#DS7Unbalanced #InoCent #SMCouple #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR: OBSIDIAN

DOMINO'S POV

Domino and I both froze when we heard a knock. Napapabuntong-hininga na isinandal niya ang noo niya sa akin. "Would it upset you if I shoot Damian?"

"Umm..."

He let out another sigh, but I saw that there was a smile on his lips when he straightened up. Tinulungan niya akong makatayo pero hindi niya ako pinakawalan. He just kept looking at me, seeing what I could feel all over me. My lips that have been thoroughly kissed, my eyes that are whispering my longing for him, a hint of skin bared as if wanting to be touched, and my hair that hangs free and wild, just like I envisioned that would have happened if we hadn't been interrupted.

The serpent in his eyes glistened, and I could see how he forcibly pushed it aside. Tinali niya ang ribbon ng suot ko at siya na rin ang kumuha ng roba na ipinatong ko sa bedside table at isinuot niya iyon sa akin.

When he was done covering me up, he gave me a chaste kiss. But instead of moving away, he did it again, as if he couldn't help himself.

Ilang beses niya pa iyong ginawa hanggang sa palalim na iyon nang palalim. I held on to his shirt, needing him close. He groaned and wrapped an arm around my tiny waist, the thin night dress barely providing a barrier between the heat coming off our bodies.

We were beginning to drown again in each other's need, and we were on the verge of surrendering to it if it wasn't for another knock that interrupted the moment.

"Shoot him," I whispered. "Now."

Domino chuckled, and he hugged me tight as if he were trying to absorb me into his own body. The hug didn't last long because he let me go just as quickly as if it were something he needed to do or wouldn't ever be able to.

"Let's go. Before you make me a criminal."

My lips pursed a little, but I yielded and let him lead me out of the room. Binuksan niya ang pintuan at bumulaga sa amin si Damian na ngiting-ngiti na itinaas ang tray na dala niya. Before anyone could say anything, Damian squeezed himself into the door that was already crowded with me and Domino.

"Breakfast for the two of you! Ako ang nagluto niyan. Alam kong pagod kayo."

I blush. What I thought of at what he said is not something I'm willing to discuss with someone I haven't known long, let alone a brother that I just discovered that I have. "We didn't do anything—"

Damian started putting down plates on the small coffee table at the far end of the room, near the window. Mukhang hindi niya narinig ang sinabi ko dahil nagpatuloy lang siya sa pagsasalita. "With all that happened yesterday, it must have been exhausting. Iyan ngang si Domino baka wala pang tulog. It's only been two hours since he's been here." Nang matapos siya sa ginagawa ay pabagsak na umupo siya sa sofa. "Let's eat!"

Domino and I both just stared at him. Damian, seeming oblivious, just blinked at us.

"Do you think he'll make a good president?" Domino whispered so only I could hear, his attention still on the other man.

"I think so."

"So we shouldn't shoot him," he muttered.

"Marami pa naman diyan na kaya rin na maging mabuting presidente," sabi ko sa pinahina pang boses.

"He's your brother."

"I have another one."

Domino coughs to hide his laughter.

"Hello? Are you two okay? Inaantok pa ba kayo? Gusto niyo ba na sabihin ko kay Jace na magdala ng kape?" sunod-sunod na tanong ni Damian.

It's really true that you'll get to know someone once you stay in the same house. Although I'm pretty sure that kind of realization happens when people stay in the same place for longer than a few hours,

The first time I met him, I thought he was a warm person. The second time we met, I found him admirable. The times I meet him always leave me with something new, but I have always thought that he's more serious than Emeric. Pero ngayon ay alam ko na kung bakit natatagalan nila ang isa't isa. Para kasing parehas sila ng level ng kakulitan.

Napapabuntong-hininga na naramdaman ko ang kamay ni Domino sa likod ko. Lumapit kami sa kinaroroonan ni Damian at umupo kaami sa loveseat. There's plate of food in front of the both of us. Naramdaman ko ang tingin sa akin ni Domino at kahit hindi ko siya nililingon ay alam ko ang iniisip niya.

Since he made his promise, I spent my mornings eating breakfast while sitting on his lap. Basta kasama ko siya at walang ibang tao sa bahay niya ay ganoon lagi ang set up namin.

Damian took a bite of his toast. "There's another guest room in this house. You can put your things there."

"I can't stay long."

My eyes snapped to Domino. I speak before anyone else can. "Why not?"

"There's still a lot going on, doll. You have Damian and Jace here."

"Hindi ba siya hahanapin sa kanila? The president might look for him." I opened my mouth again, but Domino popped a fruit in my mouth. I narrowed my eyes at him and chewed before continuing, "I feel like there's a lot that I still don't know."

"We'll narrow them down for you," Domino reassured me. Itinuro niya ang plato ko. "Start eating, and we'll do the talking."

I automatically did as he wanted, which made him smile. Nadaanan ng mga mata ko si Damian, at nakita kong nagpapalipat-lipat ang tingin niya sa amin ni Domino. I've given him grief over food, starting with the nuggets he made me eat. He must be wondering why it's easy for Domino to feed me. Kung alam niya lang kung gaano ko rin pinahirapan si Domino noon.

