Chased by the Mafia Queen (FREE COMPLETE)

Chapter 5

MESSY:

ONE week later.

“Stop moving too much.”

I rolled my eyes while fixing the seatbelt across my chest. Seryoso na naman siya. Para akong bata kung ituring niya. Dalaga na kaya ako.

“For the hundredth time, doc, I’m already healed.” I answered.

Heath briefly glanced at me from the driver’s seat before returning his eyes to the road. Nagmamaneho kasi ito dahil ihahatid niya na ako sa mansion. Ayoko nga sana e. Pero may obligasyon din kasi ito sa hospital namin. He's one of the most top surgeon doctor we have there. Mga VIP ang hawak niya palagi.

“You said that yesterday too, then almost reopened your stitches trying to dance in the kitchen.” He scolded me again.

“That was one time.” Palusot ko.

“You were dancing to elevator music.” He reminded me.

“It was catchy e.”

A deep sigh escaped his lips. “Paano kita ihahatid sa bahay niyo, when you're this careless? Kaya mo na ba talaga ang katawan mo?” aniya na napasulyap sa akin.

“Opo, I can. Hindi naman ako inutil na alagain e. I am a beautiful grown woman, but–I’m not that weak as you think, doc.” I replied and winked.

Napahingang malalim ito na hindi pa rin kumbinsido ang itsura. Honestly, I was going to miss hearing that sigh every five minutes. Because after today, Heath would return fully to his work at the hospital while I stayed at our mansion for my fully recovery.

Technically, my sisters temporarily handled our mafia operations while I rested. Among the five Madrigal siblings, only our older brother chose not to enter the underground world. The four of us girls did instead.

And unfortunately for our enemies. . . we were very good at it. Syempre naman. Nasa dugo na namin ang pagiging palaban. Si daddy ay dating mafia boss na kinatatakutan. Pero nilisan niya ang mundo ng mafia nang magpamilya na ito.

Nagmana kaming mga babae sa ama namin. Sa husay nito sa pakikipaglaban, paano paglaruan ang mga kalaban, bumura ng mga trace natin at maging mahusay sa lahat. Lahat ng katangian ng daddy sa pagiging mafia boss, minana namin.

Especially me.

In the mafia world, nobody knew the real identity of the infamous Queen M. No face. No real name. No confirmed information. Only fear. Marinig pa lang ang pangalan namin, nanginginig na sa takot ang mga kalaban na babanggain namin.

Rumors spread everywhere about the ruthless mafia queen who controlled one of the most dangerous organizations in the country. Some thought Queen M was a man. Others believed she was an old syndicate leader hiding overseas. Ang iba, sinasabi na binabae ito kaya tinatawag na ‘queen’.

Nobody knew the truth. Nobody would ever imagine that Queen M was simply sitting inside a luxury car right now while shamelessly staring at her handsome doctor. Actually, lahat naman kami nila Mackenzie, Madison at Yana, isinusuot namin ang maskara ni Queen M. Dati, si Ate Mackenzie ang namumuno sa mafia. Pero nag-asawa na kasi ito at bumitaw. Kaya naipasa sa akin ang pamumuno.

“You’re staring again,” Heath muttered without looking at me.

“I’m appreciating beauty.” I grinned.

“You sound jobless.” Aniya sabay iling.

“Grabe ka naman sa akin. I am currently on medical leave.” Pagtatanggol ko sa sarili.

Napailing naman ito. “That explains the nonsense.”

I grinned before leaning slightly toward him. “You’re gonna miss me, doc.”

“No.” Simpleng sagot nito na hindi manlang ako nilingon.

“You’re lying again.”

“Hindi nga.”

“You already sound sad.” Saad ko pa na nangingiti dito.

“I sound peaceful.”

“You’re rude.” Ingos ko. “Alam mo kasing baby kita e. Kaya ganyan ka sa akin.”

A smile threatened to appear on his lips, but he quickly hid it. Too late. I already saw it. Cute. He's so cute. Ikubli pa talaga ang ngiti porke alam na gustong-gusto ko ang ngiti niya.

AFTER nearly forty minutes of driving, the massive gates of the Madrigal mansion slowly opened before us. The mansion stood proudly behind the gates like something straight out of a billionaire magazine. Elegant fountains. Luxury cars lined outside. Armed guards stationed around the property.

.

Heath parked the car quietly near the entrance. For a moment, neither of us moved. Then he turned toward me. Seryoso na naman siya kahit nagpapa-cute ako na parang maamong tuta sa kanya. Tsk. Ang hirap niyang landiin.

“Take your medicine on time.” Habilin niya.

“Yes, my husband.”

His jaw tightened immediately. “I’m serious, Messy.”

“So am I.”

He ignored that. “Don’t stress yourself too much yet. Your body still needs rest.” Aniya na iniabot ang mga gamot ko.

