The following day, the sun streamed through the large windows of the mansion, casting golden rays across the training room floor. I entered with a sense of determination, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. The previous night's kiss with Carlos replayed in my mind, each second stretching into a lifetime. The way he had looked at me, the softness of his lips—everything felt surreal. I shook my head, trying to dispel the confusing feelings that came with the memory.
As I stepped into the training room, I noticed Carlos was already there, performing a series of fluid movements with a pair of wooden escrima sticks. His concentration was palpable, and for a moment, I stood back and watched, captivated by the way he moved. There was a grace to his movements, an elegance that belied his intimidating reputation.
When he finally noticed me, he paused, resting the sticks against his hips, his gaze dropping to his feet. "You're early," he said, his tone casual but with a hint of shyness.
I looked down at my hands, trying to hide my apprehension. "I want to train. If I'm going to work for you—or whatever it is you think we're doing—I need to be ready."
He shifted his weight, still avoiding my gaze. "Good. We'll start with basic hand-to-hand combat."
"Hand-to-hand?" I raised an eyebrow, trying to hide the fear creeping in. "Are you sure you want to go easy on me?"
He chuckled softly, shaking his head, his eyes flickering to his side. "I'm not going easy. I promise you that. But if you're going to survive in this world, you need to know how to defend yourself."
"Alright, then. Show me what you've got," I challenged, forcing my gaze to stay off his eyes, feeling a strange tension between us.
Carlos stepped closer, adopting a fighting stance, still avoiding eye contact. "Let's see how you fare against me."
I mirrored his stance, my heart racing as we began to spar. The tension in the room shifted as we exchanged blows, each strike and parry pushing me to my limits. Carlos was relentless, his speed and precision forcing me to focus entirely on the fight. I felt every muscle in my body tense as I moved, dodging and striking back with all my strength.
But it wasn't long before fatigue began to set in. My breathing became heavier, and my movements slower as I struggled to keep up with him. Carlos, however, showed no signs of weariness. He danced around me, his strikes controlled but powerful, testing my endurance and skill.
"Come on, Lilith! You can do better than this!" he taunted, a hint of encouragement laced within his shyness.
I gritted my teeth, pushing through the exhaustion. "I'm not done yet!" I shouted, launching into an offensive attack. I aimed a kick at his midsection, but he easily sidestepped, catching my leg and pulling me off balance.
Before I knew it, I was on the ground, breathless and frustrated. Carlos stood over me, his gaze still downcast, a satisfied grin on his face. "See? You need to be quicker, smarter. Anticipate my moves."
I scowled up at him, my gaze fixed on his shoulder. "Easy for you to say when you're—"
Before I could finish my sentence, Carlos crouched down, extending a hand to help me up, his expression oddly vulnerable. I reluctantly took his hand, and he pulled me to my feet, still avoiding eye contact. "Get up, Lilith. It's all part of the learning process."
I avoided looking at him, focusing instead on the training mat beneath my feet. "You're right. Let's do this again."
We continued training, and with each round, I could feel my skills improving. I was learning to anticipate his movements, to react faster. Carlos was a formidable opponent, but with every hit I took, I also learned how to push back.
After what felt like hours, we finally stopped, both of us panting and drenched in sweat. Carlos leaned against the wall, arms crossed, observing me with a mix of admiration and the same bashfulness that I felt. "Not bad for a beginner," he remarked, his eyes flickering to his hands.
"Just wait until I really get the hang of it," I replied, trying to sound confident while I still avoided his gaze.
Carlos straightened, his serious expression revealing a hint of shyness as he focused on his feet. "You're improving faster than I expected. But there's more you need to know about this world, about the risks you'll face if you choose to stand beside me."
I nodded slowly, absorbing his words without lifting my gaze. "What do you mean?"
"Every decision has consequences," he said, his voice low and steady as he glanced at his hands. "The people we work with, the enemies we face—it's not just about skill. It's about loyalty, trust, and the alliances we build. You need to be prepared for the reality of this life."
I took a deep breath, feeling a sense of determination welling up within me. "I understand. But I'm not here to play games, Carlos. I want to find out who killed my brother, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes."
Carlos stepped closer, his eyes piercing into mine for just a moment before he looked back down, focusing intently on my lips. "That's the spirit. But you need to be careful. I can help you, but trust takes time. And there are many who would see you as a threat."
"Trust isn't given; it's earned," I replied, echoing a lesson my brother had taught me long ago, still avoiding his gaze.
"Exactly," he said, his expression softening slightly, yet still looking at me lips. "And I'll do my best to earn yours. But you have to promise to be careful. This world can swallow you whole if you're not vigilant."
I took a deep breath, feeling a sense of determination welling up within me. "I promise."
Before Carlos could respond, a knock sounded at the door, interrupting our moment. A moment later, Gabriel walked in, a clipboard in hand. "Sorry to interrupt, but we need to talk"
"Not now, Gabriel," Carlos said, his tone sharper than usual, still glancing down.
Gabriel raised an eyebrow, looking between us. "Uh, okay. But I have to inform you that there's been a development regarding your brother's death."
I turned to Gabriel, meeting his gaze directly. "What is it?" I demanded, my heart racing at the thought of new information.
"The rival mafia might have blackmailed him to get information," he explained, sending a chill through me. "We've received intel suggesting his death could be connected to the rival mafia leader."
The revelation sent a shiver down my spine. "You mean Carlos didn't kill him, but the rival mafia leader did?"
"He's right," Carlos mumbled quietly, still avoiding my gaze, his demeanor remaining shy as he focused on a stray piece of hair that had escaped my ponytail. Gabriel simply nodded. "Yes, that's what I believe."
I nodded at Gabriel, acknowledging his words, then turned to Carlos, still avoiding eye contact. "What do you mean by 'he's right?'" I asked.
"What I mean is that I didn't kill your brother; someone framed me," Carlos said with a shrug, still focusing on my nose and not meeting my eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me this?" I asked, genuinely surprised he hadn't mentioned it.
"You wouldn't have believed me," Carlos replied simply, still looking at my nose with keen interest.
I sighed and turned to Gabriel. "Then let's get to work," I said, my resolve firm. "I won't stop until I figure out who really killed my brother."
Carlos nodded, a newfound respect in his gaze, though he still didn't meet my eyes. "I'll help you every step of the way."
Gabriel looked between us, clearly surprised by my newfound determination. "I'll help however I can," he said, his voice steady, his eyes darting between Carlos and me, sensing the tension.
