Bound by Bullets and Vows

CHAPTER 5

THE NEXT DAY, Reese wore simple jeans, a loose hoodie, and sneakers. Her hair was tied back, and her face was bare of makeup. There was no driver and no silver mask. Today was just her.

She grabbed a reusable bag and headed out.

Malapit lang ang supermarket sa apartment niya. It was only three blocks away.

Nang makalabas siya ng apartment, doon lamang niya naramdaman ang pakiramdam na walang matang nakatingin sa kaniya.

Ngumiti siya at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad.

Inside the supermarket, she moved through the aisles with practiced ease. She selects essentials such as rice, canned goods, vegetables, and instant coffee. Hindi siya kumuha ng marami dahil hindi naman siya marunong magluto. Siguradong masisira lamang ang mga ito.

May alam naman siya kaunti sa pagluluto pero mabuti na kung hindi ito sunog.

At the checkout, she paid in cash and thanked the cashier with a small nod. On her way out, she nearly collided with someone.

“Sorry,” they both said at the same time.

Nag-angat ng tingin si Reese.

So did Alaric.

Hindi inaasahan ni Reese na makikita niya si Alaric sa supermarket kaya naman hindi niya naitago ang gulat sa kaniyang mukha. But then she relaxed.

But Alaric noticed the details first—the way she held her bag—light but alert, and the quick assessment in her eyes before she relaxed. She wasn’t careless. She was observant.

“Okay ka lang?” tanong ni Alaric. He made his voice more casual.

Tumango si Reese. “Yes,” she replied. Pasimple niyang pinagmasdan ang taong nasa harapan niya. ‘He was indeed more handsome in person.’

This is the second time he has seen the head of the Volkov Empire in person. The first time was—he was fighting for his life.

Isang ngiti ang gumuhit sa labi ni Reese. She gave a polite nod. Alaric stepped aside to let her pass, but the bag she carried tore slightly at the seam. A can rolled out and clattered onto the floor.

Hindi naman alam ni Alaric kung ano ang sumapi sa kaniya sa mga oras na ‘yon. He bent down instantly and picket it up, handing it back to her. “Here.”

“Thank you,” Reese said in surprise. She didn’t expect that the ruthless head of the Volkov Empire would help her to pick up her things.

Alaric only shrugged.

Their eyes met for a brief moment longer than necessary.

Sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon, si Alaric ang unang nag-iwas ng tingin. Hindi niya kayang magkipagtitigan sa babaeng nasa kaniyang harapan. Pero hindi niya alam, parang pamilyar ito sa kaniya pero hindi naman niya matandaan kung saan niya ito nakita.

Reese nodded once again, and she walked past him. For some reason, her heart was beating just a little faster than before.

Alaric watched her go, something unsettled stirring beneath his calm exterior.

He exhaled and went to the parking lot.

He didn’t know why, but he had the distinct feeling that their paths would cross again.

Soon.

ALARIC was playing with his signet ring on his finger while sitting and leaning on his chair when Julian entered his office.

“Boss, we found her,” Julian said.

Mabilis na napatigil si Alaric. “The bracelet?”

Tumango si Julian. He placed the tablet he was holding on the table. “The chain bracelet­—silver alloy, intricately woven with gemstones. Custom craftsmanship. And no duplicates in circulation. Sinubukan ko na ring tignan kung sino ang pamilyang nagmamay-ari pero hindi ko mahanap. There were no records.”

The screen lit up.

“And Boss, you had met her.”

Kumunot ang nuo ni Alaric pero ang atensiyon niya ay nasa tablet.

Lumabas sa footage ng isang street camera ang isang babae mula sa isang supermarket. She wore simple clothes, bun-tied hair, and a reusable bag slung over one shoulder. Nothing about her drew attention—except the faint glint at her wrist as she adjusted the strap. At ito ang bagay na hindi niya nakita.

Alaric zoomed in.

The bracelet came into sharp focus, almost made Alaric not breathe.

The memory of that rainy night three years ago hit him all at once. It was overseas, and the rain soaked the pavement. He was being chased by his enemies, and a stranger’s hands steadied his shaking frame, calling an ambulance, saving his life when he should have died.

“Nasaan siya?” tanong ni Alaric habang hindi inaalis ang tingin sa screen.

“I have already looked into it. She was living in a simple apartment, three blocks away from the supermarket.”

“Her name?”

“Rica Agnes.” Tugon ni Julian.

Hindi alam ni Alaric kung ano ang dapat niyang maramdaman sa mga oras. He was overjoyed that his savior had been found. Matagal na niya itong hinahanap pero hindi niya ito mahanapan. He wanted to return the favor.

“Her life? How was it?” Alaric asked.

“She’s a hacker, and she’s making income by it to support her living. Freelance IT work and no visible ties to any major networks.

“Oh.” Napatango si Alaric saka natawa ng mahina nang maalala niya ito. “She doesn’t look like one.”

Umayos ng upo si Alaric. He crossed his arms as if grounding himself. Napaisip siya. The woman who had pulled him back from the edge of death had done so without questions, without expectations.

“Julian, are you sure you have investigated her life?” Alaric asked.

“As per your instructions, Boss, I didn’t dig into her life. Just the basics.”

Tumango si Alaric. “Good.”

“Boss, what is your plan?” tanong ni Julian.

Isang ngiti ang gumuhit sa labi ni Alaric. “What do you think?”

“Pero, Boss, hindi ba may engagement ka?”

Nawala ang ngiti sa labi ni Alaric na para bang gumuho ang kaniyang mga pangarap sa isang iglap. He looked at Julian. “You shattered my dream.”

Nag-iwas lang naman ng tingin si Julian at hindi na nagsalita. Looks like this time, the feared mercenary leader will decide out of the line.

Muling napatitig si Alaric sa screen ng tablet. Three years ago, she had saved his life and vanished. Now fate had placed her directly in his path. Maybe Rica Agnes didn’t remember him, but he always remembered that night as if it were already engraved in his mind.

And this time, he wasn’t letting her disappear.