#DS5Unbowed #EmbRace #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER 14: SHIELD

EMBER'S POV

"Tea for the most beau-TEA-ful lady."

Nahila ako mula sa pagkatulala ko at nang mag-angat ako ng tingin ay sumalubong sa akin ang nakangiting si Trace. He's like my personal tea-fairy godmother. Kahit noong nasa Cambodia kami at may mga tsaa namang available sa hotel ay may dala siyang kahon ng paborito ko na Ahmad tea. Pati nga sa eroplano ay dala niya iyon.

Napansin niya kasi ata na may katagalan bago bumalik ang kaluluwa ko kapag hindi pa ako nakakainom ng tsaa. Minsan naman kakaharot niya sa akin ay napipilitan ang diwa ko na gumising.

Late na rin kasi kaming mga nakatulog. It was fun last night. Lalo na nang sumayaw sina Coal, Pierce, at Trace ng 'What Is Love?' na siyang pinili ni Lucienne dahil iyon daw ang proposal song ni Thorn sa kaniya.

"Iba na siya ngayon."

"Oo nga. Parang hindi niya na tayo nakikita."

Pinaningkitan ni Trace sina Lucienne at Belaya na katulad ko ay nakaupo sa outdoor porch set ng resort. They messaged me on the group chat that Trace added me to. Luna, The Beauties, and the 7 Beasts. The two women invited me to watch the sunrise.

Gising na ang mga asawa nila at kasalukuyan ng kausap si Axel na nasa opisina na. Hindi na ako magugulat kung kasama rin nila si Gun. Pero si Lia tulog pa. Huwag ko na raw hanapin dahil for sure hindi iyon pinatulog masyado ni Gun.

"Ginagawa ko pa ang sa inyo. I gave Ember hers first because unlike the two of you, her drink is the easiest, you picky munchkins."

Lucienne just stuck out her tongue, while Belaya batted her eyelashes. Trace shook his head before he went back inside.

"Kamusta naman ang naging tulog mo, Ember?" tanong ni Luciene pagkasaradong-pagkasarado ng pintuan na pinasukan ni Trace.

Napapaubong ibinaba ko ang tasa ko. "H-Ha?

"I mean... hindi ka naman nagkaroon ng allergy? May aso ka kasing kasama."

"Hindi naman ako allergic—" Hindi ko naituloy ang sasabihin ko ng halos sabay pang lumawak ang pagkakangiti ng dalawang babae. "Ano... okay naman. Hindi naman iyon ang unang beses na nakasama ko si Trace sa iisang kuwarto, and he slept on the extra matress. In Cambodia we slept on the same bed."

"Nagtabi na kayo dati?!"

Napahalakhak si Belaya habang ako naman ay muntik mapatalon sa lakas ng boses ni Lucienne. The door on the accomodation next to where we were opened. Sumilip doon ang kunot na kunot ang noo na si Thorn pero nakangiting kumaway lang sa kaniya si Lucienne na para bang sinasabi na okay lang siya.

When the writer looked back at me with questioning eyes, I sighed. "Wala na kasi kaming ibang nakuha na kuwarto. It was fine. Trace is a true gentleman."

Hindi naman siya ang problema kundi ako. Ako kasi iyong nandadamba at ginagawa siyang unan. Hindi ko naman kasi alam na ganoon ako. I've never slept next to anyone to know that I have a habit of hogging the bed.

"Buti hindi ka lalong hinaharot. Lahat pa naman kayang gamitin no'n, makalandi lang," sabi ni Belaya.

"He never made it a big deal. I think he knows that it would make me really uncomfortable." Nang dumaan ang pagdududa sa mga mata nila ay nagpatuloy ako, "He teases me about a lot of things, and sometimes it feels like he wants me to have a permanent blushing face. But somehow, he knows when to stop and when I need him to. Sleeping beside each other... it's just too intimate, and I don't think he wants me to feel weird about it."

I don't know how to exactly explain everything to them. How those times with him were some of the few times I slept peacefully. I sometimes wake up before my alarm, at kapag tumunog kahit isang beses lang ang phone ko ay nagigising na ako. Samantalang noong magkatabi kami ni Trace ay mabuti na lang naka-on repeat ang alarm ko dahil kung hindi ay hindi ako magigising kaagad.

Magsasalita pa sana ang mga babae nang lumabas ang taong pinag-uusapan namin na may dalang dalawang inumin. One is coffee and the other is a fruit juice.

