Back From Prison, Built For Revenge - Chapter 38: Chapter 38

Nearby, Yolanda and Carlos sat across from each other. The air was thick with the bitter scent of coffee and an unspoken tension. Yolanda wore a pale pink sundress, the hem swaying with her every small movement. Her makeup was flawless, each stroke of eyeshadow carefully blended.
"Carlos, have you been too busy lately? You haven't had any time for me," she said with a playful pout, her voice a soft whisper.
Carlos offered a faint smile. His gaze, however, drifted past her, settling on Chloe. A storm of regret, conflict, and a raw, undeniable pain flashed in his eyes.
Yolanda caught the subtle shift. The spoon in her hand paused mid-stir, her eyes sharpening with a flash of cold fury. But just as quickly, the sweet smile returned to her face. "Carlos, what are you looking at?"
Carlos pulled his gaze away and took a sip of his coffee, the bitter taste lingering in his throat. "It's nothing," he said, his expression neutral.
Yolanda looked down, pretending to stir her coffee, but the slight tremor in her fingers betrayed her. She tried to push down the anxiety and jealousy, but they were a persistent, unshakable presence.
Ever since Chloe had reappeared in their lives, nothing she did, no matter how perfect she tried to be, could truly capture Carlos's heart.
"You're still thinking about her, aren't you?" Yolanda asked suddenly, her voice a mix of probing and hurt.
Carlos met her eyes, his own as calm and unreadable as a deep pool. "Yolanda, don't be ridiculous."
"I'm not being ridiculous," she shot back, her voice trembling as she bit her lip. "I know she's still on your mind, but I don't care anymore. I can accept your past, if you'll just give me a chance... "
Her words trailed off as her hand trembled, knocking her coffee cup over. The dark liquid spread quickly, soaking the tablecloth and her expensive handbag. Yolanda froze, staring at the mess, unsure how to react.
"Careful," Carlos said, frowning as he handed her a napkin. "You don't want to get burned." His tone held a polite but distant concern.
Yolanda took the napkin with a quiet thank you, ducking her head to hide the resentment in her eyes. As she scrubbed uselessly at the stain, she felt a bitter certainty that she could never erase Chloe's presence from Carlos's heart.
Across the street, Demi stood under the warm glow of a streetlamp, her eyes fixed on the scene inside the café. Her brow was furrowed with a mixture of worry and anger. 'Chloe, how much more of this can you take?' she muttered to herself, powerless to change anything.
A cool night breeze swept through the street, carrying the sounds of the city with it. It was Valentine's Day, and the sidewalks were alive with happy couples. But the festive mood only made Chloe feel more isolated and cold.
Two men in dark suits pushed through the door. They made a beeline for Chloe's table. "Ms. Quinn," one of them said in a low, threatening voice, "we need to have a word with you."
Chloe looked up at them, her dark eyes cold and unwavering. "And if I say no?"
One of the men sneered. "Then we won't be so polite."
Seeing the confrontation, Demi rushed into the café. "Who are you? What do you want?"
One of the men shoved her hard. Demi stumbled backward, her head cracking against the corner of a table before she crumpled to the floor, unconscious. A trickle of blood ran from her temple. The sudden violence sent a shockwave of silence through the café.
"Stop!" Chloe shot to her feet and shoved one of the men away. "We can talk, just don't hurt innocent people."
The man grabbed her wrist, forcing her back into her seat. He leaned in, his voice a harsh whisper in her ear. "Ms. Quinn, we're just following orders. Cooperate, and no one else gets hurt."
"Who sent you?" Chloe asked calmly, her eyes darting around the room, searching for an escape.
The man didn't answer, just gave a cold laugh. "That's not your question to ask."
Chloe took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay composed. "How much? Name your price. I'll pay you."
The other man scoffed. "Money? We're not here for money."
"Then what are you here for?" Chloe pressed.
"We're here to make you pay a price," the man's voice was chilling.
The sound of approaching sirens cut through the night. A bystander had clearly seen the commotion and called the police, the wail of the siren blanketing the once-lively street in a new layer of tension.
Realizing they were out of time, one of the men grabbed Chloe, pressing the cold metal of a gun into her side. "Don't try anything stupid, or everyone in here dies with you."
The café fell completely silent, no one daring to make a sound. All eyes were on Chloe, who remained shockingly calm.
"Let me go, and I can help you get out of here," she said in a low voice, trying to control the fear rising inside her. "But you can't hurt anyone else."
Her composure clearly caught them off guard for a second, but their ruthless expressions quickly returned. "Cut the crap. You're coming with us."