CHAPTER NINETEEN
"Should I guess why you're late?"
Inikot ko ang mga mata at sinara ang pintuan ng sasakyan ko bago lumapit kay Ariadne na nakasandal sa truck niya.
Tinanggal niya ang suot na shades at pinatong iyon sa tuktok ng ulo niya. Ang mga mata niya ay may kinang habang nakatingin sa akin na naglalakad nang paika-ika.
"Italians sure do know how to impale. What a lucky cúnt." I caught a glimpse of envy in her before a wide, sinister grin spread across her lips. "Does he have a brother?"
"He has a twin, but I've never met him," sabi ako at nadismayado siya.
Hindi kami nagtagal sa labas ni Ariadne. Sabay kaming pumasok sa loob ng headquarters. Halos nandoon na ang lahat pwera sa prinsepe at butler nito.
Lesser, who was walking to and fro in front of the fireplace, perked up when he saw me.
"Circe, can I have a word with you?"
Nakatinginan kami ni Ariadne at sabay na nagkibit-balikat.
"Sure."
Pumunta kami ni Lesser sa gilid ng bar kung saan hindi pa rin kami nalalayo sa mga kasama namin. They are playing board games to kill time while we wait for the others.
Hinawakan ni Lesser ang mga kamay ko upang kunin ang atensyon ko. Halata ang pag-aalala, pagod at puyat sakanya. He worked tirelessly, aiding the prince and royal families and ensuring their safety while also performing his duties as Duke. His responsibilities weighed heavily on him, but he never complained. He was a hardworking man who respected his role and his name.
Hindi ko maiwasang maawa sa kaibigan. If only he'd let us carry some of his burdens, but Lesser doesn't want that, asking favors for his personal gain. Matigas ang ulo niya at mapilit sa sarili. Hindi siya kailanman titibag sa mga mata namin.
"Ci, you know that I love you, right? Like you're a sister to me, and I care for you deeply," he said.
"Yeah. Did you call me here to talk about that?" Sumandal ako sa bar counter. Gusto kong umupo kahit hindi komportable dahil ang nakatayo ay parang parusa sa akin. Letcheng Italiano, sinigurado na mararamdaman ko pa rin siya kahit hindi kami magkasama.
"No. Let me get straight to the point. Why are you with Calix De Luca?" His face hardened, and he spat the name like it was a curse. "You know how dangerous he was, Ci. He's a mafioso, a hired killer of the Italian. He's a dysfunctional man who enjoys torture and mayhem! He's a psychopath, Ci!"
I first tasted bitterness, and a fire of irritation flickered within me as a matchstick rubbed against a stone. My jaw hardened, and I stared blankly at Lesser.
"I didn't give it much interest when I learned he was your key to finding your family, but you don't need to associate yourself with him for that. I will help you, Ci. I will find your family, just stay away from that accursed man."
"Tapos ka na?"
"What?"
Binawi ko ang kamay na hawak pa rin niya nang mahigpit. Napatanga si Lesser sa akin.
"He is not an accursed man, Lesser. His job is to protect families as we do, but just because his methods are deadlier than ours, that doesn't mean we're better than him."
Naging matigas ang tingin niya at nagbabaga ang mga iyon nang sumagot siya.
"He tortures his victim, Circe. He kills innocents. Didn't he bomb the chapel you love?"
BINABASA MO ANG
Man at Arms
Roman d'amourCalix De Luca is dead, and Circe has to confirm it. Fulfilling her promise to her dead adoptive mother, Circe continued her duties as a church usherette, but this time she had another solid purpose-to confirm that the person lying inside the coffin...
