SILK AND STEEL

Chapter 14

ZHERA POV

MATAPOS iturok ni Tanner ang hiringgilya, agad siyang nawalan ng malay.

"What are we doing with Zee, Mr. Rugger?" maagap na tanong ni Tanner.

Mr. Rugger’s face remained entirely blank, showing not a single shred of emotion.

"Kill her. She is no use to me anymore."

"Alright–"

Tanner caught her limp body and immediately ordered his men to throw her into the back of a secured transport van.

He planned to keep her locked up under his own watch, far away from his father’s immediate wrath.

But Tanner underestimated how fast the shadows were moving.

Hindi pa man nakakalabas ng perimeter ng mansyon ang sasakyan ni Tanner nang biglang harangan sila ng tatlong armadong black SUVs.

The screech of tires echoed through the gravel road. Before Tanner’s men could even draw their weapons, a flashbang exploded, blinding everyone.

A highly trained tactical team ambushed the transport. Efficient, cold, and merciless. They moved like ghosts, neutralizing Tanner’s guards within seconds.

Tanner stumbled out of the driver’s seat, coughing through the smoke, his gun raised. But he froze when a heavy leather boot stepped into his line of sight.

Through the clearing smoke, Marshall Donovan emerged.He was alive, bleeding slightly from a grazed shoulder, but his eyes were pure ice. He didn't even look at Tanner.

Marshall simply raised his hand, signaling his men to breach the van.

"Step back, Mr. Who-ever-f**k-you-are," Marshall said, his voice deadly calm as he lit a silver lighter, the flame illuminating his scarred face. "You and your father have played enough games with what belongs to me."

"Belongs to you? Really?" Tanner spat, gripping his gun tighter, but he was instantly outnumbered by a dozen red laser dots pointing at his chest. He had no choice but to back down.

"She's not your wife, Donovan–"

Nagkibit balikat lang si Marshall.

"She's my business and that makes her mine."

Marshall’s men quickly lifted the unconscious Zhera out of the van and transferred her into black SUV.

Marshall looked down at his sleeping wife one last time before getting into the car.

"Drive," Marshall commanded. "Take her to the safehouse. Let's see how she reacts when she finds out her target is still breathing."

Nang magising, napahawak siya sa masakit na leeg. Naglinga-linga sa paligid. Nasaan siya? Napabalikwas siya ng tayo sabay silip sa bintana ng kwarto kinaroroonan niya.

Gano'n na lang ang gilalas niya nang mapagtanto na nasa isang isla siya. What the f**k? Bakit nandito siya? Sino ang nagdala–

Bumukas ang pinto. Bumungad ang lalaking hindi mawala-wala sa isipan niya.

"Marshall...." pabulong na sambit niya.

"You look like you've seen a ghost, my dear wife." Malamig at walang emosyon ang mukha ni Marshall.

She stares at him, her breath hitching. Her voice shakes slightly "Marshall... you're... you're alive."

Deep down, parang may kung anong sumabog na relief sa dibdib niya. Her heart hammered against her ribs, hindi dahil sa takot, kundi dahil sa matinding saya na buhay pa ang lalaki.

But before she could even process the warmth in her chest, sumalubong sa kanya ang matalim at nagngangalit na titig ni Marshall. Tanging purong galit lang ang makikita sa mga mata nito.

He chuckle, stepping closer.

"Disappointed? Sorry to ruin your perfect little victory, my wife. Did you really think Mr. Rugger’s men could finish me off?"

She biting her lip, trying to hide the tear forming in her eye.

"No... I didn't think... I—I'm..."

"Why do you look so dazed? You didn't expect me to know, did you? Tell me, Zhera... Who are you really? And what is the reason why Mr. Rugger wants me dead?"

She swallowed hard. She forced herself to meet Marshall’s intense gaze, even though she felt completely drained of strength.

What was she supposed to do? Fight back? There is only one possible ending for her anyway, right? So, she might as well just fight.

Inangat niya ang kanyang baba at pilit na ngumiti nang mapait.

"Kung alam mo na pala ang lahat, Marshall, bakit nagtatanong ka pa?" hamon niya, bagamat nanginginig ang boses. "Para saan pa? Para ma-confirm mo kung gaano ka katanga dahil nagtiwala ka sa akin?"

Mas lalong dumilim ang tingin ni Marshall. Lumapit siya nang isang hakbang, sapat para maramdaman niya ang nagbabagang galit nito.

"Don't push me, Zhera. Di mo gugustuhin maging kaaway ako !"

A sharp, mocking laugh escaped her lips. She looked up at Marshall, her eyes gleaming with cold defiance.

"I am nothing but an assassin, Marshall. My only purpose is to kill. And you? You are nothing more than a contract handed to me by Mr. Rugger."

The word assassin seemed to echo in the space between them, freezing the air. For a fraction of a second, Marshall’s grip slackened.

A raw, piercing flash of betrayal crossed his eyes before it was instantly consumed by a blinding, dangerous fury.

He didn't back down. Instead, he slammed his hands against the wall right next to her head, the force of the impact vibrating through her spine. He leaned in so close that his shadow completely swallowed her.

"A contract?" Marshall’s voice dropped to a dangerously low, gravelly whisper that sent a chill straight down her back. "Is that all I was to you? Just a target on a piece of paper?"

He let out a harsh, humorless laugh, his chest rising and falling heavily as he fought to keep his rage under control. He grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at the absolute destruction in his eyes.

"Look at me, Zhera! Look at the man you supposedly targeted," he demanded, his fingers tightening just enough to anchor her.

"If I am just a job to you, then why is your heart racing like crazy right now? Why haven't you pulled the trigger?!"

Hindi man lang siya kumurap. Tiningnan niya ang kamay nito na nakahawak sa baba niya, bago muling tiningnan si Marshall nang diretso sa mga mata.

Ang mukha niya ay walang bahid ng kahit anong emosyon. Isang dahan-dahan at malamig na ngiti ang sumilay sa kanyang mga labi.

"Wala akong nararamdaman na kahit ano para sayo, Marshall Donovan."

Bulong niya sa isang kalmado pero nakakatakot na boses. "Don't flatter yourself."

She leaned forward slightly, deliberately narrowing the space between them until her lips were just inches from his ear."And why haven't I pulled the trigger? Because I want to kill you... with my bare hands," she uttered blankly, delivering a powerful shove that sent him reeling backward.

She followed it up with a shattering kick to his stomach. He collapsed to the floor and scrambled to get back up, but she didn’t give him the chance.

With lightning speed, she drove a sharp sidekick straight into his cheek, knocking him down completely.That was her window of opportunity to sprint out of the room and flee the house.

Ngunit ganoon na lamang ang gilalas niya nang mapagtanto ang lugar na kinaroroonan nila. Isang isolated island na tanging ang bahay na iyon lang ang nakatirik. f**k!