PAULA'S RESIDENCE

"You don't know how to fuck."

Itinulak niya ang lalaking nasa pagitan ng kaniyang mga hita. She wasn't satisfied by what he was doing. She was more into hardcore sex and the man failed to meet her sexual desires.

Tumayo siya sa kama at hinablot ang bathrobe na nakasabit sa sandalan ng couch. The man didn't mutter a single word. His head hung low while slowly wearing his clothes.

The silence was piercing through her soul and it was unbearable. Mula sa kaniyang peripheral vision ay nakita niya ang paglapit nito sa kaniya. Marahas siyang umupo sa couch at kumuha ng cash sa loob ng bulsa ng bathrobe. Binato niya iyon sa paanan ng lalaki at pagkatapos ay nagsalin ng vodka sa wine glass.

"Go."

Mabilis na pinulot ng lalaki ang nagkalat na cash sa paanan nito. Medyo nanginginig pa ang mga kamay nito sanhi siguro ng mga baril na pakalat-kalat lang sa bahay niya. Habang sumisipsip ng vodka sa hawak na baso ay pinagmasdan niya ito. Bakas ang takot at pagkabahala sa mukha nito. Nang matapos ay dagli nitong isinuksok ang cash sa bulsa at tinungo ang pintuan.

As she heard the slamming of the door, her eyes automatically shut closed. She placed her elbow on the backrest and swirled the glass in a circular motion. The drink was a little warm and astringent as she chugged it. Naramdaman niya ang pagsakit ng kanyang ulo nang dahil sa gabi-gabing pag-inom ng alak.

"To avoid having a hangover, one must not drink a copious amount of alcohol."

Napaigtad siya sa kinauupuan at halos malaglag ang hawak na baso nang narinig ang pamilyar na boses. Her eyes sprang open and she shot Blake daggers from all the way across the room. Ni hindi niya narinig ang pagpasok nito.

Sneaky bastard.

"Go fuck yourself, Blake," she retorted with an evident hint of hostility in her tone.

A brush of smirk spread on his lips. "Not until I fuck you first," he flirted and leaned against a wall, watching her as she closed her bathrobe in a tight knot.

Kung kaya niya lang ay siya na mismo ang lumagot sa buhay ng binata. Ngunit hindi maaari. May silbi pa ito sa kaniya. He wasn't the most trained and ruthless gangster out there, but he was still useful in some ways.

"What do you want?" she asked with a scowl. Ganoon ito palagi. Kahit hindi imbitahan ay basta na lang pumapasok sa bahay niya nang walang pasabi. Noong una ay pinagagalitan pa niya ito, ngunit nang mapagtanto niyang hindi naman ito nakikinig, pinabayaan na lang niya.

"Who was that?" pag-uusisa nito at pinulot ang isang revolver sa may carpet. He scanned the handgun, studying if it was fake or not.

Sa una ay nagtaka pa siya kung ano ang tinatanong nito. Kung gayon pala ay kanina pa ito naghihintay sa labas at nagmamasid. She just shook her head and led the glass of liquor to her lips.

"That's none of your business," she answered, her impudent side coming to the surface.

"I know what you're doing." Ipinaba nito ang baril sa may lamesa at ipinasok ang magkabilang kamay sa mga bulsa ng jogging pants.

That was the point wherein she almost lost her temper. Ipinatong niya ang baso sa ibabaw ng litrato nina Wilder at Anastasha na nakaupo sa isang bench sa amusement park. There was a bunch of photos scattered on the table, all of them were taken three days ago. She hired somebody to do the job for her.

"How many times do I have to tell you not to meddle with my life?" aniya sa seryoso at pilit na kalmadong tinig. Behind her flawless confident facade was a feeble and lonely woman.

Sinulyapan muna nito ang mga litrato bago nagkibit-balikat. "I'm not. Most of the times, you're subtle. But there are times when you're not. It's as if you're allowing others to see right through you only if you allow them to."

Paula soared from her seat in a rather quick motion, refraining to show her annoyance. She searched his gaze and responded with her middle finger. She took a step forward, advancing towards him slowly as her eyes emitted complete danger.

The next move she made was nowehere out of the ordinary. At high speed, she seized the Desert Eagle .45 Long Colt on top of the table. Blake read her moves, and when he was about to block her attack, she spun around, catching him by surprise. Just when she thought she had the upper hand, he made a surprising move. Without any hesitation, she pulled the trigger to hinder him from escaping.

But like an arrow from from a bow, he leaped over the table, avoiding the bullet. Great shock flooded her like waves when he snatched the gun from her hands in no time. The instant he landed on the tiled floor was also the moment when the bullet flied through the window.

"You've gotten rusty, eh?" Mapang-asar ang tono nito. Ipinasok nito ang isang daliri sa trigger guard at ipinaikot ang baril nang walang pagkabahala sa kapaligiran. Wala lang para rito ang pagtatangka niya sa buhay nito.

