LEV PETROV (Wild Men Series #3) Book 2

Chapter 9

LEV

"MASTER, are you alright?"

Alright? Ako? Paano? After my wife kicked me in the balls on our first night and rubbed it to my face this breakfast? Putang ina. I'm f*****g seething with anger.

Shit. That's why I loathe humans and their pea-sized brains. Kung sino man ang naka imbento ng salitang alright, gigilitan ko ora mismo.

"I can't decide kung hahanap ako ng bagong kanang kamay o maglalagay ng additional requirements sa job post na ipapaskil ko mamaya. Or, both." I glare and spat at my right hand who's been waiting at the side of my black Rolls Royce.

Kumamot ito sa batok. He smiled sheepishly.

"Master naman."

"Don't 'master naman me', August."

"Master, curious lang. Anong ilalagay n'yo na requirement?" Theo the persistent pain in the ass, asked.

"Idadagdag ko, bawal tanga.Kapag nagtanong ng obvious at katangahan, kakain ng bala. Fair enough?"

Lalong namula ang tainga ni August habang panay naman ang tawa ni Theo.

"You're the best, master."

"Mamaya ka sa aking ungas ka. Huwag na huwag kang pipikit kung ayaw mong sa kangkungan pulutin ang atay mo."

Nilagpasan ko lang ang kanang-kamay na panay ang putak, pahablot na kinuha sa kanya ang folder na naglalaman ng schedule ko. Saka ako sumandal sa pinto ng sasakyan. Biglang natigil ang dalawa sa lover's quarrel nila.

"Master, bukas naman po ang AC sa loob. Pwede kayong maghin–"

"I prefer here. Don't mind me," I said dismissively at August without sparing him a glance.

I can feel his burning eyes on me, full of questions but he knew better. He shut up and let me do my thing. I also need this to calm my raging temper.

Women tend to take the entire day to get ready, at dalawa ang hinihintay ko. Might as well use my time wisely. I sigh as I opened the folder. Napamura ako nang makita ang nilalaman noon. Gusto ko nang iumpog ang ulo ko sa pader.

"We're three days behind, master," August stated the f*****g obvious, again. Malapit na talagang paglamayan ang isang 'to.

What he meant were deliveries, meetings, and shipments of all my illicit and legal businesses. I was never behind schedule, I pride myself on meeting all my partner's needs ahead of time. That was before s**t hit the fan. Before Bree came into the picture.

Matapos ang insidenteng iyon dalawang taon na ang nakakalipas, marami na ang nagbago. Because when Bree jumped that cliff, it was exactly the end of my life. I was never the same man.

For more than six months, I am a breathing and not walking, for some obvious reasons, hell. Even Trace couldn't talk sense to me. Galit ako sa mundo, sa lahat lalo na sa sarili ko. Lalong-lalo na sa sarili ko. As punishment, I gave up my position as head of Foedus kahit halos gilitan ako ng leeg ni Patricio. I still remember his shrilling voice like it was yesterday.

"Kung kinakailangang ibigay ko sa'yo iyong kanang binti ko, Lev. Gagawin ko. If that's the only way na makakita ka ng rason.You're still in your prime to retire."

"Sweet but thanks. Hindi ko kailangan ang pagpapaka martyr mo. Save it."

"Putang ina. Iyong pagpapaka bayani mo, ayos lang at katanggap-tanggap. Ganoon ba?"

"Yes. Cause I f*****g deserve this."

"Bull s**t, Lev. Hindi tinutubuan ng konsensiya ang mga tulad natin."

"Konsensiya, hindi. Purpose, yes."

"We need you. Foedus needs you." Trace said exasperatedly.

"Cut the crap. You can do it on your own with the help of Elliot and the guys. Bree needs me more lalo na ngayon, Trace."

"She'll hate you..."

"Newsflash, wala ng bago roon. I hate myself, too. I've committed the biggest sin of all and this–what will become of us, will be my punishment. 'Cause for all the sins I've done and will continue to carry out, guess some sins are not up for absolution."

"s**t. Why are you doing this, Lev?" Laglag balikat na tanong ng brest friend ko.

"You'll never understand."

"Humor me."

"Because I need her more than she needs me. I need her like air. She's the only reason kung bakit ako nandito pa at kausap mo." I pulled on a long sigh and stared at the monitors right in front of me. Images of Bree in a hospital bed with lots of tubes were like a slap to my face, gutting me.

"Lev."

"Shut it, Patricio. My decision is final. You have Foedus, I'll have this. Her. Bree's a privilige a man like me don't deserve pero bubunuin ko ang natitira kong buhay sa mundong 'to just to be worthy of her. Gaano man kaiksi 'yon."

