A couple of days later, Denim succeeded in finding an apartment in Los Olivos where they stayed.

“Follow him!” They shot into the air, but Denim dodged and fled into the bush. His feet struggled with the heap of dark clay soil as he pushed through, along with Rose by his side. Running through the thick forest, Lorenzo followed them. Canopy of trees ran through him and he breathed. Denim jumped and fled while Rose followed suit. Running deeper into the dark forest. Lorenzo vividly shot at them, but they didn’t stop.

The cold air but into Rose’s lungs as she stormed into the direction and darted past the bushes and shrubs. Gut-wrenching, heart pumping, after several thrust forward, her legs became tired.

At this great speed, Denim could barely see a few feet ahead of him. It was just dark trees in the wild forest. Then he paused. His eyes pointed backwards towards Rose. She could hardly catch her breath. She fell and stood up briefly, hurrying towards him. The ground was a rocky and luckily she was on her flat. Denim knew that she was pregnant. This might be dangerous for her and her baby.

“What the heck?” Rose placed a hand on her head, the other at her back. “Who on earth are those?”

“They’re Jack’s men. They want revenge.” Denim snapped, puzzled at the situation. He never knew Jack would go this far as tracking him down into Los Olivos.

“Why would he even-”

'Kpooooh!' Fireworks of silver bullets shot at them but Denim was fast enough to pull Rose to the ground. They hid by a standing rock and continued to run.

Grunts of efforts escaped the both of them as they hid behind a tree. Lorenzo’s eyes scrolled through the balcony of trees. A gunshot wheezed at Denim but he was quick enough to escape it.

Then everything went quiet. There were five of them chasing after them. Tall built men in black lathered jackets. One had dark shades on and he was locking on a stick-sweet.

“Hey, Denim! Long time no see!” Lorenzo, the gang working under Jack Ryder. He stood at the middle while the rest searched the site with steady eagle eyes.

“What do you want?” Denim broke the silence.

“Jack already knows...we could end it here. It’s either you choose her or choose us!”

Denim stepped away from the tree, out of his heading place with both hands raised in the air.

“Rose!” He called facing her, and she held unto her breath. “Come out.”

The fear in her eyes were a fluid in a container. Her chest contrasted with the startled look on his face. As if he'd suddenly given up on them. On the plan to escape together.

“W.. What?” She stammered as she walked away from the tree. Her eyes blinked in disbelief.

“You heard me, come here!” He ordered, and she walked towards him, face to face.

“I would end it here with you, Rose. You’ve made me leave everything behind and I know, I’d have to face Jack somehow.” he shrugged.

“What? What are you saying?” tears feathered in her eyes as her voice cracked the words. She couldn’t believe he just said that to her. “Let’s run together, Denim! We are in this together, right?”

She suddenly became the scared rabbit in a wolf's den. Rose held him tight as more tears clouded her eyes. “Don’t leave me alone, Denim. I’m carrying your child!-” He pushed her away from him and her body rolled on the floor like a piece of trash.

“Uh!” she pulled up in pains.

It took her an effort to stand on her feet. Hurtful tears rolled down her sapphire blue eyes as she searched his. Slowly. Then he gazed at wanders, without uttering a word.

In a blink of an eye, Denim brought out his gun from the back of his pocket. The nose of it pointed to her direction and a bullet of panic filled her throat.

Rose looked away, scared. She’d never seen a real gun before except now. Her stomach flipped, paralyzed by fear. She knew how much he’s hurt right now and he might just pull the trigger. Her hand covered her face as she got dreads from watching him point the gun at her.

Feeling Denim’s gaze on her. An intense sigh escaped Rose’s lips as she gazed downwards. “Ah!” she exclaimed, placing a hand on her head in confusion. “Please, don’t. Don’t do it, Denim! If you kill me, you kill two souls. You kill our child.”

“I don’t care, Rose!” Denim snapped at her.

Her heart gave a lurch, and she choked with horror. Frozen in the silence.

Others smirked at his attitude, waiting for him to pull the trigger already. Rose grasped her chest, feeling the loud thuds of her racing heart. The poor thing. It must have shattered a thousand times already. Rose just shut her eyes tight. A drop of warm sweat finds its way from her back to between her shaky legs while reciting her last prayers.

It might be her last.

Pissed, Denim clenched his jaws in a malignant scowl and pulled the trigger.

Suddenly, it started raining bullets at the gang. He shot at the five of them, grabbed Rose hand and continued the run. Scared to death and frozen to the bones, she fell to the ground, unable to run.

