Comrades in Action Book 1: Lacon DeLevigne

Chapter thirty two

Cole brought them in a safe house. Pagdating nila kanina, naabutan nila ang isang lalaki na nakaupo sa sofa, nasa tapat nito ang tatlong laptops at abala sa pagtipa doon. Magulo ang medyo kulot na buhok nito. Hindi nalalayo ang katawan nito kay Nick. Kita iyon sa suot nitong puting V neck shirt at kupas na maong na may butas sa bandang tuhod. Nag-angat ito ng tingin sa akin. His eyes held the same familiar mischievousness like that with Mason.

He gave me a small smile. Agad iyong nawala ng mapadako ang tingin nito kay Nick na akay akay ni Cole. Umiling iling ito.

"Where?" Tanong nito kay Cole.

"At the shoulder." Maikling sagot ni Cole.

"I can't believe he took the damn shot without calculating where the fucking bullet will land." Aiden sighed. "Chase's already there." Turo nito ang pintuan malapit dito. "Dalhin mo na lang siya doon."

Cole just grunted before carrying the wounded Nick inside the room.

Unlike Aiden, Cole's personality is colder. Ramdam niya iyon sa buong durasyon ng biyahe nila papunta dito. She could feel his brooding temper the moment he landed his eyes on her and unconscious Nick. Hindi rin naiiba ang pangangatawan nito kumpara kina Aiden at Nick. Maybe years of experience in the battlefield made them that way.

"How's Lacon?" Napapitlag siya ng magsalita si Aiden sa tabi niya. Hindi niya namalayang lumabas na pala ang doktor nito mula sa kwarto. She was too agitated to even notice!

"Natanggal na ang bala sa balikat niya. He's fine now. Mamaya magigising din iyon." Ani ng doctor na umasikaso kay Nick.

So this must be the doctor, Chase.

Di tulad nila Aiden, Nick at Cole, ang lalaking ito ay mukhang mas bata kesa sa tatlo. Maybe three or four years younger than them. Hindi rin kasing laki ng pangangatawan nila Nick ang pangangatawan nito, although hindi niya masasabing patpatin ito. His body is slimmer than Nick, Aiden and Cole's bulky physique. Slimmer but toned and proportioned in all the right places. He's also a bit taller compared to the three men. He's like one of those male models in the fashion channel that Ana made her watch for almost an hour.

"Oo nga pala.. Si Dreena, asawa ni pareng Lacon. Dreena, this is Chase Vonn." Pagpapakilala ni Aiden na ikinakunot naman ng noo ni Chase.

"Asawa? But last time I checked he's very much single.."

Aiden let out an awkward laugh that sounded like, 'ha ha ha'.

"Ano ka ba, kasal na sila. Di ba nasabi sa iyo ni Cece--

"Hindi."

"----na sabi ko nga hindi niya nasabi. Tsk tsk. Magpa-orient ka nga doon sa babaeng iyon? Binigyan ko pa man din ng Tsokolate tapos hindi sinunod ang gusto ko. Tamad talaga kahit kelan.."

Isang masuyong ngiti ang gumuhit sa mga labi ni Chase. He must really adore Cece for him to smile so warmly like that.

"Mamaya na. She's still asleep."

"San sa kwarto?"

"Tsk. San pa ba?" Ang naiinis na sagot ni Chase na ikina-ngisi lang ni Aiden.

"Gumamit kayo ng prokteksyon ha?"

Chase didn't reply, instead he just flipped his right hand, raising his middle finger in the process.

"Abay bastos tong batang to ah.."

Puno ng pagkalito ang mukha niya. So turning your back and raising your middle finger while walking is a bad manner?

"Tsk. Bastard.." Ang nakangisi pa ding wika ni Aiden.

Tumikhim siya. Nag-angat ng tingin sa kanya si Aiden.

I crossed my arms on my chest. "You've got some explaining to do.."

Umangat ang isang kilay nito. "I do?"

She brushed her fingers through her hair. "Would you mind explaining to me how did this accident happen? I thought we would be able to go out of the ranch unscathed?"

"You did. You got out unscathed."

"Have you seen Nick? He was bleeding to death!"

"Contrary to what you're worrying about your grace, Lacon's wound is just superficial. Malayo iyon sa bituka. He'll be fine."

She scoffed. Is this man kidding her right now? "He lost a lot of blood, must I remind you?!"

"And he will lose his head if you were the one who was shot instead of him."

"What?!"

"Well, not literally lose his head like having them chopped. All I'm saying is, he'll go batshit crazy if you aquired even a single scratch during the bloody encounter. So let us just handle a wounded Lacon rather than a crazy man on rampage, shall we?"

"So much for an armoured car you two were boasting about." She scoffed.

Aiden looked at her then sighed.

"Your grace, do you have any idea what those men used as their weapon back there?"

"FN FAL. I heard Nick said."

"Hm, good. Mind telling me what else?"

Hindi siya umimik. How the bloody hell would she know about guns?

"Very well. That gorgeous and expensive car that those bastards ruined can stop a bullet from an AK-47, if you're wondering what that is.. well.. it's a type of gun. A powerful russian gun. If the enemies a while ago just used a fuck---I mean freaking AK-47, then Nick wouldn't had a hard time finishing them off. But they used a FN FAL.. a fucking machine gun.."

"A stronger gun." She supplied.

"The strongest type of rifle gun. Even Knight XV can only take so many bullet before it finally breaks. May hangganan din naman si Knight XV. Lalo na kung paulit ulit siyang pinatatamaan ng malakas. I think Derrick will have to buy a more powerful armour car." Tila wala sa sariling dagdag nito.

"You said those guns are expensive?" Muli itong tumingin sa kanya.

"Yes. Hindi ka ba nagtataka? Na alam nila kung anong baril ang dapat gamitin? It was like they knew what car you were going to use as a source of escape.. it's like the culprit knew where you are all along.."

Bigla siyang kinilabutan doon.

"What do you mean? You know who's behind this, don't you?"

"Ikaw. Alam mo ba?"

"Would I ask if I have even the slightest hint? Stop playing games and just tell me."

"Our job is to keep you safe. If you really want to know, ask Derrick."

"I demand to know who's behind this. Now tell me!" She ordered. Umiling ito.

"I was already ordered not to, your grace."

"What?"

"I told you, you will have to ask Derrick." Nagpatuloy na ito sa pagtipa at tuluyan na siyang inignora.

She fumed. How dare he!

"Very well then, I want to have a talk with my cousin. Now."

Nabitin sa ibabaw ng keyboard ang mga daliri nito. Napabuntong hininga ito.

"Aye, your grace."

May kung anong pinindot ito sa cellphone nito.

"Here, I'm sure he'll answer immediately once he sees my number on his phone."

Inilagay niya sa kanang tainga ang cellphone. The ringing suddenly stopped after two rings.

"Hello."

Came the all too familiar baritone voice at the other side of the phone. She took a deep breath before answering.

"Errick... it's me."