“I HOPE you better be ready by then Vero,” he said when he talk to Vero at his office about the possibilities of future cases his security might break especially Camila.

“I will be, Sir, just call me and I’m happy that you saw Inspector.”

“Yeah, I am too,” he said nodding, “thank you, you may leave.”

Vero nodded with a smile and left.

He sighed after Vero left then he receive a text from Camila, he tap that open and read her message: Want to talk to you later, uncle, it’s important and he replied: Okay, mija, later this evening and he rubbed his face, frustrated, “what is it this time?” and he heard her intercom buzz he leaned forward and press a button, “yes, Selena, what is it?”

“Sir, a certain Austin Mahone wanted to talk to you personally.”

Mike groaned when he heard that name he despised since he know him, “let him in.”

“Copy, Sir.”

After a few second the door to his office in Jauregui Group opened and revealed Selena pushing the door wide open and let Austin enter the office, once they got in they approached Mike.

“Sir, do you want anything?”

“No, Selena, but thank you," and he stare at the man seriously, "Mahone here will not take long,” he replied while giving him a cold glare.

“Okay, Sir,” Selena replied sensing the tension between the two men, “I leave now, if you need anything just call me,” and she left, leaving the two men inside.

“What are you doing here in my office, Superintendent Mahone?” Mike asked, straight to the point.

“I assume, Sir, that you already know me,” and he nodded.

“Answer my question.”

“I’m here to search for my subordinate, Chief Inspector Camila Cabello and I saw the video, read the report of the shooting incident at Miami High.”

“Even if I know where she is or not, I will not tell you and don’t tell me why Supt. Mahone, I don’t want to talk to a man who left his subordinate hanging in the air.”

“You know her.”

“Yes, I am, she’s a family friend, my god daughter to be exact and I do everything to protect her from you.”

Austin gulped because he knew that his mission of finding Camila is not easy, “Sir…”

“No, Supt. Mahone, I don’t want to hear anything from you, like what you did to Camila, you didn’t hear her out then I’ll do the same to you.”

“Sir, this is—”

“I don’t care, you see, even if you tell me that this is a national threat I will tell you back, Camila might really ended up in jail because her superior, friend, colleague is not helping her out, I hope you understand what I mean, Supt. Mahone, knowing that Camila is in jail because of your lame reasons it was a national threat to me, Camila is like a daughter to me, blood or not, she’s a daughter of mine,” and he leaned back, “you may leave, don’t wait for me to call the security of the company to assist you out because you will not get anything from me.”

“Sir, just let me ex—”

“You’re dismiss, Supt. Mahone," he cut him.

Austin knew that this will happen, he tightened his jaw and nodded, “a pleasant morning to you, Sir.”

“I don’t have a pleasant morning after seeing the man who betrayed my god daughter.”

And Austin left the office.

*****

Austin groaned when he approached the rented car and he kick the tire of the car in frustration and he leaned back looking at the sky. He can’t fault Mike Jauregui, he was just protecting his god daughter that’s why he sent Veronica Iglesias to represent Camila even if it’s really not necessary.

He get it all now and he regret everything and hoping that Camila will give him another chance and if not he will surely face the wrath of Chief Superintendent DeGeneres not just her but to Armando as well who acts Camila’s big bro and to his wife for disappointing her.

He opened the driver’s door and went inside, thinking of a next plan he’s going to do just to see Camila and talk to her.

*****

“You’re riding with me again?” Taylor complained when she saw Chris hopped in beside her at the back seat of her own car.

“Just let me, sis,” and he frowned when he saw Thomas watching something on his phone and Keana followed inside the passengers’ seat, “what is that?”

“Oh, Sir Chris, sorry,” Thomas said, and put away his phone, “are you ready to go home?”

“Yes, Thomas,” Taylor replied.

“Okay,” and he began driving, leaving the campus.

“What are you watching, you like basketball too?” Chris asked.

“Uhm—" and she look at to Thomas then replied since they didn't break any protocol that K created, "it’s really a basketball but it’s a game that happened in Miami U, Sir Chris,” Keana answered.

