The Maid's Daughter

CHAPTER 3

Sunod-sunod ang putok ng baril sa labas ng mansion.Parang bawat tunog ay direktang tumatama sa dibdib ko. My hands were shaking uncontrollably habang mahigpit akong nakahawak sa polo ni Alessandro. Pero siya? Calm.Too calm. Parang sanay na sanay na siya sa ganitong klase ng gulo.

“Boss, may pumasok sa east wing!” sigaw ng isang bodyguard habang tumatakbo.

Alessandro’s jaw tightened.“How many?”

“Six armed men.”one of his men answer

“Kill them.”galit niyang utos

Muntik akong mapaatras sa paraan niya sabihin iyon Cold,Emotionless Parang normal lang ang lahat. Bigla niya akong hinila papunta sa likod niya nang may isang malakas na putok na tumama sa pader malapit sa amin. Napasinghap ako.

“Fuck.” Agad niya akong niyakap palapit sa dibdib niya habang mabilis kaming gumalaw sa hallway.

“Keep your head down,” utos niya.

Nanginginig akong tumango.Everything was happening too fast.The mansion that looked elegant and peaceful yesterday…Now looked like a war zone. May mga bodyguard na nakaposisyon sa bawat sulok habang nagpapalitan ng putok sa mga kalaban Broken glass covered the floor,The lights flickered.At sa gitna ng lahat Si Alessandro pa rin ang pinaka-nakakatakot.

“Marco!” sigaw niya.

Biglang lumitaw si Marco habang may dugo sa gilid ng labi niya.“Tatlo na lang natitira.”

“Find who sent them.”sabi ni alessandro

Marco’s face darkened.“You think it’s Salvatore?”

“Most likely.”alessandro answered

Napakunot-noo ako.Who the hell is Salvatore?

Before I could ask, biglang may lumabas na armadong lalaki mula sa hallway sa harap namin.

“DE LUCA!”

Everything happened in seconds.

Mabilis akong itinulak ni Alessandro sa likod niya habang sabay niyang binaril ang lalaki.

BANG! Nanigas ako.The man fell instantly Blood spread across the floor At doon ko unang nakita si Alessandro pumatay.My stomach twisted Hindi ko alam kung matatakot ba ako o maaawa Because the way Alessandro looked afterward…Parang wala lang Like killing was just another normal thing for him.Mabilis siyang lumingon sa akin.

His eyes softened slightly.“Are you hurt?”

Hindi ako agad nakasagot Nakatitig lang ako sa lalaking nakahandusay sa sahig.Dead Because of him.Because of the man currently protecting me.

“Sofia.”

Dahan-dahan akong napatingin sa kanya At doon ko napansin May dugo rin siya sa balikat Nanlaki mata ko.“You’re injured!”

“It’s nothing.”he calmly said

“Nothing?!” halos pasigaw kong sabi. “You’re bleeding!”

Biglang natahimik mga bodyguards sa paligid namin Parang shocked sila na sinisigawan ko si Alessandro De Luca Pero wala akong pake Mabilis kong hinawakan braso niya.

“Kailangan nating gamutin ‘yan.”sabi ko

“Later.”mahina niyang Sabi

“No. Now.”ma awtoridad Kong Sabi

His eyes narrowed slightly.“You’re ordering me around?”

“If I have to.”sabi ko

For one second…Parang gusto niyang ngumiti.Then suddenly—

Another gunshot echoed This time mas malapit Agad akong napayakap kay Alessandro sa gulat Ramdam kong tumigas katawan niyaSlowly…His hand moved to my waist Mahigpit,Possessive At hindi ko alam kung bakit…Pero kahit may chaos sa paligid namin, mas aware ako sa init ng katawan niya kaysa sa mga putok ng baril.

“Boss,” seryosong sabi ni Marco, “secured na ang mansion.”

Tumango si Alessandro.“Double the guards.”

“Yes.”sagot ni Marco

Pagkatapos noon, agad niya akong hinila palayo sa hallway Tahimik lang ako habang sinusundan siya Pero habang naglalakad kami…Hindi mawala sa isip ko iyong lalaking binaril niya.

“You killed him,” mahina kong bulong.

Napatigil siya.Tahimik lang siya sandali bago tumingin sa akin.

“If I didn’t,” malamig niyang sabi, “he would’ve killed you.”

Wala akong naisagot Because deep inside…Alam kong tama siya.Pagdating namin sa room niya, agad niya isinara ang pinto His room was huge Dark walls,Whiskey shelves, Black furniture,Very him.

“Sit.”malamig niyang Sabi

Tahimik akong umupo sa couch habang siya naman ay naghubad ng coat niya At doon ko mas nakita ang dugo sa balikat niya.

“s**t,” bulong ko.The bullet grazed him Pero malalim pa rin Lumapit ako agad sa kanya.

“First aid kit?”mabilis kong tanong

Tinuro niya drawer malapit sa bed Mabilis kong kinuha iyon bago bumalik sa harap niya.

“Take off your shirt.”Bigla siyang natahimik At doon ko lang narealize sinabi ko My cheeks instantly heated.

“I-I mean—”

A small smirk appeared on his lips.Cute,No,Hot.Dangerously hot.“You’re blushing, princess.”

Napairap ako kahit kinakabahan.“Kasalanan mo.”

“Interesting.”Slowly, he started unbuttoning his black shirt At bawat bukas ng buttons…Mas lalo akong nahihirapang huminga.God,His body was covered in tattoos Defined chest, Hard abs,Broad shoulders Parang ginawa para maging tuksoHindi ko namalayang natulala na pala ako.

