#DaggerSeries #LiaxGun #DragonCouple #DS2Unstrung

CHAPTER 26: WOLF IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING

LIA'S POV

Sinubukan ko na igalaw ang mga kamay ko pero mahigpit ang pagkakatali no'n sa magkabilang kamay ng silyang kinauupuan ko. Masama ang tingin na ibinigay ko sa lalaking ngayon ay nakangising nakatayo sa harapan ko.

"You won't get away with this."

"Dahil sa boyfriend mo na may-ari ng security and investigation agency?" Nang-aasar na tumawa ang lalaki bago humila ng upuan. He straddled the chair, its back on his front. "Hindi nga niya alam kung saan ka hahanapin ngayon. I'm hell sure they're trying to follow their useless leads of people that admire you. They've been looking for me but until now they have no clue."

I gritted my teeth at what he said. Dahil tama si Lucienne. Tama ang sinabi niya noon tungkol sa posibilidad na hindi obsess fan ang stalker ko. This person... this asshole in front of me... he indeed planned all these. He managed to confuse the investigation so that nothing will caught up to him.

"Alam mo hindi ka naman sana mapapahamak pa kung sumunod ka lang. Ang dali lang naman pero parang hirap na hirap kang intindihin. You just needed to quit but you didn't." He waved his hand in front of him as if dismissing the thought. "Nah. It doesn't matter. As long as CAU is still standing, this game won't end. Sino bang mag-aakala na may parte ka pala sa kumpanya na iyon?"

"So you mean that you're planning to kill me now?"

"Don't look at me like that. It's not like I planned to kill you from the start."

Hindi makapaniwalang umiling ako. He's not just crazy. He's a sociopath. "And I should be thankful of that?"

"I have no choice. CAU is depending on you as an artist. But you have no plans of stopping your career."

"And if I want to?" I asked. "What if I tell you that I'll let go of all that so you can let me go? CAU for my life. Would you let me go?"

Umarte siya na tila nag-iisip. But I know the truth. Kahit na hindi pa niya sinasagot ang tanong ko ay alam ko na ang sagot niya.

He has no plans to let me go unscathed. This is his motive from the very start. Hindi lang para takutin ako na gusto niyang maging dahilan para bitawan lahat ng naabot ko. This is his revenge. His petty revenge because his pride got hurt.

"Nakipagtulungan ka kay Travis para makauha ng buo ang CAU? Iyon lang? Lahat ng ito para doon lang?" I pulled my hands as if to grab him but his smile just widened at that because he knows that I won't be able to get away. "He's already in prison. What makes you think na hindi ka niya ikakanta sa mga pulis para masagip ang sarili niya, Gio?"

"Get CAU?" Humalakhak ang lalaki. "Sa tingin mo iyon ang gusto ko?"

Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya. I can feel my thoughts racing as the confirmation of what he's saying penetrated my mind. "You don't want CAU. You just want me to fail. That means-"

"That means, I just used Travis to get to you." I swallowed the bile in my throat when I saw him licked his own lips. "I give it to him. He's old but fucking him was enjoyable."

"W-What? He's married you asshole!"

"And yet he worshiped my cock with so much enthusiasm." He raised an eyebrow at me. "Do you think him being in prison now is just a coincidence?" He made a "tsk tsk" sound while moving his forefinger in front of my face. "Hindi lang ikaw ang gusto kong pabagsakin kundi maging siya. Lahat kayo na nasa CAU."

"You framed him," I whispered.

"I did and now your other friend will get framed as well for your murder."

Nanglaki ang mga mata ko at sunod-sunod na umiling ako. I struggled with the rope again, trying to loosen it, but failing. "No."

"Right now your friend River is getting killed by my men. Iisipin ng pulisya na tinakasan niya ang ginawa niyang pagpatay sa iyo. And in case his body were found, nag-iwan kami ng ebidensiya na magtuturo kung paanong planado nila ito at hindi niya kinaya ang guilt mula sa mga pinagawa sa kaniya ni Travis kaya siya nagpakamatay."

He brought me here in River's condominium. Now I know why.

"Y-You're crazy..."

Tumayo siya mula sa kinauupuan at naglakad siya palapit sa akin. Iniwas ko ang mukha ko nang pinaglandas niya ang likod ng palad niya sa gilid ng pisngi ko pero napaigik ako sa sakit nang bigla na lang niyang hablutin ang baba ko habang ang mga daliri niya ay bumabaon sa akin.

"Masyado kang mapagmataas. I'm a Maceo. You dared to look down on me and now you're going to pay the price."

"And I'm an Asterio. My name has more weight than yours, Gio." I can feel the heat of hatred coloring my eyes as I look at him. "Take my name away and I will still be more than you could ever be-"

Hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin ko nang umangat ang kamay niya at sa isang iglap ay malakas na sumampal iyon sa akin. He managed to break a skin, making me taste my own blood. But I didn't back down.

I should cower in fear right? I'm facing my own death anyway. But I don't want to. Dahil kung talagang mamamatay nga ako sa gabi na ito... ayokong mawala sa mundo na naipararamdam sa kaniya na nanalo siya.

