Chapter 90: Your Strength

< Shirley >
After almost an eight hour flight, we landed in Madrid, Spain. The sun was setting on its horizon by the time we checked in a motel.
I couldn't help but be overwhelmed by the pressure I was feeling. What if we were caught here? Would that be the end of us? I was getting a really bad feeling.
The jingling of keys made me snap out of my trance as I looked at Dylan trying hard to insert the keys into the doorknob.
"Seriously, who uses keys nowadays? Aren't there room cards?" I huffed.
"Well, you can expect that from a hotel, not here," Dylan replied flatly.
"Weren't you the one who said we wouldn't have to struggle? Then why are we at a motel?" I complained.
"Better safe than sorry," he replied and finally managed to open the door.
There was only a small bed, a small table, a couch, a wooden cupboard, and a big window. There was an odd foul smell inside the small room. In no way in hell would I stay in a room like this for a single minute.
"I can't live here," I let out and tried going back the way I came here, but Dylan held me back.
"As much as I want to leave with you, we have to stay here for tonight," he reasoned out. I still tried to get out but he lifted me off my feet and threw me on the hard bed.
"You want me to stay here? How am I supposed to sleep here? The bed isn't comfy at all." I crossed my arms and started taking rapid breaths to keep my calm to not yell at him.
Dylan sigh and kneeled in front of me, taking my hands in his. He kissed my knuckles softly and said, "I know you deserve better than this. But we are in a difficult situation here. We need an ID to check in a hotel, and we don't have that yet. It's just for one night."
I puffed my cheeks and turned away my head, my nose flaring in anger.
Dylan chuckled. "Shirley," he called out teasingly, but I didn't respond. "Shirley," his voice got softer. "Look at me, love."
I still refused to look at his way. "No."
"You leave me with no choice," he breathed out and pushed me on the bed, hovering over me. I looked at him as I was startled. He pinned my hands on both sides of my head.
"Dylan—" Before I could complete my sentence, he smashed his lips on mine, pulling me into a rough kiss. I tried resisting for a second, having fun as he was getting impatient. Once I thought I had enough fun, I let his tongue take territory into my mouth while moving my lips in sync with him.
After a moment, I felt his hand on my waist pulling up my top a little before his cold fingers touched my bare skin. I didn't stop him because I wanted this just as much as he wanted it. His lips traveled from my mouth to my neck, trailing wet kisses all over. I moaned as he started kissing my weak spot, biting on it softly.
"Are…you sure this is the best place?" I managed to ask. The hard bed was starting to make my back hurt.
"Let's not go that far," he said and continued kissing my neck, his hands still under my top, tugging at the hook of my bra.
"Your actions say otherwise," I derided.
"You talk too much," he said and pressed his lips on mine again. I threaded my fingers through his hair, pulling him closer to me. My other hand traveled over his chest, playing with his buttons, opening them one by one.
Just as I was about to unbutton his last button, there was a knock on the door. I groaned but Dylan didn't pay any heed and continued doing his job that was sucking on my neck.
"Open the door," I told him, yet he didn't listen. "Dylan!" I raised my voice, which made him get up grumpily.
Dylan fixed his shirt and opened the door to find one of his men with our luggage. "Boss, your belongings," he said.
I could see Dylan gritting his teeth as he flashed him a tight-lipped smile. He thanked him in a very bitter tone and closed the door with a thud after his man was gone.
"You want to continue?" I asked.
Dylan ran a hand through his hair. "I would love to, but it's not the best situation and definitely not the best place. I might not even hear gunshots if I were to get busy with you," he explained and I nodded.
"Fine, I will take a nap then. I am a bit tired," I said and laid down on the bed. I set an alarm at ten as we had to reach his friend's private airport before midnight. I groaned as the bed was not only uncomfortable, the pillows smelled bad as well. "Why don't you take a rest too?"
"I need to stay on alert," he said and sat on the couch.
"It's okay. Lay down for a few minutes," I told him.
Dylan sighed and took off his shoes before laying down beside me. I rested my head on his hand, which was more comfortable than the pillow, and hugged him. He chuckled as he saw me grin in comfort. He stroked my head until I fell into a deep slumber.
