CHAPTER 5: The Lion’s

Ang nakakatulingtang tugtog ng isang string quartet ay umalingawngaw sa buong Grand Ballroom ng Shangri-La. Sa ilalim ng naglalakihang crystal chandeliers, ang mga pinakamakapangyarihan at pinakadelikadong tao sa underworld ng Southeast Asia at Europa ay nakatayo sa kani-kanilang mga grupo. Naka-tuxedo ang mga kalalakihan habang naka-designer gowns naman ang mga kababaihan, pero sa ilalim ng kanilang mamahaling kasuotan, ramdam ang amoy ng pera, kapangyarihan, at dugo.

Nang pumasok sina Rafael at Frances, agad na tumahimik ang kalahati ng bulwagan.

"Don Valderama," bulong-bulungan ng mga tao habang dahan-dahang naghahawi ang crowd para bigyang-daan sila.

"Sino 'yung babae?"

"Is she a Moretti?"

"Bakit emerald green ang suot niya? That’s the Valderama family color."

Hinigpitan ni Frances ang kapit sa braso ni Rafael. Ang kaniyang apat na pulgadang stiletto heels ay tila gustong pumutok sa sakit, pero pinilit niyang panatilihing matuwid ang kaniyang tayo.

"Bossing," bulong ni Frances sa tabi nito, nakangiti pa rin nang matamis habang nakatitig sa mga taong nakatingin sa kanila. "Bakit mukha silang mga kontrabida sa Ang Probinsyano? At tsaka bakit parang gustong managasa nung mama sa gilid?"

Isang mahinang tawa ang pumakawaw sa dibdib ni Rafael. Inilagay niya ang kaniyang kanang kamay sa ibabaw ng kamay ni Frances na nakakapit sa kaniyang braso, dahan-dahang hinahaplos ang kaniyang balat para pakalmahin ito.

"That is Don Salvatore," Rafael murmured back, his eyes remaining cold and steady as he scanned the room. "He controls the docks in Manila. And to your left, the man in the white suit, is Senator Peck. He is in my pocket."

"Medyo masikip sa bulsa mo, Bossing, mukhang mataba si Senator," pabulong na biro ni Frances.

Napatingin sa kaniya si Rafael, his dark, icy eyes melting for a split second as he looked down at her stubborn, beautiful face. "You really don't know when to shut up, do you, tesoro?"

"Nerbiyos lang 'to, Rafael. Kapag tumahimik ako, ibig sabihin noon hihimatayin na ako," sagot niya pabalik.

Bago pa man makasagot si Rafael, isang matangkad at matandang lalaki na may pilat sa kaniyang kaliwang pisngi ang humarang sa kaniyang daan. Kasama nito ang dalawang dambuhalang bodyguards na naka-suit.

"Rafael," ang boses ng matanda ay paos at parang nagkakaliskis na semento. "I didn't think you would grace us with your presence tonight. Especially after the... incident... at the Pasig warehouse two nights ago."

Agad na naramdaman ni Frances ang pagtigas ng buong katawan ni Rafael. Ang init na nagmumula sa lalaki kagabi ay mabilis na napalitan ng isang nakamamatay at napakamalamig na aura.

"Don Salvatore," Rafael greeted smoothly, his voice dropping into that deep, dangerous cadence that made everyone around them hold their breath. "The warehouse was an operational error. Easily cleaned. As you can see, I am quite busy with more important matters."

Dahan-dahang bumaba ang tingin ni Don Salvatore kay Frances. Tinitigan niya ang dalaga mula ulo hanggang paa, examining her with a gaze so sharp it made Frances want to punch him in his scarred cheek.

"And who is this sweet, innocent flower?" Salvatore purred, stepping a inch closer. "I didn't know the great El Fuego kept pets."

Bago pa man makapagsalita si Rafael—at bago pa man pumutok ang kaniyang pasensya—mabilis na pumasok ang boses ni Frances.

"Pet ka dyan, Tatang?"

Napatigil si Salvatore. Ang dalawang bodyguards sa likod nito ay napahawak sa kani-kanilang mga baril sa ilalim ng coat. Si Rafael naman ay bahagyang nagtaas ng kilay, highly amused and completely surprised by her sudden boldness.