He haunted me... injected fear into me but what he and I didn't know was that I'm also haunting him. He is indeed my shadow. Hindi lang dahil sa mga ginawa niyang hakbang para takutin ako kundi dahil pinababa niya ang sarili niya hanggang sa mapatunayan niyang siya nga iyon. Just a shadow of my light.

He should have focused on his own career. He should have created his own path. But he seek for something instant than to worked hard for it.

So no. I won't go down losing. Hanggang sa huli ipaparamdam ko sa kaniya kung paanong hindi niya ako mapapantayan. Unlike him... I gave my blood, sweat, heart, and soul to my work. Hindi ako nagmataas dahil in the first place wala akong kailangan patunayan sa kaniya. Lahat ng meron ako ay ginawa ko para sa sarili kong pangarap at sa mga taong sumusuporta sa akin.

That's how it is with people like Gio. Kinakain ng inggit hanggang sa mabulag na sila sa katotohanan. Life shouldn't be a competition but he made it like so. He's fighting me for something that I didn't consider as a contest. Dahil ang tangi ko lang na gustong higitan ay ang ako ng nakaraan. I compete with my own self because that's how I grow as the person I am now.

"Playing with you was so fun, you know? Gustong-gusto ko kapag nakikita ko kung paano ka matakot sa taong hindi mo naman matukoy kung sino. Kahit saan ka magtago... nandoon ako. I mean, I can't take credit that much for the night of the attack. It was an exciting night pero hindi ako pwedeng pumunta dahil kailangan ko ng alibi. But the whistling following you and that music box, it was all me."

"H-How did you found out where I was tonight? Paano mo nalaman na magkikita kami ni River?"

"I tapped your phones. Iyon nga lang hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari at hindi ko na makita ang sa iyo. Hindi naman naging problema iyon dahil buong team mo ay nasa ilalim ng mga kamay ko."

"How? Through Travis?"

"No." Naglakad siya palapit sa pintuan ng condo at pinihit niya ang seradura no'n para buksan. "Through her."

Pakiramdam ko ay nanglaki ang ulo ko sa nakitang iniluwa ng pintuan. I can feel the cold creeping inside me, enveloping my body until I can't feel even a bit of warmth. Kinuyom ko ang mga kamay ko hanggang sa halos maramdaman ko na ang mga kuko ko na bumabaon doon.

"Lia we really should talk to the police."

"Are you okay?"

"L-Lia...help me."

"Maddison," I whispered.

Two men with covered faces followed her inside. Men that are holding guns intended not to just protect the two but to hurt me. Tahimik na tumayo lang ang dalawa sa likod ni Gio at Maddy. Gio's smile was so wide that it's almost splitting his face in half habang si Maddy naman ay may maliit na ngiti sa mga labi na lumapit sa akin.

She's smiling while all along the image of her dying was embedded in my brain.

"Why?" I can hear my own voice breaking as I uttered that question. Isang tanong na dala ang bigat nang lahat ng pinagdaanan ko. Lahat ng takot... lahat ng guilt.

She's my friend. Hindi lang siya basta manager ko. I shared my heart to her, my past, my pain. Hindi niya man alam ang bagay na kailan lang nalaman ni Gun pero hindi ibig sabihin ay hindi ko ibinigay kay Maddy ang parte ng pagkatao ko na bihirang makita ng kahit na sino. I never lied to her because she matters to me.

I felt a tear trickled down my cheek as I look at her. She's just like my Maddy and yet... she's also different.

Maddy is strong, understanding, and compassionate but the woman I'm seeing now is different. I can feel the strength flowing through her but this time it's tainted by something dark. Hindi ko maiwasang isipin na maaaring mali ako sa mga nakita ko noon. That maybe... she was just pretending.

"I love him, Lia."

"That's your excuse?" I shook my head in disbelief. "Mahal mo siya kaya kaya mong panoorin ako at si River na mamatay? You were my friend! Our friend!"

"I was never your friend. I was his all along."

I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out. Mali nga ako. Maling mali.

"Magkakilala na kami noon pa. We planned this together. Pumasok ako bilang manager mo para sa kaniya. Lahat ng taon na ginugol ko sa'yo ay para sa kaniya." Inayos niya ang upuan na kanina ay gamit ni Gio at pagkatapos ay umupo siya roon.

Kahit ang suot niyang damit ay iba sa Maddy na nakilala ko. She faked everything. Hindi lang ang katotohanan kundi maging ang pagkatao niya na ibinahagi niya sa amin.

"You betrayed me," I said through gritted teeth.

"I gave my years to you. I dedicated my everyday to you."

"And yet you still betrayed me."

"I love him Lia. Would you have step aside if I told you? Would you gave up everything if I asked you to?"

"No. Because if you're really my friend, you wouldn't ask for that. You wouldn't ask me to give up something that I chased after my whole life."

"But I'm not your friend."

Pakiramdam ko ay paulit-ulit na sinasaksak ang puso ko habang nakatingin sa kaniya. Akala ko naranasan ko na lahat ng sakit na pwedeng saluhin ng isang tao sa buhay na meron siya. But I guess there's this too. The pain of betrayal.

If you look at it, it's like she's a pawn to Gio's game... but she is not. Like in chess, she's a queen protecting her king. She's one of the big players. She's one of the chess pieces that are vital to this mind game.