I stared at him quietly. There he goes again. That soft voice. That worried expression. That genuine concern that made my chest feel strangely warm. It was terrifying sometimes. . . how sincere this man was with me. Kung sana kasi hindi ito pakipot e. Boyfriend ko na sana siya. My God. It's been three years. Tatlong taon ko na siyang kinukulit at nilalandi nang gan'to, pero walang effect sa kanya.

“Doc,” I called softly.

“What?” anito na nakamata din sa akin.

“You worry too much.”

“You almost died last week.” Aniya na ikinanguso ko.

Fair point. I smiled a little before slowly leaning closer toward him. Immediately, Heath’s body stiffened.

Hmm. . . interesting. Mahulog ka na kasi sa akin, baby. Sasaluhin naman kita e. Haist.

“You know,” I whispered teasingly, “if you keep acting this caring, I might really fall in love with you.”

His eyes met mine instantly. Dangerous. That look again. The one that made my heartbeat misbehave. Ang sarap makipagtitigan sa mga mata niya e. Nakakalunod at nakakakilig. Kahit seryoso ang mukha niya. Kahit madalang siyang ngumiti o tumawa. That's fine. Napakagwapo niya pa rin for me.

Then Heath suddenly reached over and gently flicked my forehead.

“Aww! Masakit,” reklamo ko na napahaplos sa noo ko.

Napangisi naman ito. “Go inside now.”

“You rejected my flirting and assaulted me in the same minute.” I complained but he just shook his head.

“You need rest.” Aniya na tinanggal na ang seatbelt ko.

“I need affection, doc. Kailan ka ba kasi mahuhulog sa akin, hmm? Natatakot ka bang masaktan ka? I will catch you. Hindi naman kita sasaktan e.” Wika ko pa.

“You’re impossible. Labas na before I'll kick you out.” Sagot nito.

I laughed softly before finally opening the car door. But before stepping out completely, I suddenly leaned back inside the car again. Then quickly kissed his cheek. Very fast. Very sneaky. Hindi rin naman kasi siya papayag kung magpapaalam ako e.

Heath froze instantly. I grinned proudly while climbing out of the car.

“Drive safely, doc!” I teased while walking backward toward the mansion entrance.

“Your wife will miss you!” pahabol ko pa at nakatitig siya na nangingiti.

“You are not my wife.” Sagot nitong ikinahagikhik ko.

“Not yet. . . but soon, bibigay ka rin, doc!”

I heard him giggled again while I laughed uncontrollably. God. I really liked teasing this man too much. Napakaway ako dito nang tuluyan na siyang umalis. Haist. Hindi manlang ako niyakap. Ang baby ko talaga. Masyadong pakipot–but I like it.

****

Nang makaalis na ito, pumasok na rin ako ng mansion. Mahigit isang linggo din akong binaby ni Heath sa villa. Kaya heto at malakas-lakas na kaagad ako.

Tumuloy ako sa silid at gusto kong magpahinga. I miss my room. Isa pa, ito ang paraan ko para maiwasan si mommy. Isang linggo niya akong hindi nakita at tiyak na masesermonan na naman ako. I had barely finished changing clothes when someone suddenly opened my bedroom door without knocking.

Only one person in this mansion had the courage to do that. . . Madison. My older sister walked inside wearing black fitted pants and a sleeveless top, her long hair tied into a high ponytail while carrying a glass of wine in one hand.

Elegant, beautiful, deadly. Very Madrigal. Sa tindig niya pa lang, mapapaatras ka na.

Napahagod pa ito sa kabuoan ko bago naupo na parang may-ari ng silid.

“You look alive now,” she commented while casually sitting on the couch near my bed.

I rolled my eyes. “Good evening to you too.”

Her sharp eyes immediately scanned my body carefully again. “How’s the wound?”

“Healing.” Tugon ko at kinuha ang damit kong pantulog.

“Pain?” she asked again.

I shook my head. “Tolerable.”

Madison narrowed her eyes slightly. “You almost died.”

Lumamlam ang mga mata niya na nakatitig sa akin. Mababakasan na ng pag-aalala. Although, she acted like she's though and cold-hearted, she's still care.

“But I didn’t.” I replied.

“That’s not the point, Messy.” Aniya na pagalit ang tono.

I sighed softly before sitting on the edge of my bed. Unlike other people, Madison never treated me delicately whenever I got injured. Because among the four Madrigal sisters involved in the mafia. . . we all understood exactly what kind of life we chose.

Danger was normal. Blood was normal. Death was normal. Gano'n pa man, still. . . I knew she was worried. Even if she hid it well. Alam na alam ko. Kabisadong kabisado ko kaya siya.

Madison crossed one leg over the other before finally asking the real question. Nagbihis na muna ako ng pantulog kahit nakamata ito sa akin.

