Leashed

Chapter 17

The waves were noisily invading the shore. The cold sea breeze penetrated through the agape huge window, and it made the curtain dance with it. The chirping of the crickets outside occupied her ears. None of those, however, were the reason why Neoma was still awake. The night wasn’t young anymore, but sleep had yet to visit her.

               Earlier, Sol had offered again to sleep there with her, but she refused since his advances might ruin her slumber; nevertheless, she still couldn’t sleep a wink.

               There was this certain unease while her eyes were closed. She felt observed by a dangerous presence with her inside her bedroom in the beach house. It would never be paranoia; she’s too self-assured to succumb to something like that. It’s just that she confided in her senses too much, and these were telling her that she wasn’t alone in this room.

               She carefully got up and reached for the lamp beside her.

               Click! She switched it on. Lukewarm light then illuminated her surroundings.

               She next realized that she didn’t need to scan her eyes around her anymore because standing at the foot of her bed was a tall man with a grim expression on his face. He came here uninvited and that he wasn’t happy to see her. Something glistened in his hand, and it looked sharp and suspicious.

               He gripped the knife firmly, and he glared at her like he gathered all the contempt in the world for that moment.

               “Hello, Owel. Where have you been?” She smiled innocently at him as though she hadn’t done any misdeed in all the years of her existence.

               He didn’t respond, didn’t react, and not even a single twitch of his lips. His glare was intent on her, nothing else. His indignant eyes turned a shade darker, but his lividity shined straight.

               She received his intent clearly, yet she remained unfazed. It didn’t unnerve her the least bit. With all that she was going through, something like a threat to her life doesn’t sound surprising at all, much less from the guy whose parents she’s hiding.

               She stripped the blanket off her, got off the bed and gingerly stood on her feet while revealing herself clad only in a translucent nighty.

               “I guess you didn’t come here just to talk,” she said.

               “It’s a relief that you’re not dumb,” he replied with a stoic tone. “I was out there combing the entire resort looking for my parents. So, for the last time, I’m asking you: where are they?”

               She crossed her arms over her chest and matched his expression. “I believe that you’re not deaf, so you already heard my answer to that redundant inquiry of yours.”

               Exasperated, he took a deep breath. “You don’t have the right to force me to do what you want. I don’t want any part of this.”

               She returned him a lopsided smile. “What an ungrateful son of a b***h you are. Think about it, Owel. If I hadn’t been quick to hide your parents, they wouldn’t even breathe the same oxygen as you are breathing today.”

               At that point, something snapped in Owel’s head.

               “After that very generous gesture of mine, this is what I get? The least you could—”

               Abruptly, she gasped.

               She wasn’t able to finish what she was saying; not when her back was suddenly pinned hard to her bed.

               She knew that he owns phenomenal agility, and she just witnessed it again.

               Owel dashed at her like no one else she had seen before. It was a showcase of finesse and utterly swift; she couldn’t even blink.

               She felt the metallic sharpness dangerously close to her neck, the big hand that claimed both of her wrists above her head, and an entire weight restricting her body. She then looked up and met probably one of the most forbidding orbs in her years of living—so deadly, so mysterious.

               He clenched his teeth. “I’ve been putting up with you since we met, missy. As I told you before, I only helped you because you promised to get me to my parents. But what did you do?”

               “Get off—!” She struggled.

               “You thought of a cute blackmail.” He smirked. “I’m nothing like that dog of yours. You can’t manipulate me. You apparently haven’t seen me kill someone before, but trust me, I could be a worse murderer than your dog. Do you want me to prove it? Then, let me start with you.”

               Neoma’s eyes widened as she gazed in the direction of his knife. He was dead serious.

               He caught her alarm. “What a pretty little neck you have here. If you don’t want me to break it, then tell me where you’re hiding my parents.”

               Likewise, he decided to intimidate her even more as he inched his weapon closer.

               But then, Neoma’s act ceased. She chuckled.

               “Please don’t flatter yourself with the thought that I’m afraid of you killing me,” she condescendingly stated, “We both know that my death will never benefit you, especially your parents.

               “Face it. I’m the only way for their survival. But you? What can you do? You’re just a fugitive. You’re on the run. How will you be able to protect your parents while the authorities are after you? Even if you do manage, it will be very difficult, and their lives will still be compromised.”

               He was dumbfounded, since she had a point.

               “You may not be as smart as I am, but I guess that you still have a brain, and you’re capable of entertaining some common sense.”

               Her words cut through him snarkily, but these made him rethink about his decision. He realized that he had erred in his perception. Indeed, she was intent on using him, and in order to keep him at her side, her bargaining chip was his parents, whom she knew were irreplaceably precious to him. The whole situation was analogous to a dog promised of its favorite treat while it was given the less tasty yet still satisfying ones while it remained loyal to its master. For him, it sounded absurd, but it was accurate, and he might have already acted like a domestic canine. It just happened that his master was an opportunistic and manipulative woman who’s also ridiculously captivating.

               “Are you done staring at my face?” She severed him from his thoughts. “Or is the view from there really nice?”

               He then remembered that he was still on top of her—a position that could be easily misunderstood. He could see her curves accentuated by her slim-fit nightgown, and her exposed cleavage was just right under his chin.

               Owel wasn’t new to the body of a woman nor was he inexperienced; on the other hand, he refused to be overly familiar with it because he likened himself to a gentleman. So, he scrambled to get off Neoma and was somehow ashamed of himself for what he had done.

               She noticed this and smirked to herself as she sat up. “You know, for a second there, I thought you would force yourself on me.”

               He quickly fumed red. “I would never!”

               She snickered. “Yeah, right.”

               “Ehem!” He cleared his throat to divert the conversation. “So, what do you plan to do next? Surely, you don’t plan to hide here for the entire duration of that marriage game.”

               “Who said I’d hide?”

               With her tone, she reminded him—yet again—of who she is: a woman bestowed by heaven with both allure and wit and whose resolve was as unbreakable as titanium. Neoma Belmonte never left and will never hide.

               Kachak! Keeeww Tok! The door to her room was opened from outside, and registered in her view was Sol, who not only had a gun in his right hand but also an unreadable expression.

               “Oh, Sol,” she called, “Come here.”

               Sol and Owel have hated each other since the first time their paths crossed. They were total opposites. The former was driven by his desire to possess his mistress, and that’s definitely the only thing keeping his life meaningful. The latter is the contrast. He has ideals of his own, a family to protect, and refuses to be controlled. The first one is loyal, and Owel is considerably defiant. Theirs was a clash of personalities and convictions.

               Sol strode past Owel to get to Neoma but without failing to look at him threateningly. They were sizing each other up.

               Neoma sensed this and patted Sol’s head. “Listen, Sol. Owel here has properly agreed to become my second dog. Let’s get along, shall we?”

               The two dogs weren’t so keen about that.