LOGINbefore Eros's death. he's truly happy with his father and eve for having a happy life... for now.
WARNING: EXTREME VIOLENCE AND SENSITIVE CONTENTThis chapter contains scenes depicting brutal violence, the use of firearms, and summary executions. It is not suitable for sensitive readers. The narrative's purpose is to illustrate the dark and harrowing reality of the world the characters inhabit. Reader discretion is strongly advised.Agad ba kaming bumalik sa dating balwarte ni Dad kasama si Quiazon na nakatali sa likod ng kotse. Nakatingin ako sa bintana, pinapanood ang anino ng mga puno na mabilis na lumalampas. My mind was a chaotic mess of rage and calculation. My father was out there—a ghost that had returned to haunt us with the blood of my cousin.Bago kami umalis sa bahay ni Tito Magnus, nagkausap muna kami sa madilim na bahagi ng hallway.“We tell Eve nothing,” seryoso kong sabi kay Tito Magnus habang tinitignan namin si Eve mula sa malayo na pabalik na sa maid’s quarters. “Tell her we handed Quiazon over to the police. Let her believe that the law is handling this.”Tito
I watched the man thrash on the floor, his blood pooling on the cold concrete. Tito Magnus was frozen, his morality holding him back, but I didn't have that luxury anymore. I stepped forward, the heavy thud of my boots echoing in the silent cellar.“Alam ko naman na alam mong hindi kayang gawin ni Tito Magnus na iputok itong baril sa iyo,” I said, my voice dropping into a lethal, guttural whisper. I pressed the hot muzzle of my Beretta against his jaw, sliding it slowly up to his ear. “But me? Wala akong sinasanto, kahit na sino!.”He looked into my eyes, and for the first time, I saw the arrogance flicker out. He saw the void in me—the part of a Gulliermo that actually enjoys the scent of fear.“Now, are you going to talk? Or should I just start cutting? I’ve always wondered how long it takes for a man to choke on his own tongue,” I added, my expression completely blank. I wasn't bluffing.“Putulan mo na lang ako ng dila, tanga!” he spat, trying to regain his bravado.Natawa na lang
The next two hours were a blur of calculated chaos. I returned to the Balwarte, my clothes still stained with my cousin’s blood. I sat in the war room, watching the monitors as my tactical teams raided the Quiazon headquarters."Report," I barked into the comms."Boss... the estate is empty," the team leader’s voice came through the static. "The offices are cleared out. It looks like they moved out hours ago. They knew we were coming."I slammed my fist onto the mahogany table, splitting the wood. "They used Eros as a distraction. They knew I’d go to the crash site. They used his life to buy themselves time to vanish!" sigaw ko at parang gusto ko na lang ihagis ang comms na hawak ko."Boss" bungad ni Delgado ng makapsok siya sa loob ng office ko.. "I just got word from the security detail at Tito Magnus’s house."I stood up immediately, the fear for the living finally overriding the grief for the dead. "Is he safe? Is Eve safe?""The guards said... Your Uncle received a call. He went
Zaitan Gulliermo POVAlas-singko na ng madaling araw nang matapos ang jamming namin ni Eros. Ang sikat ng araw ay nagsisimulang sumilip sa abot-tanaw, kulay ube at kahel, na nagbibigay ng pekeng pakiramdam ng kapayapaan sa Balwarte."Una na ako, Kuya. Kailangan ko pang dumaan sa flower shop bago umuwi—dalawin ko muna si Mommy sa puntod niya" saad nito while wearing his jacket."Drive safe, pinsan. Masyado kang kampante," paalala ko sa kaniya.“Thanks, Kuya Raiv. hindi ko makakalimutan to. Yung bilin ko ha? Ingatan mo asawa mo” natatawa pa nitong sabi at sumakay na sa koste niya.Pinanuod ko pa siy habang papalabas ng gate hanggang sa tuluyan na siyang makalayo. Pumasok na ako sa loob. Gusto ko sanang umidlip kahit isang oras lang bago harapin ang mga bagong report ng mga captains ko. Pero bago ko pa man maibaba ang baril ko sa desk, naramdaman ko ang pag-vibrate ng phone ko sa mesa.It was an unknown number. Isang video message.Napakunot ang noo ko. Pag-click ko sa file, biglang humi
