"Fuck!" I cursed when my phone fell from the dashboard.

I looked at the car a few meters away from mine as I glanced on my phone. It's still ringing. Binagalan ko ang takbo ng aking sasakyan at sinubulang abutin ang aking phone na nasa baba.

Ilang segundo ay nahawakan ko rin ito at nakuha. Napabuntong hininga ako nang makitang wala na ang tawag na kaninang naroon.

Ibinalik ko ang aking tingin sa daan at kotseng aking sinusundan. I blinked as my eyes widened when I didn't saw the car.

I drove towards the intersection. Muntik na akong mapamura nang hindi makita ang pamilyar na sasakyan doon.

Itinabi ko sa gilid ang aking kotse at muling kinuha ang phone. I looked at the caller ID of the one who's calling a while ago. Mariin akong napapikit nang makita kung sino iyon.

Mirae. She knows I'm following her.

Matapos umalis ni Creed ay nagmamadali rin na umalis si Mirae. I know her. Hindi siya makikinig kay Creed. She'll do whatever she wants and I won't let her. Ipapahamak niya ang sarili niya kung tama ang hinala ko sa kung ano man ang gagawin niya. If Dasher really sacrificed his life for Mirae, then I won't let her put Dasher's life into nothing.

I started dialing Archer's number. Laking pasalamat ko nang agad niyang sinagot iyon.

"Where are you?" Iyon ang bungad niya sa akin.

"I need you to track Mirae's location," I muttered, ignoring his question.

"What? Hayaan mo muna si Mirae. Crizzette's kidnapped, we need to find her."

I know. Gusto kong isagot iyon sa kanya ngunit hindi ko ginawa. I have a hunch that Crizzette's kidnapper sent Mirae a message. Kaya madaling madali siya kanina matapos umalis ni Creed. Ngayon, kikilos na naman siyang magisa. Hindi ba niya naisip na mapapahamak siya sa ginagawa niya? Lalo na at hindi namin alam kung sino ang kumuha kay Crizzette.

"Track her location, Archer. I need it now," I ordered with finality.

Ilang sandaling natahimik ang nasa kabilang linya bago tuluyang sumagot.

"Alright, give me five minutes."

Hindi na ako sumagot roon. I started the engine as I waited for Archer.

I was looking at my watch. Tinitigan kung ilang minuto aabutin si Arch.

"Moving north away from your location," He muttered.

My brow automatically rose up as I smirked. In a span of three minutes he already got my location, as well as Mirae's.

"Alright, guide me to her."

I maneuvered the car towards north. Dire-diretso lang ang aking sasakyan dahil na rin sa sinabi ni Archer.

"Turn your car on the west." Agad kong sinunod ang sinabi niya. "The first warehouse on your left. Mirae's there."

"Thank you," I muttered. Natanaw ko ang malaking bodega na sinasabi niya.

"Alright, I'll just help Creed find Crizzette." The call ended as I parked my car near the warehouse.

The establishments near it was already closed maybe because it's now almost midnight.

Natanaw ko ang kotse ni Mirae na nakahinto sa tapat ng warehouse. Ilang minuto ko iyong tinitigan at natantong wala na roon si Mirae.

Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang kabuuan ng lugar. Nang masiguro na walang kakaiba roon ay nagpasya akong lumabas ng sasakyan.

I opened the glove compartment as I grabbed my gun and swiss knife on it. Isinuksok ko sa aking bulsa ang phone. I turned the engine off as I went out of my car.

I silently run towards Mirae's car. Sumilip ako roon at nakumpirma na wala na nang tao sa loob ng kotse.

Napatingin ako sa saradong bodega. Malaki ang posibilidad na naroon si Mirae.

Tumakbo ako patungo sa gilid ng warehouse at nagkubli.

I heard the warehouse opened.

"Let me go! Daddy's looking for me!" Napasinghap ako nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses. That's Crizzette.

"Ibabalik ka na namin. Anong gusto mo? Chocolate? Bibili ki-"

"I want Mommy Mirae! Let me go!" Bahagya akong sumilip mula sa aking pinagkukublihan.

Namilog ang aking mga mata nang makita kung sino ang kasama ni Crizzette. Dahil doon ay nakumpirma ko kung sino ang may pakana nito. Mariin kong naiyukom ang aking kamay. The Devaughne really have to stoop that low just to get Mirae. Ngayon na nakuha na nila ay ibabalik na si Crizzette?

