Chapter Twelve

I walked around the mansion worried. After Rodrigo was kidnapped, some of his men took me back to the house.

Worried, I watched the entrance of the mansion, constantly waiting for either news of Rodrigo or, preferably, Rodrigo himself.

After hours of roaming about, I sighted Rodrigo from afar. Excited, I ran towards him.

"You are injured," I stated in concern. 

"You are more injured Perlah," Rodrigo replied, pulling me in for a hug.

"Did you miss me?" I asked and giggled.

"No, I only got a little worried when I heard you were pregnant," he retorted.

"Are you really pregnant? Or was it part of your plan to bring the enemy to me?" Rodrigo added.

"Wait, how did you know the enemy was going to come for me? My family's killer could have killed me," I replied and frowned.

"But they didn't. I was following your every move. Perlah, is the pregnancy true?" He reminded.

"Why do you care? Where's Datu…did you kill your brother?" I asked in shock.

"No, I asked my men to keep him hostage in this mansion. And, Perlah, we are married, and that's my child in your belly," Rodrigo softly replied.

"It's a contract marriage, Rodrigo. You just heartlessly risked my life. You sent me on a deep-frying mission as part of one of your benefits, you have nothing to do with me," I retorted, walking away.

I walked into my room and slammed the door.

Suddenly, I heard a loud bang on the door, followed by Rodrigo's scream.

"Perlah open up. We have to leave immediately," Rodrigo continuously yelled from behind the door.

"Why, what is it again?" I asked, running towards the door.

"I just got a message from Antonio, Datu has a tracker on. Your enemies and my enemies are now working together and have our current location. We need to vacate this place promptly," Rodrigo blunted out, dragging me out of my room.

"A tracker? How," I asked, perplexed.

We got into the car and started a new journey.

"Where are we going, Rodrigo?" I asked, terror sucking the very breath from my mouth.

"Are you scared?" Rodrigo's voice rang out, giggling.

"That's an understatement. I'm more than scared," I replied and glanced at him.

"Come, let's cuddle," Rodrigo suddenly said and chuckled.

"Is there ever a time you get scared?" I asked in disbelief. Ogling at him.

"Yes! When you were arrested, kidnapped, and with my brother, Datu. I was scared all along. I'm not scared now only because I have you here," Rodrigo softly answered, cupping my face in his hands.

Suddenly, we heard an explosion. I looked back in horror, it was one of Rodrigo's men.

"Speed on…" Rodrigo yelled at the driver.

Sounds of guns shut echoed behind us, piercing through the flesh of our car.

"Get down Perlah," Rodrigo yelled again, holding my head down to avoid the bullet fitting through my skull.

The next sound of a gunshot went into our driver's head. I screamed in panic as blood spewed out of his head. Our car ran off the road and went out of control.

"Rodrigo our driver is dead," I screamed out in tears.

"Don't worry Perlah, I will get into the driver's seat," Rodrigo assured, trying to get over him.

"No, you can't be there, these bullets easily get there," I cried out, pulling him back.

"Let go, Perlah, the car is out of control," Rodrigo yelled back.

I gasped, alarmed. Looking forward, I screamed in respect of the unexpected terror. The car plunged into a ravine.

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I woke up with a banging brain.

"Where are we?" I asked Rodrigo, gawking.

"We are in the woods, Perlah. I carried you out of the car before it exploded," he softly answered.

"So why am I on you?" I asked again, beating his chest.

"To keep you and my baby warm," he replied, rubbing my already poking belly.

Ignoring his gaze, I sat up, giving him distance.

"How are we going to leave here? Is the enemy still on us?" I mumbled, shaking my head in frustration.

"I never forgot about you Perlah, I was worried about you all along," Rodrigo whispered out of line, pulling me closer.

"Is that really what is important to you right now? Rodrigo, we need to be out of here," I announced, dissatisfied.

"I don't care Perlah, I'm with you and that's the only thing that matters to me," Rodrigo replied, looking down at me.

Hands around my waist, he pulled me closer, goosebumps swarming every part of my body that he touched.

"Don't do it Rodrigo," I protested.

"Why?" he asked, trailing kisses from my collarbone to my neck, up to my jaw, to the cheek, getting closer to the lips.

"Because…" I stammered.

"Because?" he whispered, his hand on my back, fingertips pressing under my top, drawing gentle circles against my bare skin.

I pulled back, gasping.

"Because I can't control myself. When it comes to you, I keep wanting even more. I can't hold myself back from your touch, and I might end up…" I stopped halfway through my sentence, ogling at Rodrigo's expressionless face.

"Just don't come any closer. Okay," I warned, getting up to release myself from his grip.

"My touches are your biggest weakness?" Rodrigo's voice rang out, dragging himself up from the ground.

"I haven't said that yet but…" I froze. Rodrigo pulled me closer, pushing me against a tree, his hand tracing my curve as they nibbled on my lower lips, teasing every edge as I moaned into the kiss.

Gently tugging at his collar, out of breath, I asked.

"Do you want me to stop?"

And he hurriedly replied.

"Just the opposite please."

His lips slide into mine so desperately that my whole body curves into his, sliding my hand into his hair slowly, I reciprocate with the same energy, giggling in between.

We heard a loud hunk; it was Antonio, the chief information security officer. Breaking the kiss. My face flushed red from embarrassment, tracing my lips, he pecked me again and smiled. I stood there unable to speak properly.

Antonio rushed towards us.

"Sir, we need to get you and Mrs. Perlah out of this city," he announced in panic.

Alarmed, I walked closer to Antonio.

"Why? Is the enemy still on us?" I asked in fear.

Turning to face me, Antonio replied in terror, "Datu escaped."