Zaitan Gulliermo POVThe Main Hall of the fortress felt different tonight. Gone were the bodies on the floor and the scent of gunpowder. In their place was the low, rhythmic hum of a blues record playing in the background and the amber glow of expensive bourbon.Nakasandal ako sa balcony, overlooking the courtyard, habang katabi ko si Eros. It’s been a while since we had a moment like this—no business, no threats, just two cousins sharing a drink in a place that used to belong to a tyrant."Not bad, Kuya," Eros said, swirling the ice in his glass. "Cleaning this place up was the best thing you've ever done.” saad pa nito.I took a sip of my drink, feeling the burn down my throat. "It’s not victory yet, Eros. It’s just the beginning."I looked at him. Eros had always been the more laid-back one, but I could see the changes in him lately. There was a certain maturity, a sense of relief in his eyes that wasn't there before."Anyway," I started, trying to shift the heavy atmosphere. "Ikaw
Zaitan Gulliermo POVI pulled up in front of Tito Magnus’s residence. Hindi ito kasing garbo ng mansyon ng mga Gulliermo, pero dito ko nararamdaman ang tunay na seguridad. Dito, hindi kailangang maging halimaw sa bawat segundo. Pero ngayong hawak ko na ang trono, kahit ang payapang pamamahay na ito ay kailangan kong maging alerto para sa kaligtasan ng pamilya ni Tito Magnus.Nalaman ko kay Eros na nakalabas na ng hospital si Tito Magnus, pati na ang fiance nito na kapapanganak lang. Kaya gusto ko siyang makusap para kumustahin at para na rin bigyan siya ng seguridad dahil paniguradong babalikan siya ni Quiazon."Secure the perimeter. I want two men at every entry point, and snipers stationed at the neighboring roof," utos ko kay Delgado bago ako bumaba ng sasakyan."Copy, Boss."Pumasok ako sa loob at agad akong sinalubong ng amoy ng antiseptic at sariwang kape. Doon ko nakita si Tito Magnus, agad akong sinalubong nito habang ang babae na halos kasing edad lang ni Faith ay nagtago sa
Sa bilis ng araw na lumipas ay di pa rin ako makapaniwala na ngayon na ang binyag ni Baby Maveline. Sinadya namin na itapat ang binyag sa pang two months old niya. Habang abala kami sa pag aayos kay Baby Maveline ay abala naman ang lahat sa pag fafinalized ng veneu sa garden, dumating na rin sina m
Magnus POV.Hindi na ako nakatulog pagtapos kong mapatulog si Baby Maveline, nakatitig lang ako kay Eve while carresing her hair, nagi-guilty ako kasi nag sinungaling kami sakaniya, ako. Hindi totoong healthy ang lola niya, kaya pala madalas sumama ang pakiramdam nito at madalas daw ay masakit ang
Mabilis na lumipas ang mga araw, huling dalaw namin kay lola no’ng nagpasya siyang sumama na kina mama at papa at doon na muna raw sila sa dati niyang bahay, gano’n pa rin nagpapanggap pa rin si Lola na hindi niya kami kilala at kami naman ay nagpapanggap na naniniwala sakaniya at malungkot, well m
Eveline’s POVNagising ako sa naramdaman kong haplos mula sa pisngi ko, at ng imulat ko ang mata ko ay bumungad si Magnus sakin, punong puno ng pag aalala ang mukha nito, at parang may gusto siiyang sabihin na hindi niya magawang sabihin.“H-hindi ka pa natutulog?” tanong ko ng mapansin kong madili







