In Mexico

“I… I don’t know what’s wrong with me…” Malena mumbles while talking to a trauma expert for kidnap victims.

“Let’s not focus on what’s wrong, instead let's focus on how you feel.” The trauma expert asks.

Malena clasped her hands firmly then heaved deeply, “I kinda missed him.” She uttered in distress.

The trauma expert’s eyes narrowed, “Him? Are you referring to your ex-boyfriend?” She inquired in concern.

Malena shook her head, “Henri.” She mumbled in a low voice while holding on to her bionic right arm. "He is so gentle and sweet even after he cut off my arm and threatened to kill me. He... He shows that he cares and looks at me with concern." She added stutteringly.

Shortly after the session ended, Malena left.

“Another case of Stockholm syndrome,” the trauma expert uttered under her breath while completing her notes.

MEANWHILE, IN THE Altiplano prison, in Mexico.

The guard hit the cell's metal bar, “Hey! Wake up.” The guard yelled. “Your friend might be paying us, but that doesn’t mean you’ll act like a king here. You are still a prisoner.” He added while spatting on the pavement.

Henri smiled, stood up, slowly raised his hands, and walked to the prison guard. Waiting for the guard to put him in handcuffs, but the guard did not waste his time cuffing him.

“No need for this bullshit it will slow us down. Follow me to the infirmary, someone wants to speak to you.” The guard says as he opens the cell.

“Speak to me?” Henri mumbled to himself. “Did Latton call?” He grinned merrily.

Soon they reached the infirmary and Henri’s eyes enlarged in disbelief. Latton did not call him, she was actually inside the room waiting for him.

“Latton! You're here, for me.” He screamed and then immediately wrapped his arms around her. He stared at her intently, “Your hair. It's... You look amazing.” He added while brushing his finger on it.

She was caught off guard. The prison guard was about to pull Henri away from her, but she gestured for him to leave them.

She laughs awkwardly. “Why don’t we sit? I brought you something.” She uttered while pointing at the box of chocolate chip cookies on the table.

He smiled from ear to ear and glanced back and forth at the box, and then to her. “My comfort food. You remembered!” He exclaimed in glee. “Do you remember me now?”

She nods.

He held her hand tightly and spoke gently, “My money is not good here, Lat… They froze my wealth,” he uttered.

She grins, “That's why I’m here to take you home. On one condition. I need to disarm you.” She explains.

Henri stared at her in suspense, "What do you mean, Lat?" He asked softly while holding her hands firmly.

She leaned forward to him till their foreheads touched. "I need to make sure you won't do something stupid. I want you to sign a few contracts," she stated.

"There's nothing scarier than a crazy person with tons of money at his disposal." She mumbles to herself.

He kisses her forehead and then inches away from her.

"Give all your money to charity." She gently uttered while looking at him intently.

He gasped, then frowned. "What kind of charity?"

She grins, "Animal shelter, of course. I know you hate people."

"But I like you." He smiles softly like a child.

Soon he starts to speak about the past. Encouraging her to start over again with him. Reminding her about the promises she made and the debts she needed to pay.

They spoke for hours till they reached an impasse. None wants to back down.

"I thought Latton Ripley always kept her word and her promise." He remarks as he crosses his arms.

"Don't weaponize my own words against me." She exclaimed.

Several more hours passed. Both of them are still deep in the conversation. Soon, a prison guard knocks on the door.

“Sorry, Miss, but visitation time is over,” he explains.

Latton nodded, then left.

Shortly, Henri was ushered out, but before he reached his cell, another prison guard came and took him and escorted him to another room.

A room that was used for conjugal visits.

Henri narrowed his gaze. “What’s happening?” He asked anxiously.

The guard did not reply. Instead, he left and frighteningly locked the doors.

Henri’s heart skipped a beat and his mind was racing. He tried to open the door but failed. He banged on the door and slammed his full weight, but it did not budge.

“Fuck!”

“FUCK!” He yelled. Sensing that something is about to happen.

Soon he heard a familiar voice coming from the corner of the room.

“Oh! Please don’t be overdramatic,” Latton uttered.

“Lat..” He roared out in relief. His heart was pounding loudly.

She slowly stood up and removed her jacket. “We’re probably never going to have this chance. So I’m staying for the night.” She remarked while removing her shoes, and making herself comfortable.

He smiled gleefully, hastily ran to her, hugged her tightly, and planted a gentle kiss on her lips.

THE NEXT DAY

“Thank you for staying the night. I like waking up next to you.” Henri uttered, staring at Latton’s face.

Her eyes were still closed. "Sign the papers." She whispered coaxingly while blindly rummaging at the bedside table.

He sighs, "What will happen to me when I get back to California? I'm going to prison, aren't I?" He inquired while staring at the papers with a gloomy face.

She nods, "You tortured and murdered a person then chopped off someone’s arm.” She glanced at him softly, “... But still thank you for taking care of Dominique for me.”

She sighs, “I’ll make sure you are well taken care of. You'll be placed in a psych ward. Where you can get help, and you will be better." She explains.

