"WHAT do you need from a Lakandula?" tanong ko kay Adrianna when we re-opened our mic. "And who told you to speak with that person?" I added.

"Do you know Lakandula? How are you related to them—"

"You are not in the position to ask, Adrianna. Baka nakakalimutan mong may atraso ka sa 'kin lalong lalo na sa kapatid ko." Maanghang kong ungos sa kanya because she has the audacity to ask questions? How preposterous!

"Kung hindi mo kilala o alam kung nasaan siya, much better to stay away from this mess. Or the Privus will chase you."

"Tortotula," utos ko—torture her.

Namayani ang ingay at sigaw ni Adrianna when the metal crown slowly shrinks and pierced her head.

"One more time for that crown to move? And I'll guarantee you that it will hit a brain nerve this time, Adrianna. Don't test my patience." Angil ko rito.

She's crying non-stop and breathing savagely when the crown stopped from piercing her. Bakas sa mukha nito ang takot at pangamba para sa sariling buhay.

"I w-was advised by Rolando to look for that person before he g-got abducted too," Adrianna replied shocking us.

Pati si Rolando?

"He is kidnapped too?" tanong ni Yvette na kinatango tango naman ni Adrianna.

"He is, magkasama kaming papunta sana sa mall para kitain si Helena. Nakatakas ako dahil ginawa niyang pain ang sarili para makaalis ako. He told me to look for Lakandula sa isang village." Adrianna added. Kaya pala ganito ito kapagod sa nangyari.

Ang tinutukoy niyang Lakandula ay isa sa mga Lakan na namumuno sa Genesis. And that's Fred who's currently here in the Philippines. Ang lalaking kinita namin nina Maria and Yvette dahil sa muling panggugulo ng Privus.

Paanong kilala ni Rolando si Fred?

"Now that I answered your questions, let me go! Please! I don't want to die yet. I j-just want to save Rolando!" angil ni Adrianna tapos ay muling umiyak.

Yvette muted the device and I immediately held my earpiece na konektado kay Aurora. "That's enough, treat her wounds and let her rest." Utos ko rito.

"Copy, what you will do to her?" Aurora asked.

"She's still responsible of what happened to Helena. Just secure her safety first. Paniguradong hinahabol siya ng mga tauhan ng Privus hanggang ngayon. Ipadala mo siya sa isa sa facility natin. After that, come back here."

"Got it!" Aurora responded.

I sighed while I'm trying to digest what's happening. Kung pagdudugtung-dugtungin mo ang mga siniwalat ni Adrianna, there's a common denominator. Privus used Alfonso to bring down the Fontanilla and now... they are using them again because they had a lead that one of Fontanillas is still a member of Genesis. That's why they kidnapped my family and plans on luring me out.

"Travis... he's in danger." Napatingin ako kay Yvette na bakas sa mukha nito ang biglang pag-aalala dahil nakuha nito ang maaaring mangyari ngayong si Travis ang sumusugod sa kalaban. Travis will definitely be in serious danger because Privus might got the idea na ang kapatid ko na 'yon ang member ng Genesis na tinutugis nila.

"Contact Fred, now." Utos ko rito. We might have the same thoughts that's why she dialed and called Fred.

"Hara, I'm at your service." Rinig naming tugon ni Fred sa linya.

"Rolando Martinez—one of the board members of Joaquin, do you know him?" iyon ang binungad ko matapos bumati ang ginoo.

Sandaling nanahimik si Fred sa kabilang linya, we heard his sigh. It's confirmed, he knows him.

"Rolando is abducted and so my parents, how are you related to Rolando—" I was interrupted by Fred na kinagulat ko.

"Hara, he's a member of our European Lakan under the oath of being the Laksamana."

Laksamana—A general/admiral equivalent in Genesis.

In short, Rolando is a member of Genesis. Kaya ayaw nitong makipag-ugnayan sa ama nitong si Alfonso because he knew that he has a connection in Privus.

"Since you are still in the Philippines, have you located them?" I asked with hope.

Fred sighed, "All of you are on a break. If I tell you this, this would be—"

"Fred, it's my parents we are talking about here." I interrupted him as if this mean is still not obvious.

"Alright, do you need your team?" Fred asked and we heard him typing something.

"No, they are on a break too. Let us deal with it." I replied.

