WALKING like she's not in the old man's lair, Cj felt like she's a powerful human being as of the moment, palagi naman. Never niyang ibinaba ang sarili niya sa t'wing may mission sila, she carried herself alone. She's not afraid that she will be a burden, because she's the last card. The ace.

Kada madaanan nila na lalaki, just what like the man said, pinapakita ng mga ito ang pin ng agency ni Levi. It was a small pin, that actually looked like a super small magnifying glass with the first letter of Levi's name, and formed into a gun.

May ganoon din siya pero nakatago 'yon. And a after this, she might quit from her secret and favorite job for real. Levi walked close to her.

"I forgot to tell you, Cali. You need to wear this." Levi whispered and handed her a hat, masyado 'yong malaki, the hat can even cover half of her face. "Kilala ka niya. Kailangan natin makapasok ng tahimik at maunahan ang mga kasama niya sa loob ng opisina sa pagbunot at pagputok ng baril para makalabas tayo ng buhay." He explained.

And here she was thinking that they only have planned for the three of them.

"Scammer kayo ah? So, kay Ryker lang kayo walang plano?" Sarkastikong tanong niya rito.

Levi snickered. "Ah, we have, at 'yon ang ilayo siya sa tabi mo. We don't want to repeat the past, we're avoiding it to happen as long as we can, Travis and Sean can handle him."

Right. Before, si Levi ang naiwan na bantay ni Ryker at nakawala ito sa pinsan. If Ryker didn't leave his post that day, hindi ito mababaril at malaki ang posibilidad na nasa selda na ngayon ang matandang lalaki. She sighed, that's all in the past. It was natural for him to act restlessly. Iisipin nalang niya na noon pa man ay patay na patay na talaga si Ryker sa kanya.

She wear the black hat and Levi's hand automatically seek for her hand. Confused, but Cj let him hold and interlock their hands together. Gusto niyang magtanong pero nasa harapan na sila mismo ng pintuan ng office ni tanda.

"Boss," a man guarding the door showed his pin. Levi nod his head for him to continue his report. "May sampo pa na natira sa loob, 4 of them can't fight because their main existence were for handling the finances and management of his underground business."

"Open the door." Utos ni Levi. "Magpapanggap tayong mag-asawa ha? Also, let me do the talking, Cali. At  'wag kang ma fall sa akin ha? Baka ma deads ako." Biro nito sa kanya.

She rolled her eyes at him as if Levi could see it. "Ulol! Asa." Cj hissed.

Wala nang oras para tumawa si Levi dahil binuksan na ng lalaki ang pintuan kasabay ng pag a-announce nito sa pagpasok nila. They were introduce as a underground business magnate, a creator of the famous drugs that every people wants, may it be rich or average people.

Levi let go of her hand and without saying anything, she pulled her gun on her left thigh holster, and shoot every people she sees pointing a gun at her. She doesn't like it. Even Levi did the same. They made a mess that stunned the old man. Because in a blink of an eye, his goons were now lying on the floor, bleeding and almost lifeless.

The old man laughed and picked up his own gun. Hawak niya lang 'yon pero naging alerto si Cj, she release her gripped from its handle for a while to stretch her fingers. Habang ang isang kamay naman niya ay nakaabang na para hilain ang isa pa niyang baril na nakatago. The personalized gun she'll use to eliminate this mongrel in front of her.

"I'm sorry if I forgot that you two want a private talk," the old man shrugged. Kumunot ang noo ni Cj pero hindi na siya nag-abala na magtanong, sumakay nalang siya sa mga pinagsasabi nito.

"Looks like they're the most stronger goons you have." Patuyang sabi ni Levi.

The old man smile, showing his teeth. Agad na napangiwi si Cj nang mahagilap 'yon at nakaramdam ng kilabot sa buong katawan. "Not really. Forget about them, let's talk about the drugs you made." Anito at sinenyasan sila na maupo pagtapos ay pinagsiklop ang mga kamay nito sa ibabaw ng lamesa.

"We're good. We don't like to seat with them." Levi flatly refused his offer to seat. Tanga. Cj felt like the old man was mocking them.

"Right. My bad," he responded, at mahina itong natawa.

"Why do you like my product? You even sent a battalion to scare me." Lavi started the conversation.

Naiinip at nangangati na ang kamay ni Cj na hugutin ang baril niya at barilin na ang matanda sa ulo. Mabuti  nalang at napigilan niya ang sarili nang maramdaman ang maliit na recording device sa kamay ni Levi, he's still holding her hand, pero hindi na 'yon mahigpit katulad kanina.

"Did I scare you?" Nananantyang tanong nito kay Levi.

"If not, then you won't see me here. Old man." Levi spat.

She softly sighed, talagang nagplano ang mga ito at hindi na sila inabala na i-orient, para saan pa? Panggulo lang naman silang dalawa ni Ryker. Good thing, madali lang siyang maka pick-up.

The old man chuckled at Levi's answer. "I don't think so, Mr. Leiv. You came here because you want to know what will I do to your drugs right? You came here to know if the payment is good and can sustain and continue your research to perfect the formula of your drugs. I am not a chemist, but I do know some things about it."

"You're right." Levi agreed. Nangangalay na siya sa pagkakatayo hindi pa rin sumasagot sa tanong ni Levi ang matanda. He's beating around the bush.

