Dangerous Love

“THANK YOU.” Saad ng babaeng customer bago nito kinuha ang kape at umalis. Sumulyap pa ito upang tingnan ang lalaking nasa likod ng counter—ang barista ng Laurent’s café. The handsome man whom women always seek when they come into the café. And that handsome man was no other than Evron Aiden Rios-Laurent, the firstborn of the Rios-Laurent Family, and also the Chief of Black Lotus, whom he inherited from his mother, no other than the powerful woman in the underground organization, Nylah Laurent and Ashriel Rios. The café smelled like roasted hazelnut and burnt caramel. Nakatayo si Evron sa likod ng counter habang naka-rolled up ang suot nitong sleeve hanggang sa siko. He looked cool in his brown apron as he poured steamed milk into the cup. The hiss of the espresso machine blended with the low chatter from customers. Sa mga nanonood na hindi nakakaalam ng tunay niyang pagkatao, isa lamang siyang ordinaryong barista. But then his phone, which was in his pocket, vibrated. Hindi niya agad ito tiningnan. He finished the latte and slid it across the counter with a faint smile. “Ingat po, mainit.” Only when he turned toward the sink did he unlock the message. Warehouse 17 was compromised. Internal breach suspected. Shipment rerouted. Two men down. And the message came from his right-hand man. Umigting ang panga ni Evron pero nanatili siyang kalmado. Warehouse 17 wasn’t a minor site. It handled sensitive transfers—intel, not weapons. And someone had access to sabotage an operation. Hinubad niya ang suot na apron. He folded it neatly as if his shift had simply ended early. “Close the café at six,” he told his staff calmly. “Inventory can wait until tomorrow.” “Yes, Boss.” Tugon ng mga ito. No one questioned him. They never did. Thirty minutes later, Evron was already inside his black sedan, and cutting through the traffic smoothly. Hindi mabasa ang ekspresyon ng kaniyang mukha habang nakikinig siya sa tawag ni Kaiden, his right-hand man. At ito ang pinagkakatiwalaan niya sa lahat tungkol sa Black Lotus. Kaiden could even act on his behalf. He prefers a quiet life. That’s why he chose to stay at the café. It was his right-hand man who managed the Black Lotus. Unless his presence was needed, Kaiden won’t call him. Pero iba ngayon dahil isa sa mga warehouse nila ang nasabotahe. “Two dead? No other injured?” he asked. “Yes, Chief.” “How about the surveillance?” “Wiped.” Hindi na nagtaka si Evron kung nabura man ang surveillance feed. “Lock down all internal communications. No one moves assets without my direct order,” he ordered in a cold voice. “Yes, Chief.” Dumilim ang anyo ni Evron. Someone was messing with him. And he didn’t like being provoked. Evron arrived at the headquarters and met the commanders of Black Lotus. The old Commanders had retired, and they were replaced with young and new ones, but those who replaced them are not easy to trifling with. They were the son and daughters of the former commanders. An hour later, the issue was temporarily contained. The Chief of Black Lotus had stepped in, given his orders, and dispatched his loyal men to investigate the accident. Pagod na lumabas ng headquarters si Evron. But as he slid back into his car, exhaustion embraced him. Hinilot niya ang sentido at pagkalipas ng ilang minuto, pinaandar niya ang makina ng kotse at umalis na sa lugar na ‘yon. Sanay na siyang mag-isa na bumibiyahe. He doesn’t even have escorts or bodyguards tailing him. He just wanted to be ordinary. And being alone, with no entourage or bodyguards tailing him, gave him the kind of peace he wanted and made him feel like an ordinary person. Sino ba ang mag-aakala na sa likod ng pagiging barista, isa siyang lider ng isang makaangyarihang underground organization at kontrolado niya ang buong Europa. He drove without music. Pero naging alerto siya nang mapansin niya ang nakabuntot sa kaniyang bigbike. Suddenly, the motorcycle swerved sharply in front of his car. Evron reacted instantly, slamming the brakes. The sedan screeched with the tires burning rubber against the asphalt. Hindi nag-alinlangan ang rider. Naglabas ito ng baril at binaril ang kotse ni Evron. The front tires exploded. “Damn…” mahinang mura ni Evron. And the car lurched violently