Chapter 18

The quiet hum of the hospital's machines filled the sterile room as Tori stepped in, her gaze immediately landing on the motionless figure of Carlos Vicente. He lay in the bed, pale but breathing, hooked up to tubes and monitors that beeped steadily. The sight of him made her chest tighten. He had saved her life, shielded her from threats she hadn't even seen coming, and now he was clinging to his own.

Trina sat beside him, her hand resting gently on his, watching the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest. She didn't look up when Tori entered, but her voice was steady when she said. "He's stable. They say he'll survive, but…" She hesitated, finally meeting Tori's eyes. "It was close. Too close."

Tori exhaled, the weight of everything pressing down on her. "Thank God," she whispered, stepping further into the room. She stood next to Trina, her fingers brushing her sister's shoulder in a rare show of vulnerability. "I spoke to Gio and Georgia. Sirrah's keeping them safe. I had to… I had to tell them everything was going to be okay, but I'm not sure they believed me."

Trina gave a small nod. "They trust you, Tori. they have to."

"I'm not sure they should," Tori muttered. Her eyes remained locked on Carlos, whose chest moved in a slow, steady rhythm. She could barely believe he was still alive, after all the risks he'd taken, all the sacrifices he'd made to keep her protected. "Carlos was always the people's man. I never deserved his loyalty," she said quietly.

"You didn't have to deserve it," Trina said softly. "He gave it because like me, he believed in you. And what you could do for Yerba."

Tori's lips twitched into a sad smile. "What I could do. Trina, I never wanted this." She turned to face her sister fully now, emotion thickening her voice. "I never wanted power... I was thrown into it, and I stayed because it felt like the right thing to do. For our people. For survival." She paused, running a hand through her hair in frustration. "But now, I feel like I'm trapped, and I don't know how to walk away. I can't just leave—"

"You could," Trina interrupted, her voice firm, cutting through the tension. "You could walk away, but it wouldn't be clean. You'd need help, and it is going to take more than just slipping through customs. You'd need support—external and internal. And you know that."

Tori met her sister's steady gaze, knowing what she was suggesting. Trina had always been the sharp strategist between them. Strong-willed, brilliant, and more capable than Tori had ever been.

"You're right," Tori admitted softly. "I've thought about it. Hell, I've been thinking about it for weeks now. But I can't stage a coup from another country. It's too messy, and if I try to fight them from afar…" She trailed off, shaking her head. "I'd lose."

Trina leaned back in her chair, folding her arms across her chest. "A controlled invasion, like what the U.S. did in Panama. Take out the dissenters, take control back with enough international backing, and then you can pass the baton."

Tori raised an eyebrow. "You make it sound simple."

"It could be," Trina said matter-of-factly. "If you had the right people behind you. If we planned it out. We could be ready to stage an election. We can make the people Rise and take our country for themselves."

Tori closed her eyes, her heart heavy. Trina was right, of course. Looking at her sister now, standing so resolutely at Carlos' side, Tori couldn't help but wonder what her life might have been like if Trina had been the one to take the reins from the beginning.

"God, I wish you had been the one in charge all along," Tori said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You would've done a better job. You would've saved us all a lot of pain."

Trina smiled faintly. "It wasn't the right time. My positions were too well known and for it to work I have to be elected. I will not repeat the sins of our father."

Tori inhaled deeply, nodding as she took in the gravity of her sister's words. "Our father should not have sent us to study in America… this is his own fault.

Trina smiled softly. "Yeah it is." she looked at Tori, not envying the position she is in at the moment, but willing to guide her out. "You don't have to do it alone," Trina replied. "You've got me. You've got people in Yerba who believe in you. And Jade… she'll help you too."

At the mention of Jade, Tori's breath hitched, but she quickly pushed down the rising emotions. She couldn't think about that now. She needed to focus on getting back to Yerba, on making sure her country didn't fall into chaos.