She's not a sheep that has been used and played with but rather she's a wolf in sheep's clothing.

"You're okay with all that? Being a murderer? Pagkatapos nito masaya na kayo? You'll stay in bed beside a man who killed for his pathetic revenge? Kasi hindi kaya ng talento niya na i-satisfy ang ego niya kaya tinanggal lang niya ang taong tinuturing niya kakompetensiya niya. He even fucked a man to get what he wants. He's ruining three lives and you're okay with that?"

"We all have sacrifices."

"Paano ang pamilya mo? Their hearts were broken because of your death. Kaya mo rin silang talikuran?"

She rolled her eyes. "They're just mooches. Hindi sila nasaktan na namatay ako dahil ang concern lang nila ay ang pera na hindi na nila makukuha sa akin."

"That's not true. Sana pinerahan nila ako kung totoo ang sinasabi mo pero hindi."

I saw a glint of hesitance in her eyes but she removed it just as quickly as it appeared. "Alalahanin lang sila. Now I'm free from all responsibilities."

I struggled hard with the ropes, wanting to go to her to shake some sense into her. "Listen to yourself Maddy! This is not love!"

"Hindi mo alam kung ano kami."

"You're crazier than him. You are worse than him!" I inclined my head to Gio's direction. "Siya naiintindihan ko pa. He's fucked in the head even before and even if his excuses are stupid, they are still excuses. Pero ikaw? You're ruining your life for an obsession!"

Tumalim ang mga mata niya at tumayo siya mula sa kinauupuan. For the second time tonight, I got struck on the face. But this hurts more because it's coming from a person that once mattered to me.

"Wala kang alam," nagbabaga sa galit na turan niya.

"Don't do this Maddy."

"I'm sorry Lia that it came to this," she whispered. Umuklo siya hanggang sa magkatapat na ang mga mukha namin.

No. She's not sorry. Kita ko iyon sa mga mata niya na nakatingin sa akin. Kita ko iyon sa mga labi niya na nakangiti sa kabila ng katotohanan sa alam niyang mga mangyayari sa gabi na ito. She's smiling even though she knows that I will get murdered tonight.

"I should be the one to feel sorry for you two."

Her eyes hardened. "Just accept it. Talo ka na."

Umiling ako at nagbaba ng tingin. Unti-unti kong naramdaman ang pagtigil ng luha sa pagbagsak mula sa mga mata ko. I shouldn't waste my tears anymore. Not for them. Not for these people who are vile and wicked.

"You forgot two things, Maddy," I whispered.

"What?"

Nag-angat ako ng mukha at sa pagkakataon na ito ay ako naman ang ngumiti sa kaniya. But my smile has more. Laced with pain yet strengthen by the truth.

"I never lose." I looked at her straight to the eyes. "Second... you forgot about my gift."

A FEW WEEKS AGO

LIA'S POV

"You need to tell us the truth Travis or you will rot in here for the things that you didn't do. May asawa at anak ka na naghihintay sa iyo."

"That's why I'm doing this. I'm protecting them from the truth."

Nagkatinginan kami ni Gun sa mga salitang binitawan ng kaharap namin. Pinuntahan namin si Travis sa kustodiya ng pulisya. I told Gun about what I heard in the venue on the way. He wanted to go back to Dagger so we could tell this to the others but I needed to see Travis first.

May kailangan pa kaming malaman.

"Protect them by being there beside them. Ito ba talaga ang gusto mo? Gusto mo bang lumaki ang anak mo na dinadalaw ka rito sa kulangan? Gusto mo ba na buong buhay niya ay tinitignan siya ng tao bilang anak ng taong nakagawa ng pagkakasala at ngayon ay nasa kulungan?" Kita ang pagtatalo sa mga mata niya. Alam kong hindi niya gusto na manatili rito pero dahil sa kung anuman na rason ay hindi niya magawang bitawan ang bagay na alam niya. "You wanted to talk to me, Travis."

"I just..."

"You wanted to warn me pero hindi ka sigurado kung tama ang naiisip mo. But I'm telling you now, Travis. It's important that you tell me." Dumukwang ako at inabot ko ang kamay niya na nakaposas at marahan na pinisil ko iyon.

I was angry at him. I thought he betrayed me. But he didn't. He's the one who got betrayed and now he's paying for it instead of the person who's really behind everything.

May posibilidad pa rin na sangkot talaga siya at may partner siya sa mga nangyari but for some reason I don't think that's the case. I don't think he has anything to do with this. "All I need is your confirmation, Travis. I already know."

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya. "Paano?"

"I just know." I said, giving Gun another glance. "Right now, Travis, it's not looking good for you. Nahanap nila ang condominium mo sa building kung saan din nakatira si River. Nakapangalan sa iyo ang condo. You're the number one suspect."

"Lia-"

"Bakit ka nandoon, Travis?"

"I-I..." Isinubsob niya ang mukha sa mga kamay niya. "Someone asked me to buy a unit there. Malayo sa tao at mga mata ng mga nakakakilala sa akin. I-I'm...I..."

"Who?"

