Man at Arms

Chapter Eleven: Card games

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Hindi ko gusto na ganito ang pinaparamdam niya sa akin. Hindi ko gusto na tila kasalanan ko ang lahat.

At hindi ko gusto ang hitad na nakapulupot sa braso niya.

"Such a pretty one. What's your name, child?"

Kinagat ko ang kamay ng matandang lalaki sa harapan nang akma nitong hahawakan ang mukha ko. "Don't touch me, freak!"

Nakuha ko kaagad ang sukli sa ginawa ko nang magdilim ang mga mata ko nang humampas ang palad niya sa mukha ko.

Mariin kong pinikit ang mga mata, pinadaan ang dila sa dugo sa labi at nilunok iyon. Letche! Hindi pa nga magaling ang pasa ko sa mukha nadagdanan na naman!

I spat on the floor and glared at him.

"Insolent bitch! What is she doing here?!" asik niya. Numula ang buong mukha niya sa galit.

"We saw her in the port, Don Cavalcanti. She seemed lost, but she's pretty, so we thought you'd like her," the man to my right said. I didn't ignore the pride in his tone as if he'd caught the largest fish in the river.

The man, Don Cavalcanti's gaze swept over my face and down to my neck. He smirked and rolled his tongue across his lips.

"Indeed, take her to my room."

Pinanlakihan ako ng mga mata at nagpumiglas sa dalawang lalaki na may hawak sa akin sa magkabilang braso. They're huge and packed with strength, but I'm not going down without a fight.

I headbang the smaller one on my left and throw my shoulder into the man on my right. I wrung my arm from the smaller one and booted his knee. Pero 'di hamak na mas malaki ang nasa kaliwa ko, kinulong niya ako sa mga braso niya, inangat sa lupa at inipit na tila nabasang kudson na pinipiga.

I screamed, feeling as though my ribs were being crushed like crackers. Agad niya rin akong pinakawalan. Bumagsak ako sa sahig na tila sako na hinagis, nanghihina at habol ang hininga.

"Next time you pull a stunt, my men wouldn't mind crushing you until you're immobile for me to take," the Don sipped his cigarette and turned his back on me.

Tinukod ko ang dalawang palad sa sahig at pilit na inangat ang sarili sakabila nang pagsigaw ng buong katawan ko sa sakit. I palmed the valley between my breasts, inhaling deeply as tears pricked the corner of my eyes.

I raise my gaze to Calix. He wasn't paying attention to me. Magkasalubong ang mga kilay niya habang nakatitig sa lamesa na tila mas importante iyon kesa sa nangyayari. He set his face hard as a stone and noticed the vein in his temple protruding rigidly.

"Tell me, bitch, what the hell are you doing in my port?" The Don accepted the glass of martini from the man, silently setting the table with glasses and cards. Sumimsim ang Don at bahagyang nilingon ang mukha sa akin.

Lumunok ako ng malaki at puno nang kasuklaman na sinalubong ang mga mata niya.

"That's none of your business, dog-face!" I spat on his shoe.

His eyes darkened, and he threw his glass off the balcony, charging at me with his teeth clenched.

"Dad, don't waste your time with that bitch. Just hand her over to your men so we can start playing cards. I think Calix is already bored."

I silently sighed with relief when the Don sharply turned his head to the woman before he could hit me again. From rage, the Don smoothed his face and fixed his tie.

"Very well," Bumaling siya sa akin nang may matalim na tingin. "Bring her to my room, tie her to my bed. I don't care what you use to bind her, but I want her completely naked when I come."