"You know that you are not allowed to do fieldwork, this is something that I won't let you do." I sighed. It's in our oath too. Our roles prevent us from doing any fieldwork.

"Then, I'll have someone to do it."

"Who?"

"Someone who wouldn't think I'm part of Genesis," I responded.

"NAPATAWAG ka?" Enrico said when he answered my call.

"I need your help," I quickly responded.

"Your parents? I know, we are on it." Tugon nito habang maingay ang background nito. "Just stay where you are, kami nang bahala."

I sighed bago tumingin kay Yvette na handa sa gagawin namin.

"You found them?" I asked to verify.

"Not yet, but we are on it. I'll call you—"

"Give me an access, I'll send you something." Wika ko rito bago pa nito patayin ang tawag.

"Ano'ng isesend mo?" takang tanong nito.

"Open one of your firewalls so I can send the coordinates." Tugon ko habang mabilis ang tipa namin ni Yvette sa kanya kanya naming laptop.

"What? H-How did you—"

"Enrico, time is fucking running! Sasagutin ko ang tanong mo soon pero mas priority natin ngayon ang matunton sila at maligtas. Naiintindihan mo?!" hindi ko napigilan bumulanghit.

Enrico sighed because he knew I got a point. "I'll open one,"

"Thanks, and prepare your troops as soon as possible."

Yvette clicked send when a firewall of their security agency has finally opened. Bago pa muling masara nila ang firewall, I immediately inserted an untraceable virus ang mainframe nila so I can still access inside. I need to view what they see on their screen.

Hindi na nag-atubili pa si Enrico at mabilis na niradyo ang pinakamalapit na squad sa lugar na sinend namin. He, then, ordered the others—kasama siya, para personal na pumunta for a back-up.

"Trav, don't be stupid. Just do what I say!" rinig kong usal ni Yvette sa tabi ko habang bakas sa mukha na 'di natutuwa sa mga sinasabi sa kanya ng kapatid ko. I connected myself on their line.

"Stop pestering my moves!" angil ng kapatid ko at 'di ko na napigilan ang sariling sumabat.

"Travis, just listen. You are going there without any concrete plan? We have one so just keep us on the line!"

"You will be traced—"

"They can try, brother. But just like you, I'm pissed. I'm pissed to the point that I might turn my humanity off and kill them if you won't listen. They are my parents too, let me help from here." Dagdag ko pa.

I heard Travis sigh deeply, his deep sigh that laced with anger made us calm because I knew that he's trying his best na huwag maging tanga sa gagawin.

"I'm listening,"

"Good," I responded. "Troy is almost near you. Let him join you—"

"What?! Dapat hindi mo na siya dinamay rito!"

"Maging ako ay ayoko, kaya huwag mo akong pagtaasan ng boses. Troy wanted to help you at mapapanatag akong kasama mo siya."

"Do you even know if he knew how to fight?"

With his scars at the back? Those are scars that came from physical combat. I'm not dumb.

"Enrico's team will also be there but you are just ahead of them. Try your best not to get caught or hurt. Just spare time for your back-up." I changed the topic.

Suddenly, we traced a call that came from Travis' phone. Parehas kaming naalerto ni Yvette. "Answer it, I can take it from here, buy us time."

"You have the coordinates already—"

"It's their identity we would like to know," mabilis kong tugon at napabuntunghininga nalang si Travis at mabilis na sinagot ang tawag habang patuloy na nagmamaneho.

"Where are my parents?" bungad agad ni Travis sa linya.

"Don't make me a fool, I know you are on your way." Wika nang nasa linya na nagpatangis lang ng inis dahil sa sinagot nito. The culprit was using something to hide his tone.

"Don't make you a fool but you are making it obvious that I'm about to face a trap? Shall I go back now to give you time to change location?" maanghang na tugon ni Travis. Bakas sa boses nito ang pagtitimpi.

Tawa naman ang namayani sa kabilang linya na nagpaningas lang ng inis namin ni Travis. "No, I don't mind. I know how smart you are, just take this as my token of giving you a heads up that once you got here, your parents are surely dripping their bloods while screaming in pain."

Nandidilim ang paningin ko sa naririnig mula sa kidnapper. Yvette immediately held my hand to stop me from butting in.

Hindi sumagot si Travis but instead dropped the call and sped up.

