"Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired."

— Robert Frost

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Ms. Tammy was hysterical. Two guards instantly came to take charge of Ms. Dominguez. They held her on both hands. "I will kill you, selfish bastard!" she screamed.

The two guards had a hard time holding her in place. She clawed and writhed trying to get away from them. A few others came to help.

"Ms. Dominguez! Ms. Dominguez, please calm down!" Judge Specter was already on his feet trying to get Ms. Tammy's attention, but she was already lost in rage.

Ms. Tammy Dominguez's eyes filled with blazing fury was directed at me. One that is not forgiving. "Because of you, my family is dead! You deserve to die too! All the people that you love!"

Those words were like a bucket of water poured onto me and left me numbed. It slowly shredded every moral fibers if ever I had any left in me.

"You stole our life!" She screamed again and again. The guards practically lifted her as they dragged her out of the room.

"Dad! What is she talking about?" Clara Bell asked as she grabbed my arm and shook it to get my attention. I shifted my eyes to her and stared at her confused eyes.

"Why is she accusing you of killing her family?" Her brows snapped together. "Is it true?" she probe.

"Dad!" Her eyes widened a little trying to get my attention when I didn't respond.

I shook my head slowly, my mind racing. Wracking my memory of what was truly happened over two decades ago.

"Sir, Mr. Santos came again. He's begging to see you." Mr. Crisanto Dela Cruz, my oversear on our shipyard in Baltimore said over the phone. I can't recall how many times Mr. Santos came back but it's getting on my nerves.

I felt my daughter's hand squeeze mine, but my mind still stuck on the past.

"I have a lot of pressing matters that needs my attention, Crisanto. If he comes back again, talk to the accountant and give him money. And before you do that, get Christopher to sign up some papers that he's not allowed in my shipyard premises again.

"Yes, Sir!" came his reply.

"If he insists, tell the guards to drag him out if needs be. Don't let him in!" I instructed before hanging up the phone.

That was the last time I heard of him.

Ms. Tammy's screams and shrieks, as she struggled out of the three courthouse's guards dragged me back to the moment. "I hope to you will lose everything that is so dear to you!" she vociferated, turning her head with her dark rage-filled eyes shot at me.

The three guards dragged her away as she kept shouting and swearing, all the while prying her hands away from the two guards holding her hands. I just looked away when they are out of sight.

I don't know how I feel about her. I didn't do anything. I am businessman and robbing me is one of the things I hated the most. And they didn't do it once, but many times. I pay my employees good. Instead of a cahoot, he could have come to me and I would definitely reward him of his honesty.

And as far as my conscience is concerned, I didn't pursue the case, I even gave them their severance pay.

If anything happened to her, such as losing her father and brother, it wasn't my fault. That's her father's weak spirit.

"This case is dismissed with prejudice!" I heard the judge said and left in haste before Mr. Levensky or anyone could utter a word.

I let out that shaky breath I didn't know I was holding. It felt like the time had paused, but not the moment I'd like to be in. It' a nightmare.

I looked at my daughter and I gave her a smile. I pulled her into my arms, and kissed her head. "It's over, mi amor," I murmured against her head.

She pulled away. "Thank you, Daddy."

My hand graze her cheeks so tenderly. "I will do everything for you." I smiled.

"I know," her reply then she turned her eyes to Alex.

My eyes darted to Christopher. He was grinning victoriously as he picked up his leather case and approached Alex. He patted his shoulder lightly and then they shook hands. They talked for a moment before they turned their heads towards us and headed to our direction.

Alex was staring at my daughter so intense, trancelike, I think he forgot I was next to her. Well, always. Like she's the only thing that he can only see.

I let out a sigh. It's still hard for me to accept that my kids are grown ups. And soon they all be leaving me and my wife. That thought saddened me. It feels just like yesterday when I was changing their diapers.

My eyes landed to Alex.

And all the sadness disappeared. The thought that my sweet daughter will marry a man that could protect her is enough to put my mind and heart at ease.

Stavros would be so proud of him.

My eyes absentmindedly drifted to Clara Bell who was standing next to me. Her eyes was now locked to the man approaching us, rather her.

