Temptation of Mine

Chapter 2: The Mission Possible

Present Time

Daniel's POV

"Happy birthday!"

Russell frowned when I handed her the bouquet. I immediately sat next to Ryker. We were at a restaurant and had a simple dinner celebration because it was Russell's birthday. She's nineteen and has become a beautiful young lady.

"I thought it was just family. Why is there an outsider?" Russell was annoyed.

"Daniel is not an outsider, hija. He's part of the family," her father said.

"I will never accept him as part of the family," she whispered, but since I have a good sense of hearing, it didn't escape me.

Although I was a bit hurt, I didn't speak anymore. I will talk to Russell later, after dinner.

Everything went smoothly during dinner. We shared stories and jokes, but Russell always frowned at me. She even rolled her eyes at me. But instead of being annoyed, sh*t! Why is she still so beautiful, even when angry with me? I seem more attracted to her being rude to me because she always notices me than her being friendly and ignoring me.

When my phone rang, I immediately stood up after apologizing to them. I walked away and stood near the bathroom because it was raining.

"What? Will that operation continue?" I asked Kim on the other line.

"Yes, Sir. We will make it later tonight." Kim said from the other line.

"Tonight? The timing is just right." I said weakly.

"Do you have a date, sir?" asked Kim. "That's why you seem disappointed?"

"I don't have a date."

"I know you, sir; you're in that mood when you don't want to be away from the girl. You're lazy."

"Can you stop bugging my love life? We don't have a relationship, so don't make a noise like a jealous girlfriend. Let's meet later," I said. When I turned around after hanging up the call, I was surprised to see Russell pass before me. Our eyes met, but she immediately avoided it.

"You should be smiling. It's your birthday today." I told her before she went into the restroom.

"If you weren't here, I might smile," she said, annoyed.

"Are you still mad at me? It's been four years."

"Why not? What do you want? I should be happy with you?"

"You know there is a saying that the more you hate, the more you will love." I smiled at her.

Russell frowned. "I'll never like you, so don't get your hopes up." She looked at me seriously.

I grinned. "I'm not hoping because I'm sure you'll eat your words."

"You're thick! You are sure of what you're saying."

"Yes, because I have prepared for the future."

Russell frowned. "What? Does my brother know what you're doing? Maybe you forget that I'm your best friend's sister, and we're far apart in age. I'd rather be with someone younger and the same age as me."

Russell turned her back on me, but I immediately grabbed her arm, pulled her inside the washroom, and leaned her against the door.

"What are you doing?" There is fear in her voice and nervousness in her actions.

I looked at her face first. Damn it, one more year. I can endure one more year. I slowly brought my face closer, but she immediately avoided it, thinking I would kiss her. I smiled and whispered to her.

"I'm leaving, and we won't see each other for a while. I know you'll be happy, but even so, I'll ensure you'll eat everything you said when I return." I whispered.

"W-what? And where the hell are you going?"

I smirked, then turned my face away from her. "Why do you need to know? You're going to miss me?"

"Haist." Russel pushed me. "Even if you live in hell, get out before I yell rape."

I smiled, then I pinched her nose. "You're adorable."

"Oh!" Russell complained as she held her nose, and I left the washroom.

After dinner, Ryker's family and I parted ways. I had to go home to get my things.

"Really? It's a blessing that her parents agreed, sir. She's just nineteen."

I turned to Kim while eating in the shade of a tree. We are on a mission and have been in the mountains for six days. And while everyone was eating, I was looking at Russell's posts on her social media account. It was a good thing there was a signal at our place since there was no connection in the areas we passed since we climbed the mountain. Even when Ryker called, we couldn't understand each other because of the intermittent signal connection.

Kim glanced slightly at my phone as I browsed through the photos with a smile.

"I know she's young, but she's not a child. And besides, I won't marry her immediately. I'll wait for the right time." I said it with a smile.

"Are you serious, Sir?" Kim asked me in shock. "How many years is your gap?"

"Twelve years..." I said.

"s**t, sir, she can be your daughter!" I raised an eyebrow at what Kim said, which she immediately retracted. "Sorry, sir, it's sudden, but seriously, she's young. You're thirty-one, right?"

"Can you just shut up and not bother with my love life? Just find your own so you can be busy." I said as I was a bit annoyed by her reaction.

Kim kept quiet and did not speak. We turned around when one of our companions came to conduct surveillance in the area.

"Sir, their shipment is expected tonight."

"Really? That's good."

"What time is it?" I asked.

"No time was given, sir. It will likely happen at the usual time.

"Usual time?"

"Yes, Sir. Approximately twenty-one hundred, sir."

My senior officer turned toward me. "In that case, Acker, take your place in the area around 8 in the evening."

"Yes, sir!" I said.

We had just finished dinner when my phone vibrated. My smile widened when I noticed the notification. Russell replied to my comment. She commented, "DM." That's why I opened the inbox, and instead of being annoyed by her reply, I smiled. She noticed me again.

Russell: Can you please not comment on my posts? That's only for teenagers, and you don't belong there.

Me: Hmm, there is nothing wrong with what I said.

She has yet to respond to my message. I suddenly got confused. Is she angry? Later, Russell called me, and I immediately answered the call. But before I could speak, she started nagging me.

"You enjoy teasing me, Daniel," Russell said, annoyed at me on the other line.

"Jeez, that's not even a tease. I just said..." I reasoned, but she didn't let me finish speaking.

"Stop commenting useless things on my post. If you want, you can post something like mine to get your desired attention."

I chuckled at what Russell said. "When I'm the one who posts wearing trunks, you might even have a crush on me."

"Your face is thick. I don't like you. You're almost dad's age."

"Your older brother is just my age. Maybe you're forgetting."

"Whatever. Stop commenting, and I will seriously block you."

The next thing I heard on the other line was a busy tone. I couldn't stop smiling.

"Of all the people yelled at, you were the only happy person, sir."

I turned to Kim. "Are you a police officer or a gossiper? You heard our conversation on the phone, huh?"

"Don't blame me. The woman was yelling at you," Kim said, giggling.

"Haist, get ready. We will secure the area," I ordered the team.

We were around a house in the middle of the woods at eight in the evening. The sniper is already ready, and we will be entering the area. We have been following them for several months and discovered that their factory is here in the province. It was a factory for illegal drugs made into pills and capsules to facilitate export to other countries.

We caught the mastermind a few years ago. Still, before the trial started, the man committed suicide, and his wife was in a mental hospital after what happened. Their son is said to have died in another country, so no one attended his funeral, and the police detained the family. But after that, the operation did not stop. Instead, they expanded even more and recruited more members and investors.

A monster truck drove in, followed by three Hilux vehicles full of armed men. They entered the site surrounded by barbed wire and armed site guards. We immediately positioned ourselves at a distance when the newly arriving cars entered.

"They're unloading stuff." From the sniper's earpiece, I heard him say it.

"Can you see what the boxes are?" I asked.

It took some time before the sniper replied. "The contents are guns, sir. They dropped a few boxes that contained guns. It looks like it was smuggled..."

I took a deep breath. "We'll surround the area. The eight of you on the other side." I looked at the rest of us. "You will come with me."

My team started to surround the area, and we were on the other side. After a while, we got inside, and the exchange of gunshots began.