Hindi pa rin humuhuma ang pagkagulat ni Paula nang muling nagsalita si Blake. "So, where was I?" Sumandal muna ito sa lamesa bago nagpatuloy sa seryosong tinig. "I know that you've been going to different clubs these past few nights. Alam ko rin na ang purpose mo sa pagpunta ay hindi para mag-uwi ng lalaking papaligayahin ka sa kama. You choose to bring home guys who know nothing 'bout sex. Gusto mo lang silang tulungan at bigyan ng pera," he concluded.

Pinili niyang hindi sumagot at manahimik na lang. Kahit ilang beses niyang sabihing huwag itong manghimasok sa personal niyang buhay ay hindi ito nakikinig.

"You're not a bad person, Paula. Why do you keep on-"

Alam niya kung saan ang patutunguhan ng sinasabi nito kung kaya't sumabad na siya. "Shut up already. Pinatatawag ba nila 'ko?" Inalis niya ang pagkakatali ng belt ng kaniyang bathrobe at hinayang dumausdos pababa.

His gaze fell on her naked body. Walang pinalalagpas ang mga mata nito at sinusuri ang bawat parte ng kaniyang kabuuan. She heard the change in his breathing when he stared at her breasts. A tiny smirk appeared on her victorious yet infuriated face as she saw his reaction.

Maglaway ka ngayon.

"I'm just feeling a bit under the weather. Sa susunod, humanda ka," mataray niyang pahayag at hinayaang lumugay ang mahabang buhok. Hindi na niya hinintay ang sasabihin nito at tuluyang nagtungo sa second floor sa banyo. Umpisa pa lang naman ay alam na niya kung bakit ito naroroon.

"F-fine," anito at biglang namula nang lubusan siyang napagmasdan. Inilihis nito ang tingin at mahinang nagmura upang sipilin ang nasa ng katawan. It really was a bad idea to come to the wicked woman's residence at night. Ngunit ang isang bagay na hindi nito maaaring ikali ay talagang kaakit-akit ang dalaga.

Taking a hot shower helped her dissolve some of her worries in life. Sitting in the bathtub with a relaxing music playing in the background was soothing and somewhat relaxing for her mind.

After putting her make-up on, she wore a sexy black dress that accentuated her curves. Mayroon itong spaghetti straps at mababang neckline, dahilan upang lumitaw ang kaniyang cleavage. It also had a high thigh slit on the left leg side, which would later on entice the attention of other people. She then sported a pair of silver high heels with sexy, wraparound ankle straps.

Nagsuot din siya ng mga palamuti: isang white diamond na pendant necklace at crystal bracelet. After that, she reached for her fancy perfume, sprayed it on her wrist and rubbed it on her neck. Nang makita ang oras sa wall clock ay saka lang niya napunang isang oras na pala ang nakalilipas.

Hinila niya ang isang drawer slide at inabot ang kaniyang needle point na folding knife. Itinago niya iyon sa pagitan ng kaniyang dibdib. Muntik pa niya itong maihulog nang bigla na lang bumukas ang pintuan ng kaniyang silid.

Mula sa nakaawang na pintuan ay namataan niya si Blake na nahinto sa pagpasok. Para itong ipinako sa kinatatayuan habang nakatitig sa kaniya. His lips parted and his eyes went round as she swung around to face him. Tinaasan niya ito ng kilay at sinamaan ng tingin.

He swallowed to remove the lump in his throat. Parang nanuyot ang lalamunan ng binata at binalot ng init ang buong katawan nito nang napagmasdan ang suot ng dalaga.

"A-are you finished?" Ipinilig nito ang ulo at tumikhim. She smiled secretly to  herself. Kahit siya ay hindi niya maipaliwanag kung bakit nakuntento siya sa pinapakita nitong reaksyon. 

"Can't you see? And who told you to barge into my room without knocking?" She flipped her curly hair which she left hanging down. Mas gusto niyang palaging nakalugay ang buhok upang ilantad ang para sa kaniya'y magandang aspeto nito.

Nang sumagot ang binata ay nasa labas na siya ng pintuan. She stood in front of him with a defiant expression. "Just in case no one has told you yet: You're beautiful." Sa pagkakatong iyon ay may sinseridad sa tinig nito.

Umangat ang sulok ng labi niya at tumalikod upang magtungo sa hagdan. She held her head high, feeling confident with every step she took. She stopped on her tracks and glared at him when he didn't move from his spot.

"Let's go," utos niya rito at mabilis naman itong tumalima sa utos niya.

Habang lulan ng sasakyan ay nakatanaw lang si Paula sa labas ng bintana. Nakasandig ang kaniyang ulo sa gilid nito habang pinagmamasdan ang mga tao at mga bahayan na kanilang nilalagpasan.

