Sloven adjusted the white coat he was wearing. His brushed up platinum blond hair was already in place, his shoes were white and shiny too. Huminga siya ng malalim bago napatitig sa nakapinid na pinto ng silid ni Risha.

I really think I have been harsh on her early this morning. I should apologize about it.

Nagpakawala siya ng buntong-hininga bago kumatok. Matapos maka-limang katok, siya na rin ang pumihit sa doorknob pabukas.

Tumambad sa kanya si Risha na nakatayo sa gitna ng kwarto nito, pilit na inaabot ang hook sa likod ng puting gown nito. Pinasadahan niya ng tingin ang dalaga mula ulo hanggang paa at hindi niya napigilan ang mapangiti.

If only Anya is as normal as Risha, I am sure that they will get along very well.

Napaangat ng tingin ang dalaga, dahilan para magtama ang mga mata nila. Sloven felt something melt inside him, all because of the warm glow coming from Risha's aura, the intensity of that look in her eyes... Was it irritation?

"I can't hook this thing," Risha gritted. "Can you help me?"

He laughed lowly. "You should have asked me to. I will gladly help you with that."

"I am still mad about what you did, shouting at me like that," the woman muttered as he stood behind her and took the hook of the dress.

Sloven paused to stare at her smooth, bare back exposed by the open part of the dress.

"Come on, hurry, I have some make-up to do!" Risha prodded him impatiently.

Sinumulan na niya ang pagtaas sa zipper ng gown at paghu-hook nito.

"I want to say sorry about that, Risha."

"You still have the chance to back out from this craziness," harap sa kanya ni Risha. "Remember, you are not just wiping out the evil people who traumatized your sister here in Russia. You will also wipe out the innocent people who doesn't have any clue about your sister's pain."

Sloven rolled his eyes. Heto na naman kasi sila eh, pagtatalunan na naman nila ang misyon na tinalaga niya sa sarili, ang paghihiganti niya para sa kanyang kapatid.

"Do you have any idea that your sister was raped?"

Mabilis na bumaba ang paningin niya pabalik sa mukha ng dalaga. "What?"

Risha nodded without pulling away from her gaze into his blue eyes. "Yes, she told me what happened to her on that New Year's Eve celebration in that yacht. I don't know how many they are, but a group of men raped her inside one of the cabins."

Sloven was frozen on where he was standing. Dapat ba siyang maniwala sa babaeng ito? Naisip na rin noon ni Sloven na baka ginahasa nga ang kanyang kapatid, pero paano niya malalaman? Ni ayaw nito magpahawak sa kanya. Ni ayaw nito na pumunta sila sa mga pulis para makapaghabla ng kaso o kung ano pa man. Kaya paano niya malalaman?

"She should have screamed," he answered, trying to be calm. Nag-iiba talaga kasi ang timpla niya kapag si Anya na ang pinag-uusapan. Kapatid niya ito at ito na lang ang natitira kay Sloven, siya na lang ang natitirang tao sa mundo na nagmamahal sa kanya ng walang kondisyon. Noong wala pa itong trauma, ito ang laging nakakaunawa sa kanya. Ito lang ang taong napagsasabihan niya ng mga ambisyon niya at sama ng loob at sa bawat pangarap lagi itong kasama sa mga plano ni Sloven.

"She won't scream, Sloven," tugon sa kanya ni Risha. "Because it is Ivanov who took her inside the cabin."

"I... Ivanov?"

Si Ivanov na ang bagong heneral ng Russian Army. Si Ivanov na kanyang tinitingala noon pa man dahil sa magandang record nito at mga parangal mula sa serbisyo na binigay nito para sa bansa bilang isang sundalo. It was Ivanov who invited him in that party and told him to bring his sister along.

"Yes," patuloy ng dalaga sa pagkukwento. "He has an affair with Anya--"

"That's crazy!" tabig niya sa mga kamay ni Risha na nakahawak sa kanyang mga braso. "My sister is not that kind of woman! Ivanov is already married! Anya won't be in a relationship with Ivanov!"

"She is, okay?" Risha hissed at him. "Accept it. That's the truth, Sloven. Maybe she's tpp embarrassed to tell you about this because that's how you are going to react. They have an affair, that's why she came with Ivanov to that cabin. She didn't know that Ivanov also invited some of his friends in that cabin."

Nagpatuloy pa sa pagkukuwento si Risha kaya napatulala na lang si Sloven.

So it was you, Ivanov.... I shouldn't have trusted you. I shouldn't have believed it when you said that you are also against the government... That you will help me. That you and I will use the RSF to destroy this damn country... Kaya ka siguro tumiwalag sa usapan natin na pagwasak sa Russia. Akala ko dahil iyon sa naging heneral ka na ng Russian Army, iyon pala...

Dahil ikaw ang may pakana sa nangyari sa kapatid ko!

"Sloven?" tawag ulit sa kanya ni Risha kaya napatingin siya rito.

Sinigurado niya na mananatili siyang kalmante bago kausapin ang kaharap. "Get ready for the party. I will just tell Bruno to get the car ready."

Then he stepped outside her room, shut the door behind him and searched for Bruno. Kailangan niya itong makausap tungkol sa panibago niyang plano.

I really have to put justice in my own hands. Hindi ko hahayaan na mapunta kay Ivanov ang RSF.

"We are the German Army General's subordinates," pakita ni Gunther ng ID sa entrance ng Kremlin. Sinipat ito ng guwardiya bago ito sumilip sa loob ng sasakyan.

Nakasuot ng itim na suit si Gunther na may pulang ribbon, si Misha naman ay naka-long gown na makintab at kulay silver na may spaghetti straps. Nakalugay lang ang kulot na buhok ng babae habang nakapa-side ang pagkakasuklay ng buhok ni Gunther.

"Welcome, Ma'am, Sir," sa wakas ay bati sa kanila ng guwardiya bago nito pinapasok ang kanilang kotse.

Pinarada na ni Gunther ang sasakyan at bumaba na ito para si Misha ang pumalit sa kinauupuan niya. Misha pressed a button to roll up all the dark-tinted windows.

Nakarinig ng katok si Lukas kaya naman inangat na nito ang pinto ng trunk ng sasakyan at dahan-dahan siyang lumabas. His eyes cautiously looked around. Buti at wala pa masyadong mga tao. Pagkapinid ng pinto, nilapitan niya si Gunther.

"Officer 8," bulong niya rito, "stick to the plan. Papasok na ako sa kisame nitong Grand Palace. I have the blue print on my wristwatch. Sabihin mo lang sa akin ang pupuntahan kong kwarto."

"Yes, Sir," ngisi nito. "I will try to find Risha for you. I know you miss that girl."

"Good. Ilayo mo nga lang siya sa akin ngayon. I will be the most dangerous person for her to get in contact with for this night."

"Noted, Sir."

***

A.N.

Mamayang gabi ang next update!

ANA xoxo