Caged

NASA Vietnam na ang mga tuahan ni Radley, nagkalat sa Phường Nghĩa Đô para hanapin ang babaeng target. Meanwhile, Radley was still in Bogotá, checking in on his operations. First, he visited his high-purity cocaine lab, walking through the clean, heavily guarded facility. After that, he went to his illegal gun workshop, run by men he trusted to keep things in order while he was away. He made sure everything was running exactly how it should be. By around nine in the evening, he was already at a luxury nightclub, sitting in the VIP lounge with his friend Draven and his cousin Alessano Morette, who owned the club. The music played loud below, but their table was quiet. They weren’t there to party—they were there to talk business. Hanggang sa napunta na ang usapan nila kay Cyrus Morette. “Cyrus is the Global Consigliere of Morce. And he’s just handing that title over to you? No test? No blood? Just like that?” hindi makapaniwala na reaksyon ni Draven. “That’s what we agreed on,” Radley answered, swirling his glass in hand as he leaned back on the couch. “If he breaks that agreement, he knows exactly what I’ll do. Blood means nothing when it stands in the way of power.” Aless let out a low whistle, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Then I guess this is your promotion party.” He raised his glass with a smirk. “To the new Global Consigliere of the Morce Organization.” “Congrats, bro,” Draven chimed in, lifting his glass as well, a crooked grin tugging at his lips. Nakangisi na nilang pinagbangga ang kanilang glass at sabay na uminom. Then Aless casually lifted a hand and snapped his fingers, like a king summoning his slaves. Moments later, two gorgeous Colombian girl made their way to the table, their hips swaying with confidence. Agad na kumandong kay Draven ang isang babae, at kay Radley naman ang isa. Mapang-akit na yumapos agad ang braso ng dalawang babae sa kanilang leeg. “Hi, handsome. I'm Camila,” nakangiting pagpapakilala kay Radley ng babaeng kumandong sa kaniya. “Mga bago sila, kakasimula pa lang ngayong gabi,” Aless said lazily, swirling his drink. “A little gift from me. Thanks for visiting my club.” Draven smiled at the girl on his lap. “Hi, babe,” pagkindat nito sa babae at gigil na pinisil agad ang pisngi ng pang-upo. But Radley didn’t react the same way. Imbes na matuwa at tanggapin ang babae ay bigla na lang niya itong tinulak paalis sa kaniyang kandungan, dahilan para bumagsak ang babae sa sahig at napaigik sa sakit. “You don’t want her?” Aless asked, frowning. “They’re virgins. Clean. You know I’d never give you someone used.” “I’m not in the mood for women,” Radley said calmly, taking a drag from his cigarette before finishing his drink. Kaya naman sinenyasan na lang ni Aless ang babae na pumunta na lang kay Draven at doon magserbisyo. Draven’s grin grew wider as both women sat on his lap now, one giggling and the other pressing close to him. “Ikaw, Aless, ayaw mo ba ng babae?” ngising tanong pa ni Draven. Aless chuckled, leaning back on the couch with his drink in hand. “I’m married. Loyal. My d**k doesn’t rise for anyone who isn’t wearing my ring. Tanging sa asawa ko lang 'to tumatayo.” Draven laughed. “Damn. What a loyal man.” He glanced at Radley. “What about you, Rad? Kailan ka mag-aasawa?” he asked, still grinning as he toyed with the two women on his lap. “Asawa?” Radley let out a dry laugh, cold and amused. “Para saan at kailanganin ko 'yon kung isang pitik lang ng daliri ko ay puwede na akong pagsilbihan ng sangkatutak na babae gabi-gabi.” Aless chuckled under his breath. “You’re only saying that because you haven’t met the right one yet. Love changes things, Radley. It tames beasts like us.” Radley scoffed, taking a slow drag from his cigarette. “I don’t want love. I want control. Power. Money. Not some clingy woman thinking she owns a piece of me. Look at Cyrus—he’s willing to burn everything just to chase after a wife who walked away. He had power in his hands, and he’s throwing it away for a woman? Pathetic.” Draven snorted. “To be honest, tama lang 'yon kay Cyrus na iniwan ng asawa. If he really loved her, why’d he cheat? Why taste another woman if she meant anything to him?” Aless leaned back, swirling his drink once more before speaking again. “Naiintindihan ko si Cyrus. Palibhasa hindi niya pinaghirapan ang asawa niya kaya nagawa niyang magtaksil nang gano'n kadali.” Bumuntonghininga ito at lumagok muna ng alak bago muling sumandal sa couch at nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita. “Ako kasi, pinaghirapan ko ang asawa ko para lang maging akin. I killed for her. I went to war just to rip her out of someone else’s arms and make her mine. I didn’t win her. I claimed her. And if anyone ever tries to take her from me . . . I swear, ibaba0n ko sa huk*y buong angkan.” Draven grinned again. “'Yong totoo, Aless, ni minsan ba hindi ka naaakit sa mga babaeng nagtatrabaho rito sa club mo?” “Maakit?” Marahan na natawa si Aless na para bang isang big joke ang narinig. “What the hell? Bakit ako maakit sa kanila kung wala pa sila sa talampakan ng asawa ko? My wife is beautiful. Divine. Like a goddess carved from fire and silk. She’s the only woman I see,” proud nitong sagot at napangiti pa bago muling nagsalin ng alak. Radley shook his head. “You’re too obsessed with her.” Natawa lang si Aless. “Damn right I am. That’s exactly why I married her. If she hadn’t become mine, I would’ve lost my f*****g mind.” PASADO alas dose na ng gabi, nasa kaniyang residence na si Radley sa Santa Bárbara Alta. Fresh out of the shower, a white towel wrapped around his waist, he was about to grab his robe when his phone buzzed from the bed. Isang text message ang dumating mula sa kaniyang kanang kamay na tauhan na nasa Vietnam. From Dario: Boss, nahuli na namin ang target. Sakay na kami ng barko ngayon para dalhin na siya sa Pilipinas. Kasabay ng message ay isang litrato ang pinasa nito. Radley opened it. It was a picture of a woman, unconscious. She was wearing peach-colored pajamas. Her body was tied with rope, her hands cuffed behind her back, and her mouth covered with duct tape. Even while unconscious, she looked exhausted. Her hair was messy and sticking to her cheeks, like she had been sweating a lot. Radley stared at the photo for a moment, then typed back: To Dario: It’s just one woman. Why did you tie her up like that? Agad naman itong naka-reply. From Dario: Magaling lumaban, boss. Namatay ang tatlo nating tauhan at sugatan ang apat. Nanlaban ang babaeng 'to kasama ng Lolo niya gamit lang ang espada. Hindi naman namin ’to puwedeng barilin dahil kabilin-bilinan niyo na kailangan niyo ito ng buhay. To Dario: What about her grandfather? From Dario: We didn’t have a choice but to shoot him, boss. Dahil kami naman ang mauubos kapag hinayaan namin manlaban nang matagal. Pero tingin ko ay mabubuhay pa naman dahil sa isang paa ko lang pinatamaan. Radley exhaled slowly, his jaw tightening as he typed his final message. To Dario: Why do you sound like you pity an old man? You should’ve finished him off. Anyway, good job. At least you got the target. I’ll see you when I get back to the Philippines. I’m flying home tomorrow.