I’ve been struggling to move. The light illuminated the room, almost blinding me. I need to cover my eyes with my arm. I crouch down, trying to reach my legs as I felt it aching. I immediately noticed that I was lying on a bed with a white sheet covering. My left leg was bandaged.



I furrowed. What happened? Where am I?



The whole room was painted black and white. No furniture and only the bed I am at. A door was on my side, but it looks far from my sight.



When my eyes adjusted to the light, I let myself roam around. I was wincing in pain as my leg did not budge even with the covering. I walked straight to the door when it suddenly opened.



“Sharmienne?”



A husky voice was the first thing I heard as soon as it opened. It was familiar. And when I saw him lending a hand to help me stood up, I immediately recognize him.



“Daniel?” His grip was not too tight as he holds me. He sighed when he saw my situation. I was wearing a simple hospital dress with a bandage.



“Let me get you back to your room,” he uttered. He simply helped me to get on the bed. I was really confused that I did have the time to protest. “You okay?”



“Where am I? And where’s Denver?” I asked, my voice was a mix of hoarseness.



“He’s not here and he doesn’t know that you’re with me.” He pursed his lips as he sat just in front of me. My brows furrowed further. “I know you’re really confused right now, but you need to eat to gain your energy back.”



I nodded. After he said that, he asked for a maid to get my food. He also helped me eat as I am in my weak state. We were silent the whole time. I was waiting for him to explain. I don’t want to conclude everything. I have a lot of questions.



“It’s been two days. You were injured and unconscious.” He glanced at my leg. “A doctor already checked and treated it.”



“I s-see.” I scratched my brow and nodded. “How did I get here?”



I thought I was abducted by someone. That was all I remember before passing out at school. Daniel must have seen me that he brought me here… But something feels wrong.



“I brought you here.” Daniel smiled as if he was reassuring me of something. “Denver asked me to look after you while he’s not in Davao right now.”



“He’s still not in our condo, yet? Is there something wrong?” I pursed my lips as I said that. I was also hesitant if I should also ask if it was about their gang. He keeps everything in the dark.



“Yeah, he has to deal with some business.” He shrugged. “In the meantime, you will stay here.”



I nodded, a bit satisfied with his answer. I glanced at my leg as I felt it twitching. It’s as if it was smashed or what? Where did I get this?



“I want to ask you something, Sharmienne.” I look up to Daniel who was serious as he pursed his lips into a thin line. I think it is the second time I saw him like this. He's always been that go-with-the-flow type of guy. “It’s about our gang.”



“What about it?”



I tried to keep calm by not stuttering. I somehow expected this to happen, but I never thought it would be with Daniel. I foresee it with my husband as he explains everything o me, but after my encounter with Jake, he never opened up about it.



“What do you know about us?” he uttered. “You unexpectedly discovered it through Carmienne and your friend, Forthaliez.” I nodded but was also curious how they know Kian. It seems that Daniel knew what I’m thinking he spoke again. “Forthaliez is under investigation right now. It’s confidential but I want you to know about it.”



“He’s what?!” I don’t know how to act composed and calm right now. They’ve been following my friend? Do they have that sort of mission?



“I knew you were curious as to why Elijah mentioned that surname before.” He fixed the bed sheet and covered my leg. He then met my eyes again. “It was not a coincidence, Sha. It was to lure you out and see how you will react.”



Oh, now I remember. It was the time when Daniel escorted and drive us from Airport to Madrigal’s Tower. We were from Cebu and Elijah is also with us.



I nodded, absent-mindedly. “You’ve mentioned ‘targets’. What does it mean?” I asked.



“It is The Hawk’s targets. They are those people who are family, close friends, or acquaintances of The Falcon members. And one of them is a Forthaliez.”



“But Kian is not a gangster,” I reasoned. He also furrowed, as if confused about what I’ve said. But it was the truth. How will Kian be involved in this? Unless… “Kia Forthaliez!” I voice out when realizing something.



Kian must have figured out something about The Hawk. And Jake Hart knew about this that’s why he’s using Kia as his target to stop Kian from digging into the gang’s secret.



“Right. His sister,” Daniel slowly uttered. “We do not know how related Kian is to our gang. But sure thing, he knows something. That’s why we’re investigating.”



I massaged my temple and managed to keep up with the topic. My questions were answered but added new ones. I sighed. This wasn’t the first thing I will find out about The Falcon.



“You’ve also met Jake Hart, right?” Daniel asked again. “That was also a trigger to Denver. He’s been overworking himself just to find some loopholes in their gang. That was his job.”



“He instantly knew that you will be in danger if you indulge further in our gang war, Sha. He’s been keeping you away from this.”



