The Wrath Ablaze (Buenavista Series #2)

Chapter 35

Chapter 35
Trap

"Taly!" umalingawngaw ang sigaw niya na parang pagod na pagod na asal ko sa kanya.

"I will not come with you! Hindi ko alam kung sino ang tunay na kalaban ko rito! I cannot trust anyone! Especially you!"

Mariin niyang hinilot niya ang sentido niya. His other hand was resting on his waist. Lumapit ang isa niyang tauhan at may ibinulong siya rito. Two men approached André to unshackle the handcuff. Nang sa wakas ay pinakawalan nila si André, tuluyan akong kumalma.

"I have to talk to you so we can plan our next course of action. We have to work together now to find the men who tried to kill you! Sila lang ang nakakaalam kung sino ang nasa likod ng pagpatay sa Lola mo," mas mahinahon niyang pahayag. "I also need to know why they would pin this to my mother, so help me out here. Please."

My breaths were fast and labored.

Wala akong ibang choice kundi sundin ang nais niya nang mangyari. He want us to work together on this case. I still have my doubts about him. But if someone is framing his mother for their crimes, he really has to work with me to end this once and for all. Maybe with him by my side, I can have the upper hand and still win.

"Fine. I'll come with you."

After I declared that, he took a massive sigh of relief.

"But don't you dare touch me again!" banta ko nang nagtangka siyang hawakan muli ang kamay ko.

I darted my eyes at him. Iniwas niya ang kamay niya ng dahil doon pero nakita kong ngumisi siya.

"I won't touch you."

André glanced at me with wary eyes. Sumenyas akong ayos lang na sumama kami sa mga tauhan ni Maverick. Sa pinaunahang sasakyan siya sumakay. Ako naman ay naiwan kay Maverick. He's driving one of the SUVs now.

As I look at the outside, I recognize the familiar road he took. I sat anxiously in the shotgun seat throughout the drive to the Galdeano mansion. Kahit hindi ko pa tanungin, alam kong doon kami papunta ngayon dahil sa daang tinatahak namin.

I noticed that the other four SUVs were parked in front of their grand staircase when we arrived. Nakahilera na sa isang linya ang mga tauhan niya sa harapan ng mansyon ngayon. André was sticking out like a sore thumb in the corner. Lumabas ako sa sasakyan, pero agad na natapos ang pagmamatyag sa paligid nang walang pakundangan niya akong hinila papasok sa mansyon.

Kakasabi niya lang na hindi niya ako hahawakan!

"Let me go, or I swear I'll cause a scene here!" banta ko nang hindi niya pa ako binitawan sa kabila ng pagpupumiglas ko.

Agad niyang binitawan ang palapulsuhan ko at napasinghap.

"I have all the files in my office. It's this way," tinuro niya ang hagdan.

Napapako ang mga mata ko sa family portrait nila rito sa foyer. It still lives in the same position. The last time I stood in this specific spot, I learned so much about Mama's life before she had me. And honestly, it was all too bitter to take. Pero wala na akong magagawa upang baguhin pa ang nakaraan. Ako na lang ang narita upang pagdusahan ang mga kasalanan noon ni Mama sa kanila. My life was a curse, all because of my mother's poor decision-making.

Hindi ko lang inakala na makakabalik pa ako sa lugar na 'to.

"Taly-"

"One more time that I hear you call me by that name, I will no longer hesitate to put a bullet straight to your heart, Maverick," dagdag kong banta sa kanya.

My eyes stayed on him as I climbed the stairs. Pinauna niya ako. Ni isang reklamo, wala akong narinig mula sa kanya sa lahat ng mga sinasabi ko o pagbanta ko. Hindi niya rin naman ako masisisi. Talagang wala akong tiwala sa kanya o kahit kanino man sa pamamahay na 'to.