"Be ever engaged, so that whenever the devil calls he may find you occupied." – St. Jerome

ROZOVSKY HEIRS 5 | STANISLAV VAUGHN

CHAPTER FIVE | DON'T STOP THE DEVIL

STAS

I am sitting quietly in front of my table and those papers scattered around. I am looking at something that my men did a while ago. I ordered them to do this. To know who was the new player in town that was trying to shake my cage. I needed to act immediately.

Sofia Michelle Buenaventura.

Tiningnan ko ang mga papel na nasa harapan ko. Her birth certificate. The reports about her life. When did she go to America? Who was her mother? Why did Uncle Rom hide her identity from everyone? And Jaime, Uncle Rom's son, who works for me for years forgot to mention that he has a sister? There were so many questions that was needed to answer because of her sudden arrival.

Dinampot ko ang baso ng alak at marahang inikot-ikot 'yon. Inilapit ko sa ilong at agad na umasulto sa pang-amoy ko ang matapang na amoy ng alcohol pero hindi noon nagawang alisin sa alaala ko ang nakakahalinang amoy ng babaeng iyon nang makita ko sa bar.

Her smell was something. Intoxicating. Addicting. A smell that I wanted to sniff every hour of the day. To buried my face on her neck and start to trail my tongue up to her ear and nibble it.

I groaned a bit. I felt my pants tightened in between my legs. I took a deep breath and I had to remind myself that she was the same woman who dissed me and disrespected me.

She knew me. She just pretended that she didn't know, but the moment she step foot in this hotel, she already knew her target. Me.

Dinampot ko ang litrato ni Sofia at tinitigan iyon. Even in the picture she got the pretty face that took my attention in an instant. But I kept in mind that I was sure, this woman was hiding something that was why she didn't oppose about the terrible arranged marriage that my father and Uncle Rom was cooking.

Marriage.

That was fucking crazy.

I am not going to marry someone I didn't even know. I didn't reach this age for them to tell me whom to marry.

Ininom ko ang alak na nasa baso at muling nagsalin doon. Muli kong binasa ang reports na nakuha ko tungkol kay Sofia.

Her mother was named Amanda Smith. An immigrant in the States that Uncle Rom got pregnant twenty-eight years ago. But her mother didn't inform Uncle Rom about the pregnancy. Sofia was eight when Uncle Rom found out about her. When her mother died because of cancer. From then on, Uncle Rom took her in and she lived in the States ever since away from the prying eyes of his enemies here. Even Jaime was told to shut his mouth and never talked about his sister.

But what was the reason why she decided to stay here in the Philippines now? Imposibleng wala. At hindi man lang siya nagwala nang marinig niya ang gustong mangyari ng tatay ko at ng tatay niya? That fucking arranged marriage would take away our freedom. My freedom.

Inis akong tumayo mula sa kinauupuan ko at tumingin sa salamin ng penthouse at tiningnan ang kapaligiran ng hotel. This place was mine. I worked so hard to get on top. I killed and I bled for whatever I had right now. I lost count how many people died in my hands. I couldn't remember who were the people I had to bribe just to have a smooth business with everyone. Legal or illegal. This was my empire and I am its sole ruler.

Then a woman I didn't even know that existed would waltz here and will become my wife? Hell, no. And she would have a part of my empire? I would never allow that.

I remembered her face at the bar. I remembered how she looked at me. There was something in her eyes. There was fire. A deep emotion that was buried deep down in her. She was looking straight into my eyes without fear. Not like those women that I've met that would immediately kneel before me.

She was something.

I cursed lowly. My anger rises, but definitely the thing between my legs was doing the same. I am beginning to hate her but I couldn't deny the fact that there was something about her that makes me crave for her.

Shit.

Crave. I never felt that to any woman. It's the other way around. Those women were the ones who were craving for me. Those women would do anything for me and would never diss me.

"Stas."

Lumingon ako at nakita kong si Patek iyon na palapit sa akin. Napahinga ako ng malalim at muling naupo sa upuan ko. Tinapunan niya ng tingin ang mga papel na nasa harap ko at tumingin ng makahulugan sa akin.

"Arrange marriage, huh?" Alam kong gusto niya pang mag-comment pero pinigil niya ang sarili. Alam niyang hindi ngayon ang oras para magsalita ng kung ano. Alam niya kung gaano ako kapikon ngayon.

"Is this true? All of it?" Gusto kong makasiguro na tama ang nakikita ko.

"Unfortunately, yes. Iyan din ang mga reports na nakuha ng daddy mo. Last month pa palang pina-subaybayan ni Sir Fedor si Sofia. He knew about her." Sagot ni Patek.

