Dangerous Pursuit

Chapter 27

Zac

I wrap my arm around the shoulder of Zaila while she wrap hers on my waist. We are walking and the garden of another safe house of Madam Grace.

"I am glad it is over my dear brother," she rest her head on my shoulder.

I silently and kissed her head.

Finally, everything is okay.
Mr. Zaidan is dead and General Henara is in prison now. The government already took care of everything and all the identity that trace us were deleted.

Finally, we are now ordinary citizen of this country.

Finally, I can talk to Sandy about us.

I found her watching Melissa playing with Tina and Zaila happily joined them. Madam Grace is sitting on a bench watching them.

"Hi," I sat beside Sandy. She look at me and smiled.

We watch Melissa having a good time for a while. Then I cleared my throat to get Sandy's attention. "So, hopefully everything will flow smoothly now. What are your plans? Are you going back to your former house?"

"Maybe, " she briefly looked at me and her attention went back to Melissa, "I still don't have definite plan as of now but we will go home first."

"Do you mind if we take a walk?" I stand up and offered my hand to her.
She took my hand and I pulled her up.

We slowly walk through the garden side by side.

I cleared my throat. I have to tell her now. "Sandy."

"Hmm?"

"Now everything is okay. I really want to plan a better peaceful life. I want to be with Zaila to catch the years we had not been together."

"That would be great." She smiled.

"Umm.......really I want to have my own family also.......and I am hoping that you will allow me to.......have you and Melissa."

Sandy stopped walking and now she is facing me. She put her hand on my shoulder. I can feel she is contemplating the right words to tell me. I already feel that the answer will be not good but I am hoping I  can change her mind if I will let her see my honest feelings on her.

"Sandy," I took the chance to continue before she will utter another word, "I know you know how much I care for you ever since I met you and I really like to make our friendship to step farther.......to be more than friends. You never left my mind since you left. And you just don't know how happy I was when I found you again."

I touch her face with the back of my hand. "I want you and Melissa to be a part of my life. My love for you never changed. Just please give me the chance."

She looked at me. She's trying to suppress the tears in her eyes. "Zac. You know you are always have a special place in my heart......and now Melissa's heart. But I can't be unfair to you. You know me. I can't make a fool of such a good heart like yours. You know I do love you but like..............my brother. I once tried to be more than that but it is hard. I can fool you but I can't fool myself."

I clench my fist. "Is it because of that stupid asshole.......that Jeremy?"

I tried to contain my anger. Not that I am angry with Sandy. I hate how Jeremy is treating her. I know Jeremy is always there for her, to protect and love her but I know he knows she has deeper feelings for him. If he can't reciprocate it, he should let her go. He was so selfish that time. Once he felt that he will loose the attention Sandy is giving him, he acted like a stupid asshole begging for her attention. I know it but I just kept quiet. But not now, I can't allow it anymore.

"Sandy, please don't do this to  yourself. He is not worth it." I try to tone down my voice with no avail.

"Stop it Zac. I know it." Sandy looked at me with hurt ryes.
"Don't think I don't. That's why I left but you two keep bugging my life and sometimes I am at the edge if loosing my sanity. So this time I have to go far...........from both of you. Please, my life is okay with Melissa alone. I don't want to complicate it more."

I hug her tight. She sobs on my shoulder. I can feel her agony.

"I understand you completely." I gently stroke her head and back. I want to ease her pain. "Just please don't remove me again in your life."

"Zac, I don't want to but seeing you hurt as I can't reciprocate your feelings hurt me more. I want you to move on. I want to move on."

I look at her face and wipe the tears with my thumb. "I will move on. But I just want to be in touch with you."

"Promise me when I see you again, you are sure that you moved on. We need space to do that. I will never forget you Zac."

I gently kiss her forehead and hug her tight. "I promise you." I whisper.

She smiled. "Do it for your self Zac. You have to give it to yourself. You deserve to be happy. Like what I did long time ago. I have to do it for Melissa."

She hug me tight and slowly she step backed. She kissed my cheeks and smiled. She turn and slowly walk back to the garden.  I watch her retreating figure and sigh. She is right. I have to do it for myself.

I walk  forward, needing more space far from everyone. I need few moments alone. As I get inside the woods, I hear soft voices. I am not alone.  I held my gun.

I slowly walk towards the voices. I saw two figures. A man and a woman and they look familiar. Damn! Trisha and Jeremy! They are hugging each other........intimately.

My blood starts to boil. How could he do this to Sandy? Jeremy is an asshole. I walked away before I lose my temper.