Snow White is a Gangster (Published under Cloak Pop Fiction)

Chapter 6: Between the Moon and the Sea

Author's Note:

So here's to my No. 1 Readers. And No. 0, too. Thank you for waiting and not giving up on me. Thank you for not leaving me.

Soundtrack: Turn Back Around by Lucy Schwartz

+Siel Alstreim+

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Chapter Six: Between the Moon and the Sea

Huminto ang kotse sa isang pantalan. It was the type of Sea Port where illegal transactions could be done without being noticed by the authority. I wondered if we have any business here.

"Is this an emergency? You know I don't take any orders on Christmas Day," seryoso kong sabi.

"Who cares about Christmas Day?" He smirked at my direction bago binuksan ang pinto. Gusto kong sabihin na I do care about Christmas Day subalit pinili ko na lang na manahimik habang pinapanood siyang kausap ang ilang mga tao sa pantalan. Knowing him, he didn't care about what everyone cared about.

I turned my gaze to the sea. For the month of December, it sure was sunny. The way the waves danced calmly was so welcoming. As if it was like asking me to feel it with my body. But this was not the right time for any type of leisurely activities. Lumabas ako ng sasakyan at naglakad tungo sa grupo sa di-kalayuan. Napatigil sa pagsasalita at napatunganga ang mga kausap ni Tres nang makita nila akong paparating. I tend to get people's attention effortlessly.

"So Captain, what do you think of me feeding your men's eyeballs to the fishes?" Muling bumalik ang atensyon nila sa nagsalita. Mukhang hindi niya nagustuhan ang pagkawala ng spotlight sa kanya.

"Paumanhin, Mr. Freniere," wika ng tinawag na Captain. He was an old man with a tall, bulky figure.

"I want to check the items. Gusto ko iyong makita nang personal," wika ni Tres. So we were really going to have transactions today. I hate this. I hate that he could just do something and drag me to it without my consent.

"Handa nang umalis ang yacht anumang oras niyo naisin," sagot ng kapitan. Kung gayon ay isa iyong transaksyon sa gitna ng karagatan. Nang marinig iyon ay nagsimula nang maglakad si Tres na tila kabisado niya ang lugar at ang kinaroroonan ng sasakyang pandagat. Sumunod ako sa kanya. Gayundin ang ginawa ng Kapitan at ng mga malamang ay crew nito.

Muling tumigil si Tres na ipinagtaka namin. Lumingon siya. "I only need the Captain and the Reaper." Bakas ang pagkabigla ng lahat nang banggitin niya ang salitang Reaper. "I'm not really going fishing so I don't need bait," patuloy nito na hindi kababakasan ng ka-seryosohan dahil sa nakaka-insultong ngiti na nakapinta sa labi nito. It was his signature smirk. Everyone could fall for it. He used it to enchant women or threaten people. And it always worked. Few of the men with us stepped back.

"Subalit Mr. Freniere, delikadong kumilos ka nang may mababang numero ng mga kasama. Baka kailanganin natin ang tulong ng mga tauhan ko," protesta ng Kapitan. It was true. Marami sa mga taga-underground society ang nagnanais na mawala ang Mafia Freniere. They hated and envied them for monopolizing almost everything. And one of the leaders of the Freniere Mafia was in the hospital right at this moment. That was one weak spot and some people would undoubtedly take advantage of it.