Bound by Bullets and Vows

CHAPTER 3

REESE SINCLAIR placed the flowers on her brother’s grave. Kababalik lamang niya mula abroad at dito siya pumunta pagkaalis niya ng airport. It’s been five years and yet her brother’s death remained unclear for her. Her brother’s case was already in archives—remained unsolved. Pero hindi siya sumusuko. Alam niyang darating ang araw na makakamit niya ang hustisya para sa kaniyang kapatid.

All she knew was the AEGIS-535—the cause of her brother’s death. Pero ang pumatay sa kapatid niya, hindi niya alam kung sino. At ang taong ‘yon ang kailangan niyang hanapin.

“Kuya, hindi ako titigil hangga’t hindi ko nahahanap ang taong pumatay sa ‘yo.” Aniya. When her brother was buried, she vowed to look for the person who killed Reeve Sinclair, and even after all these years, her vow will never change.

“Young Lady.”

Reese didn’t turn to look at her assistant. “Ano ‘yon?” tanong niya habang nakaharap pa rin sa puntod ng kapatid.

“Young Lady, there was no data about the AEGIS-535. It was already deleted just before your brother died.” Imporma ni Artemis.

Naipikit na lamang ni Reese ang mata at huminga ng malalim. Inaasahan na niya ito. After her brother’s death, she went abroad. In miles away, she strengthens the Sinclair Industries and made it more powerful than before. She succeeded, so she came back to investigate her brother’s death.

“Sigurado ka?” tanong ni Reese.

“Yes, Young Lady. All the data and the people involved about the AEGIS-535 was deleted. Even the main designer of the said weapon cannot be traced.”

Nagmulat ng mata si Reese. “AEGIS-535…” she muttered. That AEGIS-535 was designed by her brother, but for some reason, it was referred as monster weapon when it killed civilian five years ago.

Hindi niya alam kung ang kwento ng AEGIS-535 pero ang maalala niya, hindi ito pinayagan ng kapatid niya na ma-i-released dahil delikado ito hangga’t hindi ito nasuri ng mabuti.

Finally, Reese faced Artemis. “It’s not good for me to show myself in public. Find me a simple apartment.”

“What kind of apartment, Young Lady?”

Ngumiti si Reese. “An apartment for a simple woman with hacking skills. By then, no one will suspect that some of my movements will remain undetected.”

Tumango si Artemis. Alam niya kung ano ang ibig sabihin ni Reese kaya naman hindi na siya nagtanong. “Yes, Young Lady. I will do it now.”

“Let’s go.” Reese wore her shade and left the place.

Habang naglalakad siya sa paalis ng sementeryo, may nakasalubong siyang isang matangkad na lalaki. Reese ignored the man, but she stopped and looked back. Patuloy lamang sa paglalakad ang lalaki. She shrugged and continued walking.

Sa pagtalikod ni Reese, tumigil naman sa paglalakad si Alaric at lumingon sa babaeng nakasalubong niya.

“Boss, may problema ba?” tanong ni Julian.

Umiling si Alaric saka nagpatuloy sa paglalakad patungo sa puntod ng kaniyang magulang.

Reese entered the car with Artemis.

Kinuha naman ni Artemis ang envelope na nasa dashboard saka ito ibinigay kay Reese. “Young Lady, you have an invitation from the Rourke Family.”

Sandaling tinignan ni Reese ang envelope. “Rourke Family? Sino sila?” tanong niya.

“During the years you were not here, they have been sending invitations, but I never went on your behalf. Do you want to go, Young Lady?”

Kinuha ni Reese ang envelope saka tinignan ang laman. “Are they part of the Sinclair Industries?” she asked.

“An investor, Young Lady.”

Kumunot ang nuo ni Reese. May pakiramdam siyang hindi maganda. “Buy me a dress. I will go to this party.”

Bahagyang nagulat si Artemis. “But you never showed yourself in public, Young Lady. You never made any public appearance.”

“I have a plan, Artemis.”

Artemis slightly bowed her head and drove the car.

Umalis sila ng sementeryo at umuwi ng mansyon.