Nag-angat siya ng mga mata at kita ko ang paghihirap sa mga iyon nang tumingin siya sa akin. "Lia, I'm gay. That's why I can't tell the truth. Paano kapag nalaman ng pamilya ko? Nang asawa ko? Paano kapag nalaman nila na may kinikita ako sa lugar na iyon?"

I don't know what he's going through. I would never know what it's like to be in his shoes. Kung paanong magtago ng pagkatao dahil sa takot mula sa lipunan. Because accept it or not... mapanghusga talaga ang mundo sa mga bagay na hindi nila naiintindihan. Bukod pa roon ay mayroon din siyang pamilya na masasaktan kahit na ano pang piliin niya na desisyon.

"Make amends with your family but don't do that while in here. I don't believe that being gay is a sin, Travis, no matter what the world says. Hindi ako naniniwalang pagkakamali na naging ikaw kung ano ka. But you cheated on your wife and that is something that you need to face and she also deserves to know the truth." Lalo kong hinigpitan ang kamay ko sa pagkakahawak sa kaniya. "Doing that by staying here, even you don't intend to, will help the person behind this. What happened to Maddy... the things that's been happening to me... kaya mo ba talagang ipikit ang mga mata mo para maisalba ang reputasyon mo?"

"Lia... hindi ko alam. Hindi ko alam na magagawa niya ito. I thought I could use him as an alibi to clear my name dahil magkikita kami dapat ng gabi na iyon pagkatapos ng event niyo but he didn't come. I never thought of him being the one behind this. Akala ko coincidence lang. I didn't even know that River lives there."

"Please tell me the truth, Travis. Tell me or both of us will pay for something that we didn't deserve."

Tinakpan ko ang bibig ko habang naririnig ko ang boses na pamilyar na pamilyar sa akin. Ramdam ko ang pamamasa ng mga luha ko hanggang sa tuluyan na iyong kumawala. I felt my knees got weak but before I crumbled to the floor, I felt Gun's arm went around me, holding me up.

"G-Gun... that... that voice..."

Binalot ng katahimikan ang paligid nang makita kong patayin ni Axel ang audio recording na kanina ay rinig sa buong conference room.

"Nakuha namin iyan mula sa bug na inilagay sa bahay mismo ni Gio Maceo. We also placed one in Travis' condo. Gusto sana namin na lagyan ang kotse at cellphone niya pero masyadong risky. We can't afford to be risky right now kung gusto natin silang hulihin sa akto."

I couldn't believe it. Ayokong paniwalaan. Pero kilalang-kilala ko ang boses ni Maddy. Hindi ko alam kung paano nila dinaya ang naging pagpatay sa kaniya but if there's one thing I'm sure of is that what happened was not just an impulsive one.

Planado na ito ng matagal.

"Even before the day of the attack malaki ang posibilidad na nakahanda na sila." Sa pagkakataon na ito ay Coal naman ang nagsalita. "We surveyed the area. There's a disturb path behind the cabin that you rented in that resort. Naapula ang apoy at hindi no'n natupok ang buong cabin pero may nakita kami na patay na mga halaman sa likod na bahagi ng lugar. Probably from gasoline spillage. Gasoline is toxic to plants."

"Maddison's death was staged." Domino concurred. "At first akala namin ay doon lang dumaan ang killer pagkatapos niyang alisin lahat ng ebidensiya which lead to the spillage of gasoline. But now we think that they hid the gasoline there before you even went there."

Hinilot ko ang sentido ko. I can feel the beginning of a migraine. "I know we all heard her voice in that audio while she was talking to Gio. Pero paano naging posible lahat ng 'to? I saw her died-"

"Prosthetics," putol ni Axel sa sasabihin ko. "May oras para maghanda si Maddison dahil nauna siyang umuwi sa iyo."

"When I left the venue Gio was still in the party. Iyon ang dahilan kung bakit hindi siya kasama sa listahan ng suspects di ba?" tanong ko

Gun squeezed my hand. "Hindi siya kasama sa preliminary suspects but he's in the list. Kasama ang team mo. Even if he's in the party he could have asked someone to do it for him like we know now that he did."

"You investigated my team?"

"We needed to. Sila at ang mga tao na nasa paligid mo nang gabing iyon. We investigated all the people in the party as well but Lia it's a party. Lahat sila naka-expose sa tao kaya may mga alibi sila. Iyon ang dahilan kung bakit hindi sila ang unang inimbestigahan namin."

"Idagdag pa na naghahabol kami sa oras. We're looking for the clue that you gave us. Pero walang kahit na anong bakas sa mukha si Maceo dahil nakita pa siyang nag-iinuman kasama ang mga kaibigan niya sa isang bar kinabukasan," Axel explained.

"Can't we just use this as evidence?" I asked as Gun helped me to sit on one of the chairs. "I mean Gio basically admitted that he's the one behind this and... and Maddy."

"There's an anti-wire tapping law. The court will scraped this off," sabi ni Trace na siyang sumagot sa akin.

"What if I'm the evidence?"

"No," Gun said instantly.

Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya at tinignan ko siya ng direkta sa mga mata. "Please... please let me do something."

"We're not going to put you at risk either for the sake of an evidence."

"You can protect me."

"Lia-"

"She's right." Thorn interrupted. "We could use her and still make sure that she won't be harmed. Trace will get a court order so we could do a wiretap legally and then we could make a plan."