Still shocked at why he shot five people instead of her. She shot her bulgy eyes at him and more tears welled out if it.

“Why, Denim? Why did you do that?”

“I choose you, Rose. I choose you.”

Rose closed her eyes, allowing the painful tears roll down freely.

Having caught her off guard, Denim wrapped her in his arms and gave her a long kiss on the mouth. She was too stunned to react in the time to stop him. Her eyes closed, and she deepened the kiss. Then he gently broke out of it.

“Come on, Rose. We don’t have time-”

'Kpooooh!'

Before Denim could turn back, Lorenzo whom was still alive shot her by the leg but Denim was fast enough to shoot him back. He died at the spot while Denim held unto Rose.

He grabbed her in a bridal style as they find their way out of the forest. Leaving Los Olivos for Arcata.

9 Months later. Denim was restless, waiting at the reception for the doctor’s words. His head hung low with trembling lips. An elderly woman with Grey perm hair in lab coat walked out of Rose’s ward. With quick steps, she walked to him. His eyes focused as he hurried to her.

“Doctor, how is she?” Worry laced over his voice as voice. Tell me she’s okay.” His rugged face contorted.

“She’s fine, but honestly, we’ve tried everything possible.” The doctor nodded negatively. “We could only get the out the bullet, the baby is not forthcoming.”

“What about the surgeons?”

“They are handling a very much important surgery right now. It’s an emergency.” She explained.

He placed his head in his hands, tapping his foot against the marbled floor while he think. Things were getting worse than he’d expected, and he needed to act smart.

“But this is the fifth hospital we’ve been in Arcata! Tell me, doctor! What is wrong with her? It’s past 9 months already!”

“We’ve tried everything. It seems like it’s not medically possible! Your wife has cervical blood vessel tears. She's having labour complications right now, a surgery would kill her and we don’t want that. We are trying our best to see that she has a safe delivery, but she is in so much pain. The drugs aren’t working for her. Surgery might be worse, Mr King. And we have to act fast!”

Denim heaved out in frustration. His teeth gritted and a gush of breath forced through them. Denim had spent a lot, yet, no improvement. His Hazel eyes lost focus underneath his dropping eyelids.

“I suggest you see a pastor. A spiritual person.”

“A pastor?” He frowned.

“Yes.” the doctor agreed. “Few months ago, a lady came with a similar case. That was what helped her. I can refer you to my pastor. You need to be quick, Mr King. Rose is going through a lot right now.”

A hand ran through his raven black hair while he hissed.

“I’m sorry.” the doctor placed a hand on his shoulder. Hoping it would calm him.

Later that evening, doctor Romina introduced them to her pastor. She was also a lady, fierce in worship and prayers. She drove them to her church, and she invited others to pray for them overnight. The following morning, Rose could stand up on her feet.

“Thank you so much, Mrs Smith. I’m grateful.” Denim told her and handed her some cash but she smiled and threw her hands in the air dismissively, rejecting it.

“Use it for her medical bills.”

A solemn tear rolled down Rose’s eyes as she pulled up. Her delicate eyes were all red and swollen. “Thank you.” Her faint voice shivered in appreciation.

“Brother Denim, Sister Rose, you don’t have to cry. The Lord is ever forgiving. Ask for forgiveness from whom you’ve sinned. And like I said, you guys hurt this lady so much that she cried to our God and he heard her prayers. You need to beg whomever you sinned for forgiveness. This pregnancy is already 10 months.”

Because of the overwhelming pain, Rose shut her eyes tight and more tears poured down her face.

“For the sake of this baby, please, ask for forgiveness and forgive yourselves.” the female pastor pointed out to them. “The Lord is merciful. You’ll be fine.”

“Thank you.” Denim said to her and held rose for support as they stepped out of the church.

With a long babybumb, Rose rested her hand unto Denim as he helped her into the car. Before returning to the hospital, he wanted them to heed to the pastor’s warning.

“Ask for forgiveness, take care and pray. Do the right things and you’ll be free from all pains.” The pastor advised.

Denim opened his jeep’s door for Rose, she held unto the entrance before seating. She couldn’t move when Denim had brought her there. The pain of pregnancy was too much for her to bare.

Rose parted her mouth to the overwhelming pain that engrossed her as she sat. Adjusting her tiny body and enormous belly into the seat.

Denim carefully closed the door, his wedding ring with Kimberly was still on his ring finger. He hurried to the driver’s seat. With a jerk, his jeep rumbled down the road to Los Angeles.