The Stolen Heart

[ 12 ]

    Cadence's pov: 
   I'm so relieved that Erica survived this awful event really. I don't know what I could've done without her. This event made me realise how much I care about Erica and that's why I've made a decision...I'm gonna give up my secret identity. I'm willing to be a better person for Erica. I don't want to let my bad habits ruin our journey together.
    So, without any other thoughts, I decided to talk with Anna about this. I texted her telling to meet me at my place because we needed a place where no one could hear our discussion. She arrived 30 minutes later.

    "Hi, is something wrong? What's with the sudden meeting?" Anna asked me as soon as I opened the door for her. I smiled at her kindly and sat down with her on my sofa.

    "Hi Anna, sorry to call u like this but I've made a decision. I don't want to be Soft Paws anymore.." 

    "Ohh, I saw this coming..." She said with a playful smirk on her face.

    "Really? So you're disappointed?"

    "No girll! I just knew it because I saw what's between you and Erica. And I understand that you want to become a better person for her but are you sure? Don't forget the reason of being Soft Paws.." She said and made me think again... The purpose of being Soft Paws was to make the police suffer because they were ignorant when my family needed help.

    "Yeah..but I think Erica changed my mind and showed me that her and her team are different and that there is hope."  Anna just smiled because she understands how much this means for me to give up like that.

   After some other hours of just enjoying eachother's presence, Anna left me alone to prepare my plan but it has to wait until Erica recovers. So I just left to go visit her at the hospital.

   Cadence slowly opened the door because she didn't know if Erica was asleep or not. She approached her and saw that Erica was looking at her with the softest eyes and with a big showing smile. 

 "Hi, patient! The doctor is here to heal you with some presence and cute words!" Cade said making Erica giggle. 

  "Hi, doc! The patient missed you since you suddenly left yesterday." She said pouting.
  
   "Sorry about that, job called me, you know it the best. So, how are you feeling?"

   "Better, it still hurts but it's manageable."

   "Could've been dead," Cadence muttered, jaw tightening.

   "Don't," Erica said sharply. "Don't do that thing where you blame yourself. I was the one who made the call."

   "I was supposed to have your six," Cadence said, barely above a whisper.

   "You did," Erica replied, softer now. "I'm here, aren't I?"

There was a silence between them, filled with the unspoken things that had always lingered beneath the surface.

   "I kept thinking," Cadence said, voice cracking, "what if I never got to say—"

Erica reached out, her hand trembling slightly, and placed it over Cadence's.

    "It's alright now..I'm here."

Cadence blinked. Her throat burned. Her fingers wrapped around Erica's, gently.

    "I'm not letting you leave my side." she said. "Never again."

A silence settled again, but it felt different now. Heavier, deeper. 

Erica gave a small, tired smile. "Then I guess I better hurry up and get out of this damn bed."

  I stayed a little longer than I meant to. Just watching her.

  Erica had drifted off not long after that last smile. Her fingers were still loosely tangled in mine, even in sleep. It was like her body didn't want to let go—and honestly, neither did I.

  I should've left then. Let her rest. But I didn't. I just sat there in the chair next to her bed, admiring every feature of her face and tucking some strands of hair behind her ear from time to time.

   I was thinking about the first time I saw her in a magazine. At that time I didn't understand why everyone admired her. Now I do. She's just so special, the way she is serious about her responsability of saving people and how she still smiles, still finds time to reassure her team, even when everything's falling apart.

And the way she looks at me.. God, it's different. She always sees me. Always calms me down first, even when she's just as scared. 

She's special. She always has been. 

"I'm going to tell you everything," I whispered, even though she couldn't hear me. "Not now. Not while you're healing. But soon."

I stood slowly, untangling my hand from hers.

I took one last look at her—this brilliant, stubborn woman, who made me want to believe again—and left the room.

 When I got home, I opened my laptop and pulled up the folder I never thought I'd delete.

Every stolen file. Every map. Blueprints. Blackmail.
Everything Soft Paws had ever touched.

My fingers hovered over the delete button.
I hesitated...because deleting the files wouldn't erase the past.

But it would be one step closer from becoming a better person for Erica. Click.
Gone. 

Now..I just have to meet her again and give them back what I stole. 

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Chapter 12! I'm so sorry for the long wait but I was busy with school and exams. But, I'm back now and I hope this new chapter makes the wait worth.