FIVE MONTHS LATER

Enzo

I've been staring at the papers scattered in front of me for the past ten minutes.

Not being able to take this anymore, I lean back in my chair and close my eyes. I run my hands through my hair and remain still. If only I could freeze time, take a minute or two to think properly, or to fucking sleep.

No time for that.

Angry, I throw the papers away and rest my elbows on top of the desk. "Shit," I mutter, clenching my fists. "You're a fucking idiot."

"Depends when," a voice behind me declares, startling me.

I glance over my shoulder at Jake, who's stepping into my office. I know he's kidding, but I'm not in the mood. "Not fucking funny."

"Hey," he says calmly, walking toward the chair across from me. I keep my gaze down. "Are you good?"

"You found something?"

He remains quiet for a moment. "Nothing new."

Nodding stiffly, I turn toward my computer. "Then keep looking. I'll do the same."

It's not like I've once stopped.

"Enzo, they're always moving. As much as I hate saying this, Valdez isn't stupid. She's his now."

My eyes turn cold as I look up at him. I clench my jaw and retort harshly, "She isn't his."

Jake steps back and raises his hands. "Okay. I didn't mean it like that."

Taking a deep breath, I turn toward the computer screen again and rub my eyes. Fuck, I'm a mess. Noticing it as well, Jake proposes, "You should take a shower. Go home, take some rest."

I let out a dry laugh. Home. This definitely doesn't feel like home without her. "I'll rest when she comes back to me."

Jake stares at the ring on his left hand for a while, not saying anything. He sighs. "I know it's not easy. I've been there multiple times."

I nod once. "And you've never stopped looking for Elena. So don't try stopping me now, please."

"I know. Sorry." A pause. "You should have never agreed, you know."

I stiffen. He's talking about what happened on his wedding's day.

The worst day of my life.

I look blankly at him. "Not listening to the Director? I would have lost my job."

"But you lost her." He crosses his arms and stares at me, unaffected by the warning in my eyes. "What's worse? Losing your job or losing her?"

I know he's right. I was stupid, and what's done is done. I stay quiet and stare at the wall, my fists clenched.

"I would rather lose my job than Elena," he adds.

I snap. "Look, I screwed up, okay? I should have never agreed to leave her and give my 100% to the agency. Losing her was the worst thing that happened in my damn life, and I thought I had a second chance to make things right."

I take a deep breath and release it. Closing my eyes, I mutter, "And now I lost her, again. Fuck. I should have kissed her again when I had the chance."

Noticing how quiet Jake is and how I'm starting to confess in him about my feelings, I turn my head in his direction.

The man is smiling.

I groan. "Don't look at me like that."

"Just glad you're admitting it," he says, chuckling. He quickly becomes serious again, and he pats my back. "Hey, don't lose hope, all right?"

"Nobody knows about Alex being involved in this, right?" I demand after a moment, giving him a serious look.

"Haven't told a thing to my father. I don't know how long it'll take until he realizes something is off. Probably not long."

I shake my head. "I don't care. No matter what happens now, I'm not walking away from this case."

If Alex is concerned, then there is no way I'm doing that.

"I could talk to him, you know," Jake proposes. "He could talk to the Director. Your deal must be over, man. It's been years."

I shrug. "I broke that deal the moment I entered Alex's life again."

That damn deal only made everything worse. I broke Alex's heart, ran away, thought I could stay away forever and protect her this way, that she would never be involved in any dangerous missions.

Come on. The woman has been through hell before, with her best friend being involved with Dan Valdez. She knows how to handle our lives.

She's never run away. I did.

When I think about it, it wasn't a deal. It was an order. And I did what I was asked for.

My computer suddenly beeps, and we both glance at it. My eyes widen.

"There. They're in Los Angeles," Jake announces while I type in something on the computer.

I can't look away from the screen. A camera caught them outside a store. She's wearing a jacket with the hood covering her head, and I can't see her face properly, nor his.

When I do though, his face will meet my fucking fist.

I breathe in. I need to calm down. I've never been someone to lose my cool so easily. It seems that when it involves Alex, I'm screwed.

