Collision of Hearts

Chapter 2

Hindi siya mapakali.

Alas-dose na ng hatinggabi, pero gising na gising pa rin si Skyra Monteverde. Sa loob ng villa na tahimik na tila sementeryo, ang tanging tunog lang ay ang tikatik ng ulan sa labas — at ang malakas na t***k ng puso niya.

Nakahiga siya sa malaking kama, balot ng mamahaling kumot, pero parang may yelong nakabalot sa kaluluwa niya.

Hindi siya makatulog.

Hindi dahil sa lamig. Hindi rin dahil sa takot.

Pero dahil sa gutom. Gutom sa sagot.

Bakit ako buhay?

Bakit ako narito?

At nasaan sina Captain Reyes at Lea?

Pumikit siya. Pero imbes na antok, mga alaala ng pagbagsak ng jet ang bumalot sa isip niya. Ang malalakas na sigaw. Ang apoy. Ang tunog ng bakal na humahampas sa lupa.

Ang huling sigaw ni Captain Reyes…

Ang takot sa mata ni Lea.

Buhay pa ba sila?

Nasaan sila ngayon?

Nag-init ang dibdib niya. Halos mabasag ang ngipin sa kakakagat habang pinipigilan ang sariling umiyak.

Hindi siya pwedeng umiyak.

Hindi siya pwedeng lumambot.

Hindi ngayon.

Hindi sa isla ng lalaking nagkukubli sa ngiti at boses na parang yelo — si Damon Velasquez. Ang lalaking nagligtas sa kanya, pero malinaw ding may tinatago.

Tumayo siya. Tahimik. Dahan-dahan.

Wala siyang suot kundi ang oversized white shirt na galing kay Damon. Wala siyang bra. Wala ring saplot sa ilalim. Pero wala siyang pakialam. Ang kailangan niya ay malaman ang totoo.

Naglakad siya palabas ng silid. Tahimik ang hakbang sa marmol na sahig.

Hindi pa niya kabisado ang buong villa, pero may isang parte ng hallway na nagmarka sa isip niya.

Yung pintuang may gasgas sa gilid ng panel.

High-level security door. Pero parang madalas gamitin. At kung tama ang kutob niya…

May tinatago roon si Damon.

’Wag kang magkamali, Skyra. Isa lang ang mali mo ngayon… baka ikaw na ang susunod.

Click.

Beep. ERROR.

She hissed. “Locked, of course.”

Pero may naalala siya — isang trick na natutunan niya noong pina-hack niya ang isang luxury banking server sa Switzerland. Override algorithm. Reboot key. Finger pad bypass.

She tried it.

Click.

Success.

Nang bumukas ang pinto, malamig na hangin ang sumalubong sa kanya — kasama ng ilaw na galing sa dose-dosenang screens na buhay pa rin kahit hatinggabi.

At doon niya nakita ang buong katotohanan.

Ang mga monitor — live feeds sa iba’t ibang parte ng isla. May infrared heat trackers. May satellite overlays. At sa gitna…

Isang 3D hologram ng eroplano niya.

The crash site. The wreckage. Still smoking. Marked in red.

Napalunok siya.

At sa isang panel pa sa gilid, isang folder… encrypted… pero may heading:

“Operation Valkyrie: Skyra Monteverde – Risk Profile / Target Class A”

Pumikit siya, ninamnam ang bigat ng nakita. Parang may sumabog sa dibdib niya.

So tama ang kutob ko. Someone wants me dead.

And Damon knew.

And he’s not telling me why.

Bago pa siya makapag-isip kung paano ire-react, isang boses ang bumasag sa katahimikan.

“You just can’t follow rules, can you?”

Malamig. Kalma. Pero may tinig ng babala.

Napalingon siya. Nakahawak pa ang isang kamay niya sa edge ng console. Nang tumama ang tingin niya kay Damon — shirtless, nakabukas ang robe, at madilim ang titig — hindi niya mapigilang muling maalala ang halik kagabi.

Pero ngayon, hindi iyon ang nasa isip niya.

“Nasaan sila?” agad niyang tanong, diretsong tumutok sa kanya ang mga mata. “Captain Reyes. Lea. Buhay ba sila?”

Saglit na katahimikan.

Mula sa pintuan, pumasok si Damon, dahan-dahan, parang isang predator sa sariling teritoryo. Umupo siya sa harap ng console, at pinatay ang ilang feed, maliban sa dalawang monitor — na malinaw na nagpapakita ng isang medic tent at isang drone cam na naka-hover sa crash site.

