Dangerous Solace

CHAPTER 16

LUCIEN carried two grocery bags while Neriah walked beside him, happily talking about the things she had done before she met him.

“You are really a mischievous one,” sabi ni Lucien habang naiiling na lamang.

Tumawa lang naman si Neriah. “Well, I grew up like this.”

“You mean to say, you are spoiled.”

“Spoiled with discipline.”

Napangiti na lamang si Lucien at wala nang masabi. Kahit kailan hindi siya mananalo kay Neriah.

The elevator doors opened onto their floor.

Tahimik lang ang hallway at walang tao; tanging silang dalawa lamang.

Humakbang si Lucien pero bigla siyang napatigil.

“What’s the matter?” tanong ni Neriah. She pretended she didn’t notice the danger coming for them.

“May ibang tao rito,” sabi ni Lucien.

Ngumiti si Neriah. “Alam ko. There are two of them.”

Not thinking that Neriah could protect herself, Lucien gently pulled her behind him.

“Stay close.”

The elevator doors slid shut behind them.

Tahimik lang ang paligid hanggang sa may dumaplis sa hallway.

A suppressed gunshot cracked through the hallway. The bullet shattered a decorative vase exactly where Lucien had been standing a second earlier.

Naningkit ang mata ni Neriah.

Two masked men emerged from opposite ends of the corridor, each armed with pistols fitted with suppressors.

Gagalaw na sana si Neriah upang kunin ang nakatago niyang baril sa loob ng kaniyang sling bag, pero naunahan siya ni Lucien.

When they fired again, Lucien moved before the second shot even landed. He shoved the grocery bags aside and pushed Neriah behind a marble pillar.

“Diyan ka lang.”

“Paano ka?”

“Kaya ko na ‘to.”

Napakamot ng batok si Neriah. I can fight. She thought. Gumuhit ang ngiti sa kaniyang labi. But being protected like this feels great.

One of the attackers charged forward.

Mabilis na gumalaw si Lucien. He stepped inside the man’s reach before the gun could be aimed again. His movements were frighteningly fast. He gave the man a sharp strike to the wrist, and his weapon clattered across the floor; then Lucien elbowed the man to the man’s ribs and struck a precise blow to the neck.

Bumagsak ang kalaban bago pa man ito makagalaw para sana gumanti kay Lucien.

The second man rushed in with a combat knife.

Lucien pivoted smoothly, avoiding the blade by inches and the knife sliced only empty air.

The attacker swung again, and Lucien managed to catch his wrist. He twisted the attacker’s wrist, and the knife fell. In one fluid motion, Lucien disarmed him and drove him backward until the man crashed into the wall.

Nagtagal lamang ang laban ng ilang segundo.

And when the second attacker lunged one final strike, Lucien responded with decisive force, ending the fight before the man could strike again.

Bumalik ang katahimikan sa buong hallway.

Maya-maya lang lumabas si Neriah mula sa pinagtataguan. Her eyes traveled over the scene—to the shattered vase, the scattered groceries, and to the two defeated assassins lying motionless on the floor.

Then her eyes settled on Lucien, who stood perfectly still. He was calm and collected. As though what had just happened was simply another task to complete.

Sa nakita ni Neriah, may na-realize siya na hindi niya naisip noon. Lucien wasn’t merely a businessman; he had been trained, not just to defend himself, but to survive.

Mabilis na tumingin si Lucien kay Neriah. “Okay ka lang?” tanong niya nang may pag-aalala.

Natawa naman nang mahina si Neriah. “What are you asking exactly?” she asked.

Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ni Lucien. “Anong ibig mong sabihin?”

She gestured to the two defeated attackers. “I’ve seen blood more than this, Lucien. Hindi mo na kailangang mag-alala tungkol sa akin. I’m fine.”

“Oh,” Lucien reacted when he remembered that Neriah could fight too. Nawala na ‘yon sa isipan niya kanina dahil nag-aalala siya na baka masaktan ito.

Neriah smiled. “You know,” she looked him up and down with unmistakable admiration. “…you really are worthy of being my man.”

Napatitig si Lucien kay Neriah. Then he glanced behind him at the aftermath of the attack. “…that’s your conclusion?”

Tumango si Neriah. “You protected me.”

Napailing na lamang si Lucien.

Kapagkuwan, bahagyang kumunot ang noo ni Neriah. “Paano ka natutong lumaban?”

“When my father sent me abroad, I met a master. He taught me, and then, here I am.”

Napatango si Neriah. “That’s good then. Hindi ako masyadong mag-aalala para sa ’yo.” Aniya. She reached for his hand. “It looks like someone really wants you dead.”

Nawala ang ngiti sa labi ni Lucien. “She couldn’t wait to kill me.”

“Kilala mo kung sino ang nagpadala sa kanila?” tanong ni Neriah.

Lucien looked at Neriah. “Guess who?”

Umiling si Neriah. “Ayaw kong hulaan. Baka magkamali ako ng sagot at ma-offend pa kita.”

Lucien chuckled and caressed Neriah’s head. “Ikaw talaga.”

Inilabas niya ang cellphone, pero pinigilan ni Neriah ang kamay niya bago pa man siya makapag-dial.

“Sinong tatawagan mo?”

“The police.”

Umiling si Neriah. “That’s troublesome,” she said as she took out her own phone.

Pinanood naman ni Lucien si Neriah. She called someone, and later, Lucien heard some words—

“Come and get these two bodies here before anyone could see them… yes, dispose of them… I want it clean…”

Then Neriah ended the call.

Natigilan si Neriah nang makitang nakatingin sa kaniya si Lucien.

She showed an innocent smile. “Yes?”

“Tama ba ang narinig ko—”

“Yes and yes,” sagot ni Neriah bago pa man matapos ang tanong ni Lucien. Neriah picked up the grocery bags. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ni Lucien at pumasok na sila sa flat nila.

“Neriah—”

“May kukuha sa kanila.” Sabi ni Neriah at inilapag ang groceries sa may lamesa.

“Sino?” nagtatakang tanong ni Lucien.

Ngumiti si Neriah. “My bodyguards.”

“Your—what?”

Neriah chuckled and pushed Lucien into the chair. Umupo siya paharap sa kandungan nito.

“Lucien?”

“Ah?”

Ngumisi si Neriah habang nakatapat ang kamay niya sa puso ni Lucien. “Masyado yatang mabilis ang t***k ng puso mo.”

Umiwas ng tingin si Lucien. “It’s your fault.”

Neriah moved closer until her body was pressed against his.

Lucien gulped, feeling Neriah’s curves. “Neriah…”

Ngumisi si Neriah. “Lucien, you reacted.”

“I…”

Neriah chuckled. “I didn’t know that I had this effect on you. Wala pa nga tayong—” she yelped when Lucien suddenly lifted her and made her sit on the edge of the table.

“Lucien—”

Her words were cut off when Lucien claimed her lips.

Ipinikit naman ni Neriah ang kaniyang mga mata at tumugon nang buong puso kay Lucien.

Instead of cooking for dinner, they make out, which was more satisfying than food.