or protest, but she's right. It's like I could continue what we had started with GP in the same room. Just thinking of him watching us made me smirk. On positive note, I don't have to tell him what's between us and Clara Bell. He had witnessed it.

"Sure," I smiled down at her. "We'll leave you then to your Nutella," I said without looking at him. I heard him snorted but before I close the door behind me, I heard him say; "Thanks for the entertainment."

Looking back at Lucas, he was just putting the brush away while Oliver put the thick pad on the horse and made sure it's aligned properly.

Lucas straightened, hands on his waist, eyes directed at me. And he's still waiting for an answer? 

Like these Santorinis were born to annoy everyone around them. I held back the irritation that's growing within me. Showing him I'm annoyed will only make him feel please of himself. I won't give him that satisfaction.

"We just entertained GP for a bit," I answered, shrugging my shoulders feigning nonchalance.

Clara Bell coughed causing me to look at her. She was looking at Lucas before she drifted her sharp eyes at me, eyes silently killing me. I bit the amusement that's threatening to escape. 

Can't get her mad at me. I mouthed "I love you" and she just rolled her eyes not pleased with my affection. But I do?!

Lucas let out a hearty laugh, taking my eyes away from Clara. "Was it successful?" Lips closed but protruded a little bit, eyes squinting or kind of winking, silently taunting but in a very subtle way. Never try to deceive a person that plays the same game.

"I am absolutely entertained!" Behind us, amused GP answered and I heard Clara Bell softly gasped. "What a show!" he added to my chagrin.

I turned my head to look over my shoulder, eyes sharpening. GP was unbuttoning the first two buttons of his white shirt tucked underneath his brown riding trousers. I glared at him as he got closer. And he's joining us horse riding!

"Stop it, guys! If you don't realize, I'm here!" Clara snapped with a no nonsense tone. "And we know, you enjoyed it very much, GP!" she glared at him causing everyone to freeze and just stared at her like they just saw the devil side of her.

Even Oliver was staring at her, with an open mouth, briefly.

"What?" she snapped as she crossed her hand over her chest, shifting her sharp eyes between the three of us. "You  haven't seen a woman who lost her temper before?" she widened her eyes at us.

GP shook his head as he lifted his hands up in silent surrender. I bit my bottom lip, two fingers swipe over my tightly closed lips, a signal I'm zipping my mouth shut. Her face a little flustered, not sure if out of anger or embarrassment.

"Yes, GP and Alex. Shame on you two!" Lucas commented. "Especially you, A—"

"Lucas!" Clara snapped, sharpening her eyes directed at him. I bit the laughter that's threatening to burst. Lucas closed his lips as quickly as he opened it up and nodded his head, agreeing to not saying anything. His eyes though couldn't hide the amusement. He turned to Oliver and handed the heavy brown leather saddle after he put a good solid comfortable thick pad and fixed it making sure the horse is comfortable. He also put a decorative mat on top of it before he threw the saddle gently on top of the pad.

"Are you gonna join us?" Clara Bell asked GP. 

Looking at him with is riding outfit, most likely. He gave Clara a wink causing me to shoot him a deadly glare, then he shifted it back to me with a malicious smile. He was thoroughly amused, and he's successful in irking me if that's is what he was born for. My hand involuntarily shoot out and curled around her slim waist, unconsciously pulling her closer, possessively.

I caught GP's brow raised. "We needed someone that is hundred percent focused, you know?" he quipped then he darted his eyes at me, "right, Alex?" he taunted, his lips curled into what it an annoying grin.

I frowned and before I could retort, he turned on his heel and walked over to his own horse.

Just then I noticed one of their Stallions, Galen was already saddled. (Galen means calm.) He was the calmest among of all their Stallions.

Thunder only wants one rider and that is GP. A few stables away, GP started saddling Thunder.

"Come, Bell. I'll help you mount Galen." Lucas called Clara Bell. He was holding a black helmet. 

NO WAY!

My chest rumbled when I absentmindedly snorted out of protest.

Clara almost bouncing as she moved closer to Galen who was occasionally puffing air out of his nose. Her face showed her excitement. She was grinning from ear to ear.

I followed suit and stopped next to her, actually in between them and Lucas. I could feel Lucas eyes boring into my back, brows high up in the air. 

"I'll help you," I stated flatly, turning my head to warn Lucas to back off, brows indeed raised in wonder. 

"She's my girlfriend," I bit out, and Lucas chuckled. I took the helmet from his hand and he gave it to me without a fight. He was actually grinning like a cheshire cat.

"You're becoming impossible, Alex," Clara Bell rolled her eyes. "I agree!" Lucas chortled as he gave the reins to Clara Bell, then he stepped back, sweeping his hand across, body bended slightly silently sending the message, 'the floor is all yours, your highness.' and walked over to his horse.

Oliver was running his palm across Galen's face, gently stroking it while patiently waiting. I gingerly put the helmet on her head, and buckle it, making sure I won't pinch her chin or neck. Then I held her slim waist and gingerly lifted her up on the horse.

Oliver then turned to face me. "Sir Alex, have you decided which horse you're gonna ride?" he asked. Just then it dawned on me, I don't have a horse ready yet.