"What we're handling now isn't a simple single case. It's a case with two underlying problems. Let's call them A and B, okay?"

I took a small bite of the toast and nodded.

"On subcase A, we have your case. You almost got kidnapped in Moscow, and you were in a plane that crashed. During Emeric Radley's birthday party, you received a note from the father you haven't met for decades. The sender of the note was Harrison Radley, who claimed that he was your father. You both even had your DNA tested, and they matched."

Which he obviously faked. I nodded again. When Domino looked at me pointedly, I continued on eating with a sigh.

"Turns out you weren't related to him. You're more related to his son that he doesn't know isn't his." He tips his head towards Damian. "He reached out to us, and he confirmed our suspicion that there's more to this. The way the senator just popped into your life was deserving of skepticism. There's also the fact that he's never been to Moscow."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. That's a huge red flag waving.

"Then, during a party where Radley was supposed to introduce you to the world, his place, which has one of the best security systems, got infiltrated. Marcella Radley intentionally poured her drinks so that you would need to excuse yourself and go up to your room alone."

"On subcase B, your two bodyguards were shot dead. You also got shot at while you were inside a studio full of children. A gunman entered the room after killing another man that was supposed to take you, which is from subcase A."

My hand was suspended in the air as my brain tried to keep up with all the information. I grasped the implication behind his words, and nothing good came out of it.

"There were... there were two..." I trailed off, finding it hard to word the reality out.

"There are two groups of people going after you. Subcase A was led by Thomas Salazar with the intention of taking you away. Our best guess is that it's because of your mother. She's been trying to reach out to him."

"That's why we moved to the Philippines," I murmured.

"It's probably because Salazar is going to step down from being president. She probably thought that he'd be out of politics, and there's no reason to hide anymore. But Damian is going to run, and Thomas Salazar won't allow anyone to ruin his chances by dirtying Damian's spotless reputation."

Damian scoffed. "My association with him already made sure that that would happen."

I don't know a lot about Thomas Salazar, but what little I know is mostly not good. His term as president was filled with controversies. And there's the fact that he handles his people as if they're all dispensable.

"Subcase B is more complicated. Some want to take you, and some—"

"Want me gone," I said, finishing his sentence for him.

Tumiim ang bagang ni Domino. "Yes."

I struggled for words, but only one came out of my lips. "Why?"

"The two subcases lead to one focus, and that is Thomas Salazar. Subcase A is his, subcase B is for him." Hinilot ni Domino ang sentido niya. He looks tired. Wala siyang sapat na tulog at sigurado ako na hindi lang iyon pang ngayon na araw. "Thomas Salazar is part of the Obsidian Legion."

"Obsidian Legion?"

"The Obsidian Legion is a global criminal organization. There are countries that are part of it, led by powerful people. Most are like Salazar. Obsidian Legion covers a lot of criminal areas, depending on what they think they can produce more from their country's market. Some handle drugs, arms, smuggling, cybercrime, organ trafficking, human trafficking, and so much more. Our country's main contributions are organ and human trafficking. Most of the victims were women and children. "

Gustong bumaligtad ng sikmura ko. I can't imagine what they have to go through. What they have gone through.

"During Circe's problem, the main perpetrator of her case worked with Julius Castillo. Castillo was part of the business, and he's been providing women for the bigger players. Ang parte niya ay ang mga pera na nagagawa niyang kunin sa mga biktima." He let out a heavy sigh. "I've been investigating the matter since we closed Circe's case. Dagger was even given help by some of the top agencies in the country. Hindi lang kami ang namomoblema tungkol sa Obsidian. Hindi lang kami ang gustong mapabagsak sila."

Something crossed Domino's eyes. Something that made me reach out for his hand. May maliit na ngiti sa mga labi na ikinulong niya ang kamay ko sa malaki niyang palad.

"Obsidian Legion could be neutralized, but it doesn't really die. My parents tried. My father tried until the very end. The best thing he could do was stop them from poisoning the country even more. But of course there are people who couldn't just help but resurrect it."

"Dom..."

He squeezed my hand lightly as if reassuring me. He continued, "Thomas Salazar wanted out the moment that Dagger and other agencies pointed our focus to it. He knows that it's only a matter of time before everything falls apart, and he doesn't want to be in the middle of it when it happens. We might not be able to stop the entire Obsidian Legion, but we could try to end the one in this country. But the problem is that getting out of the organization isn't as easy as getting in."

"Subcase B," I murmured. "They're trying to blackmail him so he won't leave."

He held my eyes for a moment."He might not be the best father, but he didn't want you dead. He wanted you out of the way, but he wants you to do it while you're breathing."

I don't know what to do with that. I don't think it's something that I should be thankful for. A good father wouldn't do what he has done.

The way Damian is looking at me tells me that he can read what I'm thinking. His gaze went soft, and he shook his head. "His actions are not justifiable. He has always taken pride in his blood. It's the only reason we have his protection in whatever way he deems it should be given. He wants to hide you, he wants to control me, and he uses Emeric to manipulate Marcella."