"We need to protect Travis too and whoever they will use to create their plan. They need to be cleared," I whispered.

Travis is already in custody. Ang kailangan na lang nila ay ang magiging scapegoat nila para sa pinaplano nila sa akin. That's something I'm sure of what with the audio we all listened to and what Travis told us when we visited him in prison.

Napalunok ako sa isipin na iyon. They wanted to kill me. Maddy wants to kill me.

I trusted her. I gave her a part of me. Her death destroyed a piece of my heart but it seems like that that's not the case. Dahil hindi ang pagkamatay niya ang sumira roon kundi ang ginawa niya na pangloloko sa akin.

"Lia, you couldn't possibly think that I will let you be in the middle of danger," Gun said to me intently.

"Of course not. I will not be in danger. Nando'n ka." Inangat ko ang isa kong kamay at inilapat ko iyon sa pisngi niya. "They need to pay, Gun. This time I want that to happen without me running away. You need to let me do this so I wouldn't wake up another day feeling ashamed."

Alam kong hindi niya gusto ang hinihingi ko pero alam kong naiintindihan niya. I lived my life keeping all the demons inside me. All the fear, the doubt, the guilt... I don't want another one. Not now that I'm beginning to feel what it's like to finally be free.

He didn't verbally agreed to what I want but he turned to his brothers without saying anything more. Nagsimula silang magplano habang ako ay tahimik na nakikinig sa kanila. If this case is not about me, I would probably take more time to be amaze with how they work. Instead I was lost in my thoughts.

Ngayon na alam na namin ang katotohanan ay inaasahan ko na gagaan ang pakiramdam ko. But it didn't. I was confident about my parents having connection with what's happening to me. I was convinced that they could do something like this even to me, their own blood and flesh. Ang pangit man pakinggan pero pakiramdam ko mas madali ko pa iyong matatanggap. I know what to expect from them and that is to never set my hopes up when it comes to them.

Now this time they are really innocent and I don't know what to do with that.

Hindi ko alam kung gaano ako katagal sa kinauupuan ko. Ang natatandaan ko lang ay ang unti-unting pagyakap sa akin ng antok habang naririnig ko pa rin ang pag-uusap ng mga kapatid. I was too exhausted and stressed out that I didn't even fought the pull.

"Maraming pwedeng mangyari kapag nasa sasakyan na sila. How can we be sure that nothing will happen to Lia in there?"

Napadiretso ako at nagbaba ako ng tingin sa sarili ko nang makita kong may jacket na nakakumot sa akin. I stifle a yawn and looked at the men who's apparently still busy. Tumingin ako kay Gun na siyang nagmamay-ari ng boses na gumising sa akin at nakita kong aburidong nilukot niya ang papel na nasa harapan niya.

"We'll put wires on her."

"Even so, we can't protect her in there."

"Then we'll put a man in there," Thorn said. "Sigurado akong hahanap pa ng tao si Gio para sa kung ano pa na binabalak niya."

"Those men work for money not loyalty. Hahanap ako ng isa sa kanila na pwedeng bayaran. He'll vouch for one of our men so he can be there when they take Lia. I suggest Leo if we're putting a man on her. He loves this kind of thing." Si Axel ang nagsalita na mabilis ang mga kamay sa pagtipa sa keyboard ng laptop na nasa harapan niya. "I'll gather our informants at baka may alam sila na mga taong kinuha dahil may pinapatrabaho sa kanila. We'll pick one who has more to lose."

"What if that person betrays us?" Domino asked.

"He won't. We'll find a leverage that he can't refuse."

Tumigil sa pagsusulat si Pierce na nasa papel at inilagay niya iyon sa harapan ng lamesa. Niyakap ko ang jacket na nakabalot sa akin habang nakitingin din doon. Gun glanced at me for a quick moment before returning his attention to their work.

Pierce handwriting partnered with scribbles of what can be described as a sketch doesn't make any sense to me pero mukhang naiintindihan iyon ng mga kapatid niya.

"We'll do this in a crowded area. Sigurado ako na maglalagay doon ng tao si Maceo o siya mismo ay naroon din. With the kind of person he is that's a high possibility. You will sit down and let him listen to your conversation. You need to be separated so we can let them take Lia. When their defenses are down because they thought they won, that's when we strike." Itinulak niya ang isa pang papel at iniharap iyon sa mga kapatid. "They will probably sent men after Kuya. Kapag nakatunog sila na may alam tayo at si Kuya mabubulilyaso lahat. They will act instantly and that will be dangerous for Lia."

"I'm not going to let her go alone," Gun almost growled those words out. " I need to be in the field with her."

Malakas na bumuntong-hininga si Pierce bago siya humila ng isa pang papel at nagsimula ulit na magsulat.

I knew them for years and I haven't had the chance to watch them work. My client confidentiality din kasi bagay na hinayaan ko lang si Lucienne na i-break.

But I've been with them for more than a month now. Napapansin ko na ang mga bagay na hindi ko nakikita noon dahil pribado ang trabaho nila.

