CHAPTER 1: Follow You Down

Raquel Murillo stood at her spot apprehensively as she stared at the man she hadn't seen for a year. The man who not only she had fallen in love with but also the man who happened to be the most wanted bank robber in Spain. She smiled tentatively at him as he grinned at her with a twinkle in his eyes. He was sitting at a bar within a sprawling beach resort in Palawan, Philippines. It was the middle of the afternoon. The sun was shining. The air was balmy. From a distance, Raquel could hear the gentle waves of the sea. God knows how long he had been sitting there, or if he's waiting for her there at all.

Looking at him, Raquel felt a rush of emotions came over her. She felt anxious, scared even. She felt a twang of pain as she remembered the last time they saw each other. How hurt she was when she found out about his real identity. But those emotions were quickly replaced with something else. This was the man she had come to love in the most difficult and trying days of her career as a police inspector. And all the love she felt before now came rushing back to her.

She approached him just as he stood up to greet her.

"Raquel…," he greeted her with a smile.

"Sergio," she responded, looking up at him.

"You finally found me. I'm so glad to see you here," said Sergio. He searched her face.

"I… I found the clue you left just a few days ago. And I didn't… I wasn't sure if I'd come here to look for you, but ̶ " Raquel stammered.

Sergio nodded with a serious look on his face.

"I know, I know. I understand," he sighed deeply and looked away for a moment then glanced at the bartender standing behind the bar not far from them. The bartender was pouring a glass of Long Island iced tea for a customer. He didn't seem to hear them.

"Look, Raquel. I'm going to believe that you're here not because you want to arrest me. Or that you brought the police here with you," he said in a low voice.

"I want to believe you're here because you and I have something special. That you still have feelings for me too. Because if you ask me, my feelings for you haven't changed."

"I'm not a police inspector anymore," she answered firmly. "I quit after you escaped. So I'm not here to turn you in."

"So why did you come, Raquel?" Sergio prodded.

"I came because… because I wanted to see you again. And because I… I missed you," Raquel said biting her lip and shifting her feet anxiously.

She looked up at him.

"I missed you too," he said softly. He gently led her away from the bar towards a corner.

"Raquel, I know there are still many things left unsaid between us. And I'm deeply sorry for hurting you.

But if you give me a second chance, I promise I'll make it up to you. I'll treat you right. And I'm ready to tell you everything. How we did the bank heist, who were the people involved, their real names – everything! I promise I won't hurt you or lie to you again."

Raquel stared into his eyes. She could see the sincerity and love in his eyes. And in that moment, she wanted to wrap her arms around him and kiss him. She wanted to feel the warmth of his body against hers again. She wanted to believe everything he's saying but a part of her was reluctant to give in to her emotions. Her years of training and experience as a police inspector have taught her to be pragmatic and skeptical, especially around criminals.

But Sergio Marquina was no ordinary criminal. He had a lot of sympathizers. He was considered as a hero by many in Spain – a modern Robin Hood. He and his cohorts became a symbol of the resistance against a corrupt government.

"Please Raquel, give me another chance to make it right between us," he pleaded.

Sensing her hesitation, Sergio reached for her hand.

"Look, if you're worried about Paula and your mother, they could come and live here with us."

"Live here with you? On this island?"

"Yes. Isn't that what I've told you before back at your house? I asked you to come away with me to an island and you can bring them along with us. We'd be like family. I'll make you happy. We'll make it work."

A long pause passed between them.

"Oh, I don't know!" said Raquel shaking her head. She looked confused.

Sergio inched closer towards her. He cupped her face with one hand.

"Raquel, you don't have to decide now. I'll give you time to think about it. You can go back to your hotel and think it over. I'll come back here tomorrow – right here in the same spot, on the same time. I'll wait for you until 6:00PM. If you're not here by then, I'll know your decision. That means you don't want to be with me anymore. It would hurt me deeply, but I won't hold it against you."

Raquel turned her face away with a deep sigh. He let go of her. She looked around them. She didn't know what to say to him. She wasn't sure if she wanted to live with him here on the island. For starters, she had to give up a lot of things if she decided to stay with him. For a few minutes, she stared off at the horizon. Then she turned and looked at him.

"Let me think about it, okay?" she said.

He nodded in relief. He realized he was holding his breath until she spoke.

"I… I have to go now."

"Of course," he responded. He stepped aside and gestured towards the exit of the resort.

She gave him a small smile before turning away and walking towards the exit.

Sergio watched Raquel walk away.