I didn't know for how long I was asleep, I was in a long dream, a very bad one. I was running in it for an eternity, but Dylan wasn't with me. I lost my mom, dad, brother, and everyone else on the way, even Dylan. I opened my eyes, as a horrifying image flashed in my dream, to see Dylan sleeping right beside me, his arms around my waist securely.
I sighed and pecked his lips softly before checking the time. It was a quarter past ten. Did Dylan fall asleep with me? Didn't he say he needed to be on alert?
I shook him slightly but he didn't move. Of course, he hasn't had a chance to sleep for days. "Dylan," I called out softly. He murmured something incoherent and pulled me closer. "Wake up." As soon as I said that, his eyes fluttered open, and he bolted up from the bed. "What's wrong?"
Dylan was breathing heavily. "Shit, I fell asleep," he cursed, the regret in his voice gave me chills.
Was it that bad to have fallen asleep?
Dylan quickly got up and took the phone he was using here and gasped. The scared look on his face terrified me as well. He looked up at me, his lips quivering, eyes filled with fear, and said, "They are here."
My heart skipped a beat as I registered what he said. I quickly wore my sneakers and went near him. "We should run," I told him urgently.
"We are surrounded, Shirley," he let out.
I involuntarily took a step back, feeling hopeless. Why was this happening to us? "What will we do?" I asked.
His eyes averted to the big window. "You go down through the window and reach the airport—"
"What are you saying? I'm not going to leave you behind," I spoke up firmly. There was no way I would run away, letting him stay here to block the enemies with his five men only.
Dylan grabbed my shoulders and tried to talk me into it, "Don't worry. I will be there before midnight. I promise."
I moved away from him. "I am not leaving you here, Dylan. If we are to leave right now, you are coming with me," I declared.
"Try to understand. I need to stay here to make sure the enemies don't follow us to the airport, and it was my mistake to fall asleep in such a crucial situation. I need to amend it. You go to the airport—"
"Find then. I will stay hidden in the cupboard until you kill the enemies. After that, we will leave together," I announced.
Dylan shook his head. "If you are here, I won't be able to concentrate." I pressed my hands on my ear, not willing to listen to anything. My mind wasn't functioning but I knew that I couldn't abandon him here. He took a sharp breath and said, "What do you want to be, Shirley? My weakness or my strength?"
I froze on my spot and met his eyes that were starting to get blurry with tears.
"My strength, right?" I nodded hesitantly. "If I have the assurance that you are safe, I can fight well. But if you were to stay here, you could be used as my weakness. Would you like that?" I shook my head in denial, my legs starting to feel weak at my helplessness. "Then you have to leave first." He started looking through his luggage and took out two submachines and a gun.
Just then I heard a gunshot. I closed my eyes in fear. I opened them once Dylan pulled me in a brief hug. "Promise me you will come back to me," I said, my voice cracking and tears slipping out of my eyes.
"Yes, I will come back to you. I promise," he said and kissed my forehead before opening the window.
"Just so you know, if something happens to you, I am going to kill myself," I clamored.
He halted on his movements and gaped at me with disbelief. "It's not a time to joke."
"I am not joking. I am letting you know that if you let yourself get killed today, you will be responsible for my death as well," I declared firmly.
Dylan gritted his teeth, not bothering to reply, and checked the area. "The coast is clear."
We were on the first floor, so I could afford to jump from there and not break my leg in the process. There was a car waiting for me down there since it was a back alley. As I stood on the window frame, ready to jump, I got down and cried out, "I don't want to leave you."
"Don't be my weakness, Shirley." His voice was so helpless and broken, yet I wasn't ready to leave him. "Please leave!" With that, he ran out of the room with his weapons. As soon as he went out, I could hear multiple gunshots.
I bit my lips and sucked in a deep breath before jumping down the window. I landed safely and got into the car. I started crying hysterically as the driver started driving at full speed.
I desperately started praying to God to keep him alright. I had no one except Dylan. He was my everything, the only person I could count on. He was my future. I was a hundred percent serious when I said that I would kill myself if something happened to him. Without him, my life would be nothing. Therefore, more than anything else, I wanted the love of my life to come out of this alive.
"I will be your strength, so please be safe, Dylan."