Thorn and Gun usually give insights of the possibilities for the client's safety, Pierce provides them a skeleton plan for an operation, Axel handles the research and technical stuff, Trace manages the legalities, and Domino and Coal gives point of view when it comes to the evidences and location of the crime.

Pierce showed them another paper. "We need three teams. One is for Lia consisting of one man inside whatever vehicle they will use and a couple in the location they will bring her for back up. Kailangan din natin ng team na makakasama ng magiging decoy."

"And what's the third?" Thorn asked with a knotted forehead.

"They're searching for another person to frame, right? Sa mga binabalik nila kay Lia, hindi pwede na si Travis lang dahil nasa kulungan siya. They will frame someone and base on their conversation it will probably be River."

Sa pagkakataon na ito ay ako na ang nagsalita. "Why?"

"They used him to frame Travis. Ang larawan na ipinadala sa iyo ni Maceo para takutin ka ay larawan ni River. They could work with the angle that Travis used River to scare you away and it didn't work because he was caught by us. Dahil nasa kulungan siya ay kinakailangan niyang masiguro na mawawala ka sa landas nila. To make that happen Travis will ask River to kill you, River who is supposed to be hist partner in crime. Kapag nagawa ang pagpatay sa iyo magkakaroon siya ng laban sa kaso dahil imposible niya na magawa iyon habang nakakulong. But River will leave an evidence saying that he felt so guilty about what he did to his friend and that Travis' asked him to do it."

"A-And what will happen to River?"

"Maceo will kill him too."

Binalot ako ng lamig kasunod ng panginginig ng mga kamay ko. Pierce said those words so professionally without any hint of emotions in his eyes. It was as if he's telling me his plan rather than Gio's plan. That's how he can think so quick. Nilalagay niya ang sarili niya sa posisyon ng perpetrator.

I remembered the audio recording.

"We need another scapegoat, Maddison. Walang kuwenta kung nasa kulungan nga si Travis pero nasa labas pa rin si Lia at hawak ang CAU. We need to take them out off the picture."

"Saan mo iniwan ang ebidensiya na magdidiin kay Travis?"

"Sa unit niya. Itinago ko sa likod ng bed frame ang damit na ginamit noon ni Roco sa Batangas no'ng atakihin niya si Lia. Once the police investigate that room they will use that evidence against Travis o pwede rin na magamit ang ebidensiya na iyon para madiin ang isa pang tao na sa pagkakataon na ito ay sasalo sa mangyayari kay Lia. Travis won't be able to escape prison anyway if we have that scapegoat. We need to make it real this time. "

"Real?"

"Real."

Sandaling katahimikan ang namayani at tanging tunog lang na nanggagaling sa appliances ang naririnig sa audio.

"We need someone close to Travis and Lia, Gio. Are you still tapping their phones?"

"Yes. Pero wala akong koneksyon kay Lia. I don't know what happened but her phone is not appearing."

"Then we need to move fast dahil kung alam na nila na may bug ang cellphone ni Lia ay baka makatunog pa sila ng iba. Kung may koneksyon ka pa sa cellphone ng iba pang miyembro ng musical team then we need to look for someone that reached out to her just recently para mapalabas natin na ginagawa iyon ng taong iyon para mapalapit kay Lia at magawa ang mga balak niya."

"You a genius, love! I'm going to talk to the guys. This will be a betrayal scenario. Two people planned this but one of them felt guilty and became the reason to incarcerate the other."

"We're not just removing two."

"Right, love."

"They're planning to remove three out of the perfect picture they are imagining. Ikaw, si Travis, at si River. River would be their scapegoat so that they can put you and Travis away."

"Enough, Pierce," Gun said through gritted teeth.

It must be hard for Gun to just imagine it. Naiintindihan ko iyon dahil maging ako ay hindi ko magawang isipin kung paanong kayang magawa ito ng kahit na sino. Even just to think about it feels so dirty and wrong.

"I'm okay," I nodded my head at Pierce. "Continue."

"Sino-sino ang parte ng team mo ang kumontak sa iyo?"

"Migz did to inform me about... about Maddy's funeral. After no'n si River na nangangamusta. Then si River ulit today."

"Then they will use him. Mas madali rin ng anggulo na siya ang gagamitin dahil nasa iisang condominium ang property nila parehas ni Travis. Noong una siguro para lang iyon idiin si Travis. They made River a victim na isusunod dapat sa nangyari kay Maddison. Dahil may unit si Travis sa mismong kinaroroonan ni River mas naging malakas ang kaso laban sa kaniya. But they can reverse it and make it seems like they're working together."

Hindi lang ang buhay ko ang nasa bingit ng panganib kundi maging ang kay River din. Pati ang buhay ni Travis ay sangkot. They are planning to ruin three lives. Three innocent lives because of greed and revenge. Marami akong tao na nakabanggaan sa industriya. I met a lot of assholes but it never came to the point that I planned to do something like this. This is not a normal reaction to someone that you hate. To want them dead... how twisted could you be?

"We have a problem with that plan," Axel said after awhile. "We don't have enough men for three teams."

Narinig ko ang mahinang pagmumura ni Gun. He told me this before and he wasn't kidding. Puno ng cases ang Dagger ngayon.

"I messaged Luna the moment that we started this meeting."