"And he forgot to tell me?!" Hindi ko na mapigilan ang mapataas ang boses.

Nagkibit lang siya ng balikat at hindi sumagot. Napabuga ako ng hangin at isinandal ang ulo sa kinauupuan ko. "About the gun shipments from Russia. Is it true that we are losing suppliers and buyers?" Naalala ko kasi ang binanggit ni Uncle Rom kanina.

Bahagyang napangiwi si Patek at nahihiyang tumingin sa akin.

"Ayaw ko na sanang sabihin sa iyo 'yon. Ginagawan na namin ng paraan. Pero talagang nakukuha nina Dmitri Botnov ang mas malaking parte ng gun distribution across Russia. They have bigger buyers here. Top government officials ang contacts nila."

"Dmitri? The Red Odessa Group?" Paniniguro ko.

Tingin ko ay ayaw ng tumango ni Patek dahil alam niyang kilala ko ang grupo na iyon.

"Fucking Dmitri. He knows Philippines is my turf. They can do their business in other countries but not here." Gigil na sabi ko. "The gun distribution is mine here." Alam ng mga buyers ko iyon. Walang ibang gun dealer dito kundi ako.

"Stas, please don't kill me. But they got our shipment two months ago from Batangas Port. They took everything." Napapikit si Patek dahil talagang bad news ang sinabi niya sa akin at puwedeng-puwede ko siyang patayin dahil dito.

"Putangina." Inis kong dinampot ang baso at malakas na ibinato iyon. "And you forgot to tell me about it? Nagka-amnesia na ba kayong lahat at nakakalimutan n'yong sabihin sa akin ang mga importanteng detalye?"

"We are trying to get it back. I found out who bought it that's why I learned it was Dmitri's group." Paliwanag nito.

"Is he trying to start a war with me? What happened to the fucking truce?"

"Nag-uumpisa na kaming mag-imbestiga. Huwag mo nang alalahanin pa ito. Makukuha namin pabalik ang mga supplies. This is just one shipment. The others are still a go. Walang problema," pag-a-assure niya.

Napahinga ako ng malalim at naisuklay ang kamay sa buhok ko.

"Everything is okay. We are still getting bigger cuts from our partner companies. They are too many. The casino is doing well. We just got a huge chunk of one hundred million from the Chinese national that has a debt from you. The money is continuous and cannot be traced by anyone. Your money is safe in your off shore accounts kaya huwag ka nang magpapa-apekto sa isang nabulilyasong shipment." Pangangatwiran pa ni Patek.

Tiningnan ko siya ng masama. "One fucked up shipment can happen again. And again. If Dmitri thinks that he can get something from us and we didn't retaliate, he will think I am weak and he will attack again. Find out when is their next shipment and take everything. Kill everyone." Inis kong tinabig ang bote ng alak sa tabi ko.

Napalunok si Patek at halatang kinabahan. "You are going to start a war."

"I am just finishing what he started." Napabuga ako ng hangin at napailing. "What did you do to Calvin's body?"

"Naayos na 'yon. Hinding-hindi matatagpuan."

"How?" Kahit alam ko namang malinis magtrabaho ang mga tao ko, gusto ko pa ring masiguro kung paano.

"Dissolved. Just like the others who stole from you."

Tumango-tango ako. "Good." Muli ay tiningnan ko ang mga papel na nasa harapan at napatitig ako sa litrato ni Sofia.

"Matunog ang usapan sa bar."

Nagtatanong akong tumingin sa kanya. "Anong usapan?"

"You went in the bar. And... you tried to impress someone with your expensive drink."

Alam kong nagpipigil na matawa si Patek pero pinipilit lang magpaka-seryoso. Alam niyang may kalalagyan siya sa akin kung magpapaloko-loko siya.

"You know I don't need to impress anyone," labas sa ilong na sagot ko.

Doon na siya hindi nakapigil na mapatawa. "They said you told her that her drink is on the house."

"Fire that fucking bartender. Napaka-tsismoso." Sabi ko sa pagitan ng mga ngipin. Ngayon ay napahalakhak na si Patek.

"It's not his fault. Alam mong ang trabaho ko ay alamin kung ano ang nangyayari sa paligid nitong hotel. To know the littlest details, I had to talk to those people at the bottom of the food chain. Ninerbiyos 'yong tao. Pagdating ko doon nanginginig pa sa takot sa iyo dahil nga hindi ka naman pumupunta sa bar. And you even let him get the two million worth Remy Martin. Tingin ko maiihi pa sa takot 'yong bata habang kinakausap ko. Hindi malaman kung paano ibabalik ang bote sa shelf dahil baka daw mabasag."

