Chapter 7 - My little girl

"Going somewhere?"

"Yes. I thought of going for a run". She said exuberantly.

"Then you should use the treadmill," Romeo said with concern.

No, I don't want to feel imprisoned in a room running at the same spot. After all, there is a very beautiful view here and I'd love to see more. She said pouting.

Romeo found her pouting cute. It was the first time he saw her with such airlines and besides she was right. The mountainous view was amazing. It's one of the reasons why he liked this mansion.

"Give me 5 minutes. I Will go with you." He said with a grin.

"You don't have to. I'll be fine." She said assuredly. 

No, it's not safe for you to go anywhere alone remember? I don't want to have another emergency call of you being in the hospital and being kidnapped somewhere. You said you will follow me everywhere so I also get to escort you everywhere. He Smirked.

"I have not forgotten our agreement but this is a safe area. Look at the security around. No one will be stupid enough to try any shit.

"Maria, I am going with you and that is final." He said seriously.

"Okay, okay. Can we leave now? "

"In five minutes, he sighs." He left to his room and came back wearing training pants and a performance T-shirt with trainers. 

"Ready when you are, he smirked.

"Just make sure to keep up the pace". She smiled.

They went for the run together and Romeo could tell she has been doing a lot of runs. It was as if she was an athlete and it was difficult for him to catch up to her.

"I told you not to come didn't I?" She teased when she realized he was lurking behind.

"It's good I came anyway. I got to realize I need to work out more. I suck at this." He said panting.

"Not too bad for a bodyguard, she teased, running faster.

"Can we wait for a little?" He said and stopped before Maria could argue.

"Okay. Just two minutes she said doing some jumping jacks."

Romeo was taken aback by her level of energy.

"You never get tired, do you?" He asked.

"Why should I"? It's fun, she says and begins doing some squats.

" You are too good at this", he said releasing a long breath.

"Your two minutes is up", she says looking at her wristwatch and ignoring his question.

"Oh fine, just fine. Let's see who will be the first to race you home." He said as they were just a few meters from home.

Before he could complete his sentence, Maria was already on her way. He followed steadily behind her. He moved a little to the side to catch up to her and saw a man in black with a mask on his face. 

"Maria, wait." He screamed trying to catch up to her. But she kept running thinking he wanted to delay her again because he was tired.

He instantly sensed danger and reached for the gun he hangs on his waist. Before reaching his gun, the man had pulled up his gun and pointed it in Maria's direction unknown to her. But before he fired, Romeo speedily caught up to Maria, pulling her to a stop. But the force was too much making them tumble on the floor to Romeo's advantage.

He quickly rolled on top of Maria, making their lips brush a little as the masked man's bullet missed them. Romeo fired two bullets into the knees of the attacker.

The sound of the gunshots attracted some of his men since they were close to the house. The attacker's gun dropped as he fell on his knees with screams of pain.

"Fuck you," he said trying to reach his gun but it was quickly picked up by Acid.

They picked him up violently despite his screams of pain and took him to a small room. Maria was surprised by the whole situation and could not utter a word. She was filled with shock but also admiration for Romeo. He is truly her hero she thought to herself.

"Are you alright?" Romeo asked with genuine concern as he stood up and helped her on her feet."

"Yes. I'm fine" she said almost in a whisper. What about you? Are you hurt? She asked looking tor traces of wounds or bruises.

"Yes. I'm alright, he smiled back. Let's go in. It's not safe here". He said, leading her to the mansion with his security all around the place.

In the small room, they took off the mask and revealed the face of one of Jame's bodyguards but Maria insisted he wasn't working on the orders of James as she had seen him earlier. Romeo was bent on getting the truth out of him.

They got his name to be Ken Rich but he wouldn't reveal who gave him the order. His cheeks were red and swollen from the continuous slaps and his nose bled. His eyes were red and sunken. He screamed in pain from all the torture but was adamant to reveal his sender. 

Maria requested from Romeo to allow her to make him speak. He was reluctant but allowed her after they had securely tied him to a chair. Maria entered the room with a band-aid, scissors, gauze, and alcohol. Romeo and his contacts waited outside but viewed everything on their phone from the cameras installed in the room.

"Stay away from me, he yelled" when Maria got closer.

"I am here to help you and not to hurt you, she said with a straight face".

"Why will you help me when you know you were my target." He said in a defenseless tone.

"Just in case you don't know, I value life, and the earlier I attend to those bullet wounds, the better your chances of walking again in the future, she said and opened a bottle of whisky.

"Open your mouth", she ordered.

"What do you want to do?. He asked with panic.

"Just do as I say if you want to live", she said annoyingly.

He opened his mouth without a second thought. Maria poured the whisky into his mouth which he swallowed. She went ahead to pour some on his wound which made him scream. She pulled out one bullet with surgical scissors and gave him another shot of whisky and pulled out the second bullet. She cleaned his wounds with alcohol and wrapped it with a bandage.

"You will still have to go to the hospital. This is just a first aid she said" turning to leave.

"Wait. He said with a painful voice. Ain't you going to ask who wanted you killed?"

"I will like to know if you are kind enough to tell me." She said with a forced smile.

"You have been good to me so I want to return a favor. I was sent to kill you and you knew it but still gave me a chance to live. I don't think I could ever repay you. Please don't get me wrong. I didn't want to do it especially after finding out you were under Romeo's protection. He continued with pain evident in his voice.

But she kidnapped my little girl. You see, my little girl is all I have. She is just seven. She said she will let her live in exchange for your life. But you see, you saved me and even though I might not see my girl again, I will be happy with the thought that you lived.

"So who is she?" Maria asked with pity in her eyes.

"She warned me not to give her name when I am caught or else?"

"Your girl dies? " she said before he could finish speaking. He nods in the affirmative.

"But we can help you. We can save your girl too if you give us her name." Maria said truthfully.

"I don't think Romeo will want to help me knowing I almost killed what he held most dear." He said thoughtfully.

"What do you mean by that?" She asked with a surprised look.

"You see, Romeo is a player but he changed since he met you. It only means that he likes you that much", he said looking her straight in the eye for the first time.

"Then it also means I could convince him to save your girl right?" She asked rhetorically.

Okay. I will tell you for the life of my daughter.