Iron Rose

Comments, critiques and tips are welcome!

Another final piece and I am tearing up because I feel so emotional right now finally letting go of my longest running series. The Miguel character was something that I got attached to emotionally and I feel like I am letting my own child go and... God, this is so hard. Anyway, I really hope you guys will enjoy it and are eager to read it as well. Don't forget to drop your comments and rates at the end. I really love you and it was really great having you on this wonderful journey and my most successful novella so far.

Feel the passion...

***

Christian knocked on the door softly and heard a weak voice inside telling him to get inside. He took a deep sigh and then entered. As soon as he entered, he found Carter seated on the bed, holding a picture close to himself as tears decorated his face. He felt really bad and hurt when he saw him like that. Where was the man that was always lively and happy, he thought as he slowly walked towards him.

It had been over a week since Yvette's terrible death and two days since her burial but nothing seemed to change. Carter was always mourning, eating less and also talking less. It was worrying everyone in the neighborhood and for the past one week, Carter had been staying with Ruth. She had insisted he stayed with her since Alicia had gone out of the country to visit her son abroad and they had failed to contact her.

"Carter," Chris sighed as he sat close to him on the bed. "How long are you gonna be like this? Do you think Yvette would be happy seeing you like this?"

Carter sobbed as he looked at Christian. "What am I supposed to do, Christian?" He said in a weak voice. "My mother is gone. I am all alone in this world. I lost her just like that and the person that killed her is still out there enjoying life." He referred to Miguel because he blamed him for her death.

"I know..." Christian rubbed on his shoulder, trying to make him feel better.

"I don't think you understand, Christian." Carter said. "She was my entire world. I don't care what anyone has to say about what she did. She was the only family I knew, my reason for living. How am I supposed to live without her?"

Christian knew he had to be strong for Carter. He couldn't cry because he wanted to make Carter stronger. "I understand. I lost my father when I was just a baby and my mother died when I was barely five years old. I had lived with this pain until I had another reason to live, my other father and mother. I lost my second father not too long ago. Trust me, I do."

Carter shook his head, still crying. "In your case, it's different. You still have Aunt Ruth." He said in between sobs. "She's still there for you."

Christian sighed, trying his best to smile. "And you still have Mig..."

"I don't wanna hear his name!" Carter said hoarsely, sounding really cold. "That man killed my mother and I don't wanna hear his name. If that is what you came to tell me then..."

"I am sorry," Christian apologized, raising his hands like he was surrendering. "I will leave you to..."

"No!" Carter gasped, coiling his arm with Christian. "I... I am sorry, my love. I didn't mean to yell at you. It's just that when I hear his name, I remember my mother. I just wish that I hadn't met Miguel because we wouldn't have suffered. Because of Miguel, Aunt Ruth, Uncle Pablo, you, mother and the entire neighborhood have suffered. That's the reason why I hate him so much." And not to forget the fact that he hated his brother so much because of Christian.

"Carter, I am really sorry." Christian gave a gloomy sigh. "I feel like I have..."

But he didn't even finish his sentence as Carter took him in a really deep kiss. Christian's eyes widened when he felt Carter's lips on his. He tried to move away but found that he couldn't. He was frozen. His hands began trembling as he came to terms with what was happening to him. The man was kissing him like there was no tomorrow.

Christian found himself closing his eyes as his trembling hands moved to touch Carter's back. His lips began moving as the two of them kissed until they broke the kiss after what felt like forever. Carter felt alive, like he was on cloud 9. He couldn't even describe the warmth he felt inside of him. It was really something else.

"And you're the one that makes me happy." Carter muttered, resting his head on Christian's shoulder. "I just wanna spend the rest of my life with you, away from everything. I don't want anyone to get you away from me again because I will die."

Christian's heart was racing. He had no idea what to say to Carter. "Carter, I... I... don't know what to say."

"Just say you love me." Carter sighed, not for once raising his head. "I just wanna hear those words coming from you. My mother is gone and now..." He paused and sobbed. "...you're my life. I don't want anyone to take you away from me." He was really scared with the words that Miguel had told him about sacrificing Christian for him.

