Chapter 5 The Final Twist

Camila became even more afraid as the men in black suits stepped closer with their faces looking cold and emotionless. Alejandro's eyes never left hers as his jaw was tight but his posture still and ready to spring into action if needed.

Who were those men? Camila asked looking at Alejandro, searching for answers but he remained silent. He only looked at her occasionally as if to reassure her that she was not alone.

"What is going on?" Camila whispered with her voice shaking.

As usual, Alejandro did not answer immediately. Instead, he walked toward the men as his footsteps echoed in the other silent room. The man in charge, the one who had spoken before stepped forward to meet him.

"They have arrived," the man said grimly. "The people that we were warned about."

Camila became so tensed up. She did not need to ask the identity of the men. She could feel the danger in the air, the kind of danger that made her wish she had never met Alejandro. Yet, at the same time, she did not want to leave. Not now when everything was about to be revealed to her.

"Do you have any plan?" Alejandro asked with a very cold voice.

The man nodded. "We have prepared for this but we need your cooperation."

"Tell me what to do," Alejandro asked with his eyes so firm.

For the very first time, Camila saw the weight of the situation in Alejandro's eyes. She had always seen and thought of him to be an invincible and strong businessman who had everything under control. But now, she could clearly see the cracks in Alejandr's amour. He was just a man, vulnerable like anyone else and a man who had made dangerous enemies.

Before Camila could ask more questions, the door behind her opened immediately and the same man who had brought her there entered the room. His face was pale and he was breathing heavily.

"They are at the door!," the man reported looking so terrified.

Alejandro's expression hardened. "Get her out of here," he urgently commanded.

The man turned to Camila. "Come with me. Now!." He ordered her.

Camila hesitated because she did not want to leave when everything was unravelling. But the fear in Alejandro's eyes told her it was the only choice she had.

She then turned to Alejandro looking for some kind of reassurance from him. He turned to Canlia and gave her a slight nod of assurance although the tension on his face remained unchanged.

"Go," he whispered to Camila.

Reluctantly, Camila followed the man with a heavy heart mixed with fear and confusion.

The Flight

The man rushed Camila along the passage while Camila's contemplations increased even the more. What was happening? Who were these people? What had she included herself in?. These were the questions running through her mind all at the same time.

When they arrived at the lift, the man hurriedly squeezed the button as his hand also trembled. The entryways swung slightly open with a delicate chime and they entered the space.

"Where are we headed?" Camila asked while trying to calm her breathing.

"Just trust me and follow me," the man replied.

The elevator moved downward but the journey felt like it would never end. The longer they were underground, the more Camila wondered if she would ever get out of this mess that she has found herself.

Finally, the doors opened and they both entered into a dim lighted garage. Without a word, the man led her to a black car which was parked at a far end away from them. Camila slid into the back seat with her eyes still searching for any sign of Alejandro.

Sounding so worried, Camila asked "Where is Alejandro" The man didn't answer, but Camila could tell by the look in his eyes that Alejandro was in danger.

"Is he not coming with us?" she asked again, this time more forcefully than before.

"We will have to wait and see," the man replied. "But right now, it will be safer for you to be out of sight."

As the car drove away from the building, Camila's heart sank deeper. She had no idea where they were going, but she could not shake off the feeling that this wasn't the end.

The Truth Unfolds

After few hours, the car finally stopped in front of a small, secluded house on the outskirts of Mexico City. The man signaled Camila to get out and she weakly dragged herself out of the car.

Inside the house, the air smelled of old wood and dust. The man led her into a room at the back where another man waited. He was someone she had never seen before. The man looked tall with dark eyes and had an expression that screamed authority.

"Camila Alvarez!," the man called out, his voice sounding soft but commanding. "I am Rafael by name. Alejandro and I have been working for years now."

"Is he okay?" Camila asked immediately with so much concern for Alejandro.