“Buhay sila,” sagot niya. “Stabilized but injured. Lalo na si Captain Reyes — fractured ribs, mild concussion.”

Hindi gumalaw si Skyra, pero ramdam ang kaba sa dibdib niya.

“Bakit hindi mo sinabi agad?” bulong niya, mapait.

“Because you weren’t ready to handle the truth,” sagot ni Damon, tahimik pero mabigat. “And you were too busy breaking into my command room.”

Lumapit pa si Skyra, hindi na nagpakumbaba. “What’s going to happen to them?”

Saglit siyang tinitigan ni Damon bago muling tumingin sa monitor.

“My team will extract them before sunrise. May darating na stealth transport tonight. They’ll be airlifted to a secure facility in Manila for full medical care. Monteverde security will be contacted once they’re stable.”

Napakapit si Skyra sa gilid ng console, napalunok ng mahigpit.

“So they’ll be safe?”

“Yes,” sagot ni Damon. “I give you my word.”

Tumigil si Skyra. Napapikit siya, bahagyang napayuko.

Then…

“What about me?” tanong niya, mas mababa ang boses.

Damon didn’t answer right away.

Then slowly, he stood.

Lumapit siya kay Skyra, hanggang halos magkatapat na ang mga mukha nila. His eyes burned, but his voice remained calm.

“You’re not going anywhere.”

Napalingon si Skyra. “Excuse me?”

“There’s a kill order on your head,” bulong ni Damon, tuwid ang paningin. “I don’t know who issued it yet. But the crash wasn’t an accident, Skyra. Someone wanted that plane down. And someone knew your exact flight path.”

Nanlamig ang batok niya.

“You’re saying…” mahina niyang bulong. “It was sabotage?”

“Yes.”

At kahit anong tapang ang naipon ni Skyra sa buong buhay niya, ngayon lang siya muling nakaramdam ng tunay na pangamba.

“Who?” tanong niya, pilit pinipigilan ang boses na manginig. “Sino ang may gusto sa buhay ko?”

“I don’t know yet,” sagot ni Damon, walang pag-aalinlangan. “But until I do, this island is the only place where I can guarantee your safety.”

“So you’re keeping me here,” bulalas niya, nangangatog ang galit. “Imprisoned in your paradise.”

“I’m keeping you alive.”

Hindi mapakali si Skyra habang naglalakad sa kahabaan ng hallway. Suot pa rin niya ang oversized white shirt ni Damon — isang temporary shield na kahit paano’y nagtatago sa tensyon na bumabalot sa buong katawan niya. Pero kahit na malambot ang tela, ramdam pa rin niya ang bigat ng pagkakakulong sa paraisong ito.

Hindi ito basta private island.

It was a fortress.

At sa bawat sulok, pakiramdam niya’y may matang nakamasid.

Lumiko siya sa isang pasilyo na hindi niya pa nadaanan. Tahimik. Malinis. Walang katao-tao. Pero may kakaiba. Sa gilid ng dingding, napansin niya ang manipis na guhit — parang hairline fracture sa paneling, halos hindi mo makikita… kung hindi ka sanay maghanap.

“Hmm...” bahagyang kumunot ang noo niya. “Too perfect.”

Humakbang siya palapit. Inilapit ang daliri sa gilid ng panel. May kuryenteng dumaloy sa fingertip niya. Mabilis pero sapat para tumayo ang balahibo niya.

Sensor.

May camera sa likod nito. Hidden. Discreet. At hindi lang isa.

Tumalikod siya at naglakad pa — this time with more purpose. Sa bawat hakbang, mas naging malinaw ang pattern. May sensors sa ceiling corners. May micro-lenses sa hallway lights. At sa floor trims? Motion detectors. Silent. Invisible. Deadly accurate.

Her pulse quickened.

“Not surveillance… military-grade surveillance.”

Ang buong island, parang isang buhay na nilalang na humihinga. At ang bawat paghinga nito, sinusundan siya.

Nakarating siya sa isang veranda na tanaw ang dagat. Napakaganda ng tanawin — horizon that stretched into forever, waves dancing with the wind. Pero hindi iyon ang kinunan ng atensyon niya.

Sa rooftop ng isang nearby structure, may maliit na structure — parang metal antenna, pero masyadong low-profile para maging pang-weather lang.

Satellite uplink.

