Valerie was on her way to her room when she met Andres on the way.
“Hi, Valerie. It’s been long since we talked, don’t you think?” Andres asked with a sad smile.
Valerie bit her lips.
“I’m sorry. How have you been?” She asked.
“I’m okay. How’s your leg” he pointed at her leg.
“It hurts a bit but I’m sure I’ll be fine” she muttered.
“Why did to do that? You got hurt”
“I know, right? I must have been stupid to do that for that jerk. He doesn’t even deserve it” she mumbled.
“Are you okay? Did something happened between you two?” Andres asked.
“No, I need to go” she faked a smile.
“Okay, can we talk later?” He asked.
She nodded and he smiled widely.
“Thanks, Valerie” he said.
Valerie left and he turned to look at her retreating figure.
“Why is she like this? Did Fernando sent her away?” He wondered.
He shrugged before going on his way.
Valerie got to the room and met Camila and Jade together. It was obvious they are waiting for her.
“Val! Are you okay? How’s your leg? Do you feel any pains? Do you want me to treat it again for you?” Camila bombarded her with questions.
Valerie smiled seeing her worried face.
“I’m fine, you don’t have to worry” She muttered.
“That’s a relief. What about the Boss, how’s his arm?” Camila asked.
“I don’t know and I don’t give a d@mn” Valerie mumbled.
Jade and Camila exchanged glances.
“What do you mean? Is something wrong?” Jade asked.
“I want to sleep, please no more questions”
“But you just woke up now, how come you’re feeling sleepy again?” Jade asked
Valerie bit her lips. The truth was, she was mad at Fernando’s sudden behavior towards her. Did she do something wrong to him?
Camila signalled Jade not to ask any questions again. She could sense that Valerie wasn’t in a good mood.
“You can take all the rest you want, if you’re hungry, just let me know” she said.
Valerie smiled warmly at her before going to the bed. She lay on it and covered her face with her hand.
“I think she’s in a bad mood, let’s let her be for now” Camila said to Jade.
Jade nodded, she faced Camila when she suddenly remembered something.
“You said the Boss was hurt?” She asked.
“Yes, he got shot by his arm. He refused to allow me to treat it for him, I only removed the bullet” Camila said.
Jade fiddled with her nails nervously.
“Erm, can you stay here for some time? I need to go to my room, I’ll be back” she said.
Camila smiled and she left to the room.
She got to Fernando’s room and went in without knocking. She saw his treating his arm, squeezing his face in pain.
“What are you doing here? Didn’t I asked you to leave a while ago?” Fernando asked, not raising his head from his arm.
“Er… I heard you were hurt so I just decided to drop by. How’s your arm?” Jade asked
He quickly raised his head and his expression changed when he saw Jade. He actually thought it was Valerie.
“How I’m fairing is none of your business, get out of my room” he said coldly.
Jade ignored him and moved closer to him, she touched his arm and he cringed.
“See? You’re lying” she muttered.
“I’ll only treat it for you then I’m going to take my leave” she said.
She collected the bandage from him and starts wrapping around his arm.
“You know, I really want to h@ťě you, I really want to very much, but I just can’t. It’s so surprising cos you ki||ed my mom and you held us captive here” she said as she treats him arm.
Fernando stared at her without uttering out a word.
“But please, I have a favor from you” she said.
“My brother…” She stopped and sighs.
“I don’t want my brother to be a dropout like me, can you please let him finish his education while he’s here? I promise he won’t try to escape from you” she muttered.
“I knew you wouldn’t be here if you don’t need anything from me” Fernando said.
Jade finished wrapping the bandage on his arm, she stood up and went on her knees.
“I’m begging you, please just do this for me” she begged.
“Just because I kept you here doesn’t mean I’m being nice to you, get out now and stop spitting out trash”
Jade bit her lips, she got on her feet before leaving the room.
She met Alex on her way out, she walked past him without saying any word to him.
“Is she okay?” Alex wondered.
He shrugged before going to Fernando’s room.
“Boss, are you okay? How’s your arm?” He asked.