That’s his reason for not telling me everything. About them. He’s protecting me. I want to conclude that, but I want to hear it personally from my husband. I want his reason. I want it to be the one to tell me everything. He’s avoiding the topic of their gang to keep me safe.



I understand now. I can grasp the half of it. But I also realized that maybe I was a burden that he needs to keep. Maybe my husband was pressured and always thinking about how to protect me at this time. It has always been for my sake.



All his gestures and words make sense. From the time he avoided me, those times he never opened up about himself. The emotions I saw in his eyes when I ask if he was protecting someone. He’s pertaining to me.



My eyes watered when I realized these things. Those acts have a reason. And I’ve been too naïve not to notice some of it. I was so focused on myself that I neglected that my husband is doing everything just to keep me protected and sheltered. To be safe from harm. And to keep away from this war between The Hawk and The Falcon.



“I-i…” I sobbed and covered my face with both of my palms. My heart began constricting from all these thoughts. “I d-didn’t know.”



Daniel didn’t say anything and just watch me. I can’t conceal how these revelations affected me. I tried to stop crying. I wiped out my tears and faced Daniel.



“Am I a threat to you?” I asked. I sounded tired but I knew myself better. I should face these things and want to dig for the whole truth. And Daniel would be the one to give me that.



It was the last thing I heard before I passed out. I do not know if it was Daniel who said that. I am not sure. I wanted to know what happened that day.



“Who told you that?” His jaw clenched but he calmed down when he took a deep sigh. “You heard it from that guy?”



So, it was not him.



“Guy?” I asked. “I remembered someone with a black hoodie jacket following me. He has the hawk tattoo on his arm.”



“The Hawk’s goon.” He nodded at me, confirming what I told him. “He was the one who drugged you that made you unconscious.”



“Did something happen after I passed out?” I almost freaked out, but Daniel calmed me down. “Tell me, Daniel.”



“He was supposed to abduct you that day, but I was just around and get you out there. They will surely use you for their own gain.” He pulled something from his pockets. It was Denver’s phone. “Someone called me, but I was not in Manila at that time. It was Elijah who bring this to me.”



“How would Denver leave that?”



“I planned it, Sha.” He can’t meet my eyes. His jaw is clenching. “I planned to get you out of this mess. I want to help you both to live in peace. I planned everything.”



“W-why would you…”



“I saw how Denver is affected every time The Falcon involves you. He’s too smitten that he will give up everything just to be with you. He doesn’t realize that he’s one of the reasons why you're in this mess now.”



“Your marriage was originally called off even before you were married legally. He pushed his plans merely to get tied with you. It was all for revenge before, but he changed.”



“As his friend, I was against his idea to keep you beside him. Considering it may be against your will and he didn’t even tell you about his plans. He didn’t even tell you everything. He knew the risks when he wanted you to be with him, but he still went ahead.”



He sighed after that long statement. It was the explanation that I want from Denver. Now, Daniel tells me everything. I want to be grateful, but I can’t expect this from Denver. He will just keep everything to himself.



Still, if I meet him again, I surely want to hear his own thoughts and reasons. Everything Daniel said right now is from his perception and understanding. It doesn’t involve what Denver’s really thinking in our situation. Daniel doesn’t know Denver’s intentions. He just knows part of it.



“I really want to understand Denver. I am just waiting for him to tell me,” I uttered bitterly. “But I guess, I should be grateful that you tell me these things.”



“You can ask him after this. I just want you to be aware because he would just keep you hidden. It is a bad thing already, Sharmienne. Soon enough, it will destroy you.”



“I understand.”



“After he tied the knots with you, he changed.” He chuckled to lighten up the mood. “He’s the messenger of our gang but he neglects his duty just to be with you.”



“He did that?”



He nodded. “He even kept the files of those targets because he knew that we would investigate Kian and those who are close to him. And that includes you, Carmienne and Kia Forthaliez.”



Is that the reason why he looks serious every time Kian’s name is mentioned?



“That’s why we need you to cooperate, Sha. We need Denver’s full focus on this. There’s a cold war between the two gangs. And if we won’t do anything, a lot of innocent civilians will be the collateral damage of The Hawk’s retaliation.”



Should I be the one to make this decision? It looks one-sided to me. But thinking about the consequences and the damage it will give made my heart break. Those people who just want to live in peace would be affected because of these gang wars.



I don’t know what’s the main reason of their war but if this keeps going, then we should sacrifice.



“How can I help you?”



“Leave my friend, Sharmienne. Stay away from him and…” Daniel uttered with full conviction followed with a pause. “Play the captive.”