Encrypted. And live.

Bigla siyang kinilabutan.

Ilan pa ang hindi niya nakikita? Ilan pa ang nakatutok sa bawat kilos niya habang iniisip niya kung paano makakatakas?

She bit her lower lip and stepped back, scanning her surroundings. Walang sign ng ibang tao. But she knew better. Someone was watching. Or maybe… he was.

She closed her eyes for a second, trying to steady her breath. Tumataas na ang paranoia. Pero hindi ito basta takot. Ito’y awareness.

Awareness na bawat galaw niya, may kapalit.

Bawat titig sa camera, may iniipon na data.

Was this how prey felt before the predator struck?

“You think you can control me by watching, Damon?” bulong niya sa sarili habang nakatingin sa isa sa mga discreet lenses. “I’ve been watched my whole life. This won’t break me.”

Humakbang siya pabalik sa villa, this time with a plan.

But then — pagkabalik niya sa hallway, napansin niya ang isang tauhan ni Damon. Naka-black tactical gear, discreet, mukhang hindi naglalakad lang para magbantay. May hawak na tablet — monitoring heat maps, patterns, routes.

Ang island… may patrol.

This isn’t a sanctuary. It’s a prison.

Biglang nag-vibrate ang floor beneath her feet. Barely a tremor. But her senses caught it.

An underground facility?

Bumilis ang t***k ng puso niya.

She turned toward the hallway leading to the east wing. Nakasara ang isang malaking steel door, walang knob, walang keypad. Just a sensor lock.

Skyra narrowed her eyes.

She’d seen these before — sa mga confidential research facilities ng mga kalabang conglomerates. Impossible to break into without access clearance.

Unless… may backdoor.

Napakagat siya sa labi. Her hacker instincts kicked in.

She had to get inside.

But not now. Not yet.

Kailangan niya munang i-map ang buong layout ng isla. Kailangan niya ng tech, ng diversion, at… oras.

Bumalik siya sa kwarto niya, tahimik, mabigat ang isip.

Pagkasara ng pinto, umupo siya sa kama at huminga nang malalim.

“This is no ordinary island. This is a weapon.”

At kung ganito kalawak ang access ni Damon sa surveillance at defense…

Then the enemy she’s running from? Might be closer than she ever imagined.

Maybe Damon wasn’t lying. Maybe someone really was trying to kill her.

And worse… maybe they had help from inside her world.

Her company.

Her family.

Her brother.

“Elian…” she whispered.

Could it be him?

Is he the reason she crash-landed into this prison in paradise?

Napatitig siya sa kisame, sa surveillance lens sa sulok. Hindi niya ito tinakpan.

Gusto niyang makita siya ni Damon habang sinisimulan niyang buuin ang mga piraso ng puzzle.

Because if this island was a trap...

She was going to set it on fire.

Malalim na ang gabi, pero hindi pa rin matahimik ang isip ni Skyra.

She needed control.

Not just over the island — but over him.

Naglakad siya papunta sa marble bathroom ng villa, bitbit ang towel at ang suot pa rin niyang oversized shirt. But this time, wala siyang balak na magtago.

Pagpasok niya, bumungad ang jacuzzi-style tub — malawak, mainit ang usok ng tubig, may ambient lighting mula sa ilalim ng tubig. The air smelled like eucalyptus and danger.

Hinubad niya ang shirt, dahan-dahan. Walang pagmamadali. Hubo’t hubad siyang lumusong sa tubig, hinayaan ang sarili sa gitna ng warmth and silence.

She leaned her head back, exposing her throat, her breasts breaking the surface. Her legs stretched languidly under the water, toes brushing the other side of the tub.

Hindi siya naliligo para mag-relax.

She was waiting.

And he didn’t disappoint.

Click.

The door opened. Tahimik. Walang ingay. Pero alam niyang siya iyon.

Damon.

“Didn’t anyone teach you to knock?” she said without turning, her voice smooth as silk.

“You left the door unlocked,” malamig ang tono niya. “Intentional?”

She smiled slightly. “Maybe. Or maybe I just wanted to see how far you’d go.”

Lumapit siya. Nakasuot ng itim na robe, bahagyang nakabukas. Walang sapin sa paa. Tahimik ang kilos pero ramdam ang presence niya — dominating, like a shadow that wraps around your spine.

“You’re testing me,” bulong niya habang nakatingin sa katawan ni Skyra, basa’t umaalon sa ilalim ng tubig.

