CHAPTER 5 (AUGUSTINE'S POV)

"Mrs. Alfreza, I will show you a recorded video which shows what you did that night–"

"Objection your honor! That recorded video was not included to the list of evidences!"

Natigil sa pagsasalita ang nasa harap at masama ang tingin na tinignan ako.

Nasa hearing ako ngayon para sa isang client ko na napatay ang kaniyang abusadong asawa dahil sa patuloy na pananakit nito hindi lang sakanya kung 'di pati na rin sakanilang nag-iisang anak.

"Your honor, this video shows that Mrs. Alfreza was clearly not in her right state of mind. He murdered her husband using a kitchen knife right infront of a hidden camera!"

I stand up and once again said, "Objection your honor, he is maliciously accusing my client without even a background of being a psychologist. We have here the medical record of my client which shows that she and her daughter, Maliya, was abused."

I raised my hand holding a folder of evidences I gathered just to protect and justify my client's actions.

I will never let her end up in jail. Her husband deserves to die for abusing a child. That's what I hate the most, hurting an innocent child just because they can't fight and that motherfucker was an addict.

I have proofs.

Umiiyak na sa harap at nanginginig si Mrs. Alfreza dahil sa pagtatanong ng abogado sa kabilang kampo.

"Objection sustains!"

Napangisi ako dahil sa sinabi ng judge.

Huminga muna ng malalim ang kalaban kong abogado bago ito nakapewang na hinarap ulit ang kliyente ko.

He is trying to intimidate her by using that kind of posture. I know every lawyer's technique.

"Okay, Mrs. Is it also true that you killed Lando so you and your new boyfriend will have to live–"

"OBJECTION YOUR HONOR! That question lacks of foundation. That's not the case!"

I will not give him a chance to question her like that. Lumalayo siya sa tunay na kaso.

Ang again, that judge sustained it.

Natapos ang hearing na may ngisi ako sa labi. Ilang minuto lang ang itinagal no'n dahil nang makasalubong ko ang aking kalaban na abogado ay malamig at walang emosyon ko siyang tinignan.

You're a loser. I know you will lose this fight, Hilario. I am not a Cartel for nothing. Never akong natalo sa korte, I know by this time, alam na niyang wala silang laban. They should take the case off and back down.

But I know he will not do it. He's greedy and he wants money.

Nilagpasan ko siya at inalalayan palabas ng court room ang kliyente ko kasama ang kaniyang pitong taong gulang na anak.

They're both traumatized.

They will be under my custody as of the moment because I know they are safe under my protection. Hindi titigil ang kabilang kampo at baka puntahan sila para alukin ng kung ano ano.

Mayaman ang pamilya ng asawa ni Mrs. Alfreza, pero hindi ko hahayaang mapakulong nila siya. Dadaan muna sila sa akin.

I told my men to bring them in our rest house in Tagaytay and give them a doctor to check their health. Kailangan ding magamot ang ilang sugat nila dahil sa pang-aabuso.

I've settled everything about my case before going back to my house. I need to prepare for tonight's event.

Suarez Cartellé is having a party. We are all invited and as the commander of my organization, I need to be there.

My parents and my siblings was already dressed up for the party. Ako nalang ang hinihintay.

"Valentine, don't bring any devices. You too, Mirttle," bulalas ko nang bumaba ako sa hagdan at salubungin nila.

"Why?" My brother asked.

"Suarez Cartellé has detectors, we can't risk it. Pupunta tayo do'n para um-attend sakanilang event, hindi para makipag-away."

Tumango tango naman sila at mabilis na tinanggal ang ilang nakatagong device sa kanilang katawan.

"Let's go," nauna na akong lumabas at sumakay sa nakaabang na sasakyan.

My parents was already inside this car. Waiting for us to get in.

"Boaz, please don't make any trouble, okay?"

Valentine Boaz Cartel is our youngest. He is a certified troublemaker so my mom said that.

"I will. I know how dangerous for us to attend this event. I don't like it to be bloody, might as well enjoy and grab some girls out there," he chuckled.

Nanatili akong tahimik hanggang sa makarating na kami sa mansyon ng mga Suarez.

I know that their new leader was the eldest. Which is a woman, I thought it will be Magnus Blue but I'm wrong.

I saw him once, pati na ang kanilang bunso. Ang panganay nalang nila at ang tinatawag nilang "Jefà" ang hindi ko pa nakikita.

Maybe I'll get to see her face later. She's quite a mysterious leader. Wala siyang information online, I even asked Mirttle to get some info about her but she's really not existing online. May mga balita tungkol sakanilang pamilya pero pagdating sakanya, wala.

My sister was even the best hacker, but when it comes to getting some useful info about this woman, she's being a loser.

Nakarating kami sakanilang mansyon na agad sinalubong ng sandamakmak na security sa labas pa lang ng mansyon.

I know that this security is not even half of their battalion. I know they have some snipers surrounding the area too. I can feel it.

Madaming mata ang nakasubaybay sa mga dumadating.

Nauna akong lumabas ng sasakyan at pinagbuksan ang mga magulang ko ng pinto. I maybe the commander but I still know how to respect them.

