"Ambushed"
Zheleznovodsk, Russia
"Boss, mind if I ask something?" Amado said, keeping his eyes on the road as they cruised through one of the cities in Stavropol, Krai.
"Go ahead," Maximillian murmured, his gaze never leaving the papers in his hand.
Amado bit his lip and swallowed hard, glancing at the rear-view mirror to catch a glimpse of Maximillian's expression. Doubt flickered in his eyes, second-guessing whether to go through with his question—he knew exactly the kind of man sitting behind him.
But in the end, he asked anyway. It was now or never.
"Do they... d-do they know the real reason they were sent here?" the man asked, his voice unsteady with nerves.
The man in the backseat halted mid-motion, slowly lifting his gaze to meet his before speaking.
"No, they don't," he replied curtly, his tone cold as he went back to his work, leaving no room for Amado to ask anything further.
Walang kamalay-malay na napatakip si Amado sa kaniyang bibig, tila nagsisisi sa tanong na iyon, kahit na alam niyang predictable na ang magiging sagot ng lalaki sa mga ganitong usapan.
Para bang gusto niyang maglaho na parang bula o ibaon ang sarili sa lupa.
Ngunit dahil sa kanyang kuryusidad, nangahas pa rin siyang magtanong muli.
Bitay o patay lang talaga ang kahihinatnan niya, kung bibigyan man siya ng Diyos ng pagkakataon na tapusin ang usapan nila ng kanyang boss.
Dito siguro niya mapapatunayan ang katotohanan ng kasabihang, "Curiosity Killed the Cat."
"Should we at least let them know?" Lakas-loob niyang tinanong, may bahid ng pangangatog sa boses, sabay kamot sa ulo upang hindi mapaghalataang kabado.
"Let them know what?" mabilis at mapusok na sagot ni Maximillian, na nakatuon pa rin ang atensyon sa kanyang ginagawa.
"Uhmm.. l-let them know-"
"Let them know that it's because of a woman?" mabilis na putol ng lalaki sa likuran.
Amado fell silent, contemplating how he should respond to this.
Muli niyang itinukod ang tingin sa rear-view mirror, kinakabahan habang sinusubukan niyang suriin ang ginagawa ng lalaki sa likuran, umaasang makakahanap ng sagot kung makikita niyang hindi ito masyadong nakatutok sa sinabi, pero laking gulat niya ng magtagpo ang mga mata nila sa salamin, nakatitig na pala ito sa kanya.
Amado nearly lost his voice and strength when he met the sharp gaze of his boss.
He couldn't find the words to reply, his mind went completely blank.
It was true; it felt so trivial to think that the real reason they were sent to Russia was just because of a woman.
Handa na sanang magtanong muli si Amado sa huling pagkakataon nang bigla siyang maunahan ng lalaki, na diretsong sinagot ang tanong na sana'y bibitawan pa lang niya.
But rather than feeling relieved by what he'd heard, he was horrified by the truth he now knew.
"Why didn't I kidnap her when it would have been easier and less messy?"
"Easy, for me, taking a woman by force is just lame."
"A man should never force a woman against her will."
"That's the rule."
"That's why I want her to have the freedom to decide and choose what will happen to her."
YOU ARE READING
Heartbeats & Bullet Shells: De Ville #1
General Fiction"Once you step into my world, there's no turning back. I'm offering you a chance to leave while you still can, but know this, if you choose to stay, there will be no escape."