Christian felt tears building in his eyes. He did his best to fight them as his hands slowly moved on Carter's back. "I hate seeing you sad, Carter." He said in a weak voice. "It hurts me to see you like this. I care for you and I love you so much." He said with so much difficult. He felt so much pain building up in his heart. "I just want to see you the way you were." He felt a tear going down his cheek which he quickly rubbed. "You need to rest. I need to do something."

He slowly took Carter and led him on the bed, leaning forward to kiss his forehead. It hurt Carter a lot but he was happy because Christian told him that he loved him so much.

Christian left the room and as soon as he got out, he got another surprise. It was his mother, standing outside the door and staring at him like she had just caught him stealing. He really couldn't read the expression on her face but he knew that she was mad.

"Mother, I..."

"Come with me," Ruth said in a harsh tone.

"Mom..."

"My room! Now!" She ordered as she angrily started off to her room.

Christian combed his hair with his finger as he took a sigh. From the way Ruth had been looking like, he knew he was in so much trouble although he had no idea what he had done to make her that upset. He followed her in the room and found her holding what looked like a box, moving from side to side. Okay!

"Mother, what..."

"Christian I saw everything that was happening in there." She said as if reprimanding him. "I have told you to stay away from those two brothers and what did you do in there?" She chuckled bitterly. "You were kissing him?"

"Mother, please, let me explain." He said as he rushed to her. "I didn't mean to disobey you but..."

"You still did." Ruth chimed in, stretching her hand.

Ruth stared at her son with a really serious face and she could see that he was scared. Then all of a sudden, she began laughing, patting on his shoulder. To say Chris was shocked would be an understatement. One moment his mother was mad at him and the next she was laughing. He didn't get it. His face became blank as he stared at her.

"I am sorry." She apologized, squeezing his shoulder lovingly. "I know that I have been so hard on you and Carter. And the past one week has made me realize something, Christian." Her face was serious again. "Carter is a very good man. He is kind... he is nice... he is trustworthy and I love him so much, like a second son." He didn't miss that glint in her eyes. "For the past one week that he's been with me, I have learned so much about him but most importantly, I see the way he looks at you, how much he cares for you and how he reacts whenever he's around you.

That man loves you, Christian. I can see it in his eyes. And I know that you love him too. Carter is the right man for you. You'll never find anyone like him on this entire planet, a man that is willing to give his life for you."

"Mother..."

"Shh..." Ruth gestured, moving her hand up to caress her son's cheek. "I know that I was hard on you but now I cannot do this anymore. I cannot bear to see two souls that I love so much suffer and do things in secret. I want you and Carter to get back together but this time, I want it to be different."

Christian's eyes were getting wider by the second. Each word that Ruth spoke made his heart pound harder than before she spoke it. He looked at her as she opened the box and when he saw what she had in her hand, his heart missed a beat. His eyes widened as his breaths seized for a moment. He felt cold.

"This ring was given to me by your father when he proposed to me years ago." She said as tears made her face wet, staring at the ring with so much emotions. It wasn't an expensive ring but it was a beautiful golden ring and Ruth couldn't help but remember her husband, Pablo and their time together. "It may not be expensive and classy but it has a lot of meaning for me." She raised her face and stared into her son's scared face. He was sweating.

"I want you and Carter to get back together but this time, I want him as my son in law." She announced. "I want you to propose to him and make yourself, me and your father happy but especially Carter."

'Propose to him.' Those words repeated in Christian's mind like fireworks on Christmas. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. He felt weak in the knees... he thought it was a dream.

"Mother, are you serious?" He gasped, his body now trembling. "Mother, I think you got it all wrong."

"No, I didn't..." Ruth chuckled happily, rubbing her tears. "...you and Carter are in love. Carter just lost his mother few days ago and we're the only family that he has. I know he's strong but this is the moment he needs you and not as a friend but as a husband. You have to do this."

"Mother, please..."

"And this better not be about La Don!" She warned, raising her finger at him. "I don't wanna hear about that boy again, okay? He's destroyed our lives for too long. He's younger than all of you but the destruction he has caused is more than any of us could handle. That is unforgivable."

It hurt. Christian never thought it would hurt that much but it did. "Mother, why are you bringing Miguel into this? He's just..."