Wearing a black three piece suit, I walked inside with my family behind me. The sicario of their leader was holding a metal detector. Pinasadahan kami nito ng seryosong tingin bago pinadaan sa mga suot namin ang kaniyang hawak.

Nang masiguradong wala kaming bitbit ay tyaka lang kami pinapasok. I knew it would be like this.

I saw a lot of familiar faces inside. Different Cartellés, from the most powerful to the average ones.

The party already started when we came. The members of black society was already infront, together with the celebrant. Sinenyasan ko si Valentine na ibigay na ang regalo sa bunsong babae ng mga Suarez.

Valentine is not Valentine if he's not being naughty. He's holding a red rose while walking towards the lady.

Naupo naman kami sa nakalaan sa aming table at agad na pinagsilbihan ng mga waiter.

We are eating when I saw an interesting figure walked just infront of us.

She's stunning and she looks very cunning too. When I saw a tattoo on her nape, I sharpen my eyes to properly see her face.

Nakatagilid siya sa amin.

She has some resemblance on the birthday celebrant and to Mrs. Carmila Suarez.

Umangat ang gilid ng labi ko nang sa wakas. Nakita ko na ang kanilang jefá, though she's not facing my direction, I can still see half of her face.

And I can't deny.

She's gorgeous... and hot.

I remained distant while I'm observing her.

Her image shouts for elegance and power. Naging interesado ako sa kanya dahil kakaiba ang binibigay niyang energy sa akin, I feel like she's beyond powerful, she's more than that.

Ngumingiti man ito sa kausap niya, mararamdaman mo pa rin ang lakas at misteryosang taglay niya. Nang makitang naglakad ito papunta sa likod na bahagi ng mansyon ay napagpasyahan kong sundan siya.

I need to know every single leaders of each Cartellé. At siya nalang ang wala pang impormasyon sa utak ko. I need to know if she can actually feel a strange presence.

Gano'n ko malalaman kung gaano ka-delikado ang isang leader. And so far, all these leaders below us was not even met half of my criteria of being powerful.

Naglakad siya sa isang mahabang hallway papunta sa ladies room.

I waited outside, behind a huge concrete wall. Sumandal ako doon at pinagkrus ang mga braso.

Just enough time to take a peek if she's already outside when I saw man walking towards me. Mabilis akong lumipat ng pwesto at nagtago.

I don't fear anyone. But I won't risk my family's safety tonight, especially we're here on their territory.

Sa pagtatago kong 'yon ay narinig ko ang usapan ng dalawa.

I tried so hard not to take a look on them but I can't. Lumabas ako ng pinagtataguan ko at naabutan ko silang naghahalikan.

They're making out.

I can feel something strange building inside me.

Seryoso ko silang pinapanood hanggang sa nagmulat siya at dumako ang mata sa akin.

She's not even shocked. And obviously, she doesn't care If I'm watching them or not.

Umiigting ang panga na tumalikod ako at lumayo nang maramdaman ang pagtigas ng ari ko. She bited her lips while looking at me so I cannot stand watching anymore.

I walked away with a serious cold blooded face but deep inside, lust was eating me.

F*ck! This is the first time to reacted on such scene. Madami na ako nakitang same scenario, but I don't feel anything about it.

Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari sa akin at biglang parang gusto ko nalang siyang hilain palayo sa lalakeng 'yon.

This is bad.

Nagpaalam na ako sa pamilya ko na mauuna na akong umuwi dahil may re-review-hin pa ako sa kaso na hawak ko. They know how busy I am. Talagang pinilit lang akong pumunta rito dahil ako ang leader ng aming grupo. Hindi pwedeng mawala sa mga ganitong klase ng okasyon ang katulad ko.

The Cabróns will question me if I didn't come.

And I'm glad I did. Nakita ko na rin sa wakas ang itsura ng panganay na Suarez.

Kulang pa nga lang ang impormasyon na kailangan ko at mas maigi siguro kung ako na mismo ang gagawa no'n kesa i-utos pa sa kapatid ko.

I will use my connections.

Bago din ako umalis sa kanilang mansyon ay pumasok sa utak ko ang itsura ng mata niya.

I think I've already seen her somewhere.

Sumakay ako ng sasakyan at nagmaneho na paalis. Laman pa rin ng utak ko ang itsura niya kaya hanggang sa makauwi ay wala ako sa sarili.

When I entered my room and I saw my blades hanging on the wall, natawa ako.

Sh*t! How could I even forgot it? Her figure and her eyes, she's definitely the mask lady in Palawan that I've encountered when I killed Cuaza.

Lumapit ako sa blade ko at hinaplos iyon.

Hindi ako pwedeng magkamali. Siya talaga 'yon. Siya lang sa tingin ko ang may kakayahang labanan ako at ang katana sakanyang likuran noong gabing iyon...

Tanging ang bloodline lang nila ang gumagamit no'n.

I should've known the moment I saw that fucking katana.

Napailing-iling ako nang bumalik sa akin ang engkwentro naming dalawa.

The hot and fearless, Red Amoré Suarez, chased me.

Can't help but to admire her courage and braveness. She's indeed an alpha.