Temptation

4

Even though I've been at the military base the past three days, I still haven't been able to see Ramiro. However, he has seen me in the halls, and that must have let him realize I was having a difficult time sneaking off. Ever since my dad learned of the soldier's attempt to kill me he has ordered for my protection every second I'm on the military grounds.

To solve this problem, Ramiro found my chip code and sent me his address. He lives in a fairly humble penthouse, but selfless people have to put their money into something. This thing doesn't have much square footage, but it has three floors: Training, living, and bedrooms. I know this because the elevator I just exited had each of those buttons.

I'm not met with anyone, and there's not a front door to knock on, so I wander into the sleek living room and wait patiently.

"Ramiro?!" I call.

A few seconds later I hear footsteps. The sound nears until the source of them appear on the stairs. It's Ramiro dressed even more casual than last time. He's in a fitted black top and cargo pants. He looks pleasantly surprised to see me.

"Didn't know if you would actually come," he grins.

"Well why wouldn't I?"

He invites me to follow him into the kitchen.

"You seemed indifferent about the idea last time we spoke."

I sit at his island while he stands by the sink across from me.

"Still am, but I'm starting to come around to it..." I admit.

He offers me something to eat, but I decline, so he just grabs an apple for himself.

"My roommate will be home soon, so we will have to fill him in," he tells me.

"You mean we have tell him I'm a seductress??"

"Well I don't believe he's going find out like I did," he jokes.

I think about what happened that night and the one with Noa.

"I guess not..."

"He's a good guy, don't worry."

I go to say something else, but the noise of the elevator stops me. I turn around, ready to meet his roommate, but the man who enters makes me freeze.

Oren Marshall. He is a rank above Ramiro, meaning he works even closer with my father. I believe he is 27, though his dark skin hasn't aged much at all. He keeps his afro black hair buzzed short, and it is styled with a shaved line on the left. His scruffy beard is as neat as his hair. He is roughy the same height as Ramiro, but he's a little less skinny.

He's a marksman, which is one of the newer gifts. Of course guns weren't a thing when the gift was discovered, so it's been refined to pick up new technology. From what I've heard he is one of the most talented ones out there.

I know this man because I've been in rooms with him before. He visits my father's office on occasion, and we've sat across from each other during some informal meetings. We are yet to exchange real words I guess. All we've done is exchange a handshake.

Of course he is just as taken back with this run in as I am.

"Why the hell is Adira Stefano here Ramiro?" he asks, now in the kitchen with us.

"So you've met..."

"Once, but I would still know her regardless. We work for her fucking dad. If he found out she were here he'd lose it," Oren explains.

I didn't know I was that reputable.

Oren's eyes suddenly widen like something just clicked in his brain.