“That’s new, they really knew now how to play huh?”

“Uhm it’s not that Sir Chris,” Thomas explained, “it’s a one on one game.”

“Really, who's playing?” and he leaned forward.

Keana smiled and answered, “it’s Brad versus Karla.”

“Karla?” Taylor and Chris asked in unison.

"Is it the same Karla we knew?" Chris asked.

"Yes, Sir Chris, the same Karla," Thomas answered.

“What happened?” Taylor asked.

“I really don’t know what happened, Ms Taylor, it was Normani who passed it to us, Lucy asked her to video it,” Thomas replied.

“Let me see,” Chris excitedly handed his hand.

Keana took her phone instead since she had a copy too and search for the video and handed it to Chris.

“You have one too,” Taylor said.

“Stanley is bored and I’m sure he wanted to see that.”

“You’re right.”

And the two siblings began watching it.
Thomas and Keana smiled watching the two at the back.

***** 

Chris was excited after watching the video, once their home he immediately went to the control room.

“Why are we here?” Taylor asked.

“You can go inside first, I wanted to ask Ally about Karla’s contact number,” Chris explained.

“No way, I go with you.”

Chris sighed, "fine," then he knock on the door.

It was Jacob who greeted them who ready to leave, ending his shift.

“Sir Chris, Ms Taylor, what can I help?” Jacob asked.

“Is Ally in there?”

“Oh, her shift starts in about 7, I can call her if you want.”

“No, Jacob uhm I just wanted to ask something.”

“What is it Sir Chris?”

“Do you have Karla’s number?”

“Karla, Karla Estrabao?”

“Yes, that one, please, I really wanted to talk to her.”

Jacob darted his eyes to Taylor and back to Chris.

Taylor sighed and explained the reason, “we already watch the video and he’s amused of Karla’s play, that’s why.”

“Oh I see, okay, come in.”

They did come in and Jacob gave them the number after that they left.

“If I were you, you will give K a heads up,” George said, watching the couple of small monitors in front of him.

“Why?”

“K will not answer because it’s not a registered number and Sir Chris will surely be disappointed, notice his face earlier?”

“Oh fuck, you’re right,” and he quickly contacted K.

“You’re really an idiot.”

“Shut up,” and he cleared his throat when K answered, “uhm K, I just give your number to Sir Chris since he wanted it, he wants to talk to you.”

“Why is that?”

“Ms Taylor explained that they watch the video of your one on one with Simpson and he’s amused of your play.”

“I see.”

“Just giving you a heads up.”

“Thanks.”

*****

Lauren can’t still forget the envelope she receives earlier, how she could talk to it to her parents without making them worry and she groaned because it’s impossible they will not be worry because they really would, they will not assign a security to her if they’re not and she looked at to the ceiling.

Hello, baby Lauren.

Lauren got up when she heard those words from her memory, the voice comes from a kid and the tone is somehow sweet, making her smile, calming her down then she remember what her parents said that Camila used to hang around in their house in Mexico before and how she’s used to Camila being around and how Camila makes her happy and how she cried a lot after Camila left.

Her thoughts were cut off when she heard laughing outside the house, she frowned because it’s not usual then heard her brother’s voice then Taylor, she got up and went to her window then looked around, she saw them playing basketball in the court but her eyes widened when she saw the familiar brunette.

“Karla?” and she remember her injury, “what the fuck?” and she quickly went out of her room, almost running to where they are.

*****

“I knew you’re quick,” Chris said between laughs passing the ball to Karla, he can’t block her.

“I’m not really quick, Simpson’s moves are just easy to read that’s why he lose, remember that and I read one of yours, take note of that.”

“What?” Chris whined and he saw her nod.

“I read it too,” Taylor said who watch the one on one while sitting on the bench, “even though I don’t understand the mechanics of that sport but your moves are easy to read bro, Karla just added 2 ups on your speed.”

“I did not,” Chris defended.

“Yes, you are,” Karla agreed to Taylor, “watch me,” and she copied Chris’ moves.

“What the fuck?” and he bite his lips looking around if their mom caught him cursing then back to Karla when he didn’t found her, “seriously?”