My heart ached, flooded with so many mixed emotions but most of all, overwhelming love. I thought I couldn't love as much as this, turning the world just to keep them happy and safe, since her mother. It is always a wonder to me, that a love could be that much, agape love as my wife always reminding me. Which I learned slowly during our marriage.

The two lovebirds looked like they were transfixed.

Alex had proven his worth, so I decided to leave them alone.

My eyes absentmindedly skimmed the room. A few guards was still inside, standing on one corner near the judge bench while they chat away all the while their eyes watching the happenings in the room every now and then.

I caught Levensky talking to Mrs. Ratskin and my face hardened.

What she did to my daughter made me her enemy, and I'm not the forgiving man to people who dared cross my family. My body tensed as the fury I've been forcing back down since we entered this room was now threatening to rear it's ugly head. My nails dug into my palm. I looked away before I lost myself and make everything worst.

My day will come. I'll make sure it's worth a few days wait. I will make sure that they will regret everything.

Ms. Dominguez' constant screams is now fading.

I shifted my eyes to Christopher as he's getting closer to me. I met him halfway leaving Clara Bell with Alex.

"What's next?" he asked as soon as he stopped in front of me.

"I'm not gonna let them get away," I stated grimly as I slipped a loathful glance at Levensky and Ratskin's, who was in deep conversation.

"Defamation and tampering of evidence," Christopher said. I nodded. "A fine and possibly a year of imprisonment for a misdemeanor offense."

My teeth ground. I want them both locked in that cells.

"If she asks for settlement?"

"No settlements!" My jaws tightened as I looked back at Chris. "Claire Preira, Tabitha Brooks and Tamera Dominguez." I want them behind that bars too!" I spat.

"Libel. Those printed out conversations of Ms. Preira and Brooks are strong evidences. I've gathered their twitter and other social media's conversations as well. And their witness oath, I got copies of them. Don't ask how," he muttered.

"Their false statement with the police is enough," I replied. My eyes lingered at my daughter and Alex still in each other's arms.

Christopher nodded. "We have all the what we need to put them away," he supplied.

My head bobbed up and down briefly.

"Where's, Tati?" he asked.

And my whole being was shook at the thought of her waiting for news. She's gonna kill me.

"We should leave, my wife is probably worried sick now." I swallowed hard as I looked away, not wanting Chris to see that fear that had managed to sneak into my system. I started heading towards the door.

God help me! An angry wife is not a good news.

"How did you convince her not to come?" Chris asked and I shook my head. I don't even wanna go back there.

"It was Clara Bell who talked her out of coming. Our doctor had warned her to avoid getting stress. With Raffy's screwing out his future life, now Clara Bell, I don't wanna take a risk. I cannot hide it from my daughter about her health, and I know she's the only one who could persuade her to stay home. So I pleaded her to talk to her mom," I explained. We followed Alex and Clara Bell towards the wide oak double door of the courtroom.

Christopher nodded his head.

"Sid is with her," I added.

As soon as we are out. I saw Levensky talking to another lawyer. "I'll be back shortly," I said to Christopher and quickly headed towards Levensky's direction. He was standing in the middle of the wide corridors, facing another courtroom, which was two doors away.

Levensky turned his attention to me as soon as he felt my presence. The lawyer whom I didn't recognize just nod his head and turned on his heel and disappeared into the double door courtroom across us.

"What can I do for you, Mr. Valiente?" he asked in his normal throaty tone but there was a hint of smugness in it. I was almost hovering over him now. A short chubby man who's I can deny though, an accomplished in his profession.

I smirked. "Send my regards to Angelo, and tell him I'm coming for him." Without waiting for his response. I'm gonna ruin everyone who dared try to hurt my daughter. And no one is being spared.

I walked back to my daughter who was now talking with Christopher, with Alex rooted next to her. He hasn't taken his eyes away from her face. He was staring adorably down at her, while my daughter was animatedly talking to Christopher.

I pulled out my phone from the breast pocket of my gray coat and turned it on. I had it turned off before the pre-trial conference started as per the judge order to prevent disruption.