"I need to leave," Tori said, standing a little straighter. "The U.S. is waiting for me. I have to be there before this thing falls apart any more than it already has."

Trina stood as well, nodding in agreement. "I'll stay here with Carlos until he's stable. When you get back, we'll figure this out together."

Tori hesitated for a moment, looking at her sister with a mixture of gratitude and guilt. "Thank you, Trina. For everything."

Trina gave her a small smile. "Don't thank me yet. We've got a lot of work to do."

Without another word, Tori turned and left the room, her heart heavy with the weight of what lay ahead. The path was uncertain, but for the first time in a long time, she felt a glimmer of hope—hope that, perhaps, there was a way out after all.

As she made her way to the airstrip to catch her flight from Germany to the U.S., Tori couldn't help but feel the pull of Yerba in her bones. It was home, yes, but it had also become her prison. And now, finally, she was beginning to see a way to break free.

The crowd gathered in the brisk New Hampshire air on the second day of the Primary, murmurs of anticipation buzzing through the crowd. Jade strode up to the podium, the American flag waving behind her, and the wind tugging at her jacket. She scanned the faces in the crowd—familiar New Englanders, young activists, older progressives, and even the skeptical ones from both sides of the aisle who weren't sure if she was the right fit for the presidency, even though she had been in the position for Three years now.

She adjusted the microphone and began. "Thank you, New Hampshire, for welcoming me back," she started, her voice strong, echoing through the park. "I'm here today because we are at a crossroads. We have the opportunity to move this country forward in ways that honor our past but embrace the future. And let me be clear: This election isn't just about beating the other party. It's about the soul of America."

A ripple of applause followed her words, but Jade raised her hand, quieting them as she prepared to address the core issue of the day.

"Now, I know my opponents have been pretty vocal about what they think makes me 'too liberal'—whether it's my stance on healthcare, on gun reform, or even my efforts in foreign policy. But let me tell you something," she paused, her eyes scanning the crowd, her voice steady but sharp. "Standing up for the American people isn't radical—it's my job."

She leaned forward slightly, her gaze intense. "Ensuring that every American has access to affordable healthcare isn't some far-fetched dream. It's a necessity. Keeping our schools safe from gun violence isn't a fantasy—it's a moral obligation. And yes, fostering diplomacy around the world, even with leaders that some might call controversial, is not being 'soft.' It's being smart. You don't preserve peace by building walls. You preserve it by building bridges."

The crowd erupted in cheers, but Jade wasn't finished.

"My opponents want to say that I'm too lenient, too willing to work with leaders they wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole. Well, let me remind you—while they've been calling for isolation and division, I've been at the table. I've been negotiating, pushing for peace, pushing for stability. Because in the real world, folks, change happens through hard conversations. Change happens when you step up, not when you back away."

Jade's tone softened slightly, becoming more personal. "I know many of you have seen the news, heard the whispers, maybe even read the headlines accusing me of being too close to certain leaders—like the Chancellor of Yerba. But I want to ask you—when has isolation ever been the answer? Diplomacy means engaging with the world. It means bringing people to the table, even when it's hard. And if that's too liberal for some of you, well, then I'm proud of that. Because this world needs fewer walls and more understanding."

She glanced out over the sea of faces again. "I'm not running away from challenges, and I sure as hell won't run away from any of you. So, to my opponents—and to anyone who doubts—know this: I will fight for you. I will fight for this country. And I will never stop working to make sure America is a country where every single one of us—no matter who you are or where you come from—can thrive."

With that, Jade stepped back from the podium as applause and cheers thundered through the park. She offered a quick wave, flashing a confident smile as she turned to walk off the stage.

After the Speech

Jade made her way backstage, her campaign team buzzing around her, but her focus was on the phone clutched in her hand. She hadn't checked her messages before the speech, but now, as her adrenaline began to dip, she felt a sense of anticipation gnawing at her. She stepped into the relative quiet of her private room, finally opening the notification.