Pag-apak ni Reese sa mansyon, sa mismong living room, napatitig siya sa malaking larawan nilang mag-anak na nakasabit sa pader. The photo was taken eight years ago—it was before her parents’ death.

“I’m back…” she muttered.

Ibinaling niya sa iba ang kaniyang atensiyon. Walang nagbago sa living room. Kung ano ang hitsura nito nang umalis siya, ganun pa rin nang dumating siya.

“Young Lady…”

Humarap si Reese sa pinanggalingan ng boses. Agad na gumuhit ang ngiti sa kaniyang labi nang makita niya si Manang Nora, ang mayordoma ng mansyon. “Manang…”

Hindi naman napigilan ng matanda ang yumakap kay Reese.

Mahinang tinapik naman ni Reese ang likod ni Manang Nora upang i-comfort ito.

“Akala ko hindi ka na uuwi rito.”

Ngumiti si Reese. Binigyan niya ng distansiya ang katawan nilang dalawa. “Manang, this is my home. Always."

Tumango si Manang Nora. “Ang mabuti pa magpahinga ka na. Magpapahanda ako ng mga paborito mo.”

Reese chuckled. “Maalala niyo pa po ba?” pabirong tanong niya.

“Aba! Oo naman. Sige na. Magpahinga ka na.”

“Sige po.”

Umakyat si Reese sa hagdan pero imbes na pumunta siya sa sariling kwarto, nadaanan niya ang kwarto ng kaniyang magulang kaya dito siya pumasok. Ngumiti siya nang makita niyang malinis ang kwarto kahit pa wala ng natutulog sa master’s bedroom.

Her eyes roamed around the room until her eyes caught a glimpse of the safe vault in the corner.

Nilapitan niya ang safe vault and it requires password to unlocked it.

“What could the password be?” Napahawak pa siya sa baba niya at nag-isip nang posibleng password ng safe vault.

Suddenly, she remembered what her parents always say. “Princess, anything that belonged to you was also related to you.”

She tried her birthday but it was denied… her brother’s birthday, but still denied.

Sandali pang nag-isip si Reese hanggang sa naisip niyang i-combine ang date ng birthday ng kaniyang magulang. And the safe vault open. “Bakit ngayon ko lang naisip ‘yon?” Aniya saka binuksan ang safe vault.

The safe vault contains confidential documents and title deeds. She had already thought, she had already known how wide the Sinclair Industries are dahil ito ang mga pinag-aralan niya habang nasa abroad siya. But looking at the confidential documents and title deeds, may mga nakatago pang ari-arian ang pamilya niya na hindi alam ng iba.

Then she saw another white folder. Kinuha niya at binuklat. Nagulat siya dahil sa kaniyang nabasa. “Engagement agreement…”

Akala niya sa Kuya Reeve niya ito pero ganun na lamang ang panlalaki ng kaniyang mata nang makita niya ang pangalan niya na nakasulat sa engagement agreement. Hindi niya alam na may ganitong tinatago ang kaniyang magulang.

Hindi makapaniwalang natawa si Reese. Then, continued reading the document. She was curious to whom the marriage was bestowed. Her eyes widened again when she had read the name.

“Alaric Theo Volkov…” Natutop niya ang bibig. “Are you kidding me?”

She knew Alaric Theo Volkov. He controls the Volkov Empire and one of the richest in the world, especially dominating Asia. And by her hacking skills, she finds out that Alaric Theo Volkov was the leader of the feared mercenary group in Asia.

“Mom, Dad, are you sending me to my grave?” nasabi na lamang ni Reese at nahilot niya ang sentido.

Ibinalik ni Reese ang lahat ng mga confidential documents at title deeds sa safe vault. Ang tanging kinuha niya ay ang engagement agreement at lumabas siya sa kwarto ng magulang.

She went to her own room, and lie down on her bed.

Hindi niya alam kung ano ang plano nang kaniyang magulang. Why would they set her into an arrange marriage? Kung tama ang pagkakaalala niya, Sinclair and Volkov are enemies.

“What’s with the engagement?” she asked while staring into the ceiling of her room.

Hanggang sa makatulog si Reese, ‘yon ang nasa kaniyang isipan. And left hanging by a question in mind, “why?”