How the Mighty Fall (The Sinner #1)

SIN 20

Viel

And true enough, Pascal is Otto. Magkakahilera kami ng tech team ni Kairos na parang naglalaro kami sa isang com shop. I straightened my back, feeling like the boss in the room. Kairos allowed me to work with them on uncovering who is using Pascal's identity.

Si Kairos naman ay kagagaling lang sa isang meeting kasama ang mga underboss.

"He's in Mexico," I announced. Yun nga lang ay ibang identity naman ang gamit niya. Walang record na lumisan ng Italy si Pascal. Doon pansamantalang nagtago si Otto nitong mga nakaraan. He used a different name this time, going to Mexico.

Kairos crossed his arms while standing behind me. He watched his soldiers work, but he was especially attentive to me.

"Hindi ko alam kung anong klaseng kasunduan ang mayroon si Otto at si Marquez kung sakaling may mangyari kay Marquez," Kairos stated. "Pero siguradong ang mag ina ni Marquez ang sadya niya sa Mexico."

"Bakit nga ba pinapoprotektahan mo pa kay Mascorro ang mag ina ni Marquez?" sabi ni Atlas na kararating lang sa headquarters. "Technically, they're enemies. Bakit ba may pakialam ka kung ano ang mangyari roon sa dalawa? You could've just returned them to their home and let Otto retreive them."

Tumango si Evander. "We could've trapped Otto that way."

Gideon smirked and clapped a hand on Atlas's shoulder in a mock encouragement.

"Marami ka pang dapat matutunan."

Atlas scowled. Vashka looked amused then back to his poker face nang madaanan ako ng kanyang paningin. He really hates me.

"Tingin mo ba, hindi naisip yan ni Otto?" Kairos asked. "We're not achieving anything if we choose the most obvious trap."

"What was your initial plan, then? Sinwerte ka lang ngayon. Kung wala si Viel ay hindi mo malalaman kung saan nagtatago si Otto. Hindi mo rin malalaman na sumunod ngayon si Otto sa mag ina ni Marquez gamit ang ibang pangalan. How did you plan to lure him?"

Kairos glowered at Atlas. Questioning him is an insult to him. It discredits him as a capo.

"Get out and have some fresh air, Atlas," he said in a calm but threatening undertone. "Find some lady in Pangasinan who is willing to fuck, then fuck that attitude out of you. Bumalik ka rito kapag handa ka nang respetuhin ako."

Some soldiers managed to keep a straight face and continue with their work. But others still aren't purely immune to Kairos's unbridled ferocity. Some of them visibly trembled slightly. Mas mukha silang bata kumpara sa ibang tauhan ni Kairos. I guess they are the newly initiated members of Despidados.

I gave a small smile to Atlas. We're not friends, but he treats me the most decently out of three brothers. Kairos really sees everyone equally. Kahit ang kapatid niya ay hindi niya pinalagpas.

Sa huli ay ngumisi lamang si Atlas ngunit bakas sa ang iritasyon sa kanyang ekspresyon.

"I'm off. All debtors have paid by the way, salamat na lang sa sipag ko. Hindi lang ikaw ang kumikilos dito, Kairos."

With one last angry glance toward the eldest De Cordova, he exited the room.

"Atlas has a point, Kairos. Ano nga bang plano mo roon sa mag ina?" si Gideon naman ngayon ang nagtanong. For a second I feared there will be another confrontation. Pero agad namang nawala ang pangambang yon dahil sa nakita ko sa pagitan nila.

Nalingat lang ako nang sandali dahil may itinuro si Evander sa monitor ko. Tumango ako bago bumaling muli kay Kairos at Gideon.

Kairos and Gideon regarded each other with mutual respect. And that made me curious. What have Gideon done to gain the most feared De Cordova's respect?