When I looked at Clara Bell, her horse is walking along GP with Lucas behind them. Galen was slowly trotting.

"Oliver, saddle Derby," I said without looking at him, eyes trained at the back of my beloved.

Clara Bell slowed down her horse, almost to a stop and seemed that she had sensed him staring at her back, she turned her head to my direction. She waved and I waved back, smiling. She looked like a goddess on top of Galen. I felt so proud. My future wife.

My heart started to cavort again at the sight of her. She looked like a goddess, with her hair shimmering gold under the sun. I am drawn and utterly in love with her. A contented smile carved on my lips. Then all those happiness I felt withered when the current situation crossed my mind. I unconsciously clamped my teeth hard.

As much as I'd like to believe that it's all Claire's doing, something also nagging me that Tabitha and maybe some of the girls are in cahoots to take her down. I'll find out and I'll make sure they will regret it for the rest of their life.

"Ready, Sir." Oliver spoke as he handed me another black helmet. I took as I murmured thank and hastily put it on.  When I looked at the three, they were already heading to the forest.

"Thank you again, Oliver." I muttered, taking the rein and pulled the Derby a meter away from the stable. I quickly mount the horse when I saw the three's back disappearing into the woods.

My lower legs was off Derby's body as I get settled on top of him. I closed my lower legs and Derby started walking, my calf a bit squeezing his body, then he started trotting heading towards the three. Kicking him a bit, he started galloping fast. Good boy, Derby!

The three then disappeared completely out of my sight before I reached the forest. Derby was still at a fast pace, following the trail until we reached the end of the trail and it broke into three routes. Going east, west and north. I pulled the reins forward, and Derby slowed down to a trot. I heard the crackling sounds of woods and leaves under the black stallion's hooves. Then the trail to my left, I caught GP's back.

"Let's go, Derby!" I exclaimed, giving him a gentle kick and he started galloping again, and another kick, he galloped faster.

I saw Thunder was galloping fast too trying to catch on Clara Bell. Her horse is going fast.

My heart raced at a faster speed, increasingly as the the seconds past by as I watched her and her horse almost flying. Her body jump up and down in the same beat as Galen galloped faster than ever.

"SLOW DOWN, CLARA BELL!" GP yelled at her, but I did't think she heard him. Not even a glance back. I'm almost close to GP but Clara Bell's is going faster and faster.

"CLARA BELL!" I roared trying to get her attention. She looked like she's lost. "SLOW DOWN!"

GP's horse picked up speed. We are almost at the same pace. I wonder how Galen became so fast. "How did she get that far from you?" I asked in a loud tone so he could hear me.

GP just gave me a brief glance before staring hard on Galen's dust. "She suddenly took off and told me to have a race. I didn't think she's that serious!" GP responded.

I was staring hard on Clara's back, ignoring the stinging pain the gust of wind slapping against my cheeks as Derby raced with the wind. The trees starting to get thin. We are heading towards the water now. "CLARA BELL!" I roared as loud as my lungs could give. Finally, she looked back and then I saw a deer running towards the horse.

I heard GP's panicking voice as he screamed. "CLARA BELL, WATCH OUT!" And before she saw it, the horse neighed so loud as he reared. Front legs off the ground causing startled Clara to dislodge off his back. Clara Bell screaming so loud as she slid off Galen's back and onto the ground, but she quickly recovered and stumbled but managed to run away from the terrified horse.

My whole body turned rigid as I watched the scene unfolded before my eyes. My horse is getting faster and closer to her yet still feeling so far. My heart constricted as I watched her helplessly.

NO! My mind screamed.

My horse abruptly halted when I was a few meters away and jumped off without a care only to get to her as quickly as I can, dropping the reins in the process. GP arrived almost at the same time. My heart was drumming furiously loud against my ribcage as I ran as fast as my legs could take towards her. I quickly gather her into my arms, and I just realized I was shaking, as well as she. I buried my face in the crook of her neck not caring about the hard helmet grazing against my cheeks. "You scared me to death," I murmured with a quivering tone and out of breath. My heart still beating too fast.

Then I realized she must have hurt somewhere. I quickly pulled away. Holding her on both her upper arms, I asked. "Are you okay? Do you feel pain anywhere?" in a panic-stricken tone, gaze sweeping up and down her body, but she just shook her head. I pulled her back into my arms, releasing that breath I just realized I was holding. My eyes absentmindedly staring at GP as I held her tighter yet tender, like she's going to fade away.

GP finally calmed the horse down after he struggled to take the reins.

"I'm sorry," she rasped. Her voice a little shaky. That fall must have shaken her as it did to me. "I thought I'm gonna die," she said feebly.

"No, I'm sorry we arrived late," I replied. My heart hurt from all these thought running through my head.

Cruel scenes flashed through my head. What if the horse step on her and break her skull, or her bones? What if she fell on a huge boulder which wasn't far from where she landed and smashed her body or head? What if she landed on broken branches of the trees? All these cruel thoughts overwhelmed me and a tear escaped from eyes.

I quickly shook the thoughts off.