"What?" Lalong lumalim ang gatla sa noo ni Thorn. "Why would you do that, Axel? That woman is a journalist-"

"But that woman is also resourceful. Don't worry. Maniningil lang ako ng interview kay Lia after her case is close."

Lahat kami ay napatingin sa pintuan ng conference room kung saan ngayon ay nakatayo ang nakangising babae. Pero hindi ko nagawang pagtuunan siya ng pansin dahil kaagad naagaw ang atensyon ko ng lalaking katabi niya.

Holy shit.

PRESENT DAY

LIA'S POV

Kita ko ang pagkalito sa mga mukha ni Maddy at Gio. Naunang nakabawi si Maddy na binigyan ako ng nangungutyang tingin. I wonder how she hid it so well. I must be really gullible to believe that this woman will be near anything that can be considered as decent.

"I'm so done with you," she said with a roll of her eyes. "Kill her."

Tinalukuran niya ako at lumapit siya kay Gio para umabrisete. Animo mga hari at reyna na taas noo sana silang lalabas na ng pintuan pero bago nila magawa iyon ay humarang sa kanila ang dalawang lalaki.

"What do you think you're doing?" Gio asked them. "Do your job if you want to get paid."

Naglabas ang dalawang lalaki ng baril at nakita kong napangiti si Gio. Tinapunan niya ako ng tingin at pagkatapos ay nagkibit-balikat siya. "Kung gusto niyong panoorin namin, wala namang problema."

"Do we really need to?"

The way Maddy asked those words is not because she couldn't stand seeing me die in front of her. Mas tunog na naiinip pa iyon kesa mabahiran ng kahit na katiting na pag-aalinlangan.

"Maybe they want us to see that they've done their job well. Let's just watch. Gusto ko rin naman makita."

The two men moved and they approached me. Nananatiling nakatingin lang ako sa direksyon ni Gio at Maddy at hindi ko man lang binigyan ng pansin ang dalawang lalaking ngayon ay nakatayo na sa magkabilang gilid ko.

My eyes met Maddy's and for a moment... I hoped for something. Kahit kaunti lang na senyales na hindi niya gusto ang nangyayari. Just a bit of remorse. Kahit konti lang. Kahit konti lang na mapatunayan ko na may naging totoo sa mga pinakita niya sa akin.

But there was none.

I felt the ropes around one of my hand loosen. Sumunod do'n ang isa pa. I massaged the part that are now red caused by the friction of the rope with my skin.

"Why are you-"

Tumayo ako mula sa pagkakaupo ko at muli akong tumingin ng direkta kay Maddy na ngayon ay nanlalaki ang mga mata. Sa tabi ko ay nakataas na ang mga baril ng dalawang lalaki pero imbis na nakaturo iyon sa direksyon ko ay sa kanila nakaturo ang bibig ng mga iyon.

"A-Anong.... ano sa tingin niyo ang ginagawa niyo?" tanong ni Gio na napahakbang paatras.

"I told you. I have a gift."

"W-What?"

"The day of the event for Raja, do you remember? You're the representative for MTA. But you stupidly brought someone with you as your bodyguard. Masyado ka kasing mayabang. May bodyguard ka pang nalalaman. Hanggang sa pagkakaroon ng bodyguard ayaw mong magpatalo sa akin."

"What the fuck are you talking about?!"

I can feel a sense of satisfaction as I look at him. He might be vile but he planned all these so it's not a question that he has a brain. Kaya alam kong naiintindihan niya kung ano ang nangyayari ngayon. I know that and I can see that with the way he's looking at me full of panic.

"You were talking with the director demanding to have a bigger screen time. Narinig ko iyon mula sa audio ng isang staff dahil apparently at that time her device was connected to another staff na nakikinig habang pinapatunayan mo kung gaano ka kasabik sa kasikatan. Then your bodyguard talked to say something to you and that you respond to as well and that's the moment that I heard it and confirmed the connection."

"Gio, let's go," Maddy said, tugging at Gio's arm.

"You see, Gio, I can hear sounds in a way that you can never understand. I remember them like a memory. You're whistling was familiar to me but I can't put a face on it because it's different from a speaking voice." I tapped my ears. "Voices have different sound through headphones especially if you pull it away, enough to hear but not enough to hear clearly. It can sound muffled, like someone is covering their mouth. Bagay na narinig ko sa cabin na iyon nang magsalita ang taong ipinadala mo sa akin. I saw that one particular bodyguard of yours a couple of times kada gusto mong patunayan na mas angat ka kesa sa amin but I never heard him talk or care to give any attention to him. But I can close my eyes now and pick that voice over and over again to prove to you and the police how right I am. Of course I also confirmed my speculations when I talked to the man you framed."

"Travis," he whispered.

"Sa tingin mo ba talaga poprotektahan ka niya? You used his secret against him but do you think that weigh more than his own family? I don't think he fully believed that you have something to do with all of this. At first he didn't think that you're capable of doing all this that's why he was still trying to protect you and his secret but the moment that I told him that I know and I was just waiting for his confirmation, he told me how you asked him to buy a unit there kung saan nandoon si River. All along akala niya ay madadamay ka sa eskandalo tungkol sa kaniya kapag sinabi niya sa pulisya ang alibi niya kung bakit may condo siya sa lugar na iyon pero nang malaman niya ang maaaring kaugnayan mo sa pagpatay kay Maddy ay sinabi niya sa akin lahat."