"Chancellor Vega is in the States."

Her stomach did a quick somersault. Tori was here. In her country. The last time they had spoken, the situation in Yerba had been tense—fraught with political intrigue and assassination attempts. And now Tori had arrived. Jade's mind raced. Unable to think of anything but her touch.

Eliza close by her elbow, had been yammering about how effective the stump speech was and how they might tweak it for next time, when her voice finally penetrated into her thoughts. "Madame President?" she said, placing a hand on Jade's shoulder. "You okay? You kind of spaced out."

Jade forced a smile, pocketing her phone. "Yeah, just—news from Washington. Nothing major."

But Eliza wasn't fooled. She raised an eyebrow, sensing her boss' unease. "Does this have anything to do with… The chancellor landing?"

Jade hesitated, then sighed. "Yeah, she's here. Just arrived in D.C."

Eliza's brows shot up eyes widened. "What does that mean?"

"It means I need a meeting with her as soon as possible once we land back in DC," Jade replied, half to herself. She rubbed her temples, feeling the weight of the campaign, the rumors, and now, the emotional whirlwind that Tori's arrival inevitably brought.

Eliza grinned. "Should I have the secret service plan for a late night meeting off book?"

Jade looked at the woman who was her exe's girlfriend and quirked a brow. "Eager for me to move on much?" She muttered, her thoughts still spinning as she wondered what Tori's next move would be, and what their reunion might bring.

"So… yes?" Eliza said with a smirk. Jade rolled her eyes.

"Let me ask her first damn…" she said in fake exasperation. Eliza giggled, as Jade turned to do the next thing in her agenda trying to put Tori out of her mind…

For now.

Tori stood by the floor-to-ceiling window of her suite at the Hay-Adams Hotel, her eyes fixed on the screen, watching Jade deliver her rally speech in New Hampshire. Her words, sharp and powerful, echoed through the speakers in the room, filling the air with the familiar conviction that had always drawn Tori in. Even after all these years, the fire in Jade's voice still made Tori's heart race.

The backdrop of cheering crowds on the television only heightened the memories flooding her mind. Tori couldn't help but drift back to the first time she realized Jade was destined for greatness.

It was years ago, back in High School. Jade had come over to their family house, as usual, hanging out with Trina. But that night, their casual conversations had taken a more serious turn. Roe v. Wade had been in the news again, and Trina—always the pragmatist, and more conservative in her beliefs—had started a debate with Jade.

Tori had been watching from the sidelines, lounging on the sofa, initially uninterested. But something about the intensity of their discussion had drawn her in.

"Roe v. Wade is about more than just abortion rights," Jade had said, her voice strong yet measured, her hands gesturing passionately. "It's about women having autonomy over their own bodies. How can we take that away? You can't say you're for freedom if you're willing to legislate control over half the population's bodies."

Trina, stubborn as ever, had argued back. "But there's more to it, Jade. There's the question of life—"

"And the question of quality of life," Jade had cut her off, her eyes blazing with conviction. "If we can't trust women to make the right decisions for themselves, how can we trust them to raise the next generation? It's about trust, Trina. Trust and respect."

Tori remembered how quiet the room had become, the tension thick between them. But it wasn't a bad tension. It was a spark—a crackle of electricity. And for the first time, Tori had truly seen Jade for what she was: a force. A powerful, unstoppable force. She wasn't just another passionate activist; she was someone who could lead, someone who could fight battles no one else dared to.

Trina had sat back, conceding the debate with a sigh and a reluctant smile. "Fine, you win," she'd said, crossing her arms in mock defeat. "But don't think I'm gonna go easy on you next time."

That was when Tori had felt it—a wave of something more than admiration. Watching Jade stand her ground, articulate her beliefs with that razor-sharp clarity, had made Tori's heart pound in a way that no one else ever had. The intensity of Jade's passion had turned her on, and she couldn't stand another moment of being separated from her.

