Rodolfo had always believed in professionalism, in keeping emotions locked away, but she made that impossible.
She was sharp, focused, and fearless—a perfect soldier. Yet, it was the quiet moments between missions that caught him off guard. The way she laughed softly at his dry humor or how her determination never wavered, even when the odds were stacked against them.
One night, while cleaning their weapons in silence, she glanced at him and smirked. “You’re staring, Parra.”
Caught, he chuckled. “Maybe I’m just impressed princesa.”
Her smile lingered, and in that moment, he realized it wasn’t just admiration. Somewhere along the way, he’d fallen for her strength, her fire—and, most of all, the way she made him feel like he wasn’t fighting this war alone.