"Did you identify the asshole?" tanong ng kapatid ko.

My breathing is uneven while I'm looking at the screen of my laptop that slowly identifies the original voice from a disrupted tone.

"Brandon Volace Guidotti," bigkas ni Yvette when the picture of a familiar man appeared in our system.

Bravo...?

"Try to research anything that you knew about that man," Travis coldly told us.

I felt I stopped my breathing upon knowing Bravo was the one who held captive of my parents. Is this the reason why he's here in the Philippines? Ano'ng dahilan ng gagong 'to para kidnapin ang mga taong importante sa 'kin? I have to know!

"He's part of the Privus Trata, he's currently the one who manages the European Mafia," Yvette said when she put herself muted. "He's, their successor."

How come he reached this point? I didn't know this part of his life before. Yes, I knew that his pretension games led to something illegal but I didn't expect that it's co-related with our enemy.

I unmute the mic and Yvette didn't expect it. "He's an Italian businessman who currently handles the Guidotti Enterprise."

"Serena, you are not a painter to hide the truth behind a portrait. I am not dumb." Travis said and I only sighed.

"He allegedly handles cartels and a leader of an Italian Mafia," I added, Yvette, held my arm, trying to share more.

"This is all because of Rolando Martinez again." Travis murmured na nagpakunot ng noo ko.

"What do you mean?" I asked.

Travis sighed before responding, "Joaquin is one of the main competitors of Guidotti Enterprise and said to have a plan to buy out their company because the Guidotti's are experiencing their downfall because of those rumors."

"And it's Rolando who supervises that plan?" I probed.

"I didn't believe it because we are not affected but knowing that Rolando's the husband of Helena, they targeted our family. This is not a fair warning, it's an all-out attack against him. We were just cornered." Travis explained.

No, that's the reason that can be used to hide their true agenda. Iyan ang balitang ipapakalat nila para pagtakpan ang pinakadahilan—to avoid Genesis and Privus to be brought up in the public.

"Rolando must be there and Helena." Wika kong sunod kay Travis.

"Then, it's a family reunion I shouldn't miss," Travis said then revved up his car.

"SIGURADO ka ba dito, Serena?" tanong ni Yvette sa akin habang nasa kabilang linya ito. Hinaan ko ang volume ng earpiece ko since I'm wearing a headgear. Ang ingay ng helicopter ang namamayani.

I had to be on the field knowing that it's Bravo we are dealing with. Hindi maaaring hindi ako nandoon!

"Just take care of Gabgab for me," tugon ko rito while I'm preparing my guns. "Did you connect with Maria and Georgina?"

"I had Aurora watch out Gabgab, I'll guide you from here. You need visuals. Maria and Georgina are now aware that you're on the way."

Perfect. Napalingon naman ako sa katabi ko nang abutan niya ako ng isang dagger. It's Fred. "You really sure about this? The higher ups will know about this."

I sighed but I continued to do my stuff. "For all I know, Fred. Once their loved ones have been targeted too, they'll do the same. I don't entertain hypocrites."

Fred sighed and uttered the same.

"Ako nang bahala sa kanila, let's just focus on this." Tugon ko kay Fred.

"I am here because of the kidnapper too." Fred said at napatingin uli ako sa kanya dahil sa gusto nitong sabihin.

"What do you mean?"

"Remember the one I shared with you with Yvette and Maria?" he asked.

"About the Paragon?" I asked to confirm. Fred nodded. "What about my sister?"

The moment Fred and Hilda shared that picture of the allegedly Paragon na siyang namumuno diumano ng mga operasyon dito sa Pilipinas ay iyon din ang reason kung bakit ko pinamanmanan si Helena kay Enrico.

"She's being used as the front of their transactions," Fred replied.

"And it's Bravo Guidotti the real Boss?" pagkukumpirma ko.

Tumango si Fred habang umaakyat paitaas ang helicopter na lulan kami. "He's the person you've been with before you entered Genesis, right?"

Natahimik ako saglit pero kalaunan ay tumango. He's been part of my life who helped to ease my boredom in the US. Honed my skill to pretend and the person who insulted me in which I thought he cared for me romantically.