Without a word, she'd grabbed Jade's wrist and pulled her out of the living room, dragging her down the hall to her bedroom. Jade had been confused at first, but when the door slammed shut behind them, Tori had pushed her against the wall and kissed her with everything she had.

They'd barely spoken after that, too wrapped up in each other to bother with words.

Tori blinked, pulling herself out of the memory as the applause on the television filled the room. Jade was stepping back from the podium, smiling as she waved to the crowd, her eyes bright and determined.

Even now, watching Jade take the stage on a national platform, Tori could still feel the same rush she'd felt all those years ago. She had always known Jade would become something extraordinary. She'd always known that Jade had the power to change the world. And now, standing at the helm of the nation, Jade was doing just that.

But with power came responsibility, and Jade's responsibilities were what kept them apart now. Their power repelled them from each other like the same sides of a magnet.

She turned away from the window, feeling a pang of longing settle in her chest. As much as she wanted to reach out, to cross the divide between them again, she couldn't. Not now. Not yet. But someday—someday soon, she hoped—she would.

Tori's gaze lingered on the television, Jade's rally filling the screen, her words charged with the energy that had captivated Tori for years. It reminded her of that night — the night she knew Jade would be something extraordinary, the night that had bound them together in ways that went beyond words. As her memories danced between the debate on Roe v. Wade and the heated moments that followed, her phone buzzed on the nightstand, breaking through the haze of nostalgia.

A private number. Her pulse quickened.

She answered, her voice soft, expectant. "Hello?"

On the other end, Jade's voice was a low, familiar hum. "Hey, Tori."

Tori leaned back into the plush chair, the sound of Jade's voice instantly sending a shiver through her. "Jade," she said, her voice teasing, thick with unspoken meaning. "I was just watching you. Still commanding every room you walk into, I see."

Jade chuckled, the sound rougher than usual, as if she was holding something back. "Some things never change."

"But I've been thinking… about another time I watched you speak with conviction like that. A little debate with my sister...do you remember?" Tori asked her voice, taking on a certain bedroom quality that Jade didn't miss.

"Roe v. Wade" Jade'sheart fluttered as the memory surged forward, vivid and intoxicating. "How could I forget?"

"You tore Trina apart on our livingroom couch. I was… impressed."

Jade's voice dropped to a near whisper, the intimacy thick between them despite the miles. "I remember what happened after that debate, Tori. I remember everything about that night."

Tori's breath caught in her throat. "You were so damn… irresistible."

"You didn't know it was my first time, did you?" Jade admitted, her voice barely more than a breath, tinged with vulnerability that Tori hadn't expected.

Tori froze. She hadn't realized. Jade had been so confident, so sure that night. "No," she murmured. "I didn't know. You never seemed like… a virgin."

"I was. But I wanted it to be you. Only you." Jade's words were soft but heavy with meaning, the weight of years and distance not enough to dampen the truth.

Tori let her head fall back, eyes closing as she felt the pull of that night all over again. "I wanted you, Jade. More than anything."

There was silence on the line, but it wasn't the kind of silence that stretched with awkwardness. It was thick with the heat of their shared memories.

Jade broke the silence, her voice firmer now. "I need to see you, Tori. When I get back to DC."

Tori's pulse raced. She had been waiting for this moment, but hearing Jade say it aloud made it real. "I want that, too. But the moment you land, it's going to be chaos. The press, your advisers…"

Jade cut her off with a small laugh, the sound deep and intimate. "I can handle them. I'll send the Secret Service for you at the hotel. They'll get you to me, no questions asked."

Tori's lips curved into a smirk, her heart pounding at the thought. "Alright. I'll be waiting."

"Good," Jade replied, her voice holding a finality that made Tori shiver. "I'll see you soon."

As the call ended, Tori leaned back against the chair, staring out over the city lights of DC, her mind still spinning with the electric charge of the conversation. Jade was coming back. And this time, there was no hiding, no pretending.

Tori couldn't wait.