He smiled in contentment, "Be better like you?" He inquired as he lay his head on her shoulder.

"Yes." She replied in relief.

"I'm sorry." He uttered out of nowhere.

Her eyes narrowed, "What are you apologizing for?" She inquired.

"Lucian Caldwell." He states.

She heaves profoundly. "What about him?"

"Before I got detained here, I hired someone to kill him." He remarks then sighs, "And for threatening your fake unborn baby. I'm not going to do it. I'm just so angry that you are moving on with your life without knowing who I am."

Her mouth twitched, and her hand clutched in a fist, "Well, it's behind us now and the person you hired failed. Lucian is still alive..." She paused.

"He is still alive, but you don't look happy about it," he pointed out.

"Because he got into an accident, and it made him forget about me." She responded while smiling bitterly.

He frowns, "Kinda like what happened to you."

She nods. "It sucks, and I'm sorry it took me a long time to remember who you are."

Her words caught his attention. "Who am I, Lat?" He inquired curiously.

She grinned playfully, "You are my soulmate."

"My protector."

"A confidant."

She giggled lightly, "And the greatest detective of all time, Agent Hank Devereaux." She said enthusiastically while recollecting the fun games they used to have when they were kids.

Henri smiled from ear to ear and gladly signed the papers. "Promise me, you'll visit me as often as possible when I return to California." He requested.

She nods, "I'll call you twice a week, and I'll visit you fortnightly. That's not only a promise but part of the contract. It's a binding agreement." She explains while pointing at the clause where it was written.

“Kinda like marriage.” He commented jokingly.

She laughs.

He stared at her, his eyes moving all over her as if permanently engraving her face to his heart. "I love you, Lat." He says with certainty while kissing her hand.

"Likewise." She mumbles.

Shortly, she was heading to the airport.

~I love you, Lat...~

Henri's words still linger in her mind. His words were very certain and assuring.

She was still in deep thought when Igor cleared his throat to get her attention.

“How do you want me to deal with Theodore Wilson?” Igor asked viciously.

She smiled eerily. “I want him to lose everything…”

Igor cuts her off. “Does that include his life?” He asks while looking at her in the rearview mirror.

She shook her head, “I want him alive but… barely.” She replied wickedly.

Igor nods while smiling devilishly.

MEANWHILE, at Los Angeles International Airport.

Lucian was pacing back and forth anxiously waiting for Latton to arrive.

After what felt like an eternity. He saw her from the crowd. Her red hair color stands out from the horde.

He waved at her. While his other hand, firmly holding a bouquet of red roses. Their eyes met, she tilted her head in confusion and then walked past him, thinking it was just a coincidence he was there.

His heart sank, but he brushed it off and followed her outside.

"Why are you here, Lucian?" She asks while waiting for Igor.

"I want to show you something," he says excitedly.

"What?" She asks.

"In the car." He replied coaxingly. "I'll drive you home."

"I have a ride." She remarks.

"Let him take your luggage. I'll take you home." He suggested while gesturing for her to follow him.

"No." She declined with certainty.

"Please." He pleads.

"No." She repeats with a louder tone.

He gasped in sorrow, "Please," he repeats, then kneels and bows in front of her. As if he was a slave honoring his Queen. "Please, let me drive you home." He added.

She was dumbfounded and taken aback.

"Stand up you fool." She cried out while glancing around. Bystanders were looking at them.

Igor soon arrived, and she gestured to him to get her luggage.

Hesitantly she got to Lucian’s car.

She sneered at him. "Happy now?" She uttered while crossing her arms. "Are you going to drive or show me the thing you want to show me? What are your plans? My head is throbbing, Lucian, and I'm tired." She exclaimed.

She then noticed him loosening his tie and unbuttoning his shirt.

"What the fuck are you doing? I allowed you to drive me home, but that doesn't mean you can bed me." She stated while removing her seatbelt and opening the car door.

“No, I want to show you I could commit that I’m serious.” He explains.

He opened his shirt and Latton's eyes instantly widened in shock.

"What the fuck? Is that my face on your chest?" She asks in disbelief.

He nods, "Wait till you see the back." He says and then completely removes his clothes.

She blushes then laughs.

~LATTON'S property~

"How impulsive," she mumbles.

"Do you like it? If something bad happens again, and I lose my memories, this will remind me of you."

"That's the corniest shit I've ever seen and heard." She uttered as she laughed louder, and her eyes became teary.

The sound of her laughter gave a serene, assurance, and delight to him.

He cleared his throat, "I took care of Shirley while you were gone. I made her end the contract with Caldwell Incorporated, and she's now out of the country. Safe to say I clean up my loose ends." He declared proudly while holding her hand tightly.

"How about you? What have you done these past few days?" he added as he lifted her hand and intertwined it with his lips.

She breathed out, "I went to Mexico to pay my debt and fulfill a promise." She mumbled as she glanced away from him.

He thought nothing of it and continued kissing and sniffing her hand while waiting for her to finish her words.

"I promise myself to Henri!" She remarks.

Instantly, Lucian's eyes dilated, and his movements were put to a halt.