Chapter 181 - To Hold You Tight

Connor felt like Johanna's slave. Although he didn't care, he somehow felt how tired he was from making all of those weird requests. It's because of pregnancy too. She wanted ramen with a hot sauce in it. Who does that? Now, he's massaging her feet while she's busy cuddling with the puppies. Currently, she doesn't want to go out on the beach since it's hot that's why they are staying inside. 

"Uh, babe." He called while his hand crawled to her calves. "Can I go with the boys later?" 

"Yeah, sure." 

"You won't get angry?"

"No." She mumbled and yawned. The puppies went to their bed as they cuddled together with a mini air cooler pointing to them. "It's so hot in the cottage. I want to sleep here." 

"Okay," He nodded and reached for the blanket if she ever got cold. He hesitates to leave her but he will go with the boys on the beach to play volleyball. 

He kissed her forehead and then her tummy. Then, he rushed outside and took off his shirt. The boys are already warming up and they lack people to play with. It's a good thing that Keira, Arinna, and MJ are participating, while Andromeda and Zachary left early. He waved at Tracey and Ian who were leaving. 

"Oh come on! We need more people for this game!" He called out. 

"Sorry, I'm taking my girl to bazaar shopping," Ian said with his arms hooked on her neck. The couple left that made them puzzled. Keira and Sandro knew well that they weren't together. 

"Is that one way to get away from us?" Connor asked Harvey who shrugged. 

"Okay, baby. Go to the other team." Harvey told his fiancee. 

"Sure thing," MJ smirked. 

Connor just wished that Johanna was with them. But she's pregnant and she feels lazy. 

"Can't your girl play with us?" Travis asked. 

"She feels lazy." Connor shrugged and took the ball. 

<><><><>

Karmina went to the parking lot to drive one of her old cars. Although she has a driver, she chose to drive for herself since she knew that Ian would be in the same bazaar with his girl Tracey. She wasn't against them at all although Tracey once became an antagonist to her daughter's life. Karmina noticed that Tracey was a sweet girl and she didn't like how Ian treated her. Sometimes, he doesn't care, but sometimes he cares. 

"Are you sure that you don't want bodyguards, Mina?" Ian said. 

"I have a tracker." Mina raised his wristwatch. "The two of you should enjoy it, so let's have separate cars." 

"Okay," Ian said. 

Karmina drove past them while Gian was following her car. She admired from the rear mirror how Ian patted Tracey's head. She sighed gently and parked near the entrance. She glanced at Ian's car as they also parked nearby. She waved at them as she watched Ian hold Tracey's hand. She never saw him with anyone after Viola, the love of his life.

She uses a normal bag so she won't get snatch in this kind of place. She went through the Abaca paper and another bamboo. She noticed a few types of furniture made of Abaca and coconut trees. It'll be great to redecorate few cottages. She canvases a few of them and wrote them down. She glanced at the other store where Ian seemed to be telling Tracey that it's a good one but since the girl wasn't used to the type of store. 

"I think I like that mirror made of rattan." She told him. 

"Okay, let's get it," Ian said as he took out his wallet to pay for it. "Where are you going to put it?" 

"To my unit." She said, "I am starting a business and I might need something like these." 

"Good then." 

Karmina noticed how he held her shirt and he looked around checking the area. Karmina understands that Ian was once a soldier and since he's currently protecting Tracey. She walked around more and she kept noticing that shivering feeling. She turned around and noticed a man hiding in the corner. She didn't think twice and tapped the revolver under her dress. She walked briskly and followed the man. The man went somewhere else away from the bazaar. 

She stopped when the man entered an alley of rocks. She took out the revolver on the holster wrapped around her thigh. She pointed her gun forward as she walked slowly. To her surprise, her wrist was grabbed and she fought back. But seeing the face in front of her made her drop everything. Her heartfelt like it's been stabbed many times. The man reached her face and hugged her tightly. 

Karmina's chest suddenly felt tight and when he noticed it, he quickly let her go and held her arm. 

"Mina," He called as his hand raised to reach her cheek. "It's me." 

<><><><> 

Ian noticed that Karmina had left. When he checked his smartwatch, he noticed that there were two dots in that area and he knew exactly where it was and who it was. 