“See something you like?” he teased softly.

Agad akong napaiwas ng tingin.“Mayabang.”

Mahina siyang natawa.And damn.That sound did something to me.Tahimik kong nilinis sugat niya habang pilit iniiwas ang tingin sa katawan niya Pero mahirap Especially when he keeps staring at me.

“You’re shaking,” sabi niya.

“Kasi may barilan kanina!”sagot ko

“And yet you’re still here.”he softly said

Napatingin ako sa kanya.He was watching me carefullyParang hinihintay niya akong matakot Na lumayo Pero hindi ko magawa.

“I should hate you,” mahina kong sabi.

His expression darkened slightly.“I know.”

“You kill people.”Tahimik siya.“You’re dangerous.” mahina kon Sabi hjabng nililinis sugar niya

“Yes.”mababang boses na Sabi niya

“But…”Napatigil ako.

“But what?”tanong nya

Huminga ako nang malalim.“Why do I feel safe with you?”

Biglang natahimik buong kwarto.His jaw clenched.Parang nahihirapan siyang sagutin ako.Then slowly…

Hinawakan niya baba ko.“Don’t say things like that.”

“Why?”tanong ko

“Because you make me want things I can’t have.”he gently said

My breath caught.“What do you mean?”

His thumb brushed softly against my lower lip.“This life destroys everything good.”Mababa boses niya.“And you…” he whispered, “are too good for me.”

My heart ached unexpectedly.Hindi ko alam bakit parang nasasaktan akong marinig iyon.

“Who said I’m good?” mahina kong tanong.

Bigla siyang ngumiti nang bahagya.Dangerously handsome.

“Trust me, princesa.” Lumapit siya nang kaunti. “Compared to me… you’re an angel.”

Mabilis t***k ng puso ko habang sobrang lapit ng mukha niya.His eyes dropped to my lips again.And this time…Hindi siya umiwas Neither did I.Slowly…Very slowly…Lumapit siya.

Ramdam ko init ng hininga niya.One more inch…And he’d kiss me.Pero bago pa mangyari iyon—

BANG!

Biglang bumukas ang pinto.

“Boss—”Napahinto si Marco nang makita kami.

My face instantly turned red habang mabilis akong umatras kay Alessandro.Pero si Alessandro?Mukhang gusto niyang pumatay.

“What?” malamig niyang tanong.

Marco awkwardly cleared his throat.“We caught one alive.”

Agad nag-iba expression ni Alessandro.The softness disappeared instantly.Mafia boss mode again.“Where is he?”

“Basement.”sagot ni Marco

Tumayo si Alessandro habang muling sinusuot ang shirt niya.Then he looked at me.“Stay here.”

“What? No—”pagtutul ko

“Sofia.”he said and looked at me

Pero this time…Hindi ako natakot.Instead, I stood up and crossed my arms.

“I’m coming with you.”I bravely said

Both men stared at me.Marco even looked impressed.Pero si Alessandro?Mukhang naiinis at natutuwa nang sabay.

“You don’t know what you’re asking.”he said calmly

“Then let me see your world.”I said

His eyes darkened.“Careful what you wish for, princesa.”

Because somehow…Pakiramdam ko once makita ko ang tunay niyang mundo There would be no turning back.

“Sofia,” malamig niyang sabi habang dahan-dahang lumalapit sa akin, “you don’t understand what you’re asking.”

“Then make me understand.” I answered directly

His jaw tightened.“Stop being stubborn.”

“And stop treating me like a child.”mabilis Kong sabi

Biglang natahimik si Marco sa gilid.Mukhang entertained na entertained siya.

“You know,” nakangising sabi niya, “I kinda like her, boss.”

“Shut up, Marco.”pasigaw na Sabi ni Alessandro

Napatawa ako nang mahina.At parang lalo lang nainis si Alessandro dahil agad niya akong tiningnan.

“You think this is funny?”tanong niya

“No,” mabilis kong sagot. “Pero hindi mo puwedeng sabihin sakin na nasa panganib ako tapos wala kang ipapaliwanag.”

Tahimik siya.Then slowly…He sighed.Parang pagod na pagod na siya.“Fine.”

Nanlaki mata ko.“What?”

“You wanted to see my world?” malamig niyang sabi. “Then come.”

Mabilis akong napalunok.For some reason…Parang kinabahan ako bigla sa gusto ko.Pero huli na.Tahimik kaming naglakad palabas ng room niya.

Habang pababa kami ng hagdan, mas lalo kong napapansin gaano kabigat atmosphere ng mansion.The guards looked tense,Some had blood on their clothes,Some avoided looking at Alessandro directly.Fear.....Everyone feared him.At habang sinusundan ko siya…Mas lalo kong naiisip kung gaano karaming sikreto ang tinatago niya.Pagdating namin sa basement hallway, agad akong nakaramdam ng lamig The place looked dark and intimidatin Concrete walls,Dim lights And faint screams somewhere in the distance.My stomach twisted.

“Still want to continue?” tanong ni Alessandro nang hindi lumilingon.

Huminga ako nang malalim.“Yes.”

Naramdaman kong tumingin siya sa akin.Parang checking if I was lying.Then he opened the metal door.At doon ko nakita.A man tied to a chair.

Dugo ang mukha. Halos hindi na makadilat.May dalawang bodyguard sa gilid habang si Marco naman ay nakasandal sa mesa.The moment the tied man saw Alessandro—

He panicked.“P-Please—

”

“Who sent you?” malamig na tanong ni Alessandro.