"Fucking pussy," muli ay isinandal ko ang ulo ko sa kinauupuan ko at tiningnan ang mga litrato ni Sofia.

"And the buzz around the crew, she is pretty and hot with a nice a-" pinutol ng matalim na tingin ko ang sasabihin ni Patek.

"Another word and I am going to cut your tongue and I'll shove it in your throat." Seryosong sabi ko sa kanya.

Nagtaas ng kamay si Patek na alam kong humihingi ng pasensiya. Alam kong alam niya na seryoso kong gagawin iyon.

Napahinga ako ng malalim at tiningnan ang mga litrato. "It's her."

Tiningnan iyon ni Patek. "The woman at the bar?" paniniguro niya.

Tumango ako.

"And you are going to marry her? Congratulations." Inilahad pa niya ang kamay para i-congratulate ako pero tiningnan ko lang ng masama iyon.

"Do you really want to die? Pinipikon mo ako." Painis kong dinampot ang tobacco na naroon at sinindihan iyon.

"Stas, may point naman ang daddy mo at si Mr. Buenaventura. The marriage will give a truce to all the groups that are involved around us. And we all know that Mr. Buenaventura can really talk to those groups. Napakagaling na negotiator ang isang iyon. Strategist. Your marriage with her daughter will definitely give a nudge with her father. Mas lalo mo siyang mahahawakan sa leeg." Tumaas pa ang kilay ni Patek.

Hindi ako kumibo. Sigurado akong may ibang dahilan. Walang pakialam ang daddy ko sa mga babae ko hangga't nagagawa ko ang trabaho ko. Hindi nakikialam sa mga desisyon ko. Tama o mali ang gawin ko, as long as I can justify my actions, he doesn't have a say. But it was different now. I can feel that he was going to push that marriage thing.

"Did the guys do the job?" Muli ay tanong ko kay Patek.

Noon sumeryeso ng mukha ang kaharap ko. "I think you crossed the line this time."

"There is no line to cross in our world. Lahat puwedeng gawin kung maggi-gain ng advantage sa atin."

"By putting hidden cameras at her place?"

Natawa ako. Bakit parang nabibigla siya sa pinagawa ko?

"Anong nakakagulat doon? We always do that to our enemies."

"But Sofia Buenaventura is not our enemy. Anak siya ni Mr. Buenaventura. Halos tatay mo na. Alam mong malaking gulo ito kapag nalaman niya kung ano ginawa mo. You are invading her privacy."

"What she did tonight invaded my privacy. I know she knows about this damn arrange marriage thing before she even set foot in this place. She didn't even oppose those two old fools." Napahinga ako ng malalim. "Did they do it?"

Marahang tumango si Patek. "Every part of her place except her bathroom as you said."

"Give me the access code. No one can see that cctv feeds. Ako lang."

"I already sent it to your computer. Change the passcode para walang ibang makaka-access."

Hindi na ako kumibo at nanatiling nakatingin sa mga litrato ni Sofia.

"May ipapagawa ka pa ba sa akin?" tanong pa niya.

Umiling na ako. "Just make sure to do something about Dmitri's group. Ayoko nang makarinig ng mga ganyang problema sa susunod."

Tumango na lang si Patek at tinungo na ang pinto.

"And tell that bartender to shut his mouth if he still values his life." Pahabol ko pa.

Natawa na si Patek at tuloy-tuloy na lang na lumabas. Nanatili akong nakaupo at nakaharap sa mesa habang tiningnan ang mga papel doon tapos ay ang laptop ko. Marahan ko pang tina-tap ang mga daliri ko doon habang natitig sa blank monitor ng laptop. Kinuha ko ang bote ng alak at nagsalin sa panibagong baso at uminom doon tapos ay ini-on ang lap top.

True enough, when I opened the access code that Patek gave me, it immediately opens to camera feed and every part of Sofia's place filled my screen.

The entrance of her building condo, the hallway to her unit, her living room, her dining room.

Her bedroom.

I can see her coming out from her bathroom. The only place I told my men not to put a camera. I am still respecting her privacy. She was wearing a boyleg panties and spaghetti-colored top. My eyes glued at her while she moves. I was right. She has good curves. Her breasts were well endowed. Tiny waist. And her ass... I immediately swallowed hard while looking at that part. My hand automatically moved wishing that I could grab and squeeze that ass then I would give it a hard smack. Her punishment for being such a sass.