“And you’re watching,” sagot ni Skyra, eyes still closed. “So who’s really in control, Damon?”

Tahimik.

Hanggang sa bumaba siya ng robe. One piece at a time.

Skyra opened her eyes — at hindi niya napigilan ang sarili.

Damon was built like a weapon — lean muscle, taut skin, scars that hinted at wars fought in silence. He stepped into the tub, unbothered by the intimacy.

Ngayon, magkaharap na sila sa gitna ng tubig.

Nakangiti si Skyra — pero ang mata niya, matalim.

“Still think I’m your guest?”

“No,” bulong ni Damon habang umupo sa tapat niya, ang binti nila halos magdikit. “You’re something else.”

Their knees brushed.

Mainit ang tubig, pero mas mainit ang katawan nila.

He reached out, fingertips grazing her ankle under the surface.

“You’re used to power,” he said, his voice low. “But you’ve never had someone match you.”

“Maybe I have,” she whispered. “Maybe I broke them.”

Damon leaned in, tracing her shin with slow fingers. “Try me.”

Hinayaan ni Skyra ang kamay niyang lumubog sa tubig, patagong gumapang sa hita ni Damon. His breath hitched — just barely.

“You act like you’re in control,” she murmured, brushing her lips along his jaw. “But I see you, commander. You’re unraveling.”

Damon grabbed her wrist underwater, pulling it up — tight, dominant.

“You want control? Then take it,” he growled, pulling her onto his lap, her bare body pressing against his chest.

Their lips met — not soft, but clashing. Devouring.

She moaned against his mouth, hands tangling in his wet hair.

But then—she pulled back.

“No,” she said, breathless. “Not yet.”

Damon’s eyes narrowed. “Why?”

“Because I want you begging,” she whispered. “I want you broken… like you’re breaking me.”

His hands gripped her hips tighter, but he didn’t move.

“You’re playing with fire.”

“And you’re drowning in it.”

Tahimik.

Mainit ang hininga nila. Tubig ang paligid pero parang apoy ang bumalot sa kanila.

Then Skyra slid off his lap and walked out of the tub — completely bare, glistening, unafraid.

She looked over her shoulder, meeting his gaze.

And with a wicked smile, said:

“Sleep tight, commander.”

Alas-dose ng hatinggabi.

Tahimik ang buong villa.

Walang maririnig kundi ang mahinang ugong ng tubig mula sa fountain sa garden at ang pagpitik ng insect zapper sa malayo. Ang mga guwardya ay naka-rotate sa perimeter, pero walang gaanong galaw. It was the perfect time to move.

At si Skyra Monteverde?

Hindi natutulog. Hindi kailanman nagpapahinga ang isang utak na palaban.

Nakatayo siya sa madilim na hallway, nakasuot ng fitted tank top at loose silk pants, parang wala lang. Pero sa kamay niya — isang maliit na device na hindi niya dapat hawak. Nakuha niya ito mula sa drawer sa guest desk… isang hint na hindi kasing linis ang villa na gusto ni Damon ipakita.

She’d seen the access panel earlier — sa kabilang hallway, hindi kalayuan sa private library. May bahagyang gasgas sa panel. Parang luma. Parang gamit na gamit.

There.

Lumapit siya. In-scan ng mata ang seams ng panel. Mabilis siyang nag-type sa handheld device. Override protocol… breach authorization… encrypted firewall.

“Let’s see how secure you really are, Mr. Commander,” bulong niya.

Beep.

Click.

The door slid open.

At bumungad sa kanya ang Command Room — dimly lit, humming with life. Dozens of high-tech monitors glowing in blue and red light. Satellite feeds. Surveillance footage. Encrypted audio files. A live 3D hologram of the island at the center table.

“Holy s**t,” she whispered, stepping in.

Hindi ito basta villa. Ito ay bunker. Control room. War station.

And on one screen…

Her.

Weeks ago.

Lumabas ng limo sa Maynila. Suot ang red dress. Papunta sa Monteverde Luxe Tower.

“What the f**k…” bulong niya, nanlalamig ang batok.

May isa pang feed — ang eroplano niya, bago bumagsak. A digital echo ng path ng jet. A glitch. A pulse. A signal.

Jammed.

Sabotaged.

She zoomed in.

May ibang drone sa taas ng clouds. Not commercial. Military-grade. Hindi niya dala. Hindi ni Damon.

Iba.