"I don't want to hear it!" She shook her head angrily. "I will not let you be under that boy's spell again. And if you still insist on seeing that boy..." She seethed, clenching her fists. "...you are gonna have to choose."

"What?" He gasped, shaking his head. "What are you saying to me?"

"What I am saying to you is that I am giving you an ultimatum!" She literally yelled, breathing like a warrior in a battle field. "You may choose me, your mother and Carter and then do as I have asked because it seems you don't know what you want and we'll all live happily as a family. Or..." She paused as she got closer. She looked nothing like he had ever seen her before. "...you can choose that... that boy who has destroyed your life, placed a spell on you, killed your father and Yvette and has caused so much pain to everyone on this neighborhood.

But let me tell you one thing, Christian." Her voice was so low yet so harsh. It was cutting through Christian's skin like knives. "If you choose that boy, forget about me and everyone else that loves you. Forget that you had a mother called Ruth or a father called Pablo and prepare for a life of pain and misery!"

"Mother..."

He tried to touch her but she pushed him aside and stormed out of the room, leaving Christian in a dilemma. What was he now going to do? He was so confused.

***

Miguel was coming down the stairs, walking wonderfully in the outfit he wore that day. He was instructing Mark on how he wanted the security to be tighter because he couldn't afford any more mistakes. He wanted all the guards to be alert and also on the lookout for Brandon. He didn't want any more surprises. He couldn't risk his life, the life of Brian and everyone else. Although he had helped Carter by making sure that they released Yvette's body to him so that he could ease his pain, the man had done nothing but insult him when he had gone to pay his respects to Yvette. Some kind of Brother Carter turned out to be.

As the two reached the living room, they just got surprised when they saw Daniel coming inside looking like he was a bit drunk from the way he was walking. His eyes were red and his skin was somehow pale. Miguel couldn't help but wonder what had happened to him.

"Daniel, what are you doing here?"

"I wanna die, Miguel!" Daniel dropped to his knees as a series of tears made their way to his face. "I am tired of the guilt and the pain. Right now, everyone at the foundation is treating me like trash. I can't take it anymore. Please, let me die, Miguel. I wanted to hand myself in to the police but you wouldn't allow that. But you can at least let me die, right?"

Miguel raised his eyebrow, shaking his head. "Daniel, what the hell is your problem?"

"You!" Daniel cried, staring into Miguel's beautiful face. "You're my problem, Miguel. Why won't you allow me to pay for my crimes? I am tired of everything. I have already given up the foundation to Carter and Christian. They're the best people I can leave my foundation with. I just want..."

"Stop talking nonsense." Miguel said, hitting his hand on his forehead in frustration. "Why would you want to die? I am not going to kill you."

"This isn't about you killing me." Daniel cried. "It's about me paying for..."

"But you're not like the rest of them." Miguel knelt in front of Daniel, staring into his red eyes. "You're very different from all of them. You didn't rape me that night because you couldn't bear to cause me pain." He said with a stern face. "You don't deserve to die like a dragon but you deserve to live."

Daniel sobbed uncontrollably. "But I need to pay for my crimes. What I feel inside, these feelings for you also keep on getting stronger. At least, if I die, you won't have to..."

Miguel took Daniel's hands and rubbed on them sweetly. "I believe you, Daniel." Miguel said softly, trying his best to smile. He had no idea why his heart was now racing and the reason why he felt bad for Daniel. "Maybe after all these years, you might be the only one that has truly loved me. You built a foundation and decided help abused people because of your guilt. You've never been with another man ever since that night because of me." He chuckled softly, watching as the man's cries softened. "But why would you want to die now.

You should be fighting for me now more than ever. I may not love you in the same way but at least, I am assured that there's a man out there that truly loves me and that man is you."

Daniel felt really emotional and began crying again. It was true, what he felt for Miguel was pretty strong but he knew he didn't deserve him. Not after all that had happened to him.

"Brandon is on the loose and I don't know what he might do to me once he lays his hands on me." He sighed gloomily. "I need you to protect me."

Daniel smiled in his pain as his hand moved to caress Miguel's cheek. "Really?"