"Uuwi na tayo-" Naputol ang sasabihin ni Callum nang may humintong sasakyan sa tapat ng warehouse.

They went inside the car. Isa sa mga tauhan ng Devaughne na nasa labas ay hindi sumakay roon. Patuloy na sinusuyo ni Callum ang bata ngunit hindi iyon pinapakinggan ni Crizzette.

I took my phone from my pocket and started dialing Archer's number.

Ilang sandali lang ay narinig ko na ang pagsagot niya. "Astrid."

"ALK-3038. Can you track that car? Crizzette's inside," Sambit ko habang nakasunod ang tingin sa papalayong sasakyan.

"What? Fuck! Alright. Where are you?"

"I'll be alright. I need to get Mirae. Now, make sure Crizzette's safe." Hindi ko na hinintay ang kanyang sagot at agad ng binaba ang tawag. Muli kong ibinalik sa bulsa ang phone at nagdesisyong pasukin ang bukas pang warehouse.

I run towards Mirae's car. Nagkubli ako at nang tumapat doon ang isa sa mga tauhan ng Devaughne ay agad kong pinaputukan ang dalawang binti nito, at unulit pa iyon ng ilang beses.

Bumunot siya ng baril. Sinubukan niyang paputukin iyon sa aking direksyon ngunit dumaplis dahil natamaan ko ang kanyang kamay. Nabitawan niya ang baril at hindi ko na siya hinayaang pulutin pa iyon.

Ipinulupot ko ang aking braso sa kanyang leeg at hinila siya papasok sa warehouse habang mariing nakatutok sa kanyang ulo ang aking baril. May mga tauhang sumalubong sa amin, dahil na rin sa narinig na mga putok ng baril.

Iginala ko ang aking tingin at bilang na lang sa kamay ang mga tauhang nasa loob ng warehouse. Wala roon ang magkapatid na Devaughne.

My grip on the gun tightened as I saw Ryder, one of the Devaughne's underbosses, walking towards my direction. Kunot ang noo at malamig ang mga titig. Well, he's always like that, I think.

"I need Mirae. I know she's here. Give her back and we're done," Mariing sambit ko ngunit hindi natinag si Ryder.

Idiniin ko sa ulo ng tauhan nila ang dulo ng aking baril.

"I said I need he-" Napahinto ako nang maramdamang may tumusok sa aking leeg. Kinapa ko ang aking leeg at mariing napapikit nang maramdaman ang syringe. Agad kong binunot iyo. "Damn," I cursed when I realized what happened.

I looked around the warehouse as my knees wobbled. Naramdaman ko ang pagbigat ng aking katawan pati na rin ng aking talukap.

I saw the man who shoot me at the upper left corner of the warehouse. Itinutok ko roon ang aking baril ngunit bago ko pa iyon napaputok ay nasikmuraan na ako ng lalaking hawak ko, hindi lang isa kung hindi tatlo na tuluyang nakapagpawala ng aking lakas. I heard someone's curse thundered but I'm too tired to mind it.

I woke up feeling uncomfortable. Idinilat ko ang aking mga mata ngunit itim lang ang tangi kong nakita. I touch my eyes to know if I'm blindfolded but I'm not. I sat down and realized I'm lying on the bare floor.

Iginala ko ang paningin upang humanap ng liwanag ngunit bigo akong napabalik sa natural na ayos.

Akmang tatayo ako nang makarinig ng pamilyar na boses. Nagmamadali akong bumalik sa pagkakahiga sa sahig.

I heard a creak from the steel door as light came in the room. I closed my eyes as I refrain making a move.

"Fuck!" I heard someone cursed and continue using a dangerous voice. "Who the hell told you to put my wife in a cell?" His voice sent shiver down my spine.

I felt someone lifted me. Muntik na akong mapasinghap ngunit napigilan ko ang sarili. A familiar scent started lingering on my nose. I want to clutch my chest as if it'll calm my hammering heart. Nanatili akong nakapikit ngunit agad kong natanto kung sino ang may buhat sa akin.

Inayos niya ang pagkakabuhat sa akin kaya naman napahilig ako sa kanyang dibdib. Now I'm confused if it's my heart beat that I'm hearing or Hoax's. Dahil ramdam ko ang pagtaas at pagbaba ng kanyang dibdib.

Nang maalala ang pakay ko rito ay agad akong napadilat. Hindi iyon napansin ni Hoax kaya naman patuloy lang siya sa paglalakad. Bumungad sa akin ang malamig niyang ekspresyon.