"One pomegranate-citrus juice for the juntis na maliit, and Café au lait para sa nasisiraan ng bait." Dinutdot ni Trace ang noo ni Lucienne nang magtangka ang babae na kagatin ang kamay niyang may hawak ng kape. "Pakiintay na lang ang toast niyo mga kamahalan." Trace looked at me and winked. "Sa'yo rin na mamahalin ko pa."

I blushed instantly while the other two women groaned in frustration. Tatawa-tawang pumasok ulit ng accomodation si Trace at iniwan na kami.

"Kanino niya kaya natutunan iyang mga ganiyan niyang banat?" tanong ni Lucienne na nangangaligkig pa. "The day Thorn proposed to me, he was like that. Pero feeling ko naturuan lang siya ng mga kapatid niya."

"Pierce does that when he wants to get back at me for teasing him pero minsan lang. Maharot ang isang 'yon pero sa ibang paraan."

Lucienne giggled. "Alam ko kung anong paraan 'yan at agree ako."

I wanted to blush harder. Mukhang alam ko kasi kung anong tinutukoy nila.

"I think Trace got it from Axel."

Tumaas ang kilay ni Lucienne sa sinabi ng aktres. "Si Axel? The newly deflowered Axel?"

Mabuti na lang at hindi pa ako umiinom ulit ng tsaa dahil baka naibuga ko iyon sa sinabi ng babae. Parang hindi ko na magagawang tignan sa mga mata si Axel.

"Kinukuwento kasi sa akin ni Mireia. Interviewin mo na para sa libro nila na isusulat mo. Mukha lang inosenteng bunny ang isang 'yon pero Maharot Axel ang tawag do'n ni Mireia kadalasan."

Belaya told us about how Mireia classifies Axel based on the man's current mood. Kasalukuyan kaming abala sa pagkukuwentuhan nang mamataan namin si Coal na mukhang hindi galing sa tinutuluyan nila ni Domino dahil ibang direksyon ang pinanggalingan niya.

"Tulog pa si Lia?" tanong ng lalaki nang makalapit sa amin.

Tumango si Belaya. "Kung gusto mo ng almusal diyan ka na lang kaila Trace kumuha."

He yawned and nodded before he walked towards the door.

"I worry about him," Belaya told us when he was out of ear shot. "Not because he sleeps around with different women. He's a young, virile man, and he's single."

"And sex is fun," Lucienne said.

"True. I just worry because I hope that he finds someone special so he's not always..."

"Drifting?" I looked down at my drink, my thumb playing at the rim of the cup. "I think I understand him. When you just needed something to make you feel a little more alive to compensate for a gaping void inside you that nothing could fill."

In a conversation, I don't always talk first. I usually just respond when I'm being asked. Minsan naman kapag gusto ko lang iligaw ang usapan. Kaya hindi na ako nagtaka na parang nasopresa sila sa bigla kong pagsingit sa usapan.

"I have my sport to keep me occupied. Maybe Coal just needed the same thing too, so he's searching for a distraction." I flashed them a shy smile. "Or maybe I'm wrong and he just loves sex."

"Pwede namang both," sabi ni Lucienne na parang nag-iisip. "Ang ganda noong sinabi mo. Pwede kong bilin?"

"Ha?"

Napatawa si Belaya. "Ang ibig niyang sabihin ay ilalagay ka niya sa libro bilang bayad sa paghingi niya sa sinabi mo na gusto niyang ilagay din sa libro niya."

Namilog ang mga mata ko at umiling ako. "You can have it. It's okay. Hindi mo ako kailangang ilagay sa libro mo."

Nagkatingin ang dalawa at pagkaraan ay sumilay ang isang klase ng ngiti kay Lucienne na parang gusto kong kabahan sa maaaring kahulugan no'n.

"Gagawin kitang bida," deklara niya. "Because I like what you said, and because I like you."

I felt warmth envelop me with what she said. Mukhang aware naman doon ang babae dahil lumawak ang ngiti niya na para bang alam niya na hindi na ako makikipagtalo sa kaniya. I'm not sure whether I should find her cute or her wits frightening.

A few moments later, Trace came out with a tray containing our breakfast. I immediately took a bite of the toast and looked up at Trace again when he didn't sit beside me. Wala rin siyang inumin para sa kaniya.

"Hindi ka magkakape?" tanong ko.

"I already did while I was making your breakfast. Pupunta muna ako kaila Kuya Thorn saglit. They needed to keep me informed something about work."

"You won't have breakfast first?"

