Surprisingly, Emil was right. There was no media people around or even near the hotel where Dy's apartment is located. Emil was not keen on taking any chances, so he had the car drop us of at the back of the place, to avoid being photographed by anyone. 

Swiftly, our group made its way to Dy's place without making much of a ruckus. Along with the help of the hotel's security, Emil was able to placed some security measures to make sure we stay safe while they report back to Alec.

"Miss Tamara, Mr. Ramirez wants to speak to you." Emil said as Dustyn dropped our bags in the living room before plopping down on the nearest couch.

"Can you just put him on loud speaker, please?" I asked Emil nicely. He does so and put the phone on the coffee table before leaving the room, giving us some much needed privacy.

"Hi, baby girl." Alec's voice is soft and comforting. I can already feel the warmth just from hearing his voice. Alec has a way of making me feel safe, safer than I have ever felt before. Maybe it's because I know he'll protect me from everything and everyone.

"Don't baby girl me. How dare you Al?!" I all but shouted at him. It's a good thing that Emil left to give us some privacy. Or else, he would've had to stand and awkwardly listen to me shout at his boss. It's not something anyone would want.

I heard him sigh loudly. "So he told you, after all."

"Did not." Dustyn said, now completely laying on the couch. "She figured it out."

"That is not an excuse. I thought you were gonna take the fall?" Alec said accusingly at Dustyn who couldn't help but smile at Al's words.

"She's your sister. You should know better." 

"Shut up. Both of you. You better tell me what you told Dy, Alec" I told him. I need to know. Desperately.

"Not everything baby girl. That part, is your story to tell." He said, his voice soft and full of concern. Times like this, I could tell when Alec is lying to me. That part of my past, isn't something we both handle lightly. As much as possible, all of us wants to keep it a secret to avoid the media pressing more about the issue.

I take a quick glance at Dustyn before sighing in relief. I'm not ready. I doubt I ever would be. "Thanks, Al. I think."

"Sure thing baby girl. I'll explain when you get home. For the mean time, I need Emil to report to me." He said, already thinking of the new situation we have gotten ourselves in. "I need to find the snitch."

My eyes widened. Someone sold us out? Is that someone from the house? Maybe one of the guards? The maids? Just what did they gain from this? I wonder if it was one of the guards. That would be an issue since they are the ones Alec trust the most to keep me safe.

"Update me, then." Dustyn said. His posture suddenly far more serious than I have ever seen before. His eyes are closed, almost like he's already envisioning the next movement he will have to make. Precautions he might need to do in order to ensure our safety. 

"Sure thing, Dy." Alec said without another thought. "Keep your hands away from Mara. Don't you think one is enough?"

"What the hell Alec?!" Dustyn shouted but Alec has already dropped the call, leaving Dustyn cursing under his breath. "Emil!"

Emil comes back inside of the living room while Dustyn glared at him. Its like he wanted to bury him alive just for standing in front of him. Emil, on the other hand, could not look Dustyn on the eye as he picks his phone up from the coffee table. 

"I'll be going now, then." He said politely and walks out of the room. Leaving his companion to cover for the both of them as he goes and reports to my brother. Probably Dad too. 

"Alec spying on us, huh?" I teased him. My lips still feels tingly from the kiss we shared. My brain had only barely stopped replaying the scene of our first kiss and now, I have to deal with this new one. 

My feeling for him have changed. I admitted I like him. What else is there? Should I still be this nervous and conscious around him? Do I have to feel so conflicted every time he comes near?

"That damn brother of yours. His stalker ass is a trouble for me. Seriously. Does he have to spy on us using Emil?" He said, glaring at the door where Emil was last seen at.

I laughed at him. I know my brother can be overbearing. I've experienced it first-hand. "Shouldn't you be used to this? He's your best friend."

He glared at me. "I never have experienced this side of him, okay? I've never been engaged to his beautiful sister until now."

Cue the blushing. If Dy continues to hurl unexpected compliments at me, I'll be a blushing tomato before I had the chance to go back home. "Shut up." I muttered, completely horrified at the reaction I had at just simple words. 

What exactly are you doing to me, Dy?

 Dy's side of the bed is already empty and the curtain on his huge window was opened. Explains the sun on my face, now.

I ended up sleeping on Dy's room. Once again sharing a room with him, despite Alec's warning of Dy having his 'hands off of me'. I didn't really have much of a choice. There are two rooms in this apartment. This and another room which I found out was locked. Dustyn refused to give the key, saying the room was a complete mess before leaving me standing outside of that room. 

We spent the rest of the day yesterday, sleeping. We pretty much blew the rest of the day in bed, sleeping till morning. I don't think I ever slept so much in my entire life until now. Talk about being lazy. 

I didn't waste any more second in bed. I got up, did my business in the bathroom and set out to the kitchen, where I know I would find Dy. I can already smell something being baked. "Smells good in here." I said, leaning against the wall at the entrance to his kitchen.

He doesn't jump at my voice. Instead, he turns to me with a smile, a plate of freshly baked cookies on his hand. "I thought we'd start with something sweet." He said with a grin.

I rolled my eyes at him before plopping down on the chair by the breakfast bar. "Sure. Let's get me all hyped up."

He chuckled at my words. "No. I made sure its not too sweet for my shortcake." He said, placing them in front of me. "Good morning, by the way." He said and leaned in closer to my face. He drops a kiss on my cheek before turning around. 

Meanwhile, my hand seemed to have a mind of its own and made its way to the part he kissed. Without intending to, a smile made its way to my face. My heart is already beating too fast for this simple thing. I wonder how much more I can take before I have a heart attack in front of the guy I like.

"So, Emil said you won't be at school till noon. I wanted to show you something." He said, already sitting down on the chair beside me. 