Her mind spun. Was someone else watching them both?

And then—

“You really should have stayed in bed.”

Shit.

Skyra spun around.

Damon was standing by the doorway. Arms crossed. Naka-itim na shirt, tactical pants, walang tunog ang hakbang — para siyang multo.

Pero ang galit sa mata niya?

Buhay na buhay.

“Get out of there,” he said, voice low but deadly.

Skyra didn’t move.

“Is this your version of ‘hospitality’?” she snapped, trying to recover. “Spying on me? Hiding data about my crash?”

“You broke into a secure room,” Damon growled, stepping closer. “On a classified island. After I saved your life.”

“Spare me the savior speech,” she hissed. “You’ve been watching me for weeks. Why?”

He stopped inches away from her.

“Because you’re not just some CEO on a business trip,” he said coldly. “You’re a target. And you’re bait.”

Napasinghap si Skyra.

“Bait?” she echoed. “For who?”

He didn’t answer. His eyes roamed over her, calculating, dangerous. Then he pointed to the console.

“You have five seconds to step away from that system before I put you in lockdown.”

She held her ground.

“Make me.”

Silence.

Thick with rage.

Thick with desire.

Then Damon moved — fast.

Hinawakan niya ang pulso ni Skyra, hinila palayo sa console, at itinulak siya sa pader. Not violently — but with full command. His hand gripped her wrist above her head. The other planted beside her face.

“You like pushing boundaries?” he whispered, breath hot against her cheek.

“I like watching you lose your s**t,” she whispered back, eyes blazing.

Damon’s grip tightened. His jaw clenched.

"You want to survive this island, Skyra?” he growled. “Then learn the rules.”

“And if I break them?”

He leaned in — their lips a breath apart.

“Then I break you.”

Her heart pounded.

His hand slid down her arm, her side, stopping at her hip — fingers pressing against the waistband of her pants.

“I should throw you in a cell for this stunt,” he said.

“But you won’t,” she smirked. “Because you want to see what I’ll do next.”

Damon stared at her — torn between fury and arousal. His breathing was heavy. So was hers.

“I swear,” he muttered, “you’re the most dangerous woman I’ve ever met.”

“And yet here you are,” she said, eyes glinting. “Still holding me.”

Their mouths hovered.

Neither moved.

Until he finally let go.

Cold. Controlled.

“You’re done here,” he said flatly. “If I catch you again…”

“What?” she challenged. “You’ll punish me?”

He didn’t answer.

But the look in his eyes?

Punishment wasn’t the only thing on his mind.

He turned and walked out.

Leaving Skyra breathless, furious, and burning.

Not from fear.

But from need.

Nang bumukas ang pinto ng command center, hindi pa rin gumagalaw si Skyra. Tumindig lang siya doon, titig kay Damon, habol ang hininga — hindi dahil sa takot, kundi dahil sa nag-uumapaw na adrenaline at galit.

She wasn’t used to being caught.

Much less by a man who looked at her like a weapon… and a temptation.

"You think I’m afraid of you?" matigas niyang sabi.

Damon’s eyes narrowed. He stepped back toward her, slow, lethal, like a predator deciding whether to devour or spare.

“No,” he said softly. “You’re not afraid of anything. And that’s what makes you reckless.”

Skyra folded her arms, chin held high. “Maybe I like danger.”

Damon tilted his head, eyes dropping briefly to her lips before returning to her eyes.

“Or maybe you like testing how far you can go before someone breaks you.”

“Is that a threat?”

“No,” he said flatly. “That’s a fact.”

She moved closer. “Then you better make sure you’re strong enough to break me, Commander.”

There was a flicker in Damon’s eyes. Something dark. Something feral.

“I don’t break women like you,” he murmured. “I tame them.”

Skyra laughed—low, bitter, seductive.

“Good luck with that.”

He stared at her, then leaned in, voice dropping to a near whisper against her ear.

“You hacked into my systems, trespassed into my command center, and challenged my authority.”

She felt his breath against her neck, warm and possessive.

“This isn’t Monteverde Tower. This isn’t your world.”

He stepped back, his voice suddenly hard—cutting.

“This is mine.”

Silence fell.

The room vibrated with power, with warning.

And then—he said it.

“You’re in my world now, Ms. Monteverde. And here… you don’t make the rules.”

Skyra held his gaze. Her pulse thundered in her throat.

But she wouldn’t flinch.

No. She would burn before she bowed.