before halting. Binuksan ni Evron ang pinto ng kotse nang tumigil ito, saka siya lumabas. The motorcyclist dismounted smoothly, wearing a black helmet, black jacket, and slim build. And based on posture alone—female. “Anong kailangan mo?” tanong ni Evron. Hindi sumagot ang babae at bigla na lamang itong umatake. Her first strike was fast—a low kick aimed at his knee. Evron twisted, deflecting, but she followed with an elbow towards his ribs. Evron blocked, but the force surprised him. She was strong. Not reckless, but trained. He counted with a palm strike toward her collarbone, but she ducked under it and spun, her heel grazing his shoulder. The impact forced him to step back. Interesting… Evron thought. But familiar. Tiningnan ni Evron ang kalaban. Hindi niya alam, ngunit parang may bumubulong sa kaniya na umatras. And he doesn’t know why. The woman lunged again. This time she aimed higher—fist toward his jaw. He managed to catch her wrist mid-air, twisting slightly, but she anticipated it. Her other hand struck his side, blade flashing briefly. Mabilis na binitawan ni Evron ang babae nang makaramdam siya ng sakit. Blood seeped through his shirt. Mahinang natawa si Evron dahil sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon na someone has managed to bleed him. “You’re here to kill me,” Evron stated. She just tilted her head slightly, then attacked again. Their movements became a blur of impact and counter-impact. Evron managed to sweep her leg, sending her off balance—but she rolled fluidly and sprang back up. Tipid siyang napangiti. This woman was extraordinary. A final exchange—she slipped past his guard, driving her knee into his abdomen. The air rushed out of him. Before he could fully recover, she shoved him backward. Tumama si Evron sa hood ng kotse. And in one swift motion, she drew a gun and aimed directly at his chest. Sa mga oras na ‘yon, parang biglang tumigil ang mundo. Evron looked at her—really looked at her. Her helmet was hiding her face, but she held the guns with steady hands. If she pulls the trigger, katapusan na ni Evron. Hindi nagsalita si Evron. He didn’t beg to live, nor did he move. He simply met her aim with calm acceptance. “Do it,” he said quietly. Her finger tightened slightly on the trigger. Then she froze. It was a subtle expression, but Evron saw it. The gun in her hands wavered—just a fraction. Nakatitig na lamang ito sa kaniya. Hindi sa dibdib niya kung saan nakatutok ang hawak nitong baril kundi sa kaniyang mukha. As if trying to remember something. Walang umiimik sa kanilang dalawa. Wala ring gumagalaw. Namayani ang katahimikan. And something shifted in the air between them. A flicker. Recognition? Confusion? Pain? Hindi masabi ni Evron kung ano. Her grip on the gun tightened again­—then loosened. Hindi pa rin gumagalaw si Evron sa kinatatayuan at hindi siya nagsalita. If he startled her now, she might recover and finish the job. She took one step back, still staring at him. Even through the helmet, he could feel it—her gaze tracing his features, memorizing them. Or comparing them to something buried or dead. Kapagkuwan, umikot ito after she holstered her weapon. And within seconds, she was back on the motorcycle. The engine roared to life. Evron stepped forward despite the blood soaking through his side. “Who sent you?” he called out. Sandaling napatigil ang babae bago nito pinaharurot ang motor palayo. Nanumbalik ang katahimikan ng gabi. Evron stood there, breathing steadily as pain radiated through his torso, but his mind was elsewhere. She had the shot, but he saw it. The woman hesitated. Napailing na lamang si Evron saka napaatras sa nasira niyang sasakyan habang kinukuha ang sariling selpon sa bulsa. “Track every CCTV within a five-kilometer radius,” he ordered calmly. “I want the bike identified.” Then he ended the call. Evron grunted as he pressed his wound. “Dammit.” Tinawagan niya si Kaiden. “Chief?” “I’m somewhere. Come and pick me up.” “Yes, Chief. I’ll ask Nivan to track your location,” tugon ni Kaiden, at naririnig ni Evron mula sa kabilang linya ang mabilis nitong yabag. Evron ended the call and leaned on the hood of his car. He looked down the empty road where the woman disappeared. “Interesting,” he muttered.