Chapter 14

The night—I mean, our work ended early as there are not many customers around. Maybe it's not the season, we just ended our season sale last Friday and I did not good there so I had to make up for it but there are times that this bar doesn't have many customers. But there's only one thing I had in mind within the night, I also keep watching if the so-called mafia was already done with their session so I could spy them if Lilac words were true because if it was, it could lead to a possible scenario in which Madame could take down easily and I can have my freedom without putting myself in the line.

I didn't ask anything about what happened earlier, or the mess that Natasha did because, after that confrontation, she didn't talk to me or even look in the eye. She must be afraid or she just doesn't want to get in my way, even if she's the star of this club when it's on the line of my freedom, anyone who would try to block me from getting it... could mean harm at any cost.

It all goes down to what she does that could trap her to her miserable end.

"Dicky!" MD called me while I'm changing my clothes.

"What's up, MD? I was about to leave."

"No, sure, yeah. I just wanna say that sorry for what happened earlier, it's just that—"

"No, you don't have to explain. They are clients and we all just need to do our jobs," I patted his shoulder. "So, it doesn't matter to me. But how are they? Did they already left?"

"They just left,"

I nodded as I need to escape MD and follow those groups immediately.

"Are you going somewhere?" he asked.

I shocked my head, "nowhere but I think I just need a rest, I gotta go. Thanks, MD."

Mabilis akong lumabas ng staff room at agad kong hinanap ang grupong iyon. Kung tama man ang hinala ko, they could be the way to end this, if I just know how to get this on my hand. I still don't know this group, I have no idea about their backgrounds or if they were really a mafia group. Hence, it made me pushed to follow my guts to seek the risks even if I was blind to this kind of situation.

Nang makita kong lumabas ng pinto ang grupo, agad-agad akong tumakbo papunta roon pero mabilis din akong hinarang ni Norbert.

"Nagmamadali ka ata?" tanong nito sa akin.

Tumango ako sa kanya, "yeah, I just needed to leave, as in right now."

"Oh, sure! Get on!" Norbert said and I immediately left the premises.

Pagkalabas ko ng club ay naabutan kong umalis na ang sasakyan. Mabilis ko namang hinahanap ang sasakyan ko pero agad akong napasapo sa ulo ko ng maalala ko kung anong nangyari kagabi.

"Shit!" I hissed, "still fuck you, Gio."

But to least say it, I wouldn't give up. Nang may dumaan na sasakyan ay tumakbo ako sa gitna ng kalsada kung saan ilang pulgada na lamang ang layo nito sa akin nang huminto. Nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag dahil mabilis niyang naagapan ang brake ng sasakyan. Lumapit naman ako sa sasakyan, kinatok ko ang bintana. Dahan-dahan naman niyang binaba iyon, bakas naman sa mukha ng binata ang takot.

"I need your car—"

"This isn't my c-car..." he stuttered between his uneasiness.

"Then I need you to follow a car or else you won't get back your car."

He instantly nodded to the option he was given. I roamed around to the other side of the car, open the door and sits beside him. I could really tell that he's frighten because his hands are shaking, his whole body is shaking.

"I need to you take the street and we'll follow the black suburban."

"I've never done this before,"

"And now, you'll be glad you did." I smirk, "so go!" I shouted as he immediately shifts the gear and drives to the direction I told to him. As much as he was scared, this boy can drive. When the moment we turn right and saw the target, "they there are!" said while pointing the black suburban not far from us, "go slow, we don't want them to notice us here."

"You wouldn't hurt me right?" he wants to assure himself.

"If you do what I asked, you won't be."

"O-Okay..." he stutters, "what should I do next?"

"Just drive and follow that car, it's all you need to do."

"C-Cool..."

Sa tingin ko naman ay hindi nila kami nahahalatang sinusundan sila dahil dahan-dahan lamang ang kanilang pagmamaneho, gayundin ang ginagawa namin. Nang lumiko ito ay sumunod din kami, ilang pagliko pa ang nangyari nang matunugan kong alam na nila kung anong nangyayari. Pansin ko naman ang katabi ko dahil sobra na itong pinagpapawisan, tila ba naliligo na sa sariling pawis.

"They knew that we've been following them," he commented but I just took a deep breath, hoping that this isn't the end of my road. I couldn't just go back to where I started where I already take turns to which I could take to easily get my freedom. But taking easy on things wouldn't be as easy, it takes a lot. When I mean a lot—a lot, a lot.

"Just follow them," I ordered.

"I'm doing it!" he retorted, "who are they? Why do I feel like this will gonna turn so bad?"

"Because it will,"

When they finally turn to the left, we do the same and when we found the car, it was abandoned on the side of the street. The car doors are opened. Pinahinto ko rin naman ang sasakyan saka ako bumaba para i-check kung saan sila nagpunta. They couldn't be gone to anywhere that easily, they must be doing something.

Nang makalapit ako sasakyan, isang malaking pagtataka dahil wala ni isa sa kanila ang nandoon. They left the engine running and the doors open. This is how the bad groups done in the movies and this ain't happening to me right now.