Even if I can't see her properly, I know it's her, and my heart beats faster. I want to take the first plane I can to bring her back here, but it's not a possibility. As if knowing what I'm thinking, Jake speaks up.

"We don't know exactly what good she is for him. If he knows we're going to them, he might hurt her. Or worse."

I flinch.

"Yeah, I know." Clearing my throat, I stand up and grab my coat. "I need to go somewhere. Keep me updated."

I feel Jake's eyes burning my back as I walk out of the room, my shoulders stiffened.

Every time we had located her, it took everything in me not to act stupidly and try to find her. Jake's right.

That's why I need more information.

*

I enter the boutique and look around. It still looks the same since the last time I came here, about a month ago. There is a Christmas vibe around though, and seeing the few people around me happy doesn't help me feel better.

Especially when I think about tomorrow.

Alex's birthday.

Swallowing, I glance at the front, and my eyes land on who I was looking for. The young woman tucks a strand of black hair behind her ear, smiling at someone. The smile seems fake though, and I start making my way toward her.

I only take a few steps when she looks up and meets my eyes. Her shoulders automatically stiffen, and her lips form a thin line as she turns around to walk away.

"Jessica, please," I call her, reaching her at the counter.

"I'm working," she replies blankly, looking down.

She looks tired. She isn't wearing any makeup, and I can see the dark circles under her eyes. I don't look any better. Probably worse.

The joyful woman I saw working with Alex is gone. She avoids my gaze, looking almost...

She's scared.

As the realization sets in, she walks away from me again. I follow her.

"I know you probably don't want to see me here," I say gently, trying my best to remain nice. I don't want her to hate me. Or fear me.

Jessica looks up for a second, but it's long enough for her to glare at me. "No shit."

"I need you to answer my questions," I try again, not giving up. She goes stiff again and picks up a piece of clothing.

"I have nothing to tell you. Now leave," she orders bluntly before she walks away from me.

Why does she refuse to talk to me? To help me and her friend? Sighing, I look around. I'm not into shopping, especially for women, but I see a red long-sleeve shirt, and God knows why it makes me think of Alex. I grab it and make my way toward the front.

Jessica doesn't look up when I stop in front of her. She only says quietly, "Leave. Please."

"I'm buying this," I declare, handing her the shirt.

She looks down at it and frowns. "You're buying that for yourself?"

"No," I reply, my voice thick with emotions. "For her. It's her birthday tomorrow."

Jessica flinches. She doesn't glance at me and keeps her eyes on the cash register. Blinking rapidly, she tells me the price. I silently give her the money.

I tempt my luck again. The day I'm going to give up is the day I'm going to stop loving that red-haired woman. And it's not happening any time soon.

"I need your help, Jessica. She does." Her small fists clench. "I need to know what happened—"

"I know nothing!" she exclaims loudly, her eyes wide with anger. She glances around her, realizing people are staring. Taking a shaky breath, she sets down the bill in front of me. "Just...leave. I'm begging you."

At that, my eyebrows furrow in concern. Something doesn't feel right. She refuses to say anything to me. She can barely look me in the eyes. I take my bag and the bill, then slowly make my way out.

When I arrive at my apartment, I ignore the mess around and lie down on the couch. Alex would probably be disappointed to see how unclean the place is. My gaze stops on a bottle of beer, and I grit my teeth.

You won't drink. For her.

I take out the shirt I bought. I wonder when I'll have the chance to give it to her. I wonder if she's okay, if she's thinking about me.

Damn it. I'm not helping myself. Noticing the bill in the bag, I take it out. That's when I see the apparent black ink on the back.

Alert, I turn the bill over. Jessica wrote something while I wasn't looking.

They're watching me.

*

Hiii. I hope you enjoyed this new chapter! 🥰

Be ready. The next chapter will be...interesting.

Things definitely have changed, huh? Five months. My poor babies can't be together happy. *cries and realizes i'm the one who makes them suffer like that*

Don't forget to vote! 🤙🏼💛

I love you all, and I'll see you in the next chapter!