And Marcella, who clearly has a great hold on her husband, sways his decision according to what the president wants.

"How about Harrison Radley?" I asked, looking at the both of them.

Si Domino ang sumagot. "He's involved with the legion as well. Marami sila. All branches of the government have people connected to the legion. Chiefs, judges, politicians, you name it."

"Which is why they wouldn't let him get out," I said, more of a statement.

"That's the thing. He's already getting out," singit ni Damian. "Emeric and I were investigating this on our own. Dagger was doing the same. We should have approached Dagger, but Emeric and I didn't want to risk anything. If our parents grow suspicious, it will not bode well for us. We will lose everything that we've been working for. Ganoon din ang Dagger. It's not like they can completely trust us."

"We do trust you," Domino said. "But my brothers and I agreed that it's too dangerous for you both to get involved. You're both too close, and in that kind of proximity, when everything explodes, there's a possibility that you two can get caught up."

They were working on it separately, but now that they know, there's no reason why they shouldn't work together.

Domino was right. He once told me that my case was part of a bigger problem. He might not have known a lot then, but he was right.

"What do you mean that he's already getting out?" I asked Damian.

"We're looking for a digital ledger. It has all the important information that we need. Things that will tell us and provide proof of Thomas Salazar's involvement in the legion. The president is an intelligent man. Most of his involvement goes through the senator, so if things fall, the senator will be the first one to go down. Except for his first contribution to the legion. That's what we are looking for, because that's the greatest proof that we can use against him. Without that, it would be hard for us to take him down."

"How about audio bugs? Can't we use that for the president too?"

"If they fought hard, evidence from those things would be dismissed. Ginagamit lang talaga namin iyon para malaman namin ang mga hakbang nila. Usually, evidence from wiretapping is prohibited unless you can get authorization. But in this situation, that would be a death sentence for the case," Domino explained.

Because they're dealing with powerful people led by the president itself.

"Why me, then?" Nilingon ko si Damian. "Why are they going after me? I get that those people who want to tie him down want to use me, but why just me?"

Damian held my gaze. "Because he showed his weakness, and you're the one that will trigger that. He dreaded losing power. Now that he's stepping down as president, he'll be more vulnerable. He doesn't want that, so he wants me to have power instead. Through me he can keep his."'

It all comes down to one thing and it's the fact that I'm the lovechild who could ruin everything for Damian. My father wanted to hide me because of that reason, while the others wanted to find me so that they could free me from the world and, in the process, drag the Salazars reputation.

"What should we do?" I whispered as panic started to bubble out of me.

"What I need you to do is be safe," Domino said, his jaw tight with tension. "That's the only way I can do my job right, doll. I need you where I know you'll be okay."

"Dom—"

"The mole in Dagger—we're still not completely sure who he's working for. We let him in because we wanted to track where he would lead us, and at the same time, we're using him to manipulate what he's reporting to whomever he's working for. And the same goes for whoever leaked the information about the incident that happened during your latest charity event. We're still treading into dangerous grounds, and I don't want you involved in it."

"I agree with him," Damian said with a small smile. "Kahit ako ay pinatitigil na ng Dagger. That's why I'm staying here with you."

"He'll look for you."

"He won't. Ang alam niya ay umalis kami ni Sav. My wife's currently with a friend of ours, so she'll be away from all of this."

"But you can't use that as a reason for too long."

It was Domino who answered this time. He traced the ring I'm wearing with his finger, and I heard a quiet sound of surprise coming from Damian's direction when he noticed it. "We won't need a long time, doll. It will be over soon."

"How?"

"We're going to smoke them out." Inilabas niya ang cellphone niya at may pinindot siya roon. He turned the screen to face me, and I saw that it was an article.

Habang binabasa iyon ay unti-unting nanlalaki ang mga mata ko. The article contains information about the party at Radley's house, though the writer wasn't using any names, and it also mentions a missing ballerina.

It highlighted parts that will surely catch the attention of people. Most especially in the parts where there's drama. A politician pretends to be the father of another politician's love child. That will surely cause a stir.

My jaw almost dropped to the floor when there was a section with a short transcript of the "politician's wife" talking about what's about to go down during the party. The transcript was stated to originate from an audio conversation between the politician's wife and the politician himself. That the "ballerina" was planned to be taken away, and that she must be thanked for being a good actress.

I keep on reading. The guests at that party will surely recognize this story.

Napasinghap ako nang marating ko ang dulo ng pahina at binasa ko ang pangalan ng writer. Shirley Temple.

My eyes snapped back to Domino when a memory flashed through my mind. Luna. That explains her weird action towards Marcella. Kung paanong basta na lang niyang hinawakan ang babae at kung paanong umakto siya na parang close na close sila. She wasn't there just for the party. She was observing and she was also implanting a bug.

"Luna's into fashion and lifestyle, but she's still a journalist. She knows people that will let her have a platform without second thought," Domino said with amusement in his tone.

"Now all we need to do is wait," Damian said.

Domino nodded. "Now we wait."