"It's okay," I shushed as I held her in my arms protectively. I'm so glad nothing bad happened to her.

"I was so angry I didn't realized Galen is already going faster and faster," she sobbed as she buried her face on my chest. Her shoulder shaking as she cried. And my heart constricted. I swallowed the huge lump that felt like it was stuck at the back of my throat.

My teeth clamped at the thought of these people who hurt her and made her cry. "Everything will be alright, I promise you." I swore. I'm going to let them all pay!

She pulled away and wiped her tears with the back of her hand. She looked up and met my eyes. She swallowed and then spoke in a tone that held so much loath. "I want to fly to LA, I—"

"Are you okay, Clara Bell?" GP interjected and I just realized he was already standing behind Clara Bell.

He was holding Galen's reins with the horse behind him.

Clara Bell turned to face him. "Yes, I am," she replied while nodding her head.

GP's face was filled with worries. "I'm sorry, we were late." GP apologized and Clara Bell just shook her head.

"It's not your fault. I was lost, and not paying attention," she replied, sounding contrite.

GP nodded his head, face marred with empathy. "I understand," he replied. "After what happened, I feel comfortable if you ride with Alex. I'll take Galen back to the stable," he said shifting his eyes between me and Clara Bell. I agreed.

Clara Bell just nodded her head. She didn't put a fight which is a relief.

"Thanks, GP," I said and he just gave me a brief nod and then turned towards the direction of his horse, Thunder where he left him.

Clara Bell turned to face me. "Let's go. I want to talk to dad. I want to settle this score with Claire. I'm going to see her and be done with it!" she declared, her face hardened as the words rolled out of her mouth.

I don't know if that's a good idea. But right now, she's angry and she just fell off a horse, Im not gonna battle with words against her. To face them, she'll just gonna give them more chances to dig her deeper into a hole when she turned her head away. Right now, I know that those bitches had realized how severe what they'd done to her. And I am pretty sure, they are not sleeping trying to come up with anything that will get them away with this crime. And who knows what those bitches can do? They will resort to desperate measures. When you're angry and desperate, they are willing to kill.

I didn't agree nor disagree as I led her to my horse. I was relieved that Derby didn't take off after I didn't bother trying his rein to a tree nearby. He was busy grazing the sparse grass, contentedly that's around him, under the thick tall trees.

The ride was quiet, and I am still reeling on her words about leaving to LA. I just hope uncle Rafael won't agree to it.

As soon as she was off the horse, she headed back to the Santorini's mansion. I saw Lucas' horse already back in its stable. Oliver was feeding Thunder.

"I'll take care of Derby, Sir," Oliver said and headed towards me. Holding Derby's reins as I pulled him gently and closer to Oliver. He took the reins and I unhook my helmet and pulled it off my head, then handed it to him too,

"Thank you," I muttered and then left immediately.

When I got to the Santorini's huge backyard, I heard loud noises, laughters and cackles coming from the loggia that's facing their huge pools and gardens.

I walked closer and my eyes swept across the room, hoping to see her but I met with my dad's eyes. I just realized, all his friends are present. As well as Uncle Gio's friends.

It was like a reunion.

They are all gathered around their huge round table. Dad was in between Uncle Rafael and Uncle Gio. Not even Lucas or GP was around. I felt disappointed.

"Hey, Alex!" Uncle Nicolas saw me first and got up and walked over to me. He gave me a hug and the others follows. I was still lost. Looks like a celebration. What's to celebrate?

All of a sudden, Uncle Sai's voice dominated the noise.

"Is that Audi's knickers, Vito?"

All eyes darted to Uncle Vito's behind. He was about to pick up his phone.

Uncle Tristan was talking to him. He was standing next to him, while uncle Vito's behind trusted up, upper body bended down as he picked up his phone he must have dropped on the tiled floor.

And true, the waistband of what it looked like his wife's knicker was peeking through his blue jeans. 

He didn't look embarrassed at all as he straightened himself and pulled his pants up, pulling his shirt down after.

Loud, boisterous laughters filled the air, and I couldn't hold my laughter too and joined them.

"She's my wife," he shrugged, grinning from ear to ear. "Nothing to be embarrassed about," he boasted even, earning him scoffs and shaking of heads.

"Been there, done that!" Uncle Gio agreed.

"Not surprising!" Uncle Sai retorted. A fresh waves of boisterous laughters filled the late afternoon's air.

I shook my head and quietly left the oldies and went inside the mansion, looking for Clara Bell.

My phone rang as soon as I turned towards the living room.

It was Langdon. "Any news?" I asked as soon as the call connected.

I unconsciously stopped on my track. All my attention focused on the other line.

"I found something, Sir," he started causing me to bristle up. I held my breath as I waited for him to continue.

"Ms. Tammy or Tamera Dominguez was actually at the set but she wasn't on the list. She's Ms. Valiente's make-up artist. The only one that can get closer to her other than Ms. Preira.  And I found some interesting information that link to Mr. Rafael Valiente, Sir. A great reason to harm Ms. Valiente."

.......

I'm half asleep while trying to wrap this chapter up. Hope it makes sense. Lol. Happy reading!