The Promise of Love

pte

into my jeans. I paired it with a clean pair of shoes. My shoulder-length

" I asked the elderly woman when I saw

kids. I didn't want to go, but she offered a lot of money, so he

thought I'd visit Mamu's house, but just as I was about to leav

d out, and it tur

fore his gaze settled back on my face. And t

pants. His hair, deliberately un

ntly. I had a black backpa

enger door and extended his hand, but I ign

I sat down. He shoved his outstret

calling out to me. The kid was al

o you need any

!" he shouted, blowing a kiss from h

e, Rixie," I replied with

. At that moment, an unexplainable unease settled in my chest. I stared at our ho

reaking my thoughts. I straig

to do? We didn't get a chance to talk. I w

to do," he replied,

ed in anything illegal, I know you'd be one of th

etly investigating Mamu. But where were the two troublemak

I frowned deeply as I noticed the road we were tak

going, but I waited for him to say som

opened the door, and go

ys. From the same vehicle, he retrieved a bag. He looke

said, grabbing my arm. I slapped his

problem?" he

you telling me anything? I'm part of this mission she assigned to us. Why

glanced at the ship. The port was bustling with

ng their goods, while o

everything there," he said, grabbing my

y patience is running out," I

We'll talk on the ship. Let's go," he insisted. I slapped his

't go with him. He could handle th

. I wouldn't care anymore. As I wal

arply. He didn't reply. Instead,

further when he hoisted me up. It was as if I weighed

didn't even flinch. Instead, he adjusted me on his

," I st

all," he warned, securing me as if I

ignored me and continued walking. My fear grew as we climb

of falling? It's you wh

he wasn't even sweating. He stared at me coldly. He had already handed o

adn't moved from where he stood, speaking into

ry or thirsty, just let me know," he said. I shrugged. I had money

suddenly stood up and left without saying an

is time. I couldn't help myself anymore. I stood up and walked toward the stairs. Before I could

ots. His grip on my arm tightened as he positioned

what they heard. Soon, I overheard murmurs tryi

d Richie and the children I had been with. Fear and anxiety

e myself from Leon's hold. Some were thrilled by the announc

... I need to get to the kids!" My eyes stun

, pulling me back to where

o get to them!" I kept shouting, but he wouldn't

d cupped my face with his large

it. My team and I came from Manila after receiving a message asking for help. Cynthia is our informant. She's connected to a dru

b is to protect her, but instead, she asked us to protect someone else. That p

I couldn't understand what Mamu was thinking, why she wanted me to be the one they

he didn't give us clear information-just your name. It was up to us to figure out who you were. Don't worry. My team made

ll me? And why does she want me to stay away when I could've gone with the children?

d placing it on me. Its scent wrapped around me

nts," he s

ve parents,

no one else on her team knows this except me. Cynthia Ortega is your biological

d parents-a mother who had always been beside me but never reve

an and the governor of our prov

s? Is that why she neve

e confused,"

what Cynthia wants to avoid. She knows he'll only use you. That's why she wants you

n't even know

l take you somewhere far, away from

I asked,

ion. I'm just doing my job," he

Contin