Chapter 5

Another call came in to Lucian's phone from an unknown number, but he ignored it. He strolled up to the florist and picked out some blooms for Georgina. The florist has her favourite gerberas and peonies. Soft pink peonies and multicoloured gerberas would perk up this dreary winter day.

Lucian saw two men harassing a woman where he was parked near an alley. He should go, but he can't turn a blind eye to the fact that one of them has the woman by the hair. Lucian began his training at a young age, beginning with firearms, knives, weapons of mass destruction and martial arts. He has a special fondness for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. And the man who trained him was a former CIA agent who owed his life to Don Lucio— Danny Perilli. 

Ipinatong ni Lucian ang bungkos ng bulaklak sa ibabaw ng hood at saka naglakad palapit sa kinaroroonan ng mga ito. He doesn't want any bloodshed at sana ay madaan sa isang maayos na usapan ang lahat. 

"Is there a problem here?" Hinila ni Lucian ang babae mula sa pagkakahawak ng isang lalaki. Ngayon lang niya napansin na putok ang labi nito at ang kanang pisngi ay nagsisimula ng pumaga. 

"What I would do is turn around and leave if I were you. No need to worry about this, fratello." As he reached out, the woman stepped back and hid behind Lucian. Nanginginig ito sa takot. 

"I don't mean to interfere, but she's hurt. I'd like to take her to the hospital so she can get proper care. You can talk to her then if you like. Please excuse us." 

Lucian was about to turn and leave with the woman when one of the men pull out a knife. "Leave her here." 

It's not just a regular knife. Lucian recognized it. The military adopted the stiletto knife as its primary combat blade. It resembled a dagger. It became standard equipment for the military and used in battle. The knife looks like a dagger due to its long, thin blade. The blade's point is where the action is, so to speak. Because of the blade's sharp edge, it can cut very deeply causing serious damage. It's extremely lethal.

Lucian heaved a sigh and told the woman to step aside. He faced the man and said, "Don't hurt yourself." The man glared at Lucian.

He doesn't carry a gun or a knife because he doesn't need it. But he is not dying anytime soon and it's definitely not today. The man with the knife looked at his friend. 

"Give him a knife and let's see what he's capable of. I want to play." 

Inihagis sa kaniya ng lalaki ang kaparehong kutsilyo na hawak ng leader. Big mistake. He picked it up and waited for the man to attack.

With a snarl, the man took a high guard and unleashed an overhand slash at Lucian. Quickly and automatically, Lucian countered. The attacker came at Lucian from behind, and he blocked the blow once more. They continued to shimmy back and forth. Lucian realized that after so many years of living away from Italy, the past will always be his shadow.

The phone in his pocket is beginning to vibrate, and Lucian doesn't want her to worry about him. He can't see the caller, but he knows it's Georgina because he promised to be home early. Lucian said he'd make dinner this evening.

The attacker continued to throw overhand blows. Lucian doesn't want to kill anyone today. If this man yield, he would let him go. He threw up his hands in a parry, pointing them upwards and away from the man's face, as the man swung at him again.

When the man saw Lucian's blade coming, he jumped backward and swatted it away in surprise. Lucian did not try to block the strike, but instead turned the deflection and slashed at the man's skull. Kaagad na dumugo ito at umagos sa may bandang leeg.

Ah, hell. The man is not going to die from it but would definitely need stitches.

The man counterattacked, cutting at Lucian. Missed. If he comes home with a wound, there will be hell to pay. And Georgina is not going to be happy about it. Baka siya pa ang sisihin nito na nakialam siya sa isang away na hindi naman siya kasali. 

Lucian swerved to the side and threw a skewed slash at the man's hands. The man's hand was still around the grip of his knife, but he stared in disbelief at his pinky finger, which was laying on the ground. Nabitawan nito ang kutsilyo sa gulat. Siyam na lang ang daliri nito.

More blood. Damn.

Lucian didn't waste any time staring, instead charging in with his blade pointed at the man's throat to shorten the distance.

Wala siyang tama kahit isa. Hustong humakbang ang dalawang kasama nito pero ang leader na tinutukan ng patalim ni Lucian sa leeg ay sumenyas na huwag lumapit. Tinitigan siya nito sa mata at parang may kung anong kumislap doon kahit sandali pero hindi niya mawari. The man tapped and Lucian let him go. Ibinato niya ang patalim sa malayo at saka tinakbo ang babae na mukhang takot na takot pa rin. 

Much to his surprise, the three men didn't follow them to his car. Hindi alam ni Lucian kung iuuwi sa bahay niya ang babae o dadalhin sa hospital. Kailangan niyang makauwi para makapagluto na siya. Sa huli ay sa hospital niya ito dinala at tinawagan si Georgina. Sinabi niya ang nangyari. 

"Why are those men with you? Do you owe them money?" tanong ni Lucian sa babae habang naghihintay sa lobby ng emergency department.

Umiling ang babae. "No."

"Then why did they hurt you?" He didn't want to pry pero siguradong magtatanong ang mga nurse sa hospital at kailangang magfile ng police report. He is involved whether he likes it or not. 

"Hindi ka dapat sumali." Mukhang hindi natutuwa ang babae na tinulungan niya. How ungrateful.

Nagulat si Lucian nang magsalita ng Tagalog ang babae. Alam niyang may lahi ito pero hindi niya naisip 'yon.

"Nakinig ka dapat kay Alberto. Now he's going to come after you." She put the ice pack on her face to reduce the swelling. Ibinigay 'yon ng nurse kanina dito. 

Kumunot ang noo ni Lucian. "Are you related to him?"

"He's my boyfriend." 

Nothing is simple with domestic violence at ayaw niyang may babae na nasasaktan. Yet he isn't like the people of those civilizations who accept it as the norm. There was no way he could take it.

Napatayo si Lucian nang may humahangos na dumating sa lobby. Naghahanap ang mga mata nito and he doesn't know whether to feel relieve or be scared when he saw her. Bakas ang pag-aalala sa mukha ni Georgina pero naningkit ang mga mata nito nang mapatingin sa babaeng kasama niya. 

"Elena," sambit nito nang makalapit.

Lucian's brows furrowed. Kilala ni Georgina ang babaeng iniligtas niya?