VALERIA SERRANO: Forbidden Temptation [L.O.D.O S#2]

Chapter 7

VALERIA SERRANO'S POV

The man slowly turned around, and for a split second, my heart skipped a beat. Relief washed over me… only to be replaced instantly by anger.

It was one of my men.

I angrily yanked my gun away from him, the metal almost scraping against my palm as I scratched my head in frustration.

"Put*ngina.." I snapped, "ANO BANG GINAGAWA MO?!" my voice is sharp enough to make him flinch.

“Do you know what would’ve happened if I had pulled the trigger?! You’d be dead right now!” muling sigaw ko at hindi talaga maitago ang inis sa kanya.

He raised his hands in surrender, his eyes wide and apologetic. “Sorry, ma’am… I was just patrolling the area,” he stammered, his tone hurried but sincere.

Huminga ako ng malalim. Pilot na ikinakalma ang sarili kahit na inis na inis talaga ako sa kanya. At sa inis ko ay kulang na lang ihampas ko sa kanya itong hawak kong b*ril.

My eyes didn’t leave his face as I shook my head, muttering under my breath, "Pambihira talaga..."

Makalipas ang ilang minuto at ibinaba ko na ang b*ril. “Get out of here. Go back to your post,” utos ko. At hindi na nakatingin sa kanya.

Matapos kong sabihin iyon ay narinig ko na ang paghakbang niya hanggang sa nakalayo na siya. At bumalik na sa pagiging tahimik ang buong lugar.

I exhaled sharply, running a hand over my face. “Idiots…” I muttered, the anger slowly melting into a mix of tension and worry.

I glanced around the dimly lit hallway, alert once more. Better safe than sorry.

Tuwid akong nakatayo habang iniikot ang tingin sa buong hallway. Tahimik na nagmamanman nang biglang tumunog ang aking cellphone.

Mula sa aking bulsa ay kinuha ko ang cellphone at agad na kumunot ang noo ko ng mabasa ko ang pangalan ni Maximilian sa screen.

Curiosity and unease tangled in my chest as I opened the message.

The Sovrano wants to see you. – Max

My brows furrowed, Why now? Why would he call for me?

A hundred thoughts raced through my mind, each more dangerous than the last. Had I done something wrong? Or was this… something else entirely?

I stared at the screen, my heart thudding against my ribs.

"Baka naman may gusto ulit siyang ipagawa sa akin?" sa isipan ko at muling ibinulsa ang cellphone.

Agad akong tumalikod sa hallway. Nagsimulang humakbang patungo sa unang palapag kung saan matatagpuan si Sovrano.

~~~~~

REIJI ERICKSON VEYNAR’S POV

The office smelled faintly of coffee and old papers, a stark contrast to the chaos of the night before. I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temple as my superior’s sharp gaze fixed on me.

“Reiji,” he started, voice calm but edged with authority. “Give me an update. What do we know about the anonymous tip and the shooter in that abandoned mansion?”

Isang malalim na paghinga ang aking binitawan. At nang tumingala ako ay muli kong naalala ang nangyari ng gabing iyon. Ang pagtama ng b*la sa kanyang ulo... ang pagkalat ng d*go sa sahig at pagtalsik nito sa damit ko.

Lahat ng iyon ay sariwa pa sa alaala ko at hindi ko alam kung papaano iyon buburahin.

Makalipas ang ilang sandali ay umayos ako ng upo at seryosong hinarap ang superior ko.

“Sir,” I began, keeping my tone measured, “the man we encountered was neutralized by an unknown shooter. We didn’t identify the shooter directly, only the aftermath. Whoever fired the shot had precision and timing that suggests training beyond normal street-level criminals.”

Nagsalubong ang kilay ng superior. Ilang segundo niya akong tinitigan bago siya muling nagsalita.

“Any leads on the anonymous sender?”

Dismayado akong umiling.

“The message came from an untraceable number. No metadata, no history. Whoever sent it knew we would respond, which means they’re watching, monitoring our moves," paliwanag ko at mas lalo lang itong nagtaka.

He leaned back, steepling his fingers.

“So, someone is orchestrating this, and they wanted that man silenced before he could speak?”

I nodded. “Exactly. The shooter didn’t aim to kill everyone, just that one target. Whoever it was, they wanted information contained. Whoever gave the order knows what’s at stake, and they’re playing smart.”

Naghari ang ilang segundong katahimikan sa pagitan namin. Hanggang sa muli itong nagsalita at inilapag sa harapan ko ang isang brown envelope.

“Reiji,” aniya at sinalubong ang aking tingin.

“I want you on this. You and your team. Track this down before they make the next move. And… be careful. Whoever’s behind this isn’t just dangerous... they’re well organized.”

I nodded, my jaw tightening.

“Understood, sir. I’ll get it handled.”

Pagkatapos niyon ay tumalikod na ito at bumalik sa kanyang opisina. Naiwan akong mag-isa at tahimik na nakatitig sa mga picture na kinuhanan sa mismong crime scene. At habang ginagawa ko iyon ay mapapapikit na lamang ako dahil muling umaalingawngaw ang iba't-ibang tunog ng b*ril sa utak ko.

"Not again..." I whispered beneath my breathe. Trying to calm myself and thank goodness it worked.

Umigting ang aking panga at isa-isang inayos ang mga kalat sa harapan ko.

I planned on going over the preliminary plan with my team, outlining the safest approach to investigate the abandoned mansion when my phone buzzed.

Frowning, I picked it up. The number was unregistered. My thumb hovered over the screen as I swiped it open.

At natigilan ako ng binuksan ko ang message at nabasa ko ang pangalan ni Valerie.

I blinked a couple of times. Sinisiguro na hindi ako namamalikmata sa nakita ko. At nang imulat ko ang mga mata ko ay nandoon pa din ang text message.

Before I could even properly process, another notification appeared.

"I want to meet you."

And there's an address after that message.

My hand tightened around the phone. As the words burned into my mind. My pulse spiked, my focus splitting between the mission and… her.

I didn’t respond immediately. I just stared at the screen, fighting the urge to call her right then and there, knowing I shouldn’t.

Not now.. not yet because of my job. But the thought of ignoring her… that was unbearable.

I looked up at my team, who were waiting for instructions, their eyes expectant.

Everything else faded. My mind was stuck on that message, and I couldn't name the feeling I had inside.

I've been waiting to see her again. At bakit ngayon pa iyon nangyari kung kailan sobrang dami kong ta-trababuin.

Still.... I had to see her.

Kaya agad kong tinapos ang lahat at nagpaalam na aalis na muna. Dali-dali akong nagtungo sa parking lot. Binuhay ko ang makina ng aking sasakyan upang puntahan siya.

TO BE CONTINUED....