After dialing Trae's number, Calum grabbed the phone he'd gotten from the men he'd killed earlier. He called the number in his contacts tagged as "Boss." As the phone rang, his heart pounded in his chest.
"I fucking told you, Green! You wait for my goddamn call, not you calling me!" Donovan shrieked angrily when he answered.
"Too bad Green's already dead." Calum replied calmly.
Donovan's eyes widened in the other line. "Who the fuck are you?!"
His voice betrayed his worry. He knew Green's voice well, and he was certain this wasn't him.
"Listen, I want to negotiate with you. I have the woman you want. I want you to tell Eagle that he needs to meet me at the time and location I'll give you, and then he can have his daughter. Or else, I'll kill her." Calum's words were laced with a chilling dedication. He meant every word.
"You son of a bitch!" Donovan roared.
"I'll meet him soon. And tell him to bring no one but himself so the transaction goes smoothly. You have a good night."
Donovan's anger erupted. He slammed the phone to the floor and shouted as if he wanted to kill someone right then and there. He was furious.
Calum sighed deeply after the call ended. He felt a distinct satisfaction, a big chance to kill Eagle tonight. Yet, no matter how he tried to convince himself he was fine with what he was doing, he wasn't. He glanced at his car, unsure if he could look her directly in the eyes knowing he was using her to catch Eagle. This was dangerous, and as much as possible, he didn't want her involved, but he had no choice. He needed to set aside his emotions, or this thing he felt for her would consume him. It wouldn't do him any good. It would only make him look like a fool and a defeated man.
He got into the car and, without any accident, their eyes met in the rearview mirror. The way she looked at him spoke volumes. She was beautiful in his eyes, even with her messy hair and crumpled t-shirt. Her face was pale, and her lips were pale as well.
She touched his hand above the steering wheel, making him look at her, but he kept his head down. He couldn't meet her gaze. He could feel the warmth of her palm on his right hand. His traitorous heart pounded without remorse. He held her hand, unable to resist the urge. He looked at her. Their eyes met, filled with the longing they had for each other. Mariana lifted his head as she felt his hand caress her cheek. He kissed her. And he couldn't stop. Their lips met, and just like the feeling they had before, it never faded. Their hearts beat in unison. Their minds went blank. She held his hands cupped in her face, and their kiss intensified. Mariana gasped, letting him do as he pleased. He became like a hungry hyena, devouring her lips, almost biting her. She never knew he missed her this much, and neither did he. His eyes closed, and his mind was consumed by her. They both knew they were deeply desired to make this happen again and again. They loved each other. It was certain, the bright full moon of the night was one of their witnesses.
Even though it was against his will, he forced himself to end their passionate kiss. They both gasped for air, their eyes closed. He placed his forehead against hers while their hands remained in the same position.
"I love you. I love you, Calum..." Mariana whispered.
She opened her eyes as she felt his face slowly pulling away. Those words felt like a dagger buried in his heart. He avoided her eyes because he was sure he couldn't say the same thing, even though he felt the same way.
Mariana felt his tears fall on her cheeks. She cried silently because it was as clear as the brightness of the stars that he had no intention of saying the same words. But she asked, "Do you love me? Do you love me, Calum?"
Her tears continued to fall as she felt his hand slowly let go of hers. He didn't look at her face or make any attempt to meet her eyes, but he knew she was breaking, and it hurt him. He looked straight ahead at the road, his hands back on the steering wheel. Her words were torturing him. He'd never felt this kind of pain; it was killing him. His heart had no intention of stopping its rapid beat. He wanted to tear it out and throw it away.
He felt her face touch his shoulder and her left arm around his waist. She hugged him, closing her eyes again. Her tears never subsided.
"I never expected you to give me an answer. You don't need to say yes for me to feel it. I know you do, you do love me. You don't have to say it."
He could clearly hear her words, even though they were almost a whisper. And he felt it. She was completely right.
She continued, "I know inside your mind it's all a mess right now. But if you can't think straight and can't understand what you're feeling anymore, take the risk of being manipulated by your fraudulent heart. It's both devious and strange. It's much easier to regret it than to neglect it."
Calum just listened and surely understood her, but not planning to say a word.
"Calum, thank you for making me feel this. I never thought I could feel this way until I met you. I will be waiting until the day that you can already tell me that you felt the same way. I will be waiting."
She buried her face in his shoulder, and his black jacket was wet with her tears.
He was crying silently, his heart aching terribly.
Calum seemed speechless, and he surely didn't know what to say. She always made him feel so dumb that he couldn't even form simple words to reply to her.
This was a very long night for both of them. Both victims of their devilish fate.
***