Chasing the Mafia Boss!

Chapter 1

"WHERE are you going, young lady?"

I bit my lower lip when I heard my dad's voice behind me. It's already one o'clock in the morning and I was planning to go to my safehouse. But the old man caught me urgh.

I close my eyes and took a deep breath. Matamis akong ngumiti na dahan-dahang pumihit paharap dito. Nakapantulog pa ito at mukhang nago-overnight sa trabaho dahil may suot pa rin itong reading glasses at may hawak na baso ng pinagkapehan nito.

"Good morning, Daddy. Uhm, magjo-jogging lang po sa field," alibi ko.

Lalo namang nagsalubong ang mga kilay nito. Napasuri pa siya ng tingin sa kabuoan ko.

"Jogging na ganyan ang suot, Mackenzie?" he ask with suspicious tone and look.

Napangiwi ako. How can he believes me? I was wearing black boots with black pants, black sando and black leather jacket. Napakamot ako sa ulo. Matalino pa naman ang daddy. Isang tingin niya pa lang sa'yo ay nababasa na niya ang tumatakbo sa isipan mo.

"Uhm--fine. I'm going to my safehouse in Tagaytay, Dad." Pag-amin ko.

He pouted as he stares at me. Tila binabasa ng matandang 'to ang nasa isipan ko. Matapang kong sinalubong ang mga mata niya. Hindi naman ako nagsisinungaling kaya kayang-kaya ko siyang titigan sa mga mata.

"I'll come with you."

My eye's widened as what he said! "What?! You're coming with me?! No way, Dad!" bulalas ko.

Lalo namang nagsalubong ang kanyang mga kilay. "Why not? Am I not allowed to come with you, Mackenzie? Is there something you're hiding from me, hmm?" he seriously ask.

Hindi kaagad ako nakasagot. My dad knows about me being a boss of a mafia. He and my siblings helped me rebuild our family's mafia. With daddy's help, we were able to successfully establish it. Kabilang na ang mafia ko sa mga kinakatakutang mafia dito sa bansa. No one knows my true identity, not even my bodyguards in my mafia. I couldn't reveal my identity to them as Mackenzie Madrigal. Because in the world of mafia, we have many unknown enemies waiting for the perfect opportunity to take us down. I have to be careful at all times and keep my identity hidden from everyone. On that way, none of my enemies would know who am I. If who is queen M in real life.

"Daddy, I have an important mission tomorrow, okay? I have to go. Sige na po," pamamaalam ko.

"No. I said I'm coming with you, Mackenzie. Hwag matigas ang ulo mo," pinal nitong saad na nagpatiuna nang bumaba ng hagdanan.

Napakamot ako sa ulo. Naiiling na sumunod dito. I know my daddy very well. When he says something, he'll do it. I wouldn't be able to refuse when he speaks. So, I'll just follow along, and besides, I wouldn't win against him anyway. Sumakay kami sa ducati ko. Naiiling na lamang ako na nakapantulog pa ito. Isa pa, wala namang problema sa akin kung sumasama si daddy sa mga lakad ko. He's a skilled and intelligent former mafia boss. He stepped down only when he started his own family. But even at his age, he's still quick and skilled in any battle. So, I'm at ease having him by my side because he can protect both me and himself.

"Kumusta ang mafia mo, sweetie? Are you following my instructions?" he ask.

I nodded. Ako kasi ang nagmamaneho ng motor. Angkas ko ang daddy na nakayakap mula sa likuran ko.

"Opo, Dad. Don't worry. Everything is under control. Isa pa. Matatalino at mahuhusay ang mga tauhan ko. Mga babae nga kami sa grupo pero. . . kayang-kaya naming tapatan ang mga kalaban," I answered with full confident.

"Even if your bodyguards are skilled, don't get too comfortable, sweetie. Because not all of your mafia's members can be trusted. You never know if some of them are from your enemies, watching your every move." Paalala nito.

"Opo."

Nang malapit na kami sa safehouse, itinigil na muna nito ang motor at nagsuot kami ng maskara. Even my dad is not showing his face to my subordinates. Because they would definitely get a clue about who I really am when they saw him with me. Matapos naming magsuot ng maskara, tumuloy na kami sa safehouse.

Naabutan naman namin ang mga tauhan ko na gising na gising at ginagampanan ang trabaho. They immediately greeted us and opened the gate to let me in. They even saluted us as a sign of respect to me as their boss.

Pagbaba namin ni daddy ng ducati ko, lumabas na ang kanang kamay ko mula sa loob ng bahay. Si Athena. Athena is the most skilled amongst my subordinates. She's excellent in any type of combat. Gunfights, samurai, or even martial arts. She's a former top secret assassin from an exclusive agency. That's why I hired her as my right-hand woman. Malaki ang bayad ko sa serbisyo nito. But since she's skilled and loyal to me as her boss, I don't regret the amount of money I pay her. Lahat ng labanan na sinuong ko ay kasama ko ito. At ni minsan ay hindi ako nadaplisan ng bala o nagasgasan dahil mabilis itong kumilos at nagagawa ang trabaho para maprotektahan ako.

"Good morning, queen M, sir." She greeted us politely.

Tipid akong ngumiti na tumango dito. Tahimik lang naman ang daddy sa tabi ko. Nagmamasid at pinapakiramdaman ang mga tauhan ko.

"How are you here, Athena? Do you have any update about mr Harris?" I ask as we entered the house.

Nilingon naman niya ako. Nag-aalangan ang mga matang napasulyap sa kasama ko.

