Chapter 4 - The Kiss That Neither Of Them Planned
The investigation led them to an abandoned church.
It had once been a safe meeting place for Elena and Matteo.
Sharise found an old metal box beneath the altar.
Inside were letters.
Dozens of them.
Her mother's handwriting.
She read them.
Elena had spent years trying to protect her.
She had changed identities.
Moved between cities.
Trusted very few people.
And repeatedly wrote one name.
Cassell.
Matteo.
Ramona.
Ramona stared at the letters.
"My brother knew."
"Yes."
"And my mother trusted him."
"Yes."
Sharise looked at him.
"Then why did nobody find me?"
Ramona answered quietly.
"Because they believed you were dead."
The words cut.
"What?"
"The official report said the family died in a house fire."
"I survived."
"Yes."
"And someone hid me?"
"Yes."
"Who?"
Ramona looked at the final letter.
"We're going to find out."
A storm hit while they were leaving.
Rain poured through the broken roof.
Sharise slipped.
Ramona caught her.
They stared at each other.
For a second, neither moved.
Then he kissed her.
It was brief.
Unexpected.
Almost accidental.
He pulled back immediately.
"I'm sorry."
Sharise touched his jacket.
"Don't."
"Sharise—"
"I don't want you to apologize."
He looked at her.
The storm raged around them.
She kissed him again.
This time, there was nothing accidental about it.
When they separated, Ramona rested his forehead against hers.
"This is a bad idea."
"Probably."
"You don't know what kind of man I am."
"I know enough."
"You should be afraid."
"I was."
He closed his eyes.
"And now?"
"Now I'm more afraid of losing you."
The words changed everything.
They returned to the safe house.
But someone had been waiting.
Rosa, the woman who had raised Sharise after the supposed death of her parents, was gone.
A note sat on the table.
You found her.
Now we know where you are.
Ramona crushed the paper.
"Who took her?"
Sharise stared.
"Rosa."
"She knows something."
"She raised me."
"Then she may be the key."
Ramona's team traced her to an old hotel.
They found her alive.
But before they could reach her, the room exploded.
Ramona shielded Sharise.
They escaped through a back stairwell.
Rosa was alive.
And she was terrified.
"You have to leave," she whispered.
"Why?"
"Because they aren't after the money."
Sharise stepped forward.
"What do they want?"
May you like
Rosa looked at her.
"You."
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