I raised a brow at him suspiciously. "You're not about to tell me you have a kid right?"

"What?"

I shrugged my shoulder. "I mean, that'll be a bummer." I said and took a bite of the cookie in my hand. 

He sighed and shook his head. "I don't see you getting pregnant anytime soon. So no, shortcake."

I almost chocked on the the cookie I was eating. I grabbed the glass of milk and chugged it down. "I hate you."

He laughed. "No you don't." He pours milk on my empty glass. "It's not something that shocking, don't worry."

"Okay. Do I have to get dressed?" I asked doubtfully. 

He shook his head. "It's behind that door."

"Really?!" I asked him, feeling excited. I've always been a curious kid. Whenever I was told not to enter rooms or touch things, I would do it. I've never been in trouble for doing that except that one time when I found a ring on Alec's bedside table. That was a bad day.

"Yes. I know you. You'll probably open it on your own when I'm not around." 

I grinned at him. "Yes I would."

He shook his head. "I knew it." He sounded defeated which made me laugh even more. "Finish that then I'll show you."

Breakfast is unhealthy but delicious. Dustyn looks amused at how fast I ate through all of the cookies he baked. In my defense, he makes good and delicious cookies. It's one of my favorite snacks when I was kid and Dustyn always makes them for me. 

"I remember the first time you made one!" I said, suddenly laughing at the memory.

Dustyn frowns, not the least bit fond of such memory. "Don't remind me."

"DYYY!" I shouted his name at the top of my lungs as I run inside of our house. I heard Alec shout my name but completely ignored him as I run around looking for Dustyn. I frowned when I couldn't find him. He's usually hanging in the living room or in the game room or in Alec's room. But I couldn't find him anywhere. He promised to make good snacks for me.

"Tamara! I told you not to run around the house. You could slip and hit your head!" Alec shouts at me. His eyebrow creased together in clear annoyance as he looks down at me, probably checking me for injuries. "Dustyn is in the kitchen."

My eyes widen in joy and I ran straight to our kitchen. I could hear the loud annoyed sigh coming from Alec and a grumble before his footsteps followed me to the kitchen. "Dyyy."

"Shortcake, stop running." He tells me off quickly. I pouted. Both of them have scolded me for the same thing. "Come here."

I quickly run to him, finally noticing his apron covered in white stuff. I rub my nose. "Is that flour, Dy?" I asked, tilting my head to the side while observing him. 

He gives me a croaked smile. "I guess?"

"Why are you covered in flour?" I asked, looking around on the counter tops. "Why are these out? Alec's going to get mad." I said, shivering as I do. Mad Alec is a scary Alec.

He laughs and pats my head softly. "It's okay. I got his permission." 

"For cooking, not making a mess." Alec said as he comes in the kitchen. He looks around the room and his frown deepened. "Were you playing?"

Alec and Dy are both fifteen years old now but Alec seems to be much older than Dy when he acts like a responsible parent. Specially since Dad is usually out of town for business and Mom died when I was just a baby. Because of that, Alec took the part of being a good parent while Dy seemed more like my brother.

Dy laughs and scratches the back of his head. "I did. Although, it's not edible." He said. He pulls me up and sits me on a clean and empty counter. Beside me are some dark burnt cookies? I pick one up and tapped it on the counter. It felt and sounded like real hard rock. I look at Dy and Al horrified. 

"S-snack?" I asked suddenly horrified about Dy baking or cooking anything. These are not cookies these are rocks! Rocks.

"Shortcake, have a little faith on me." Dy said, frowning down at me. "I'll replace the ingredients I wasted, Al."

Alec waves his hand in a dismissive manner. "Its fine. I'll have one of the maids restock tomorrow." 

The oven dings and Dy's face brightens with a smile. I watch him take out his freshly baked goodies. From here, it looks edible. Normal color of a cookie. It smells good too.

"I think this one is good." Dy said with a small smile and placed the cookies on a plate before giving it to me "Try one for me, shortcake?"

I give him and big smile and took a cookie. It was still hot so I carefully took a bite.

"Baby girl?" Alec called my attention and I gave him a smile.

"It's good Dy!"

"I can't imagine what we would've done if you got food poisoning from my baking." Dy said, shaking his head at the awful memory.

Dustyn was never a good baker. He never enjoyed anything too sweet when it comes to pastries. He loved bread but never cookies or cakes. I, on the other hand, forced him to eat those when we were together. It was all I could ask for when I was a kid. I guess I rubbed it off too much on him that one day he decided to learn how to bake.

It was probably when his mother decided I was too much of a nuisance for her son. When he asked her to teach him how to bake, Jacklyn was too excited. Until she learned that it was beacuse Dy wanted to bake for me.

Jacklyn has never liked me. I never knew why and I never really cared much before. That is, until I got engaged to Dy. Now I'm once again wandering the reasons behind her snarky and very unwelcoming attitude towards me.

"Probably sobbed your way to the emergency room." I said, laughing as an image of Dy and Al crying flits through my head. They look a bit ridiculous. 

"Oh stop." He said and pulled me from my chair. "Let's go. I'll open the room." He said, looking at me sideways before pulling me to the door directly across from the door of his room. He pulls out a key from his pocket and swiftly unlocks the room. "no judging, okay?"

My eyes widen comically. "Me? Judge you? Never." I said cheekily. 

I teased Dy a lot when I was a kid. Guess I let my playful side out more when he's around rather than with Alec. He'll just be too worried to find that side of me funny.

He rolled his eyes. "Yeah right."

"Oh come on! Open!" I said, demanding to see what is behind a door that he finds the need to lock it. 

He looks unsure but opens the door, his eyes closed tightly. Maybe that was the right thing to do? Because what's behind the door made my jaw drop to the ground.