"It's okay, Athena. We can trust him. He's one of my trusted friend," wika ko.

She nodded, with a genuine smile in her lips before answering my question.

"I've found out that he's receiving a shipment of illegal guns to be sold to their clients from Russia. Nalaman ko na rin po kung saan magaganap ang shipment at kung anong oras. Nakahanda na ang mga kasama ko. We're just waiting for your orders, queen M." She replied.

Napangiti akong naupo ng silya katabi ang daddy dito sa kusina. Nagtimpla naman ito ng kape namin.

"Very good, Athena. Good job. Leave it to me. Gusto kong ako mismo ang pupunta doon para makaharap si Harris." Saad ko.

Pinandilatan naman ako ni daddy ng mga mata. Athena turned to me. I can read it in her eyes that she's surprised and disapproved of what I've said. Pilit akong ngumiti na tinanguhan ito.

"I can handle myself, Athena. Mas makakakilos ako nang tahimik kapag ako lang mag-isa." Sabi ko pero umiling ito.

"I'm sorry, queen M but--I don't agree with your decision. It's too dangerous to go there alone. I'll come with you. Hindi ko kayo panonoorin lang na sumugod sa isang labanan na walang dalang backup," wika nito na bakas ang pag-aalala sa akin.

"I'm still your boss, Athena. You should obey my command," pagpapaalala ko dito na napalapat ng labi.

"I'm sorry, queen M." She apologize politely.

"It's okay. Anyway, I have something important for you to do. Siguraduhin mong magtatagumpay kayo ng mga kasama mo, Athena. More importantly? Make sure you'll come back to me. . . alive. Is that clear?" I said seriously.

She smiled and nodded to me. "Copy, queen M. I promise, I won't disappoint you." She answered full of confident.

"Good. Sige na, kausapin mo na ang mga isasama mo. Siguraduhin mong walang malalagas sa inyo o makukuha ng kalaban ni isa sa inyo," pagtataboy ko na dito na tumayong yumuko sa amin bago lumabas ng bahay.

Napasunod kami ng tingin ni daddy dito na lumabas ng bahay. Nang kaming dalawa na lang ang naiwan ng kusina, napahinga ito ng malalim na ikinalingon ko dito.

"What's the matter?" I ask.

Ilang beses ko na rin namang dinala ang daddy dito sa safehouse. Kilala nito lahat ng mga tauhan ko. But when we're here, I don't call him daddy. I introduce him as a friend to my bodyguards. Kailangan kong mag-ingat maging sa mga tauhan ko. As my dad's said. Not all my bodyguards is loyal to me. Who knows? One of them is a spy from my enemies out there.

"I like her." He replied as he sipped his coffee.

"You like her? Gusto mo bang isumbong kita sa asawa mo, hmm?" I teased.

Natawa ito na nasamid sa kape nitong mahinang ikinatawa ko rin.

"Naughty," he snorted and pinched my nose. "Ang ibig kong sabihin, gusto ko siya bilang kanang kamay mo. She's not just doing her job. But. . .she cares about you, queen." Pagkaklaro nitong ikinatango-tango ko.

"Mabuti nang malinaw. Sumbungera pa naman ako," kindat ko ditong natawang napailing.

MATAPOS naming magkape, naglibot-libot na muna kami sa underground kung saan naroon ang headquarters namin. Dito rin nakaimbak ang mga gamit naming high class na iba't-ibang uri ng baril at bomba. It was already getting bright in the morning when dad left the safehouse. I rested the whole day, keeping watch on the computer and monitoring my bodyguards on the screen. Wala namang kahina-hinala sa mga tauhan ko. Pero dahil ang daddy na mismo ang nagpapayo sa akin, sumusunod ako sa mga payo nito. Isa pa, wala namang mawawala sa akin kapag sumunod ako sa nais nito.

Mamayang gabi pa naman ang lakad ko para sa pang-aagaw ng shipment ni Harris sa mga Russian. This guy named Nolan Harris is my mortal enemy eversince I've started my mafia. Ilang beses nang nagkabanggaan ang grupo namin at aminado akong magaling ito. Madulas kasi ito at hindi namin nahuhuli. Sa lahat ng mga nakalaban ko, ito pa lang ang nananatiling buhay hanggang ngayon.

I locked myself in the secret room of my safehouse to rest for now. Aside from no one knowing about this room in the house, I can also freely monitor my bodyguards outside on the screen. Because every corner of the house has hidden cameras installed. Malaya ko silang napapanood at naririnig ang mga pinag-uusapan.

Napangisi ako na may naisip na kalokohan. Ibinaba ko ang binti kong nakataas sa mesa at tumuwid ng upo sa aking swivel chair. I bit my lower lip as I search his name on social media.

"Oh--not bad," I murmured as I stare at his solo photo on his profile! "Kaya ko ba siyang patayin? Hell no! He's so handsome, Mackenzie!"

Napapikit ako na nasabunutan ang sarili sa naiusal. Ano bang nangyayari sa akin? So what if he's handsome and hot? Damn. Ang daming gwapong nakapalibot sa akin noh! Hindi ang Harris na 'to ang pakakapag palambot ng puso ko! Napahilot ako sa sentido. Dama ang mabilis na pagtibok ng puso ko.

"Hindi pwede, Mackenzie. He's your mortal enemy. Gwapo lang siya. It won't change the fact that he is your enemy. Ilang beses na kayong nagpalitan ng putok ng baril. Napaka imposibleng. . . magkakasundo kayo ng Harris na 'to."