Nabasag lang ang katahimikan sa pagtikhim ni Blake. Mumurahin niya sana ito ngunit naunahan siya nitong magsalita.

"I know this is so sudden, but... what's your plan about Anastasha?"

Sa pagkakarinig ng pangalang iyon ay kaagad siyang nasuklam. Anger rose from her chest, hindering her from breathing properly.

With gritted teeth, she retorted, "We'll take care of her soon. Sa ngayon, gawin mo muna ang pinagagawa ko sa 'yo."

"Understood."

Habang binabaybay nila ang daan papunta sa patutunguhan ay hindi na muling nagsalita ang dalawa. Paula was flopped at the far right end of the rear seat, smouldering with resentment.

Nang pagbuksan siya ni Blake ng pintuan ng kotse ay mabilis na bumalot ang lamig sa kaniyang katawan. Ipapatong sana nito ang coat sa kaniyang mga balikat ngunit itinaas niya ang kamay upang senyasan itong hindi na kailangan.

"Will you be okay in there? Hindi kita masasamahan sa loob." Bakas ang pag-aalala sa boses nito.

"I will be," sagot niya sa kaniyang normal na malamig na tinig. I should be, sa isip-isip niya. These past few days, she had doubts on what she was doing. She wanted to eliminate her uncertainty but it kept on bugging her.

Inilibot niya ang paningin sa kapaligiran at ang unang sumalubong sa kanila ay ang malawak na front porch ng isang contemporary architecture. She had been there before, ngunit kahit ilang beses niyang makita ang kabuuan ng bahay ay nagagandahan pa rin siya.

Two-storey ang bahay na iyon. It looked cozy from the outside, but she knew what kind of illegal activities took place inside. It had been built with natural materials — wood, stone and brick. The roof was low and flat, covered with brown tiles. There were large, rectangular windows that let in plenty of light. May mahabang wooden pathway na mayroong low voltage lights sa bawat gilid. Natatapos ito sa harap ng isang fountain na napapaligiran ng mga bulaklak.

"Blake," tawag niya sa binata habang nakatingin sa malaking statue na nasa fountain.

"Yes?"

Mahabang katahimikan ang namayani sa pagitan nila. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang sasabihin. Sa pagkakataong iyon ay parang may humihila sa kaniya palayo sa bahay. She didn't want to admit it, but she was worried.

Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard Blake's voice. It was filled with sincere concern. "Should I accompany you?"

Mabilis siyang sumagot, "No need. Babalik din ako. Just wait for me out here," habilin niya rito. She began to march toward the front door, disregarding all her fears and worries.

"Remember that I'll always be on your side. And if I could, I'd follow you wherever you go," may kalakasang pahayag ni Blake, dahilan upang mahinto siya sa paglakad.

Without bothering to face him, she asked the question that occured in her mind out of the blue. "If that's the case, are you willing to risk your life to protect mine?"

"I am." Walang pag-aalinlangan ang naging pagsagot nito kung kaya't na-amused siya. Bihira na ang makatagpo ng isang taong handa siyang protektahan nang walang hinihinging kapalit.

Hindi na siya muling sumagot at ipinagpatuloy ang naudlot na paglakad. Mayroong isang lalaking naghihintay sa kaniya sa may front door at pinagbuksan siya nito ng pintuan.

"Naghihintay na po sila sa loob," malamig na sabi ng binata at yumuko bilang pagpapakita ng paggalang.

Nang tuluyang bumukas ang pintuan ay kaagad na sinalubong siya ng maingay na tawanan na nagmumula sa may living room. She gulped as worry squeezed her stomach. Despite her fear, she managed to hide it successfully. Her face remained void of emotions, masking her discomposure and uneasiness.

"Good evening, my dear," mainit na pagbati ng matanda pagkakita sa kaniya. Isang matamis na ngiti ang namutawi sa labi nito. Napatingin din sa kaniya si Greg na kasalukuyang hinahalikan sa leeg ng isang babae. Sa kaniyang palagay ay isa na naman ito sa mga bayarang babae na palaging kasama nito. Hindi niya inaasahang makita itong muli.

Isang nanunuyang ngiti ang ibinigay niya rito. She wanted to remind him how failure of a man he was, including his ways in organizing felonious schemes.

The person who greeted her was tall and handsome for a man in his late forties. Malaki pa rin ang pangangatawan nito at hindi maikakailang matipuno ito sa suot nitong suit. She cleared her throat and forced a smile on her lips.

She needed to look fearless in front of the man for whom she was working. Ayon dito ay iyon ang nagustuhan nito sa kaniya---her calm resolute in facing dangerous situations.

The man whom I'm working for. The man who wants to bring down his own flesh and blood. The man who never fails to get what he wants. He is none other than...

"Good evening, Mr. De Luca."

...Wilder's father.