TULAD ng kahit na sinong ipinanganak at nangyaring nadugtungan ng epilyidong 'Montelier' sa mga ngalan nila, kilala si Caesar na hindi basta-basta mapapatumba ng simpleng pananambang. Pero hindi rin nito mabubura ang katotohanang siya na lang ang natitirang miyembro ng pamilya bukod pa sa lola niya sa tuhod na si Madame Vassily.
He's the last Montelier, and his life can easily be threatened even by the lamest and tiniest causes of death. And yet, there's Eldridge Pherenn, who could've just pleaded to Caesar on my behalf and asked someone else to fetch me once he agrees, but he didn't. The idiot just has to pull the most important person in the mafia from his damn office to do a freaking errand.
By the gods, sana hindi masarap ulam mo, Eldridge Pherenn.
Walang alinlangan kong pinihit ang gripo, 'di para ipaagos ng rumaragasang tubig ang dugong sinuka ko kundi para lumikha ng kakarampot na ingay. Ingay na sapat na para mahati ang atensyon nila kay Caesar kung sakali mang kinakaharap nila ito. Ingay na tiyak kong hindi mapapalagpas ng kahit na sinong siguristang mamatay-tao. I should've known. I'm supposed to be one, after all.
I wiped off the remaining traces of blood from my mouth with the back of my left hand, waiting for even the most subtle reaction from the outside. And when they clearly chose to reply with silence as an answer, I neither bothered about my dress nor my face and immediately marched toward the shower. Ignoring the cold floors my bare feet are touching, I got a hold of the shower hose and turned the nut connecting it to the wall outlet anti-clockwise.
As soon as I detached the hose from the wall, I didn't waste any second of time to approach the door that will most likely be force opened by the unexpected visitor anytime now. Isang metro ang layo sa pinto ay inabot ko ang maliit na basong gawa sa plastik sa gilid ng lababo at pinuno ito ng tubig mula sa nakabukas pa ring gripo. Agad itong napuno, mas nauna pa kaysa sa pagsilay ng anino mula sa kailaliman ng pinto.
"Hindi mo kailangang pahirapan ang sitwasyon, miss," mahinanong suyo nito sa pagpwesto niya sa labas. "What a bad luck. Of all the men you'll join in bed, it has to be a Montelier," at nakikinita ko na kung gaano ka-arogante ang ngising suot-suot niya ngayon.
Sa pananaw niya marahil ay sa likod ng pintong kaharap niya, may isang nakaaawa at mahinang bayarang babae na nadamay lamang sa gulo matapos ang isang gabi ng romansa. Para pagbigyan kahit papaano ang imahinasyon niya ay malumanay kong inabot ang seradura, dahan-dahan itong pinihit hanggang sa matanggal ang pagkakakandado into.
"Hmm. That's it. Maayos ka naman palang kausap," the arsehole pleasingly commented while I kept watching his shadow and listened to the subtle clanging of what seemed to be a metallic weapon. Even with considerable space outside, his shadow moved as if it was restrained by its surroundings, letting me assume that he probably possesses a long rifle or a gun that he can't easily brandish.
Umangat na ang mga mata ko mula sa anino nang pinipihit niya na pabukas ang pinto. Gaya ng ginawa ko ay naging maingat din siya. Bilang paninigurado ay umatras pa ako ng dalawang hakbang, sapat na para hindi mabulabugan ng pinto kung sakali mang buksan niya ito nang biglaan at pwersahan.
"Now, come out here, miss," he said, his voice filled with confidence that he got everything under control. "May ilan lang akong katanungan sa 'yo."
YOU ARE READING
The Montelier Bride
Mystery / ThrillerIn order to survive her hunters, Quinzel de Agustin, a woman who bears truths that could forever change the Underground, told one lie--- she's a mute. However, when their trail comes closer than ever to threaten her freedom, Quinzel decides to resor...