"What is it?" Tracey asked. He patted her head. 

"Nothing. Let's shop more?" He asked. 

"Well, there's nothing that I like much around." 

"How about food?" He held her waist and kept looking around for any threats. 

He set a timer for their talk. No one can know about them. Or else, they were doomed. He suddenly felt anxious and he followed Tracey. He needs to get his mind off of other things. He decided to quickly take Tracey to the parking lot. 

"It's good that you are wearing a dress. 

"What if someone sees us?" She was worried. 

"Hey, don't worry." He grinned as he took her inside his Jeep wrangler. 

He bought the things that they bought at the back seat. Then, he quickly got into the driver's seat and drove away. He stopped on the empty driveway under the coconut tree. He should kill some time and wait for those couples to finish talking. He adjusted his seat and pushed it back. Tracey was puzzled for a while. 

"Have you try car sex before?" He grinned. She groaned to complain and glared at him. "Come on baby. Let's kill some time." 

He set up his smartwatch on a timer. Tracey hesitates for a while but she searches for a condom in the compartment and finds one. She gave the packet to him. 

"We don't need this." He said as he watched her remove her underwear. 

"I don't want you to mess on me. Put it on." Tracey demanded. He has no choice but to unbuckle his pants and show his manhood. 

"Baby, I want to feel your hotness~~" 

"Put the condom on!" She hissed at him. "Or this won't work." 

Ian submissively. She straddled him and wrapped her arms around his nape. He grinned slyly and zipped down her dress. He was about to devour her breasts but she stopped him. 

"My nipples hurt. So, no." 

"O~okay." He rubbed her sides and kissed her chin. "Stroke my buddy, now." 

She held it and stroked it gently. He scooped her lower part and rubbed it a little until it started to get moist. She held his shoulders tightly as she bit her lower lip. 

"What's wrong?" he asked and kissed her middle chest. 

"No~Nothing." 

"Just tell me what you don't like." He grumbled and kissed her lips. "Do you want it now?" He asked. 

"Y~yeah. We are all settled so…" 

The couple made love inside the Jeep and they were done before the alarm went off. Tracey rested on his chest and he rubbed her back while she's relaxing. Then, he checked the two red dot's locations and they stayed there. He reached for his small phone and called Karmina. 

<><><><>

Karmina was still shaking and shocked. She couldn't believe the person in front of her. The love of her life and the man whom she knows is dead. Henry scooped Karmina's cheeks and kissed her forehead. Her tears kept on rolling down her cheek and she's still trying to catch her breath. The man in front of her looked so worried and he tried hard to calm her down. 

"I'm sorry," his voice was low and deep. Somehow, Karmina missed that sound. She sniffled and hugged him. 

"You are here…" 

"I am here. I'm here watching from a distance, Mina." 

"Oh, Henry. You are alive." 

"Yes, my love. I'm sorry." 

Karmina gently pushed herself and scooped Henry's face that had more wrinkles than before. 

"H-How? What happened?" 

"The Charles Empire is after me. That's why I fake my death to protect you and Keira. I~~I fail to protect you well." 

"No." She shook her head. "I protect Keira… Our baby is doing great." 

Henry nodded his head. 

"Harvey and Ian have to keep me away from their sight. Now that the Charles Empire is after you, I can't~~I can't show up and give them a bigger commotion." 

"You aren't coming home with me?" 

The beautiful beads of tears started forming in her oceanic eyes. That pang of pain, again. Henry has been living a lonely life without his wife and daughter. 

"I'm sorry." 

"But can we meet again?" She exclaimed. "Please, my love. Don't leave me again." She sobbed. 

"I won't." He gently kissed her forehead and her face. The couple kissed passionately as Henry's longing for her made their body suddenly become in flames. 

"I will stay with you," Karmina exclaimed. "Henry, take me. Our daughters are in good condition at the moment. They have someone to protect them." 

Henry's eyes started forming with tears, and he held her tightly.

"I want to hold you tighter, Mina." He looked around. "Put your hat on." 

She quickly put her hat on and sunglasses as the couple left the area.