TOXIC (Dark Mafia Romance)

Chapter 17 (1 of 2)

HE DIDN'T return to the penthouse that night.

I stared blindly at the steel gray sky outside the large wall of windows. Sumunod na araw na iyon at magtatakip-silim na. Wala nang ulan, pero makulimlim pa rin ang kalangitan. The sea was still restless, the foaming waves crashing harsh onto the rocky shoreline below.

Niyakap ko ang sarili. My skin felt chilly, and the strappy pink dress I wore did not help ward off the cold. I realized most of my dresses were like this, soft, flowy, and flirty. I realized I didn't have that many pants or shorts at all. Ever since I was a child, my mother had drilled into me that girls should always look beautiful, soft, and feminine. My mother had only ever bought me dresses. And even now, even though I had mostly been living away from Imelda Contreras for the last six years, my wardrobe still consisted of flirty and flowy dresses with thin straps and soft fabrics.

Mariin akong pumikit at hinigpitan ko ang yakap sa sarili.

Narinig kong tumunog ang beep sa pinto at napalipad ang tingin ko roon. Kumabog ang dibdib ko at bumugso ang dugo sa aking ulo.

Alessio had been out since yesterday, and his men never said anything about where he was either. It's getting dark now and–

Bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Natasha Almeda.

At biglang bumagal sa pagtibok ang puso ko na para bang may naupos na init sa loob ko.

Napataas ng tingin ang babae at natigilan nang makita ako. "Antonia." Maaliwalas siyang ngumiti at malalaking hakbang na lumapit sa akin. "How are you, dear?"

I could only stare numbly at the woman.

"What's wrong, dear?" Napakunot noo ang babae at napahawak sa aking braso nang makalapit sa 'kin. "Is everything alright? You look a little pale."

Was everything alright? Would anything ever be alright?

Nagawa kong ngumiti at tumango sa babae sa kabila ng panlalamig ng balat ko. "Everything's okay, I'm just a little tired."

"That's great to hear." Pinisil ni Tita Natasha ang aking braso. "I just wanted to check on you since we didn't really get to talk at the gala. Alessio's not here, is he?" Pinadaan ng babae ang tingin sa paligid.

"No," mahina kong saad. "He's not."

"I've been calling him since this morning, but he wouldn't pick up. I called his men here, but they wouldn't tell me where he is either. By any chance, Antonia, do you know where my brother is?"

Do I know?

Humigpit ang yakap ko sa sarili.

"Miss Marilyn called him yesterday." Manipis ang boses ko. "I think he met with her. He hasn't returned here since yesterday."

"Oh." Namilog ang mga mata ng kausap, tapos ay sumilay ang isang maaliwalas na ngiti sa mga labi niya. "He's with Marilyn?"

The way the woman's face lit up at the thought that Alessio was with Marilyn made my throat close up, but I could only nod.

Maikli siyang tumawa, at para iyong mga maliliit na bubog na bumaon sa aking sikmura.

"Well, that's great to hear."

Hinawakan ako ng may edad na babae sa braso at iginiya paupo sa mahabang cream couch.

"I'll call Marilyn, then."

My throat and stomach felt tight as I watched Natasha Almeda take out her phone from her bag and call Marilyn Ramos.

It took a couple of minutes before the woman answered.