I know I sound like I don't want him to go. It's not that. I'm just used to us having breakfast together. Lalo na noong nasa farmhouse pa kami.

The look in Trace's eyes changed, as if he could tell what I was thinking about. Bago pa ako makakilos ay yumuko siya para kumagat sa hawak ko pa rin na toast. I was transfixed by his lips when he flicked his tongue out to wipe the crumbs.

"I'm okay, princess." His gaze dropped to my now parted mouth, and he touched his thumb on my lower lip as if wiping something away. "But can I have another bite?"

He looked like he wanted to bite something other than the toast. Parang hindi lang iyon ang gusto niyang... tikman.

Wala sa sariling inangat ko ang kamay ko na hawak ang tinapay. His fingers circled my wrist as he pulled it closer to take another small bite. He did all that without looking away from me.

Sa gilid ng mga mata ko ay kita ko si Belaya na nakatakip sa bibig niya na parang pinipigilan niyang sumigaw at si Lucienne na mukhang sa unang pagkakataon sa buhay niya ay may kinakatakutan dahil nakatakip ang mga kamay niya sa mga mata niya.

"Really? Right in front of my pancit canton?"

Napabaling kaming lahat kay Coal na lumabas mula sa pinanggalingan ni Trace. May hawak ang lalaki na bowl ng noodles na mukhang kinakain niya na habang naglalakad papunta sa kinaroroonan namin.

"Shut up," Trace grumbled. "Stay here with them. Pupuntahan ko mula sila Kuya."

Sumubo ulit si Coal ng pagkain bago siya tumango. Mukhang nagutom dahil sa mga... activities niya. Akmang uupo siya sa tabi ko pero bago pa niya magawa iyon ay nahila na ni Trace ang kuwelyo ng damit niya at itinulak siya papunta sa kinaroroonan ni Belaya na tatawa-tawa lang.

We all ate our breakfasts, and it wasn't long before Domino joined us. Nag-aya si Belaya na maglakad-lakad at si Domino na lang ang sumama sa amin. It looks like Coal really needed to sleep, so he stayed behind.

Lucienne collected some shells on the beach, Domino took pictures of Belaya na game naman nag-post, at ako naman ay abala sa pakikipaglaro sa kuting na kulay orange na nakita kong gumagala.

"Ember picture tayo!"

Lumapit ako kaila Lucienne na nakatalikod sa dagat. Pinagitnaan nila ako ni Belaya at parehas nilang kinawit ang mga braso nila sa akin.

"Domino lagyan mo ng space sa magkabilang gilid namin ni Lush ha? Para lalagyan ko ng picture nina Mireia at Luna para mainggit ang dalawang 'yon," nakangising sabi ni Belaya.

"Sure!"

He didn't take one picture. Parang naging photoshoot na nga dahil kung ano-ano pang pose ang pinagawa sa amin ni Domino. May individual at may group, may nakatingin sa camera at meron din na parang candid.

It was a new experience for me. Not just taking photos but also hanging out with other people like these. It felt great. To be included and wanted. That it feels like they enjoy my company too.

"Pasali!"

Patakbong lumapit sa amin si Trace nang kasalukuyan kaming abala na mag-group photoshoot. Nasa kaliwa ko si Belaya at sa isa pa ay si Lucienne. Trace stopped on my right, putting himself between me and Lucienne. Ipinalibot niya ang braso niya sa bewang ko habang ang isang braso niya ay ipinatong niya sa balikat ng isa pang babae.

"Okay. Three, two—"

Pinutol ni Trace ang sasabihin ng kapatid. "Say ang gwapo ni—!"

It was one of my favorite photos that day. Belaya has her head thrown back while laughing, while Lucienne was scrunching her face.

But Trace and I... our lips were both curved into a smile while looking at the camera after saying "Ang gwapo ni Trace".

I REALLY THOUGHT he wouldn't notice. Alam kong hindi ko maitatago kay Trace ng matagal ang sikreto ko pero hindi ko alam na ganoon niyang kabilis iyon na matutuklasan. Kasasarado lang niya ng pintuan nang nagtatakang mapatingin siya sa akin.

"Ako lang ba o may naririnig akong pusa?" tanong niya.

"Umm..."

"I should pop the hood and check. Baka may nakaakyat na pusa ro'n."

Akmang lalabas na siya pero inabot ko ang braso niya para pigilan siya. Inangat ko ang beach bag ko na nakalagay sa lapag ng sasakyan. I should have just told him in the first place. It's rude for me to decide on something samantalang bahay niya ang tinutuluyan ko.

