enemies | rc

vingt-quatre

charlotte's point of view

i slowly blinked, trying to adjust my eyes to the brightness of the open window in my room. i tried to sit up, but the pain ran up my leg and i immediately laid back down. i took a deep breath, trying to ease the pain.

"you're not supposed to move yet, char." i turned to the door to find my uncle walking in. "the doctor said you shouldn't walk for a couple of days so the wound–"

"i have to get up." i muttered and i tried to sit up again.

my uncle walked up to me and pushed me back down. "you're not going anywhere, you will stay in bed until the doctor says you're alright to get back on the missions."

"but my parents," i panted. "i'm so close to finding out who–"

"enough, charlotte muñoz." he shouted. "i know you want to know more about who tried to kill your parents, but you just got shot twice in less than a week. how about you inform me what you have up until now instead of trying to risk your life again?"

i pouted like a little kid. i knew i was being stubborn. he was like a second father to me, he was only looking out for me.

i sighed. "i think richard's father is the head of their organization, and i think they know who i am."

"why?" he pressed.

"he seems to respect his father, but does not hesitate to defy him. i almost got the feeling he was talking more about his superior rather than his father."

"you talked to him?" he crossed his arms over his chest and sat on my bed.

fuck, fuck, fuck.

"i was trying to gain his trust, i thought with a couple of glasses of champagne in his system he would open up to me." he remained silent, so i took it as my cue to continue. "when i saw him, there was something in his eyes, like he recognized me. like... he was expecting me to be there."

i frowned and looked away from my uncle, coming to a realization as i spoke to him. i didn't want to believe it at first, but the signs were all pointing towards him being with the people who both tried to kill my parents and are now trying to kill me.

oh my god... at the robbery. when the men went directly for me to take as a hostage, when he disappeared out of nowhere in the middle of it then appeared when everything ended. how could he slip out if he wasn't one of them?

"christopher... where's chris? i need my phone."

my uncle furrowed his eyebrows. "i think he's not here, do you want me to call the doctor?"

i groaned and covered my face with my hands. "no. can you tell him to come here when you see him?"

he raised his eyebrows, but nodded and walked out of my room. he was barely out of my room when christopher ran in, almost knocking my uncle down in the process.

"you're awake! how are you?"

"christopher!" i tried to sit up, but i waited until i heard the click of the door closing to speak again. "where's my phone? i need to talk to richard. it's urgent."

"we didn't find your phone, char." he came up to me and helped me sit up. "none of your belongings, really. i actually thought you had left them here."

i swung my legs over the side to the bed and reached for christopher's arm. "help me up, i have to find richard."

"you're going to his house?"

"i don't know where is his bloody house." i admitted. "but as soon as i go out, he'll come to me."

"i think you're still under the effects of the painkillers." he hesitated as he helped me stand up.

"richard is an assassin. i have no proof besides your dad's word, but everything is just so... weird." i frowned. he was looking at me like i had grown a second head. "listen, he began to appear in all of my missions, all of them, i thought it was a coincidence at the time. not only that, i began to see him randomly in the streets."

"and now you think he's the one trying to kill you?" christopher finished for me. i nodded and bit my lip. he helped me walk towards my closet so i could get changed. "this is serious. we have to tell my dad everything, including cali."

"i can't." i grabbed the clothes and pushed him away to make my way back to the bed by myself. "he'll kill richard if he finds out."

"richard will kill you if he never finds out!" he exclaimed as he stalked towards me.

"he won't kill me." i looked down. "he can't."

"he can, and he will. charlotte this is why you can't let your guard down near him. you have to infiltrate yourself into their compound."

"easier said than done." i changed into a summer dress, only long enough to cover the bandages around my thigh. i slipped my converse on and limped my way to the main door.

"you won't get far with that leg." he called out. "the doctor said–"

"you're a doctor too. can i walk with this injury?"

"well, yes, but–"

"that's all i needed to hear." i smiled and opened the door.

"i'm also your bodyguard and you're not supposed to go out without me!" he tried to reason with me.

i shrugged and kept walking. i mentally drew a path towards the nearest park. i was fucking insane when i thought it was a good idea to leave headquarters alone, limping and without my phone. i regretted this, but it needed to be done. richard wouldn't find me if i stayed in my bedroom until i was better.