“I’m fine. Alex, I have a job for you” Fernando said.
“What is it?”
“I want you to… ” He suddenly stopped when he realized there’s a spy among them.
“Nevermind, you can take your leave” he muttered before going to the bathroom. He really needs to be careful from now, any mistake could lead to something dangerous.
****
HUGO’S CLAN***
“Don, there’s a message!” A guy yelled, he entered the room where Don was and handed a paper to him.
“From who?” Don asked.
“It was brought by a messenger and he refused to tell me that name of the person who sent it”
Don’s eyes widened when he read the content in the letter.
“How dare Fernando try to keep something as huge like this from me?!” He growled
“Arturo, you really think you’re smart, huh?” He let out a dry laugh.
“First thing tomorrow, we’re going to visit Fernando. He needs to tell me why he did that on his own without informing me”
“I’ll gather some men ready” the guy said before taking his leave.
Don stared at the ring in his hand, his mind flashing to fourteen years ago.
****
“I love Isabel, and I don’t mind destroying our friendship because of that” Arturo said.
“This is lust not love, Isabel is married for Pete’s sake. I am too, you’re the only single one here, try and be serious with your life” Don scolded.
“No, he broke our bond by going after the woman I love, I won’t mind shedding bloodshed if I can’t have her back” Arturo said determinedly.
****
“You really did as you said and now you still don’t wanna give up? Arturo, I swear I’ll be the one to end your pathetic life” Don muttered to himself.
***
NEXT DAY, RED’S CLAN***
Valerie was on the training ground watching the men as they battled against each other.
She suddenly wished to know how to handle a gun, if she had known how to fight with her enemy, she would have assisted Fernando in defeating the intruders yesterday.
Speaking of Fernando, her heart churn slightly in pain as the memory of what he said filled her mind.
He had been avoiding her and it hurts like hell, though she tried not to show it. She tried asking herself what she did wrong for him to have acted that way to her but she found an answer to none.
“A penny for your thoughts?” She heard Andres voice behind her.
She turned to look at him and he flashed a smile at her.
“Why are you here?” He asked.
“Can you teach me how to handle a gun?” She suddenly blurted out.
“What? A gun?” Andres asked.
“Yes, I need to learn how to defend myself in the future” she said.
Andres chuckled.
“You don’t have to, I’m sure you won’t be able to hold the gun, not with those little hand of yours” he teased.
“Handsome” Valerie pouts.
“I’m glad to hear you call me that again”
“So, will you teach me?” She asked, giving him a cute puppy look
“I don’t think I can be able to resist that cute face” he said and they both laughed.
Valerie stopped laughing when she saw Fernando coming towards them looking so devilishly handsome.
She folds her fist when she saw Chloe approaching them.
“I heard you got shot, are you okay?” Chloe asked.
“Are you worried about me or my Ďïčk?” Fernando asked.
Chloe smiled.
“Both” she replied.
Fernando scoffed.
“Bìtch” he mumbled.
His eyes went to the training ground and saw Valerie glaring at them angrily. He clenched his jaw when he saw Andres with her, he thought she said she was gonna avoid him but what’s she doing with him? – he asked himself.
“Fernando?” Chloe called.
He turned to Chloe and did something that shocked both Chloe and Valerie.
He kissed her.
Valerie ran out of the training ground when she couldn’t take it any longer, Andres also ran after her.
Chloe wrapped her arms around him as she kissed him back hungrily, sucking his lips as if she had been hungry for days and finally found a food to eat.
Fernando broke the kiss to her disappointment, he quickly moved away from her.
“Take that as nothing” he said
“Nothing? You suddenly kissed me and you asked me to take that as nothing?” Chloe scoffed in disbelief.
“That was a mistake” Fernando said.
He tried to walk away when he suddenly saw cars driving into the clan.
He was shocked to see Don coming out of the car, his eyes red as fire. No one needs to tell him trouble was looming.
He looked around and when he did not find Valerie in sight, he breaths out in relief.
He faced Don as he’s almost close to him, bracing himself for what’s coming next.
TBC