Bumaba ang mga mata ng lalaki sa bag ko at nanlaki ang mga iyon nang sumilip mula ro'n ang kulay kahel na kuting.

"Princess—"

"His name is Bingo. Like the orange cookie Domino was eating during breakfast."

Napapakamot sa ulo na nanatiling nakatingin siya sa kuting. "You named him already."

"They were going to throw him away. Sabi noong empleyado baka raw anak nung galang pusa na nasagasaan no'ng isang guest. They found two dead kitties that probably starved to death. Si Bingo lang ang buhay na pinapakain no'ng isang empleyado ang kaso pinapatapon na ng management. Before we left, I heard the employees talking."

Nagbaba ako ng tingin sa kuting na sa akin din nakatingin. As if we had rehearsed it, we both looked back at Trace with pleading looks.

"Potchi will hate him." I intensify my pleading look, and he sighed. "My dog's cute and I love her, but you're cuter. She will need to deal."

Before I can even think about it, I throw my arms around him and hug him. "Thank you!" I let go of him, and in my excitement, I didn't notice the dazed expression in his eyes. "Promise, bibilan ko ng maraming treats si Potchi. We're friends. I'll explain everything to her."

The man was still staring at me. I cocked my head to the side, as if to ask him why. Naiiling na kinuha niya ang bag ko at ibinaba iyon bago niya inabot ang seatbelt para siya na ang magkabit niyon.

"I don't mind having this as a weakness," he murmured.

"Hmm?"

"Not having the ability to say no to you."

What could I say to that? Of course nothing. So I stayed quiet with my cheeks flaming.

Binuhay niya ang makina nang mamataan namin sina Lia at Lucienne na sasabay sa amin na palapit na sa kinaroroonan namin. They came to the resort with the eight-seater car Dagger owns. Meron daw mas malaki pero ginagamit lang nila iyon kapag kompleto ang lahat. Kami lang ang nakahiwalay ni Trace dahil galing kami sa airport habang sila ay galing sa Tagaytay. Nagpresinta si Lucienne na sumabay sa amin pauwi para raw hindi naman ako maumay kay Trace.

Pinaandar na ng lalaki ang sasakyan nang makasakay ang dalawa. Paminsan-minsan ay napapatingin ako sa binata na naka-pokus sa pagmamaneho.

The drive back to Tagaytay was quicker. Wala na rin kaming stop over dahil kailangan ng bumalik ng opisina ng ibang mga Dawson. We were just a few miles past the arch of Tagaytay when I felt a shift coming from Trace. Ramdam ko rin ang pagbilis ng sasakyan.

"Trace?"

He smiled, but he didn't look at me. I was not blind not to see how forced the smile he just gave me. Something's wrong.

"Lia? Can you wake up Lucienne? Pakisuot ang seatbelts niyo."

Ang sasakyan na kinaroroonan ng iba na kanina ay nasa unahan namin ay lumipat sa kanan. Bumagal din iyon hanggang sa mauna na kami. I looked in the rearview mirror and saw that there was another car right behind us, but it was an unfamiliar one.

"Trace... are we being tailed?" I whispered.

"Yes."

Tumunog ang nakakonektang sa sasakyan na cellphone ni Trace. The screen indicates that it was Pierce calling.

"I saw it," Trace said before the other man could speak.

"We can't follow it. We're diverging. Belaya's here—"

"I know. Keep her safe." Tumingin ang lalaki sa rearview mirror. For some reason, I know that he wasn't looking at the car behind us, but at the two women behind us. Nakumpirma ko iyon nang sandaling tinapunan niya rin ako ng tingin. "We're heading straight to Dagger. We'll see you there."

"Who's going to follow the car?" Lia asked.

"Lia—"

"Trace, we can't let go of that car. What if it's connected to Ember's case?"

I could hear Gun cursing from the connected call. Akmang magsasalita ulit si Trace pero naunahan siya ni Lucienne.

"We can't follow the hostile car because we're the one that is being followed. Kahit bumagal tayo, babagal lang din iyong sasakyan. Ang paraan lang para masundan siya ay kung ang sinasakyan nila Pierce ang susunod sa kanila. But Belaya's there and she's pregnant, and that's why they're diverging from us. Para kung sakaling mag-escalate ang car chase na ito ay hindi sila madadamay. We all know that not one of those men in that car with her will risk her safety, and neither Trace will risk ours. Kahit na sigurado akong iba ang gusto ni Belaya." Nang lumingon ako sa kanila at nakita ko ring nakatingin si Lia sa babae ay nagkibit-balikat si Lucienne. "What? I might be an impulsive shopper, but I'm not reckless. Gusto ko ring maka-experience ng ganito pero gusto ko ako iyong hahabol."