She was towel drying her hair and went straight to the vanity table and sat down in front of the mirror. She began to put something on her face. I might say a toner. I smiled dryly while I was sipping the alcohol from my glass eyes still glued to my laptop screen. She was doing her bedtime routine. At least, she was taking care of herself.

After putting everything on her face, she stood up and took her phone. She began checking it and I immediately checked what she was checking. I made sure that her phone was tapped and I could easily check who was texting her, calling her, all of what she was going to search over the internet. I raised one brow when a picture of me popped up.

She was searching for me.

She went straight to her bed and lie down while still searching about me. Most of the articles that popped up were about my activities with different women. There was an article that I knew she was reading about a gossip that I got someone pregnant. A gossip that immediately dismissed because it was not true. The woman was paid though just to mae that woman quiet. The woman wanted some attention and some money. Instead of killing her, I told my men to pay her and told her to stay away from me.

Then another article got her attention.

Napahigpit ang pagkakahawak ko sa hawak kong baso. This time, the article was not about any women. This was serious and when I looked at the writer of the article, I clenched my jaw.

Howard Benitez.

The investigative journalist who was trying to pin those alleged murders and other crimes on me. The guy was really testing my patience. Patek wanted him dead already dahil napakaraming mga balitang inilalabas tungkol sa akin at sa mga illegal na gawain ko, pero ako na lang ang nagsasabing pabayaan na lang. Wala namang ebidensiya ang gago. Puro haka-haka lang. Wala ngang makuhang witness. Walang siraulong lalabas para idiin ako. Dahil baka nagsisimula pa lang silang magbuka ng bibig, tutumba na sila.

Sige pa sa pagba-browse si Sofia hanggang sa isang picture ko na naman ang nag-pop-up sa screen ko. Siguradong ito ang tinitingnan niya. Napangiti pa ako nang halatang ini-scroll niya ang litrato. Picture ko iyon na nakaupo sa beach at nakasuot lang ng board shorts. Naka-shades at may hawak na baso ng alak. Kuha ng isang paparazzi noong nagbakasyon ako sa Balesin. Hindi ko alam ito at nakita ko na lang na may nagkalat na ganito sa internet. Galit na galit nga si Ilyenna at gustong ipatumba ang paparazzi na iyon. Sabi kong pabayaan na lang. Wala namang masamang nangyari at nakabuti pa nga sa akin. Mas dumami ang babae ko nang lumabas iyon. Naging instant celebrity pa ako.

Sige pa sa pag-zoom ng litrato si Sofia at lalo akong natawa nang mahalata ko kung ano ang chini-check niya sa litrato.

She was checking my board shorts. Medyo maluwag kasi iyon sa bandang hita at kita sa litrato na bahagyang nakalislis at muntik ng makita ang itinatago ko. Was she checking what my cock looks like? All she needed to do was ask. I would gladly love to show her how gifted I am on that part.

Biglang nawala ang litrato ko sa screen at nakita ko siyang binitiwan na ang telepono at umayos na ng higa sa kama. Halatang magpapahinga na. Maya-maya lang ay hindi na nga siya gumagalaw at sigurado akong himbing nang natutulog.

Sige lang ako sa pag-inom ng alak sa baso ko habang nakatingin sa screen at pinapanood ang pagtulog niya. Hindi ko na alam kung gaano katagal na akong naroon lang at nakatingin sa screen. Iniisip ko kung ano ang mangyayari sa pagdating niyang ito. Sigurado ako, she was hiding something.

Nakita ko siyang gumalaw sa kama. Bumibiling-biling ang ulo. Halatang agitated habang natutulog. Inilapit ko pa ang mukha ko sa screen para lalong makita ang nangyayari sa kanya. She looked like she was having a nightmare. Her hands were raising to the air.

What the fuck was happening to her?

Hanggang sa bumalikwas siya ng bangon at palinga-linga sa paligid niya. Hitsurang takot at maya-maya ay namaluktot ang tuhod at niyakap iyon habang umiiyak.

Matagal sa ganoong posisyon si Sofia. Iyak lang nang iyak.

Nang tingin ko ay naka-recover na ay tumayo siya at lumabas ng silid at tinungo ang kusina. Kumuha ng tubig at may kinuhang isang maliit na botelya at may kinuha doon. Ininom tapos ay muling bumalik sa kama at nahiga.

Sigurado akong sleeping pill iyon. Dahil maya-maya lang ay himbing na ulit na natutulog si Sofia. Wala na ring nangyaring kakaiba.

Napasandal ako sa kinauupuan ko habang nanatiling nakatingin sa screen.

What was she hiding?