"Yes!" He smiled, a smile that melted Daniel's heart. "In fact, I want you to move in with me. You'll stay with me and Brian in this house. No one will make you feel unwelcome or hurt you here."

"But..."

"Mark!" Miguel glanced Mark who was looking at him attentively. "Take Daniel to one of the rooms and make sure that he gets whatever he wants."

"Yes, don!" Mark bowed.

Daniel didn't know what to say to Miguel. He was in so much pain. "Thank you so much." He said with a voice filled with so much pain. "I will protect you with my life, Miguel. I swear."

He got up, hugged Miguel and followed Mark to his room. As soon as he left, Miguel lost the smile on his face and just looked as Daniel went up. He knew that he had to treat Daniel better because the man loved him. He could feel it.

"What did I just hear?" Brian gasped as he rushed to Miguel. "You're letting Daniel stay here with us, the same man that raped you, really?"

Miguel turned and smiled. "Brian, four men raped me that night." Hmm, saying it was even more painful. "Daniel was not among them. He's different."

Brian couldn't believe it. He was a bit mad. "But Miguel, how can we trust him after..."

"Daniel is trustworthy." Miguel chimed in, walking to an angry looking Brian. "He's the only one among the dragons that has done so much to try and repent for his sins. He's the only one among them that has ever asked for forgiveness from me!" He took his brother's hands and kissed them. He was happy Brian was getting back to himself. "Besides, you yourself told me long ago that I needed to make peace with him. Staying here won't hurt anyone. He needs my help and I will gladly do that. Besides..." He held Brian's chin and watched him smile slightly. "...I am doing business with his foundation. I want the foundation to expand so that even more people can be helped."

Brian frowned, raising his eyebrow. "I thought you had cancelled that contract when you proved he was a dragon. Besides, you only made that contract because you wanted to get close to him."

Miguel chuckled, taking a deep sigh. "That may be true but my partners cancelled that contract. But no one disagrees with me. I do whatever I want because it's my money and my company." He felt happy and relieved. "I have always helped foundations for abused people and you know that. But I wanna make Daniel's foundation bigger so that we can even help more people. It's a project I started a few weeks back and will be done soon. Now come on," Miguel smiled brightly. "Smile for you brother."

Brian smiled brightly, feeling at peace on the inside. He was happy that Miguel had changed or so he thought.

"That's great. Now come here!" Miguel pulled Brian into a tight and emotional hug. He was really happy and he promised that no one was gonna hurt Brian as long as he was alive. It was a pity that the man he loved had to die because he messed with La Dona and had to pay the ultimate price.

***

"Did you find everything that I had asked for?" Miguel said softly.

"Yes, sir!" The man on the other end answered. "Everything is just as instructed. The building is big and we're already making certain adjustments to it."

"Thank you." He smiled brightly. "I want it to be very big and equipped with the latest gadgets that the foundation will need in order to help more victims."

"Don't worry, Don!" The man said assuredly on the other end. "My team and I will do our best."

"Gracias!" He cut the call and smiled.

Miguel sighed, still wearing that smile. He was looking sexy in a deep blue, shiny designer's shirt that was halfway done and tucked in a sexy blue skinny trouser with blue shoes on his feet. He was really handsome, looking gorgeous and marvelous. He was going to work because he had something important to do.

Miguel got outside his house and started going to his cars when he suddenly saw Christian coming towards him. When Miguel saw him, he somehow got confused because he hadn't expected to see him, not after everything that had happened.

"Christian!" He gasped, eyeing him from head to toe. "What are you doing here? Are you here to throw more insults at..."

"Come with me!" Christian said in a demanding voice as he got closer to Miguel, feeling his heart begin to race. "I want you to come with me right now."

"What?" To say Miguel was surprised would not cover what he felt. "Are you insane? I am going to work and I have a very... Hey!" He got shocked when Christian gripped his arm and started taking him to one of his cars. "What do you think you are doing?"

"Taking you with me!" He said harshly as he gripped Miguel's hand harder. "I don't care about your work. I think that what I have to show you is pretty more important."

Miguel still didn't understand Christian. First the guy showed that he hated him and now he was taking him somewhere he had no idea of. It made Miguel a bit mad and though he tried to retaliate, the guy was stronger than him.