Chapter 46 Eternity
I waited till what felt like eternity for Carlos but there was no sign of him anywhere. I’ve been standing there, by the window, my eyes never leaving the gate.
I’ve never waited for someone like I did today, I’ve never yearned to see someone like I do today.
“Where is he?” This question kept lingering in my mind but I have no answer for it. I can’t even guess an answer because right now I don’t know….. I’m completely clueless.
Each passing hour, I felt my heart clench with fear of what might happen.
I tried calling him on the landline but his number wasn’t going through. I told the guards to help me search for him but they are of no help. No one knows where Carlos went to or if he’s even fine.
Old me would have been happy, probably even wishing for the worst to happen to him. But currently, I can’t deny that the fact that without him, there is no me.
I can’t live in a dangerous world where I can’t trust anyone without the man I only trust. Carlos is currently the only person who knows me. The only person who cares for me. The only person willing to risk it all to protect me. And now, I fear that in an attempt to protect me, he got hurt.
From the sunrise to the sunset, I got tired of watching and waiting. It’s been more than eleven hours now. Almost nearing to midnight but Carlos isn’t still home.
I badly want to just go and check for him, to make sure that he’s fine but I can’t. I can’t leave here. As always the guards around here are held bent to never letting me leave the mansion. But even if they did, where would I start from? How will I help him when I can’t even help myself?
Tired of watching out the window, I crawled to the bed. Lying down, I buried myself under the duvet. Part of me felt miserable, I wanted to cry, to scream my lungs out in fear of Carlos not being home.
I still can’t believe I feel this way but I can’t help but feel like this. After all, Carlos should have been back…. He always comes back to me as soon as possible but today is just different. He didn’t even call, send a message to one of his guards to me, he just didn’t show up.
Many thoughts I’ve been crashing through my mind. What if the Menendez found him and held him captive or worse hurt him? All I know is that if anything bad had happened to him then it’s Menendez.
Tears started to well up in my eyes as I thought about it. My heart was heavy… heavy with so many thoughts and possibilities.
Drowning in my emotions, I suddenly felt a hand around me. It was warm but strong and immediately I recognized it, I turned around and there he was. Smiling at me as if he didn’t just disappear out of nowhere.
His eyes sparkled as he said, "Did you miss me?"
I wanted so badly to say no, to turn around and go to sleep, but I couldn’t. My heart melted in relief instead. "Carlos." I breathed his name as I pulled him closer and wrapped my arms around him.
He held me tightly, as if he’d been longing for this. "I know it hasn’t even been a full day," He murmured against my hair, "But I’ve missed you."
Pulling out of the hug, I finally regained my senses. This man had made me worry sick. I’d spent hours imagining all the terrible things that could have happened to him, only for him to show up here acting like he hadn’t disappeared for what felt like forever.
"Good," I said flatly, lying back down on the bed.
"Just good? You didn’t miss me?" He teased, snuggling up against my side. I nudged him away.
"Hey!" He rasped. "Why are you acting like this? Are you mad at me or something?"
I rolled my eyes. "I don’t know—why don’t you take a guess?" I groaned. "You didn’t call. You didn’t text. You didn’t show up when you said you would. And now you’re here, acting like you didn’t just vanish on me. Do you have any idea how worried I was? I was going crazy thinking about you."
A small, almost smug smile tugged at his lips. "You were worried about me?"
I groaned again, pulling the blanket over my head. "I have nothing to say to you right now."
But before I could hide away completely, he tugged the covers down and leaned closer.
"I’m sorry," He said softly. "I shouldn’t have been gone for hours when I told you I’d be back in one. I got caught up in work."
"What work?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
"Mafia stuff… you’re not gonna understand. But I’m sorry," He repeated, his voice quiet this time.
Carlos lay next to me. I could feel his eyes on me, but I refused to acknowledge him. I was far too mad. I’ve never been this worried for anyone and the one time I was, he acts like it’s nothing.
"Nala, come on," He said with a heavy sigh, but I didn’t care. He moved closer. "Nala."
I still didn’t respond. He exhaled deeply. "So now you’re not talking to me, huh? Fine." He went quiet for a moment, probably just staring at me.
Then, without warning, he shifted closer and pressed his lips to my back. I froze. "What are you doing?" I asked
"Since you won’t talk to me, I figured I might as well enjoy my moment… alone."
"Alone? You’re kissing my back."
"This is how I like to spend my alone time," He murmured, his kisses deepening against my skin.
"Carlos, stop," I said, even though I didn’t really want him to. He didn’t stop. He just moved to my neck, his warm lips sending shivers down my spine.
"Carlos," I breathed, hating how much I loved the feel of him.
"Just forgive me, and I’ll stop," He whispered.
I had already forgiven him, but I didn’t want him to stop. I shouldn’t be enjoying this… but I was.
Determined to put an end to it, I turned to tell him to stop only for him to capture my lips with his. I wanted to pull away. I wanted to push him back and tell him I hated his lips on mine… but how could I, when I loved their softness more than anything?