"Thought so." Inilapag nito ang baril at itinukod ang mga siko sa lamesa nito. He used his hands to support his chin. "I want to use it, to my daughter, you see... She have a very unique disease. My precious daughter can't control her hunger when it comes to sex. She wanted to pounce every man and that made me worry."

Pumikit si Cj para ikalma ang sarili. What he's saying right now was truth, they found out late that she's not really obsessed with Ryker. That her feelings for Cj's man was purely lust! She just wanted to have a 'taste' of him! But this man right here, kasama na ang uncle nito, they wanted to get Ryker at itali ito sa babae. Pagtapos ay despatsahin siya dahil siya lang naman ang sumisira sa 'plano' ng mga ito.

"Really? That's not what I heard, old man. She's obsessed with a certain someone."

"My daughter want to taste him. She's been locking herself inside her room because she only wants him, that man, unfortunately craved for a disgusting woman."

Pasimple na kumuyom ang kamao niya. Cj gritted her teeth to control herself from lashing out, how dare this old and rotten old man called her disgusting?!

"Disgusting woman you say. Enlighten me, old man." Levi pushed.

Gusto niyang higpitan ang hawak sa kamay nito at baliin ang mga buto ni Levi but unfortunately, there's a recording device in between their hands. Naka off ang earpiece niya kaya wala siyang alam sa nangyayari sa kabila.

"She's a former FBI, strong but not that strong, I remembered her mocking me and lazily say her lines while dangling that piece of crappy handcuffs in my face. I hate that kind of woman, they disgust me. I prefer them acting docile."

Cj wanted to scoffed. She wanted to voice out her thoughts. They disgust him, really? She wanted to. laughed until her stomach hurts. A woman who acts docile to a man, a scumbag, was like finding a tiny needle in the haystack. Kung mayroon man, iilan nalang at kalaunan ay natatauhan rin. Alam niya dahil may kakilala siyang isa.

Pabirong sumipol si Levi na ikinairap niya.

"You sure you only wanted to use my product to your lovely daughter? It seems like you adore her so much, where is she?"

The old man clicked his tongue. "She's with her man. Using him over and over again, maybe?" Sarkastiko itong tumawa. "I'll fetch her after this. I want her to try your drug as soon as possible. And as for your question, honestly speaking, I want to sell it and distribute it. So, I'll appreciate if you only pour your powerful drug to me."

Walang ideya ang matanda na nagamit na nito ng unica hija nito. She won't justify their action. Alam niya sa sarili na mali ang ginawa nila. But this old man, they can't let him have that kind of drug, it can make any gender hallucinate that they're having a sex, if a person used it for his or her own pleasure, kawawa ang mabibiktima. Sean's friend made that drug for those people whose suffering from Hypersexuality not for people who loves to take advantage of others.

"Thanks for the answer. Sure, I'll pour my first and powerful product to you."

He's too open.

Unlike before. Mukhang kinakalawang na ang matanda. O tumatanda lang talaga itong bobo.

"Should we sign a contract?"

Dinig ni Cj ang excitement sa boses nito. Greed. That alone was enough to blind a man and make him defenseless. The gun was too far for him to reach as he stood up and walk towards his built in cabinet, probably para kuhanin ang kontratang sinasabi nito na kailangan nilang pirmahan. Unfortunately, he will sign the paper with his own blood.

Hinintay niya na humarap ito bago niya tinanggal ang malaking hat na ipinasuot sa kanya ni Levi. She immediately pulled her gun to her holster and aimed his knee. A smile stretched out of her lips as she heard him screaming in pain. He was clutching his knee as he dropped pitiful on the floor.

"Thanks for remembering me, I almost, almost killed you that day." She said, as she reminisce the past. Pinaikot niya ang dati niyang baril sa kamay niya. "I used this gun, and now I'm using my new gun to kill you."

"Fuck you! My men will come and kill the both of you!" He yelled.

"Whatever. I don't have a warrant of arrest now. We also have a signal from higher ups to silence you. You're 9 lives were now over, old man. I won't mock you with my Miranda warning line now." Pang-aasar niya pa rito. Ang gusto talaga niya ay tapusin na agad ang trabaho, but seeing this man defenseless, with Levi backing her up, she feels so safe. Not even a fucking sniper could scare her.

"And for the record old man, I am not disgusting, I am strong and I know how to stand with my own feet. My man isn't a fucking play toy for your daughter to use him again and again. And lastly, you don't deserve to be her father. Adios!"

She stared at him blankly and didn't hesitate to aim for his head. Bakas ang takot sa mukha nito at nagmamakaawa ito na 'wag siyang patayin, in exchange of money and their peaceful life. But she knows that he won't give it to them. Kapag hinayaan niya itong mabuhay ngayon, hinding hindi na matatahimik ang buhay nila ni Ryker.

Cj thinks that she needs to say goodbye to wearing a gown, getting married, having a kids, and to spend her whole life with Ryker, if he let this man live.

Without any trace of emotion in her face. He pulled the trigger. Wala ang konsensya niya habang pinanood ang matanda na bumagsak, she even watched him to lose his last breath. To make sure na hindi na ito babalik pa.

"Levi," she called

"They're coming here. Our therapist is also coming, I know you need one." Sagot nito at bumuntong hininga.

She waited patiently for Ryker as her eyes were not leaving the old man, at 'yon ang naabutan ni Ryker. He immediately pulled her into a tight hug and caressed her hair, cooing her while whispering sweet words.

"Calista,"

"We're free, Zion." She whispered and buried her face on his chest.

"Yes, hun. We're free."

☕