"What did you call me?" garalgal na tanong ni Salvatore, nanlilisik ang mga mata.

Frances straightened her back, flashing her most blinding, arrogant smile—the exact smile she used whenever an annoying client requested last-minute code revisions.

"Sabi ko, Tatang, hindi ako pet," Frances said in a perfectly polished, sweet tone, blending her sharp Taglish with absolute authority. "I am Francesca Reyes. The fiancée. So unless gusto mong masunog sa impyerno ng fiancé ko, I suggest you step back. Amoy lumang cigars at bad decisions ka kasi, eh."

Gasp.

Isang kolektibong singhap ang umalingawngaw sa mga malapit na bisita. Walang sinuman sa buong kasaysayan ng mafia sa Pilipinas ang nakapagsalita nang ganoon kay Don Salvatore—lalo na mula sa isang babaeng naka-emerald dress at may dalang mamahaling clutch bag.

Nagdilim ang mukha ni Salvatore. "You little—"

Bago pa man makahakbang ang matanda, mabilis na humakbang si Rafael paitaas, ganap na ibinara ang kaniyang malapad na katawan sa harap ni Frances. Handed firmly on his coat, his hand subtly rested near his shoulder holster beneath his tuxedo.

"Touch her, Salvatore," Rafael purred, his voice so soft yet dripping with absolute murder, "and I will burn your docks, your ships, and your entire bloodline before the night ends."

Nabalot ng nakakatakot na katahimikan ang paligid. Ang hangin ay naging sobrang bigat na halos hindi makahinga si Frances. Tinitigan ni Salvatore si Rafael nang ilang segundo, sinusukat kung seryoso ang batang Capo. Nang makita niyang walang katatawanan sa madilim na mga mata ni Rafael, dahan-dahang yumuko ang matanda.

"We will talk again, Valderama," Salvatore spat, before turning around and walking away with his men.

Nang makalayo ang matanda, pinalabas ni Frances ang hanging kanina pa niya pinipigil sa kaniyang dibdib. Napahawak siya nang mahigpit sa braso ni Rafael, nanginginig nang bahagya ang kaniyang mga binti.

"Diyos ko, Rafael..." bulong ni Frances, feeling the adrenaline dump in her system. "Akala ko mamatay na ako roon. Tama ba 'yung Taglish ko? Mukha ba akong mafia queen o mukha akong high school debater?"

Dahan-dahang humarap si Rafael sa kaniyang pwesto. Ang kaniyang mga daliri ay dahan-dahang umakyat sa kaniyang mukha, gently holding her chin and lifting her face so she was forced to look directly into his dark, burning eyes.

There was no coldness in his face now. Only an intense, intoxicating flame that sent her heart into an uncontrolled tailspin.

"You were incredible," Rafael whispered softly, his thumb tracing the contour of her lower lip. "Tatang?" A low, deep laugh vibrated in his chest. "No one has ever dared to insult Don Salvatore to his face. You just cemented your status in front of the entire underworld."

"Ibig sabihin ba no'n, effective 'yung fake engagement natin?" Frances asked, her voice breathy as his proximity began to melt her brain.

"It means," Rafael murmured, leaning down until his lips were literally a hair's breadth away from hers, "that after tonight, every enemy I have will know that you belong to me. And I will have to guard you even closer."

Bumaba ang tingin ni Frances sa mga labi ng lalaki, then back up to his eyes. The tension between them was electric, thick, and completely undeniable.

"Paano mo ako babantayan nang mas malapit, Bossing?" pabulong na tanong ni Frances, her heart pounding heavily against her ribs. "Magka-handcuff na naman tayo bukas?"

Rafael didn't answer with words. Instead, his hand slid down from her chin to the back of her neck, gently untying the tight boundary between fake and real. He pulled her slightly closer, his warm breath fanning across her cheeks in front of every watchful eye in the room.

"Better," Rafael whispered against her skin, his voice dark and promising. "Starting tonight, Francesca... you sleep in my bedroom."