Sa likod namin ay tuluyan ng humiwalay ang sasakyan na kinaroroonan ng iba pa. The road is separated into a Y, but it looks like it's headed to the same direction. Sadiyang pinauna lang nila kami at sa kabila sila kesa sa daan na kinaroroonan namin para magawa nilang dumistansiya sa sasakyang sumusunod sa amin. The unknown vehicle, however, didn't slow down and just continued following us.

Ibinalik ko ang mga mata ko kay Trace. His jaw is clenched tight, and I know that he wants the last thing Lucienne said too.

I wanted this to be over, but thinking of Trace chasing someone who has the intention of harm scares me more than anything. I know he's been trained like his brothers, and I know it's his job... but I'm terrified like I've never been before.

Trace's face was dark with anger. "That vehicle will not follow us all the way to Dagger. He's not that stupid. Kung alam niya kung saan tayo hihintayin, hindi na ako magtataka kung alam niya rin na nandito rin sa Tagaytay ang opisina. He won't get close to it."

"You'll get him in another way," Lucienne said confidently. "You can run the plates—"

"That car is stolen. He won't use a car registered in his name." I could see the white of his knuckles with the way he's gripping the steering wheel. "I don't care if we need to follow every street light, every security cameras... we need to find whatever part of hell that car came from."

"Axel's already on it," Pierce told him. "He already sent out Leo and War. But I don't think they'll make it. The office is too far and before you could close the distance, the hostile vehicle would probably separate from you."

By the way Trace's eyes sharpened, he also agreed with what his older brother said.

We were taking the highway, which is a few miles from Dagger, when the pace of the other car changed. My eyes widened at the sound of screeching, and I saw how it took a small road heading to the right side. Trace stepped on the gas, widening the gap with the unknown vehicle.

It was clear to me that it's the last thing he wanted, but he doesn't have a choice. Ilang minuto ang lumipas nang mula sa pasalubong na daan ay may dalawang sasakyan na humahagibis na lumagpas sa amin.

When we arrived at Dagger, Trace's car skidded to a stop. Hindi niya pinatay ang engine at sa halip ay inalis niya ang seatbelt ko. He pulled me across his lap, and he took me with him when he exited the car, at the same time that the backseat opened. I saw Thorn and Gun pull out their wives from the vehicle to guide them inside the building.

Tanaw ko ang sasakyan na gamit nila na nasa dulo ng kinaroroonan namin. It moved but it was headed towards the back of the headquarters. Ibinaba lang talaga nila sila Thorn.

Trace grabbed the bag where Bingo's was quickly, and he walked me inside the building. It didn't escape my notice how he positioned himself behind me as if he were using his own body as a shield.

I can see now the difference of their job. When they are with the client, they are not just focused on defensive tactics, but rather their focal point is protection oriented. Their first instinct is to defend. Others would eliminate the threat first, returning fire if needed, while making sure that they were covered. But them... Trace and his brothers... they are the cover.

He gave me the bag when we were inside and he fully turned to me. "Stay here with the others. I'll follow Leo and War. Dito ka muna mag-stay kapag natagalan ko. We have rooms here. If you're not comfortable, one of my brothers will stay with you at home." His hand went to my nape, and he leaned down so that our faces were almost at the same level. "I need to try. I won't forgive myself if I don't."

"Can't you stay?" I whispered.

He stared at me for a moment, and I know that he could see what even I couldn't explain in words. I just know that I don't want him to get hurt. I don't care about the case anymore. I just want him to stay beside me.

But what if that's the thing that would hurt him, Ember? Paano kung masasaktan siya dahil pinoprotektahan ka niya?

All I can think about is the image of him putting his body in front of me. How long would he do that? To what extent would he use himself to shield me?

"I'm sorry, princess," he said with the same quiet voice that I used.

"Trace—"

Before I could finish my sentence, I felt his lips touch my forehead. Hindi ako lumayo sa kaniya at sa halip ay para bang may sariling buhay na kumapit ako sa dulo ng suot niyang damit. But it was Trace who moved away.

He took my hand and pulled it from its tight hold on his shirt. He gently pried it open and kissed my palm, and then he whispered, "I'll be back before you know it."

________________________________End of Chapter 14.