"Gio," Maddy said hurriedly but the man didn't budged.

"Napakababaw mo." Kita ko ang lalong pag-alab ng galit sa mga mata niya sa diin ng mga salitang binigkas ko. "Para lang sa kasikatan handa kang pumatay? You're stupid enough to believe that when you get rid of me you'll instantly be on top. Dahil lagi akong nasa una habang ikaw ay pangalawa. But don't you see? You will never rise up beyond the height I reached because you're not worthy. People like you that do things like this will never succeed."

"Gio!"

"You almost got away with it. I give you that. The angle about Travis wanting my shares was good. But you got sloppy."

A craze looked colored his eyes and I saw him took a step to my direction pero hindi niya na nagawang nakalapit dahil naunahan na siya ng isa sa mga lalaki na nasa tabi ko. Maddy pulled him again and this time he finally understood that he's losing. They turned to the door but before they could get there, it opened and four men came in.

"You think you won? I'm not going down without a fight," Gio seethed.

Nginitian ko ang lalaki at nagkibit-balikat ako. "Suit yourself."

"Hindi mo ba tatanungin kung nasaan si River? O ang lalaki mo?" He smugly smiled at me and raised his phone. "Pakawalan mo kami at pipigilan ko ang mga tao ko sa binabalak nila."

"Not in this lifetime, asshole." The man beside me growled. Tinanggal niya ang suot niya na mask at kita ko kung paanong namutla si Gio nang makita kung sino ang ngayon ay nasa tabi ko. "At this very moment all your men are being transported to the police station. One of them would have lighter sentence because he became our informant and his family would be taken care of. Ang ipinagmamalaki mong mga tao na hawak si River Navarro ay kasama rin ngayon sa iisang selda ng iba mo pang tauhan. Ang mga taong ipinadala mo para sundan ang decoy na pumalit sa akin ay kasama na rin nila. Lugar kung saan ka rin pupunta."

Gun never wanted me to do this alone. Kahit na paulit-ulit sa kaniyang sinabi na may tao ang Dagger na mananatili sa tabi ko ay hindi siya pumayag. He wanted to be in here with me. Kaya bukod kay Leo na siyang nagpanggap bilang tao na babayaran din ni Gio na nasa van nang dakipin nila ako ay naghihintay din si Gun dito sa condominium. He switched with a decoy while he was in the restroom and when they got here, him and another Blade Point neutralized two of Gio's men and replaced them, acting as one of them. Nagawa nila iyon na hindi nalalaman ng iba pa sa tulong na rin ni Leo at ng informant.

"That's not possible!" he screamed. "How?! No! This is not possible! You're bluffing! River is possibly dead right now!"

Imbes na matakot sa lakas ng boses niya at sa galit na bumabalot sa kaniya ay nakangiting nag-angat lang ako ng tingin kay Gun na tiim bagang na inangat ang kamay ko. I saw his eyes glinted with anger when he saw the red marks there.

I opened my mouth to calm him down but before I could do that, he crossed the distance between us and Gio. Narinig ko ang pagsigaw ni Maddy kasabay nang pagbagsak ng walang malay na lalaki sa sahig.

Gun raised his hand and knifed the air with his finger, pointing at Maddy that is now cowering with fear. "Listen to me, bitch. Pray hard that our paths won't be able to cross again. Ipanalangin mo na hindi ka na makawala sa kulungan. Because the moment that your air shares the same air with Lia again, I will end you and that is not a threat."

"Y-You can't do this..." Tumingin si Maddy sa direksyon ko. "Lia... you can't let this happen. You were right. This was just obsession. I thought I was in love. Gio made me believe that I need to do all this for him..."

"Don't look at her, don't talk to her." Gun took another step until he's towering over her. "Lia doesn't exist for you."

"I-I can help you get River-"

"We don't need your help." I told her and walked towards them. I reached for Gunter's hands and he didn't disappoint me because I felt him instantly laced his with mine. "We already got the help of the president's son."

Tinitigan ko ang babae. I'm no longer looking for remorse there. Alam kong gagamitin niya lahat ng kaya niyang gamitin para makalusot sa kinasasadlakan niyang sitwasyon. I won't let myself be used again. I don't pity her for what's waiting for her. Pero naaawa ako sa kaniya dahil ito lang ang pagmamahal na alam niya. Ang tanging meron siya at si Gio.

Thieves have better loyalty than them.

"Red still looks good on you." Hindi pa rin binibitawan ang lalaki na inabot ko ang lipstick na nasa bulsa ng dress ko. Bahagya akong lumapit sa kaniya at inilagay ko iyon sa pulang handbag na nakasukbit pa rin sa pulsuhan niya. "Keep it. Wala niyan sa kulungan."

And with that, Gun and I walked away from that room. Free from what's haunting me. Because in life there's two kinds of demons. The one life gave you and you have no choice but to accept and the one that you can walk away from.

Gun freed me from both of those. That's what real love is. It's not about control, not about obsession, not about playing games.

It's about facing life together. No matter what.

_________________________End of chapter 26.