And that people, ended the conversation of all. Tinantanan na ako ni Trace kaya't fast forward to 2020, he's the head of Foedus and I'm the Consiglerie. Pero dahil si Patricio ay si Patricio, ibinigay n'ya pa rin sa akin ang ibang mga resposibilidad ng Foedus lalo na sa usaping logistics at investments.

Ngayon nga, mukhang raratratan na naman ako ng gagong 'yon kapag nalamang ilang kontrabando namin ang nakabinbin sa pier. Pero I know deep down that Trace trust my work ethics and how I do magic. I pulled it off before, I can do it all over again. Bottomline is I f*****g deliver my job no matter how impossible it is.

I sensed Bree before I could even see her. This pull that we have is so intense it screwed my body and soul.

Tumuwid ang likod ko't hinayon ng mga mata ang direksiyon ng pinto. Napaawang ang bibig ko't wala sa oras na nalamukos ang hawak na folder. I forgot to breathe, I think. My heart was hammering agaisnt my chest and I need to grip my cane for balance kung hindi ay baka sa sahig ako dinampot.

My heart beat faster as I counted the time in my head.

5,4,3,2 1...

There, sa puno ng hagdan naroon si Bree kasusap ang anak ko. She's smiling and radiating. I'm smitten. My eyes rooted to her, my mind is a riot for adjectives on how to describe her.

Beautiful is an understatement for her. She's wearing the white tweed midi Dior Dress I left at our bed earlier with a short note- 'Wear this'. And boy, Bree never disappoints. It appears that she's holding her end of the bargain at hindi ko alam kung dapat ba akong kabahan.

I gulp a lungful of air as I study my wife. The dress fits her like a glove, it hugged her body perfectly. The square neck design of the dress accentuated her swan-like neck, emphasizing the pearl necklace she wore. Itiniaas niya ang mahaba at itim na buhok into an effortless bun. Some loose tendrils are kissing her soft pink cheeks.

An invisible hand gripped my heart at the sight before me.

Bree's elegance, classy and exquisite. Rolled into one.

My wife. My custom-made hell.

She's a siren singing a hypnotic song. And I'm a lonely and pitiful sailor, bound to her and to the sea.

"f**k. I should send her to Makati later and let her rot there. Traitor." Inis na bulong ko nang humalakhak si Bree sa kung anumang kalokohang sinabi ni Via.

My nose flared as I soaked into Bree's beaming face. I want to drink that smile and drown in it. Even though it pains me to know that am not the reason or the one giving it to her, I'm still accepting it with my arms wide open.

Funny how life throws a joke at us. Who would have thought na ang dating ayaw sa babae't allergic sa commitment, ngayon ay pulubi para sa kakapiranggot na atensiyon ng isang Bree De Veyra Petrova?

Lalong umusok ang bumbunan ko sa kaisipang iyon. Naramdaman ni Via ang mga tingin ko, lumingon ito't kumindat sa akin. I will strangle the little fucker's neck for making Bree smile and laugh like that. For taking her attention from me.

That's it, I mutter to myself habang tinatawid ko ang natitirang baitang sa pagitan naming tatlo.

"Mahuhuli na tayo sa misa. Stop dilly-dallying. Come now." Hinawakan ko ang braso ni Bree at hinila siya palapit sa 'kin. Her lithe and soft body slammed on my front.

We both stopped. Bree gasped and looked up. Our gazes locked and for a few seconds, time stood still. My soul took a breath, fresh and anew.

"Uh-oh. Here we go again. Pinanganak mo yata ako sa mundong 'to, para maging third wheel mo, dad."

I ignored Via. Hell, I ignored the whole freaking world for the beautiful creature in my arms.

"Afraid I'll run away again, Mr. Pet–husband?"

Tumaas ang sulok ng bibig ko sa muntik na pagkadulas ni Bree. Ikiniling ko ang ulo sa kanan. Taking my precious time as I caress her face with my eyes. Naiilang na kumislot si Bree sa pagkakahawak ko.

"Nope. I trust your words, wife. This is me being the true gentleman that I am," matamis akong ngumiti't yumuko.

I planted a kiss on her lace covered hand na labis na ikinagulat ng aking kabiyak. She let out a cute gasped and pulled her hand but I don't let go. Lalo ko pang hinigpitan ang pagkakahawak niyon.

"Lev, I'm warning you. Stop this nonsense–"

"Nagamit at naubos mo na lahat ng pass card na meron ka, Brethany. The only warning that will be heard from here on is mine. So, shut it. Let's go." Nagtatagis ang bagang na aniko.

Bree pursed her lips and lifted her chin arrogantly. We have that glaring contest for a few scant seconds before I break it with a smile.

Her eyes shine. May dumaan na kung ano doon ngunit mabilis ring naglaho. I know what it is. She's affected and inflicted like always.

I hummed. Pinisil ang malambot niyang paad. I am totally enjoying this. Her warmth kahit pa may mga telang nakapagitan sa amin, still, Bree's close and I'm fine with it. For once, I want to pretend that all are normal. We are normal.