And Karla nodded, “when you move, you have to catch your opponent eyes, diverting him to where you want him to be even though you aren't, that's the perfect explanation of fake,” and she dribbled the ball, “watch me, carefully.”

Chris nodded and watch Karla closely, his eyes widened when he finally got she meant, “that’s the trick?”

“Good thing you catch that.”

“I’ll really carve that on my mind.”

“You can practice with me.”

“Really, that’s great!” Chris said with beaming voice, he was glad for that.

“And who said you can practice with him, Karla Estrabao?”

Camila flinched when she heard Lauren’s voice, stopping her dribbling the ball and she turn to her, “hi, Lauren.”

“What the fuck are you doing?”

“Uhm—playing…?”

“Don’t be a killjoy, she’s teaching me,” Chris defended and took the ball.

“And how did you get her number?” Lauren asked to her brother.

“From the control room, where else, Jacob gave me one.”

Then she back to Karla, “and you, you have injuries,” she scolded her.

“It’s not hurting anymore,” and she roll her injured arm back and forth, “see? Not hurt, I just have to rest it a little.”

“Still—”

“Sis, I need her to teach me, I watched the video, remember we had a play in school?”

“What video are you talking about?” Lauren asked to Chris, confused.

“You didn’t notice Lucy asking Normani to take a video of my play?”

“That shit…”

“Mija, what did I say about cursing?”

Lauren silently groaned, “nothing mom, just a slip," and she turn around and saw their mom.

“Oh hi, Karla, you’re here.”

“Hello, auntie…” Karla greeted.

“Did you invite her Lauren?”

“I’m not, Chris did.”

“I want to see her play too,” Taylor said.

“Play what?”

“Basketball, mom, Karla here is a good instructor and she shows me my bad habit of playing," Chris said with proud.

Clara smiled at Camila, “that’s good dear.”

And Camila smiled sweetly at Clara, she knows because since she was little she loves playing ball and Mike used to play it with her.

“Well then, show me.”

“Mom, Normani had a video of her play on how she dumped Brad on the court,” Lauren said.

“Oohh let me see that,” and she looked at to Lauren, “you see that too, Lauren?”

Lauren nodded with a smile, “live.”

“We’ll watch that later,” and she looked at to Camila, “I hope you will stay for the dinner mija.”

“Don’t worry, mom, she will, I literally asked her to come over so we can practice again, but she’s here now,” and glared at Chris.

“I see, that’s good, have fun then,” and she left.

“Sis, you have to sit down, just watch us,” Chris said, “we’re not done yet.”

“Fine,” “but Karla I don’t want to hear you groan about your injury later.”

“Oh, don’t worry about that."

“Don’t mind her Karla, I can ask Bea if you’re in pain, I will just pull Lauren away from you,” Chris said with a smile.

Camila grinned, “I now have a protector from you Lolo,” she teased to Lauren.

“Oh my God, shut up,” she replied after taking the seat beside Taylor.

“That’s Lauren for you.”

And they laugh.

And Karla went back of teaching Chris.

“Even if it’s still hot, I know you’re blushing,” Taylor whispered.

Lauren looked at to her sister, “what?”

“Nope, don’t lie to me, I know how your mouth hang open when you saw her took off her jacket, revealing her muscle, don’t forget that I saw the video.”

“Oh my God!”

“That’s okay, that’s normal, perfectly normal, no need to hide.”

“I’m not!”

“I didn’t say anything, I wish my boyfriend had that one too.”

“Oh my God, Taylor!”

“What?”

And they both chuckled.

And Lauren watched Karla in amusement, how Karla mingled with her family, with her siblings and she smiled.

***** 

As the time passes by Chris finally on pace with Karla while applying the lessons.

“You’re doing good, bro,” Taylor cheered.

“Be thankful, Karla is teaching you,” Lauren continued.

“And it’s my honour,” catching the ball after Karla shoots a perfect three, “you’re really a three pointer, what’s your position?”

“I can handle any position but my usual position is point guard.”

“I’m not surprised, you’re good.”

“Thanks for that.”