"Put me down," Mariing sambit ko.

He glanced at me as his jaw tightened. Hindi niya pinansin ang aking sinabi at nagpatuloy lang sa paglalakad.

We rode an elevator. He pushed the button while still carrying me. Nang sumara iyon ay tuluyan na akong nagpumiglas. Agad naman akong nakawala sa kanyang bisig. Muntik pa akong mahulog sa sahig dahil sa aking ginawa.

"Astrid!"

With Hoax's brow a bit furrowed, I faced him as I met his dark eyes.

My palm immediately flew on his cheek.

A deafening silence filled the elevator. Ang tanging ingay lang ay ang gawa ng paglapat ng aking palad sa kanyang pisngi. Bahagyang tumagilid ang mukha niya dahil sa aking sampal.

Umigting ang kanyang panga at marahang bumaling sa akin.

"What's our problem?" He asked using a firm voice, frowning.

"You!" Galit na sambit ko at dinuro ang kanyang dibdib. "You're a heartless bastard!" Muling dumapo ang aking palad sa kanyang pisngi.

"Damn it, Strid," He uttered a soft curse.

He tilted his head as he opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out of it.

"How dare you!" I can feel my hands trembling. Ramdam ko ang pagtaas baba ng aking dibdib. "How dare you kidnapped Crizzette just to get Mirae!"

The lift opened. Napakunot ang aking noo dahil sa bumungad sa akin. It looks like a living room. Wala sa sariling lumabas ako ng elevator at iginala ng tingin sa kabuuan ng paligid. It really looks like a normal living room without any window. What the fuck is this?

"Where are we?" I asked while still looking around the place.

"Come with me," Sambit ni Hoad at iginiya ako kung saan. Agad kong pinalis ang kamay niyang akmang hahawak sa akin.

"Lead the way." Nakipagsukatan siya sa akin ng tingin ngunit sa huli ay tumango rin. He gestured the stair. Lumakad naman ako patungo roon at sumunod naman siya sa akin.

Iginiya niya ako papasok sa isang silid. I looked around the room and felt familiar with it. Taliwas ang kulay noon sa kaninang living room. It seems like a living room of an ancestral mansion.

While his room replicates the master's bedroom in our penthouse, that's why it looks familiar. A modern type monochrome bedroom, from its interior down to a single furniture.

He closed the door as he faced me. "Look, I-"

"I hate you," Mahina ngunit mariing sambit ko. I saw him tightly shut his eyes close.

"Ang bata pa ni Crizzette para idamay mo sa mga ganito, Hoax." Napalabi ako at kunot noo siyang tinitigan. "Hindi ka ba nakokonsensya?"

"I know, I'm wrong. I can't-"

"Why did you kidnapped the kid again?" Sarkastikong sambit ko. "Para ano? Para makuha si Mirae? Where is she? What did you do to her?" Agad akong natigilan nang maalala ang minsang banta ni Hoax.

Marahan akong napaatras at napailing kay Hoax. I can feel the tear in my eyes but I'm trying to hold it back. "D-don't tell me, i-ipinarape mo?" I tried to swallow the big lump on my throat. Minsan niyang sinabi iyon sa akin. He wants the Universe to suffer the way her sister suffered.

Marahan akong umiiling sa kanya. "N-no, Hoax."

His jaw clenched as I saw something in his eyes I can't explain. "You think I can do that?" He whispered in a firm tone, almost inaudible. "As much as I want to do it, I can't-" He slowly shook his head. "I won't."

Para bang nabunutan ako ng tinik nang marinig iyon galing sa kanya. "What did you do to her then?"

He tilted his head. "Just talk to her later."

I don't know but my jaw parted as I looked at him. There was a deafening silence between the two of us for a few minutes.

"I'll just get you something to eat," Paalam niya ngunit agad ko siyang pinigilan.

"I-I want to go to Dasher's funeral. It's his second day of viewing today."

I saw a deep furrow slowly formed in his brow. "You're in that cell for almost three days. Kung hindi pa kita nabanggit kina Kuya ay hindi ko malalaman na naroon ka sa basement."

Lumaglag ang aking panga dahil sa narinig. "Three days?" Agad akong napabaling sa kanya. "I want to go to Dasher's funeral."

He gently shook his head. "No one's leaving until we settled this," Pinal na sambit niya at agad akong tinalikuran.

Fuck.
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