"Why are you following us?" as when I heard a voice, I immediately put my hands up my head and slowly trying to turn, "Don't!" he ordered and I stayed on my position, "who are you and what's your intention?"

"I can explain," I told them, I feel that they've surrounded me and one bad move, I could be dead. "I know you're pointing your guns at me, but I can explain why I did." Aniko sabay pinakiramdaman ang paligid ko. I know they wouldn't easily take that demand of me but I slowly face them without trying to get a headshot.

"I know you," agad nitong sabi nang makita ang mukha ko. Muli nitong tinaas ang kanyang baril at tinutok sa akin, kasabay pa nito ang paglapit sa akin. Nakita ko rin ang pagharurot ng sasakyan na hinarang ko at nagmadali itong umalis. Napailing na lamang ako. Awesome, no get away car? Great. "You're from the club, right? The stupid crew."

"I don't usually get that remarks but thanks,"

"Stop playing with us, what do you want?"

"What I want?" I said, "Glad you've asked."

Nagtinginan naman silang apat, I couldn't even resist against them because obviously they had guns and I don't have any thing to defend myself aside from my stupidity, it's all I got but it maybe helps me this time. Hindi naman nila ako pinakawalan at pinalibutan, nakatutok ang mga baril sa akin at kaunting maling kilos o salita. I will be trapped in hell.

"Get him inside," utos ng lider sa mga kasamahan at pinasok naman nila ako sa sasakyan. Nang makapwesto kami sa loob at makaupo sa pagitan ng dalawang kasahaman nila, nanatili akong kalmada. Ang dalawa naman ay pumwesto sa harapan, nakatutok pa rin sa akin ang mga baril. "Explain yourself,"

"Before I start to say I wanted to say," I commenced but was stopped when they made me point out what I intended to them. "I'm not here to be against on you or anything but I need to ask this because I want to make sure that I'm dealing with the right person."

"What are you saying?"

"It's about Lula—my boss, your enemy."

Ilang segundong katahimikan ang nangyari at nagkatitigan lamang silang apat pero mabilis silang umaksyon ng malamang iyon ang aking intensyon. Ang dalawang katabi ko ay agad na nilapat ang baril sa ulo at tagiliran ko. Ramdam ko ang pagdiin nila ng baril at kung magkamali man sila ng hawak ay tiyak, ang negosasyong ito ay walang patutunguhan.

"What did you know about Lula?"

"I know that she's your enemy and you came into the club for her but she's not there because there's a reason for that."

"And what is that?" pagtatanong nito sa akin.

"Before I can say anything, I just want you to trust me on this."

"How can we trust a person who works for Lula? Huh? We're not dumb like you."

"I know and I'm not dumb. I'm here to make a deal, it will be good for both of us. We benefit each other if you and I work together."

"We can't work with you."

Napakibit-balikat naman ako, "if you want to catch Lula, you need me."

When he look to his men, just told by an eye, they lower their guns and I could take a deep breath from it. I get away with my death, again. Nang mukhang makuha ko naman ang kanilang mga interes ay naglakas loob na akong sabihin ang kailangan ko sa kanila. I wouldn't tell them what I wanted Lula but I just needed them to believe that we all have against one person and that's my boss.

"Okay, tell me what's in your head."

"Of course," I cleared my throat. "I've heard that you wanted Lula but she wouldn't appear to you guys because she's hiding from you. It all goes to one reason, she had done something to you that she doesn't want to say so if you try so many times to catch her on the club, she wouldn't be around as long as she's on your wanted list. On the other hand, what I wanted her is because she's the key to my—I call it freedom but I couldn't make it done without your help, I'm not sure if you wanted me to take this deal but there's no harm in trying and giving it a chance, right? After all, we're all pinning down against one enemy."

"We'll think about it,"

"Wait, you're the boss, think about it!" aniko.

"I'm not the boss, I'm just his second hand and I'll bring this information to him and once we wanted to bring in your suggestion, we'll take it slowly until Lula gets what she deserves."

"Cool, so how do we communicate?"

At ang katabi ko naman ay inabot ang kanyang phone, "give us your number and we'll take it from here."

"Sure?"

"We do." He said, "and once we brought this information of yours to him, maybe expect a call tonight or by midnight."

"That's great, we can bring her down."

"Keep you ass cool man, our boss doesn't work with a kid."

Napangisi naman ako, "I'm not a kid you just know."

"Whatever, now get out of the car and expect the call."

As they pushed me out of the car and instantly drive away, I couldn't get my smile off of my face. Mas napadali nito ang trabaho ko at kapag nalaman ni Gio ang plano ko, mapapabilis ang pag-alis ko sa GCS. They just wanted Lula to pay for what she had to them and now with this so-called mafia or whatever they are, they could help me to continue what I just started. This mission is in progress and I'm on a hundred percent that this will be perfectly done.

But for now, I gotta walk back to the apartment 'cause my getaway car ditched me.