‘Now, let’s make good use of those eight hours, shall we?’Elias carried Callie to the bed, their lips never parting.As he gently laid her down, their eyes locked, and the unspoken promise of their love filled the air.They made out with a passion that was both tender and intense.Their fingers traced each other’s curves, their hands exploring every inch of one another as they revelled in the intimacy of the moment.Their love for each other was evident in every touch, every kiss, every sigh that escaped their lips.The world around them faded into the background as they became lost in the depth of their emotions.As the hours passed, they made the best use of the time they had left.Their bodies entwined in a dance of love and desire, each moment treasured as if it were their last.Afterwards, Callie fell asleep, exhausted and sated.Elias gazed at her peaceful form for a long while.Then he rose quietly from the bed and went into the small living room.He sat down at the desk, took

Angelia pulled up the jeep outside the health centre.Simon got out after her, looking somewhat tired after their long journey.They went into the pharmacy, where Angelia once again supervised the cadets unloading the medical supplies from the truck into the pharmacy.After ensuring everything was in order, she signed for the receipt before locking the door.She saw Simon glancing around, clearly eager to find someone.‘I’ll give you a tour of the place once you are settled in,’ Angelia offered. ‘Who are you looking for?’Simon looked at her with a rueful smile. ‘The other Dr Hawthorne—Callie.’Angelia’s heart skipped a beat, but she quickly masked her emotions. ‘I didn’t know you two were acquainted.’‘Callie’s my… girlfriend,’ Simon explained. ‘I haven’t seen her since she came to the academy.’‘I see,’ Angelia replied, trying to sound nonchalant.Deep down, though, she sneered at the situation.Simon was still married to Abby, and their divorce wasn’t even final yet.Yet here Simon

Callie’s eyes narrowed, and she didn’t hide her displeasure. ‘I don’t see why that should matter,’ she replied icily. ‘Our past is exactly that—past.’Wendy glanced back and forth between Callie and Simon, sensing the tension in the air.Simon looked taken aback by Callie’s cold demeanour, but he still tried to salvage the situation. ‘I just thought we could catch up, you know? It’s been a while.’‘We have nothing to catch up on,’ Callie retorted sharply. ‘I have moved on, and so should you.’Wendy cleared her throat, trying to ease the tension. ‘Simon, it’s good to see you again, but this is a military medical facility, not a social gathering,’ she said pointedly. ‘We’re here to work.’Simon seemed flustered, not expecting such a chilly reception. ‘I-I understand,’ he stammered. ‘I didn’t mean to cause any trouble.’Callie’s resolve hardened. ‘Just focus on your task and leave. There’s nothing for you here.’Simon’s words hung heavy in the air as he pleaded with Callie. ‘I know I’ve

Callie shook her head, incredulous at Simon’s persistence.‘You are delusional. Get over yourself,’ she said firmly, attempting to dismiss his absurd claims.‘Come on, Callie, you can’t deny that you still have feelings for me. I can see it in your eyes.’ Simon tried to grab her arm.‘I don’t!’ Callie shot back, her tone unwavering. ‘I’m in love with Elias, and I’m committed to him.’Simon’s frustration grew, and he resorted to insulting Elias. ‘Elias is just a military man with a big ego. He’s not good enough for you,’ he sneered.‘How dare you!’ Callie’s voice rose with indignation. ‘Elias is twice the man you could ever hope to be. He’s brave, honourable, and he respects me. Unlike you, he’s never betrayed my trust.’‘But we were so happy together!’Undeterred, Simon tried to kiss Callie, but she pushed him away and delivered a resounding slap across his cheek.‘I told you to stop!’ she yelled, tears welling up in her eyes. ‘I won’t let you disrespect me or my husband.’She pushed

Elias’s jaw tightened. ‘We’ll have to tread carefully. Establishing trust with the locals will be crucial. We need their cooperation if we’re going to root out Kee Ting’s network.’He leaned forward, his gaze intense. ‘This mission requires precision and coordination. We’ll divide the search area into sectors and deploy our teams strategically. Communication will be key – we can’t afford any missteps.’Elias’s eyes swept across the room, meeting each officer’s gaze. ‘Remember, Kee Ting has been responsible for a trail of destruction. It’s our duty to ensure he’s brought to justice.’A hushed silence settled over the room as his words hung in the air.The officers nodded in agreement, their determination evident.‘Let’s get to work,’ Elias declared, his voice firm. ‘We’ll reconvene in six hours with a comprehensive plan of action. This is our chance to strike a significant blow against the cartels and bring peace to these borderlands.’As the officers dispersed, the room buzzed with ac