I called Tristan as soon as it connected.

"Hello," came his deep hoarse voice.

"Sorry, amigo. I may need your help again."

"Anytime, man!" came his reply.

One thing I was thankful for is having friends who never turned their back on me at all times.

"I've got a big job for you."

"I missed the old times, Rafael. Done!"

A victorious smile curved on my lips, plastered all over my face as I stashed back my phone inside my coat breast pocket.

"Come with me, Christopher." I said as soon as I was close. I looked at Alex. "Thank you," was my most sincere words.

"I'll do everything for her," he replied as he looked down at my daughter again before pulling his eyes back and rested on me.

I gave him a smile. "Would you mind driving her back to the penthouse?" I asked.

A bright smile tugged at his lips. "I'll drive her anywhere, uncle," he replied.

"To my penthouse!" Emphasizing the last word and he chuckled as he shook his head.

"Of course, Uncle," he agreed.

I moved closer to my daughter and gave her a tender peck on her forehead. "I'll see you later, mi princesita." My Princess.

"Yes, dad. See you at the Penthouse," she smiled.

Christ and I left the courthouse.

........

The soft jerking of the car every now and then was like a lulllaby. For the past nights, sleep has been elusive. And today has been exhausting, and with lack of sleep it's catching up on me.

My eyes closed, ruminating over Tammy's unlikely character. I've never seen her with that look she showed today. She must have struggled so much that compelled her to hurt me. A part of me was sad for her.

As much as I hated her for setting me up, for making me look bad in the eyes of the people, a part of me wanted to know what was her life after his father lost his job.

To think it's been a long while.

I know she doesn't have a husband or kids.

She must have lived her life with only one goal. To get her revenge.

Losing a father is already painful. And then her brother, I can't fathom the level of sadness she must have felt.

I felt Alex squeezed my hand, pulling me out of my lost thoughts.

He hasn't let go of my hand since we left the courthouse, except when I slid in to the back of his car, but then he reached it out again and held it, occasionally giving it a kiss.

I had to avoid Langdon's eyes through the rearview mirror. I know he can see it and I felt a little embarrassed.

Christopher is with dad in his car we used when we headed to the courthouse. For some reason, he asked Alex to drive me to their penthouse where dad and mom are staying while they are here.

I peeled my eyes open and lazily turned my head to look at his face. He was staring at me. His eyes heavily resting on my face. He caught my gaze and our eyes locked.

I'm so happy he was here with me. For some reason, his presence made me feel safe. My father of course, but something with Alex that made me feel safe and secured.

My knight.

A smile tugged at my lips. My heart swelled with happiness.

He came just on time to save me. And I don't know how Am I gonna thank him.

"Thank you," I murmured without breaking our gaze.

"My pleasure, babe," he replied, his eyes dropping to my lips, and his eyes turned a shade darker. His heated gaze went back up and held mine, staring so hard it made me feel warm and fuzzy inside. My insides starting to melt into puddles.

"You look so beautiful, I can't stop staring at you," he murmured huskily.

And right now, the way he gazed at me, even without saying it, I felt beautiful. His stare always made me feel beautiful.

"Thank you," I smiled with our eyes still locked. My throat felt so dry, thirsty and needed to be quenched. I swallowed hard.

He slid closer, almost our sides touching but the seatbelts refrained him from closing our gaps, his eyes still holding mine.

I caught a whiff of his scent. My eyes briefly shuts off. Letting that faint scent lingered in my nose.

A scent of smooth, creamy and warm, rather smelled woodsy, an expensive scent. Exotic and sophisticated. It made me feel dizzy.

"I missed you so much," he said, my eyes met his again. "My days were dreadful not seeing you," he confessed.

"It's just a couple of days?" I teased trying to calm my racing heart and steady my breath.

"It feels like years," he whined, and his lips protruded in a pout like a little kid which elicited a chuckle out of me.

"I like it when your laughing. Your eyes sparkled like a diamond."

He never let go of my eyes, as his fingertip traced circles on the back of my hand, he was still holding.

I knew it in my bone that he wanted to kiss me. An air of anticipation swirling around me, making me feel breathless.