"Maaaring nagtanim siya ng galit sa 'yo dahil we've seen this when we are investigating one of the newest leaders of Privus Trata." May inabot s'ya sa 'kin at doon ko nakita ang ilang larawan ko mga ilang buwan bago ako nagtungo rito sa Pilipinas. Then, some pictures here in the Philippines.

"He's targeting you to do a revenge or maybe... baka nagkaroon siya ng ideya na maaaring parte ka ng Genesis." Fred added.

Napakuyom ako ng kamao lalo dahil sa mga posibilidad kung bakit si Bravo ang kidnapper ng mga magulang ko. Hindi ko siya mapapatawad dahil sa ginawa niyang 'to.

"Then, how about my sister?"

"It was his father who did Alfonso the favor before. There's a high possibility that Bravo took a liking of your sister kaya hindi tinuluyan ng Privus ang buhay nito. If I'll put my shoes on his criminal mind, I could use Helena the way I want it most especially na maaaring nalaman niyang magkapatid kayo."

Natahimik ako sa buong kinse minutos na byahe namin. I'm just listening to my earpiece kung ano ang nangyayari kina Travis at Troy. Parehas silang nakaistambay lang kanina pero narinig kong they planned on distracting one area of the location.

The location is the main station of a local train station. 'Di kaagad makapasok sina Troy at Travis dahil nakapaligid ang mga tauhan ni Bravo sa buong istasyon.

"Make sure to back them up but be wary with the Enrico's team. They are not associated with Genesis so be careful." Paalala ko kay Fred bago nagsimulang bumaba sa helicopter. Binaba nila ako sa pinakamataas na building na malapit sa lokasyon ng train station.

Seryoso lang ang mukha kong bumababa papunta sa isang kwartong hinanda nina Fred sa 'kin. Nang makapasok ay mabilis kong hinanda nilabas sa case ang dala kong Barrett M82 sniper rifle.

"Red Heels is in position," I informed Yvette, Georgina, and Maria. Then, I placed my eye on the rear sight to check the scope of the rifle. Nang masigurong I can see Troy and Travis on my side, I roamed around. Trying to check where are my parents.

"Any insight on their pin location?" Maria asked.

"Negative," I hissed.

"Any wagon who has a tight security?" it was Georgina who asked.

Ba't di ko naisip 'yon? They might be using one of the train wagons. I checked it again and Georgina was right. May isang set of train wagons that has a lot of security.

"Affirmative, but I can't see the inside. The blindfolds are down." I told them and gave them the coordinates.

"Got it," Maria responded and I could them cocking their guns.

"Yvette, tell them to go inside. I can see them here; I can assist them now." Turan ko kay Yvette and she immediately gave the two men the signal.

Bakas sa mukha nina Troy and Travis ang pagtataka but Yvette told them to trust us. Kaya kahit 'di sigurado ay sinimulan na nilang pumasok sa area kung saan pwede na nilang pasukin. The men were surprised by a couple of enemies but they easily pinned them down.

I pulled the trigger when I've seen a man cocking his gun and ready to shoot Troy. Troy's face was palpable when the men at his back fell with a headshot. Yvette immediately calmed them and told them that it's from Enrico's sniper team.

Nakita ko naman sa mukha ni Troy na medyo nagdududa but still trusted what Yvette replied.

Gano'n ang ginawa namin hanggang sa makapasok sila. From here, I couldn't see them anymore. I can still see them actually but in just one of the windows opened. I extended my patience and trusted the men not to get hurt.

Ilang minuto pa ang nagdaan ngunit wala na akong nakitang ilang mga tauhan ang sumugod sa building kung saan pumasok ang dalawa. Kinakabahan ako pero kailangan kong maging positibo na okay lang sila.

"Shit!" rinig kong bulalas ni Yvette.

"A-Anong nangyari?" tanong ko.

"Pinausukan nila yung building na pinasukan nila! They are not responding to my calls." Yvette replied.

Napakuyom ako ng kamao dahil sa antisipasyon. Hindi namin alam kung anong klaseng usok ang pinasok nila pero nakakasigurado akong hindi pa nila pinapatay ang dalawa. Base sa usapan nina Bravo at Trav kanina ay hinihintay pa niya ang binata.

"I know you are just nearby," Parehas kaming natuod ni Yvette when we heard Bravo's voice on the earpiece worn by my brother. "I am excited to see in person the Markswoman Hara."