Rafael gave her a sharp look. "He will surely be okay. But right now, we need to talk."

Camila sat down as her hands trembled in her lap. "What is going on Rafael? What did I just witness? Who were those men?" she asked all questions at the same time in her usual manner.

Rafael leaned forward as he held his fingers all together. "Those men were sent by a rival group, someone who wants to take everything Alejandro has worked for. But the truth is, Camila, you are more involved in this than you realize."

"What do you mean?" she asked so frightened.

" Camila dear, the moment you found that wallet, you became part of a much bigger plan. Alejandro didn't just inherit enemies, he inherited allies too. And you Camila, are one of them" Rafael replied.

Camila felt her stomach drop as she asked; "What are you talking about? I am just a woman who wanted to return a lost wallet. I do not have anything to do with Alejandro's enemies or allies."

Rafael faintly smiled at Camila and said; "Camila, that is where you are wrong. You may not know it, but you have been part of this whole thing right from the very beginning."

The Unexpected Twist

Camila's contemplations grew more and more as she was trying to process everything Rafael was saying. But before she could ask any further questions, the door burst open and in walked Alejandro, looking so stressed up and worried but alive.

He stepped toward her and with his eyes meeting hers with a look of regret, Alejandro said;

"I never wanted you to be part of this Camila Alvarez."

"But you kept me in the dark," she immediately replied sounding hurt.

"I did not have a choice but I should have told you the truth from the very start." replied Alejandro.

"I deserve to know the truth, Alejandro," Camila said as her heart pounded.

He stepped closer and held her. "I know and I am sorry Camila."

But just as they were about to speak further, the door behind them burst open again and this time, the sound of footsteps echoed loudly through the hallway.

Alejandro's eyes widened in panic. "They have found us." He said.

Before Camila could respond, the room became flooded with a group of armed men with their guns aiming at Alejandro.

One of them stepped forward as his face looked familiar. For it was the same man who had spoken to him earlier.

"Time is up Alejandro," the man said with a twisted smile. "It would have been good if you stayed out of our business."

But just as the man took a step closer, a loud crash echoed through the room, and everything went black.

The Final Blow

Camila fell to the floor without thinking as gunshots cracked through the darkness. Her heart raced so fast as bullets zipped over her head. Alejandro quickly grabbed her and pulled her behind a heavy wooden table, wrapping his arms around her in order to protect her.

Everything was chaos. Alejandro had no time to think as he was caught between two choices, either give up to keep Camila safe or fight and risk everything including both his life and hers.

The door burst open again just as the attackers started to close in on them. This time, it was Rafael storming in with a group of armed backups. The sound of gunfire roared again but it was not one sided anymore. A quick but fierce fight broke out between the two gangs.

Rafael's team fought hard and managed to push the enemies back just long enough.

"Go Now!" Rafael yelled over the noise to Alejandro.

Two of Rafael's men grabbed both Camila and Alejandro and rushed them toward a back exit. They all ran down a narrow path and disappeared into the thin air.

Camila's leg was injured from a fall, and Alejandro too was bleeding because of a nasty cut on his shoulder.

When they have finally arrived to safety, Camila was so tensed that she collapsed into Alejandro's arms.

"I thought I lost you," Alejandro whispered, gently pressing his forehead to hers as he kissed her forehead softly. Not because it was romantic or planned, but because he was scared. Scared that he would have lost her. He had fallen in love with Camila all this while. Something he never expected nor planned for.

The Last Message

Camila and Alejandro stayed quietly and peacefully in a hidden lodge far from the city, watching the world through shuttered windows.

They didn't speak much of the past, only of what was next, how to take back what was theirs, and who to trust after the betrayal Alejandro had from one of his gang members.

One morning, while Camila opened the door to check the front porch, she finds a single piece of paper tucked under the mat.

A handwritten message read:

"You should've walked away while you still could."

Camila's breath caught in her throat.

The storm was far from over.