Say it! say it!

My heartbeat picked up speed, and I forced to steady my breath. His intense gaze, heavy lidded eyes turned my insides to lava. A hot rush of desire gushing down to my spine all the way down to my lower belly and pooled in between my legs.

"I wanna kiss you," he whispered huskily.

It's just a word but it sent thousands of tiny electric charges shooting at every nerve endings of my body. I felt lightheaded and weak.

I almost screamed yes, but I held that excitement at bay.

My eyes dropped to his neck and watched his adam's apple bobbed up and down. I met his heated gaze again, as I unconsciously licked my lip. His hard stare instinctively drifted to my lips and his tongue mimicked me.

My throat suddenly felt drier than ever as I watched his tongue running across his lips. I want my tongue to do that.

I hesitantly pulled my eyes away from his delicious lips and met his gaze filled with apparent desires. I swallowed hard and found my voice so low, it's almost a whisper. "Then kiss me," I murmured in almost a throaty whisper. A voice that is so needy, it sounded an aroused me.

In an instant, I heard a click. His seatbelt was unbuckled.

I turned a little sideways to face him as he inched closer, ignoring the seatbelt tightening around my thigh, still with my head leaning against the rear seat headrest. His head dipped down, hovering me and his masculine scent assaulted my nose. It smelled of sandalwood.

It made me even more dizzy. Dizzy of need to be kissed, to be touched by him. His one arm rested on the other side of my thigh as his head hovered over me.

Anticipation grew, my desires to taste his lips heightened.

Then I heard a click. I felt my thighs being freed from being restrained from the seatbelt.

Our eyes still locked and my stomach in knots as I waited a little too impatiently. "Kiss me now," I groaned hoarsely. Forgetting where we are. Not caring if Langdon is watching.

A smile danced on his lips. "Yes I will, babe," he drawled huskily, darker shade of green orbs holding my own almost dilating eyes.

My stomach fluttered, yet he hasn't done anything to me. Warm sensations seeping through the fabric. I swallowed so hard, as I waited in bated breath for his lips to descend. I can smell his minty breath and it only increased the urge to feel that lips on mine.

Devour me please!

When his lips finally descended, my eyes closed and my hand curled around his neck. His free hand cupped the back of my head as he brushed his lips ever so gently on mine, like a feather. But it caused havoc insides of me.

Warm soft lips grazing ever so lightly across mine, gave me a lot of pleasant, gratifying sensations that scissored down my spine, and coursing down to the pit of my stomach.

His lips moved slowly, and gradually applying pressure. His tongue traced my lips, I let out a soft moan.

He slipped his tongue pass my lips and swirled it gently around my mouth. Our tongue danced in a delicious rhythm.

He explored the inside of my mouth, tangled with my tongue and occasionally catching it and gave it a gentle suck, while his other hand was stroking my waist. It sent tiny electric charges throughout my body.

His palm grazed slightly against my thigh under a blue checkered plaid pants. But the fabric couldn't stop the flaming desires, a hot rush of needs coursing through my spine, down to my lower belly and settled between my legs.

I pulled my lips away to catch my breath and then my hands cradled the back of his head and pulled it closer, kissing him again deeply.

He let out a guttural groan as he kissed me back with the same fervor.

A jerked of the car snapped us out of our aroused trance.

"I apologize, Sir. I can't avoid that big pothole," Langdon explained apologetically with his eyes trained on the road.

I felt that heat rushed to my cheeks and I briefly caught Alex's amused eyes. I worried my bottom lip trying to hold back that smile that's threatening to escape and looked away.

I looked out of the car window. I squinted when the sunlight hit my eyes.

The sun is glaring angrily over the horizon.

I thought it's probably past 1:00 in the afternoon.

And as I thought about lunch, my stomach rumbled taking all my attention. I realized I haven't eaten since this morning as I'm too preoccupied.

"Would you like anything to eat?" I asked turning my head to face Alex.

He looked at me and his lips quirked upwards in one corner, his eyes twinkled with amusement.

"Yes," he nodded his head as he tried to suppress his laughter.