"Sir!"
Adam's voice cut through the air, drawing Alex's attention away from his thoughts. Alex turned to face Adam, his expression expectant as he noticed the paper in Adam's hands.
"What happened, Adam?" Alex inquired.
"Sir, it's about the call. It was actually from Texas," Adam explained, his words causing Alex's brow to furrow in confusion.
"Texas?" Alex repeated, his mind racing with possibilities as he tried to make sense of the new information.
Adam nodded in confirmation, his demeanor serious as he relayed the details.
"The person who was following spotted him last at the airport," Adam continued, his voice laced with urgency.
Alex's features hardened as he absorbed the information, a sense of unease settling in the pit of his stomach.
"But there was a lot of security, and he could not find out where Francisco left," Adam added, his words punctuated by a note of frustration.
"Also, he could not tell out his identity as we could be caught," Adam concluded, his tone grave as he emphasized the risks involved in their mission.
Alex's mind raced with possibilities as he processed the implications of the news.
Slamming his palms on the table, he declared, "He is in Texas."
The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on him as he realized that Hazel was likely with Francisco.
Adam's eyebrows shot up in surprise at Alex's assertion, but he remained composed as he listened to Alex's plan.
"Sir!" he acknowledged.
With a firm resolve, Alex affirmed, "We just need to move to Texas. Hazel is with him. He could not hide her anymore. After finding her, we will be able to catch those attackers."
His tone was resolute, his determination unwavering as he focused on the task at hand.
"Yes, sir," Adam responded, echoing Alex's determination.
As Alex lowered his gaze, his thoughts turned to Rafael's recovery.
"Rafael has to be recovered as soon as possible," he murmured, a sense of urgency underlying his words.
**
Francisco stirred from his slumber, his eyelids fluttering open to reveal an empty space beside him. He reached out instinctively, his fingers seeking the warmth of Hazel's presence that lingered in the bed.
His fingers grazed the spot where Hazel had slept.
A faint sound caught his attention, and he turned his gaze towards the bathroom door as it creaked open.
He spotted Hazel standing there in a robe, her silhouette bathed in the soft morning light.
Hazel's smile greeted Francisco as she entered the room, her presence a soothing balm to his weary soul. With a graceful movement, she removed the towel from her head, her hair cascading down in a shower of droplets that glistened in the morning light. Her siren eyes locked onto his, holding his gaze with a captivating intensity before she rolled her eyes playfully and made her way to the balcony.
Francisco watched her in awe, a sense of admiration filling him as he observed her graceful movements. Despite the turmoil that surrounded them, Hazel seemed to radiate an effortless charm and confidence that left him breathless.
With a deep breath, Francisco sat up on the bed, his eyes never leaving Hazel's form as she stood on the balcony. He couldn't help but admire her beauty, her silhouette outlined against the backdrop of the morning sky.
She stood there, her elbows resting on the railing as she gazed down at something below. Francisco couldn't tear his eyes away from her, his heart pounding with a mixture of longing and admiration.
Feeling a surge of determination, Francisco got up from the bed, his bare chest glistening with a sheen of perspiration. He moved towards the balcony, his steps purposeful as he joined Hazel outside.
Francisco's hands found their place on the railing, encircling Hazel from behind as he pulled her close, his arms creating a protective cocoon around her. His breath brushed against her ear as he whispered, "Why did you do it?"
Hazel remained still, allowing his embrace to hold her in place as she tilted her head slightly to glance at him.
"What are you talking about?" she countered, her voice tinged with innocence.
A smirk played on Francisco's lips as he lowered his gaze to her lips, the temptation to close the distance between them palpable in the air.
"You know what I meant," he murmured, the tension between them crackling with unspoken words.
Hazel raised an eyebrow in feigned ignorance, her playful demeanor masking the true depth of her emotions. "Oh, that's," she trailed off, teasingly drawing out her response.
"Why?"
Francisco's voice was filled with a mixture of curiosity and longing as he sought answers.
Hazel leaned closer to him, her tone soft and playful.
"Did you not like my appearance?" she teased, her words dancing on the edge of flirtation.
Francisco's lips formed a tight line as he suppressed a sigh, his fingers gently tracing the curve of her cheek.
"Do you really accept everything?" Francisco's voice held a note of uncertainty as his thumb traced along Hazel's soft lips, his piercing blue eyes locking onto hers in search of affirmation.
Hazel met his gaze head-on, her own resolve wavering slightly under his intense scrutiny. She took a moment to compose herself before finally responding, her voice tinged with resignation.
"Yes," she whispered, her words carrying the weight of acceptance of her fate.
As Francisco leaned in closer, Hazel's grip on the railing tightened, a silent reminder of the constraints that bound her to him. She forced herself to remain still, to project an air of normalcy despite the turmoil raging within her.
With a trembling breath, Hazel closed her eyes as Francisco's lips met hers in a kiss. Her lips quivered slightly under his touch.
But as Francisco deepened the kiss, Hazel couldn't shake the feeling of unease that gnawed at her insides. Despite the intimacy they shared at that moment, she knew deep down that she could never truly accept him, no matter how much she pretended otherwise.
Francisco's grip on her face tightened, his kiss growing more fervent as if trying to erase the doubts that lingered between them. But Hazel couldn't ignore the nagging voice in her mind, the voice that whispered the truth she dared not acknowledge.
'I knew it would happen.'
Francisco's thoughts echoed in his mind as he kissed her.
'I know, Hazel, you did not accept me.'
'And I can sense you are pretending to accept me.'
'I'm kissing you because I want to think you're finally mine, which I know is a white lie.'
'You will never accept me.'
'And I want to live with your lies. I have no problem with it.'
As they broke apart, Hazel avoided meeting Francisco's intense gaze, her breath coming in short pants as she struggled to regain her composure. But Francisco's eyes remained fixed on her, his determination evident in the depths of his gaze.
"I promise I will do everything like before," Francisco declared, his words tinged with a sense of urgency and desperation.
Hazel forced a smile on her lips, her eyes finally meeting his as she nodded in acquiescence.
"As you say," she replied softly.