“What happened that night?” aniya.

The playful expression on my face slowly disappeared. Then I leaned my head back against the headboard and exhaled quietly. Nakamata naman ito sa akin. Naghihintay ng kasagutan at paliwanag.

“I tracked down the target at a bar,” I started calmly.

Madison immediately understood who I meant. The old drug lord we had been hunting for months. A slippery bastard protected by corrupt officials and dirty connections. A man responsible for trafficking countless young women through underground clubs disguised as exclusive luxury bars.

Pretty girls disappeared near his businesses almost every month. Drugged. Sold. Broken. And even the law is unable to touch or track them. So, we decided to handle it ourselves. Masyado na silang maraming nabibiktima. Dahil kapag napakinabangan na nila ang mga babae, kapag na-overused na ang mga ito sa drugs man o sa s*x, ididespatya na nila ang katawan na parang bulang maglalaho.

“I saw him leaving the bar,” I continued quietly. “His men were taking three new girls.” I added.

Madison’s jaw tightened slightly. Hindi ito nakaimik pero nakamata sa akin at nakikinig. I could still remember the scene clearly. The girls were drunk. Barely conscious and terrified. The syndicate members easily dragged them into a black van like they were nothing more than merchandise.

“So I followed them,” I muttered.

A dangerous smile slowly appeared on Madison’s lips. “And then?”

“I attacked.” I answered.

Simple. Direct. Efficient. The parking area turned into chaos within minutes. Gunshots, screams, blood. I killed around ten armed men that night. Some with guns. Some with knives. But I am only using my hands. Wala naman silang binatbat kahit wala akong armas e. Ang dali ko lang silang patumbahin na para ka lang nangtatapak ng langgam sa daan.

But despite everything, one of the men managed to escape with their old bastard boss during the fight. That part still annoyed me. Hindi ko na kasi sila nahabol pa dahil may mga hostage pa sa van na kailangan kong sagipin.

“I freed the girls first,” I continued while staring blankly ahead. “They were tied up and crying. I untied them and brought them to my car.”

Madison listened silently. “That’s when it happened. . . .”

I slowly touched the side of my stomach where the stabbing wound had been stitched. Napanguso ako na napailing.

“One of the men was hiding behind the van. I didn’t notice him because I focused on the girls first.” I continue.

My sister’s expression darkened immediately. Napalunok pa ito at kitang namutla. Pero nanatiling nakatikom ang bibig.

“He stabbed me from behind.” I said.

The memory still felt vivid. The sudden sharp pain. Warm blood. The disgusting sound of the blade entering flesh. Napapikit ako na parang ramdam ko pa ang sakit nang masaksak ako. Damn.

Honestly? It hurt like hell.

“But I still managed to fight back,” I said calmly.

Because weakness was never an option in our world. Even while bleeding heavily, I used the only thing I still fully trusted at that moment– My body. My training. My instincts. Wala akong ibang maaasahan nang gabing iyon at mag-isa ako.

“He underestimated me,” I muttered coldly.

A faint smirk appeared on Madison’s lips because she already knew how the story ended. I smirked back.

“I broke his neck.”I said.

Using martial arts alone, I managed to overpower him despite the injury. One clean movement. One snap, then he's dead.

Silence filled the room for a few seconds.

Then I continued quietly.

“After that, I called our men to clean the parking lot.” Pagpapatuloy ko.

Nagsindi ako ng yosi ko at humithit muna na nilarong ibinuga ang usok. Napailing ako na inaalala ang gabing iyon. Bodies. Blood. Weapons. Evidence. Everything disappeared before the police even arrived.

Typical Madrigal cleanup.

“And the girls?” Madison asked.

Nagsindi rin ito ng yosi niya. “I entrusted them to our people. They safely brought them back to their families.”

At least that part ended properly. At least those girls survived. I exhaled deeply before closing my eyes briefly.

“After making sure everything was handled, I left.” I added.

Madison frowned slightly. “You should’ve called us immediately.”

“I know.” I agreed.

“But instead?” aniya na nakataas ang isang kilay.

A soft smile slowly appeared on my lips. “I drove to the villa.”

Even while bleeding out. . . even while barely conscious. . . I still forced myself to reach the only place that felt safe enough.

And the only person I trusted completely.

“I called my doctor,” I whispered softly. “My baby. Dumating kaagad siya at inaalagaan ako.”

“Tss. And surely, pinahirapan mo na naman ‘yong tao.” Aniya sabay iling. “Poor Heath.”

Namilog ang mga mata ko na nabato ito ng unan na napahagikhik.

"Excuse me, gusto niya akong makasama noh?" ingos ko.

"Mukhang hindi ka pa magaling, Messy. You're hallucinating," aniya na tumayo na.

"Siraulo. Get out of my room. You're annoying."