"Black leather against a fine white lace. Good and evil. Yin and yang. The contrast is never lost to me. Lace suits you."

Nilingon ako ni Bree, her face was flushed. Umawang ang mga labi n'ya ngunit muling sumara iyon. She's like a fish and it's adorable I want to f**k her mouth right here, right now.

I groaned and shook my head.

Bago pa maging full hard on ang boner ko, inakay ko na ang asawa sa naghihintay na kotse. Much to Bree's annoyance and Via's teasing, of course.

"Head. Careful," awtomatikong dumapo ang kaliwang palad ko sa ulo ni Bree ng yumuko ang asawa para lumulan sa sasakyan.

She froze in place, tumingala't ilang beses na kumurap. Bumaba ang mga mata niya sa binti ko't ilang segundong nagtagal roon. Tila ako sinikmuraan sa ginawa n'yang iyon.

"Zip it." I spat, my nose flaring. "I don't need your pity."

"Who says I pitied you? Ikaw? No way. Ikaw ang huling tao sa listahan na kakaawaaan ko."

"Glad to hear that," my voice was dripping with sarcasm as I gripped her chin.

Pumiglas si Bree, freeing her face from me.

"Your display of affection is really moving, gusto kong masuka. So, stop. I can manage. Really. This is all unnecessary. Hindi mo kailangang magpanggap hanggang dito, Lev. Besides, I don't want to burden you more." Inis na pumiksi ito't akmang lalayo ngunit maagap ako.

I snaked her waist and pulled her against me. We're almost nose to nose, I can smell the mint and strawberry on her breath. For sure she can see the raging inferno I'm trying my best to quell but failed to.

"Ba't my nade-detect akong pag-aalala sa boses mo? And who says I am pretending, baby doll?"

Lumikot ang mga mata ni Bree, naparalisa.

"Bitiwan mo 'ko. Nakakahiya sa mga tao at anak mo," sabay tulak niya sa katawan ko but I don't let up.

Lalo kong pinagdikit ang mga katawan namin making sure that she feels my length. I grind my hips, napasinghap ang asawa ko.Ngali-ngali kong sunggaban si Bree at kuyumusin ng halik ang mga labi niya, pero nagtimpi ako. I growled and pressed out foreheads together.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Bree at nangamatis ang buong mukha. Sa gilid ng mga mata ko'y nakita kong nag iwas ng tingin ang mga tauhan ko. Napangisi ako.

"Me being sweet and touchy to my new bride is considered embarrassing but not your theatrics from earlier? Hmm. May gender bias ka yata, kiska."

"Semantics." Bahaw itong natawa then her face hardened. She's trying her best to mask her lust with anger. I couldn't say that I'm not impressed.

I hummed. A heavy sigh slipped through my mouth. Bahagyang lumuwag ang pagkakayakap ko kay Bree. I stared at her burning cinnamon eyes. I take pity on her reddened and tired face.

"My ability to walk was lessen to 50% but that doesn't mean na nakalimutan ko na ang manners ko."

"Wow! A gallant monster in an Armani suit. What a rare creature you are. Ang swerte ko talaga."

"You have no f*****g idea, baby doll. Now, go inside the car before I changed my mind and ripped this dress and f**k you until you beg me to stop. We don't want the whole church to wait, yes?" I leaned forward and swept the hair away from her face. Hindi pa ako nakuntento, I darted my tongue and tasted the pulse behind her ears. "Besides, I still have a gift for you after the mass. If you're still a good girl."

Bumilis ang t***k ng pulso n'ya. Namula ang buong leeg habang matalim ang mga matang nakatitig sa akin.

Taragis. Trust this woman to convert me into a threatening and blabbering machine who seemed to be better off without his c**k!

Triple s**t. This dry spell of mine must end this week or I'll go bollocks.

"Told you, I'm a man of my word. Alessio and Karen? Ring any bells?"

Tumuwid ang likod ng asawa ko sa narinig, mabilis na tumalima. Lumingon ito bago tuluyang lumulan.

"Church? Mass, really? Ganoon ka ba ka-obsess sa heaven?"

"Who says I need heaven? I'm with you, kiska." I winked and Bree's answer is a resounding middle finger before she got her ass inside the car.

Naiwan akong nakangiti. Amused at my feisty and careless young wife. By provoking her a few times, I managed to bring down some of Bree's walls. She even forgets she hates my touch or the fact that she's missing our wedding ring.

Which of course alam ko na kagabi pa. A devilish grin pulls at my lips. Bree has no qualms of provoking me just to say f**k you to my face. Did I hate it? Hell, no. I freaking enjoy it.

At kung iniisip ni Bree na isang matinong misa ang dadaluhan namin, well, she'll have a surprise of a lifetime.

"f*****g beautiful. This is beginning to be interesting."