“Clara was right, you’re here Karla.”

And all of them turn around and saw their father. Lauren, Taylor and Chris immediately greeted their father. Camila slightly bow her head as a greeting and she receives his smile.

“What are you guys doing?”

“Dad, Karla is teaching me my bad habits in playing basketball, she’s a good instructor,” Chris said in amusement, "I learned a lot."

Mike smiled, he remember when Camila is still a kid, he used to play ball with her and little Camila is happy, “that’s a good one, good thing you have Karla as your instructor.”

“I know! And I’m really, really glad."

"It’s okay if I watched too, right?”

“Of course, dad!” and he looked at to Karla, “you too, Karla, I want to show you what you teach in me.”

“Of course, Chris, I will.”

“Don’t forget us too,” Taylor said.

“Of course you all can come,” Chris said with a smile.

Mike stayed with them watching Chris and Camila play, he was happy.

At the end of the game, Karla still won, with 5pts ahead from Chris.

“You’re really are good,” Chris said handing his hand to Karla.

Karla accepted it and made a brief handshake, “thanks, just don’t forget those things and you’ll be fine.”

“Got it, thanks sis, it’s okay, right?”

“Of course,” Karla replied with a smile.

Karla then approached Lauren.

“I hope you brought extra, I will not let you enter the house with you sweating.”

“I did bring one, don’t worry.”

“Good.”

*****

Before dinner came, Karla and Lauren practiced, perfecting their performance, letting Taylor and Chris watched.

“Dinner is ready, guys,” Clara announced to them, entering the music room.

And they followed her to the dining area.

After dinner, they really watch the game of Karla versus Brad.

“Man, I still couldn’t get enough of that,” Chris commented after the play ended, “you’re really are fast, you were like dancing in the court,” he said to Karla.

“What can I do, he’s mocking me, he’s too full of himself.”

“That’s the consequence of him,” Taylor said, “those audience, oh my god did you see their faces, it’s really funny.”

“Please I hope they will not mention how I embrace Karla,” Lauren pleads in her thoughts.

“He’s not sportsmanship too,” Clara added, “he even wanted to punch you.”

“He’s just frustrated auntie, that’s why, he can’t accept the fact that a certain transferee small woman beat him on the court.”

“With the presence of the coach, he’s mad, really mad, disappointed too,” Mike added.

“I really thought at first she will lose,” Lauren said.

“You threatened me, that’s why,” Karla answered.

“What?” Taylor asked and look at to Lauren.

“Yeah, she said if I will lose she will beat me with the guitar, who wants that?”

“No one,” Chris answered.

“See?”

“Why not, you’re letting him,” Lauren defended.

“Even if you’re not there I still win.”

“How sure you are?”

“I just know, I know what I’m doing, Lo, and I’m not giving him the satisfaction so I let him first, see what he did, he held his head up high and those spectators too, I know they’re just there because of Brad, wanting to see me being defeated of what they think he’s good at.”

“Is that the reason why he challenged you?”

“Yep, he can’t beat me in physical strength so he wanted to beat me in basketball instead.”

“And he didn’t know that you’re good in that too,” Chris said between laugh, very amused of what happened to Brad, “is he out of the team now?”

“I hope so, if he’s not then he’s not a man, knowing him, he will surely leave.”

“Damn.”

“It’s getting late now,” Clara announced to their kids, “and you still had practice tomorrow, Chris, right?”

“Yes, mom,” he replied and he stood approaching Karla, “thanks again,” and made a half embrace, like a brotherhood, “goodnight, sis.”

“Mom, I just walked Karla on the door,” Lauren said.

“Okay, go ahead.”

*****

“Thanks again,” Lauren said halting by the door.

“No problem, I know the sport so why not pass to him what I learned, right?”

Lauren nodded, “yes, you’re right, I’m thankful,” and she give her a good night kiss on the cheek, “good night, Karla, drive safe.”

Karla smiled, nodding her head, “I will,” and she wave her hand and left.

Lauren bit her lip and entered the house.

Unknown to Lauren, Karla just waited for her to enter the house and then sprint towards the control room.