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Chapter 37

KYSLER WILSON

The chapel smelled like lilies and cold marble. The kind of smell that never leaves your clothes. Or your mind.

I stood beside my mom's coffin, unmoving—just hours after I told myself I'd take a moment to breathe... to pull myself together, even just a little.

My mom looked so beautiful—still, soft, peaceful—like she was only sleeping. But she wasn't. She would never open her eyes again. Never speak. Never scold me for staying out late, or for not coming home—just like she used to when I was abroad. Kung alam ko lang na sandaling oras ko lang pala siyang makakasama, sana pala ay hindi na ako nagmatigas at nanatili nalang sa mansion para lagi ko silang nakikita at nakakasama.

And I never even got to say goodbye.

I feel so worthless. I feel nothing, but a trash.

I lean over my mother's cold body and whispered things I couldn't say aloud. Tears once again burn the side of my eyes.

"I'm sorry I put this life above everything else. I thought I was doing what's right. But now... I don't know anymore." I reached down and touched her cold hand one last time. "You deserved better than a son like me."

I kissed the back of her cold hand and clutched it, trying to memorize the way her skin felt, because I knew it was the last time.

Wala akong ibang maipapangako kundi ang paghihiganti. Hahanapin ko ang lahat ng mga taong sangkot sa pagkamatay mo at pagbabayarin ko sila. I will make their death unbearable. They will pay more than just their arms and legs. I will kill them and enjoy myself doing so. I promise in your name; they will pay tenfold.

I straightened up my body like the man I am made as and wiped the tears from my face—not because I stopped crying, but because I didn't have time to cry anymore. Nothing is left to but rage and the name of the people who will pay for what they've done.

Patutunayan ko sa kanila na halimaw ang binangga nila.

Isang beses ko pang tinapunan ng tingin ang labi ni Mommy bago ako tuluyang lumabas ng chapel. My men guarded the entire perimeter, but I made sure the soldiers from Polygon were in charge. Hindi ko hahayaan na kahit sa huling sandali niya ay magkaroon pa ng aberya.

Outside, my friends were already waiting. Some of them stood with a few of my men. Their faces were tight and unreadable as I approached.

I narrowed my eyes at them. "What's the matter?" I asked Tyler.

His jaw tightened before he glanced toward my men. Doon din agad lumipat ang tingin ko. Something was off, I could tell. Parang hindi ko magugustuhan kung anumang balita ang sasabihin nila.

One of them stepped forward. His nervousness was visible upon noticing how cold my demeanor was. "B-Boss, m-may problema po tayo."

I didn't speak. I just stared at him, and that was enough to make him stutter harder. Mabigat pa siyang lumunok bago muling nagsalita. "H-Hindi po namin naabutan si Ma'am Mace sa tunnel. Wala po siya ro'n nang dumating kami."

The air shifted when I heard the news. The sound of the world dulled like I'd been plunged underwater. Again! My heart slammed against my chest as I feel the rage boiling up so fast it was almost dizzying.

"What?" My voice cut through the silence. It was sharp and sure lethal ready to spit poison once more.

Another man stepped in, his voice trembling. "Suspetsa po naming. . . baka hindi siya nakalabas ng mansiyon. O baka. . . baka may dumukot sa kanya, Boss."

My fists clenched so hard I heard my knuckles crack. Biglang nandilim ang paningin ko.

In a split second, my body moved before my mind could catch up. Sa isang iglap, hawak ko na ang baril at nakatutok na iyon sa panga ng tauhan ko, habang sakal-sakal ko siya sa leeg.