Maverick Niccolo Morelli

WMS32:Message

"She is a twenty-one-year-old and a graduate with a bachelor's degree in the Philippines, orphan, and living alone in Manila."

Diego handed the file to Maverick when the latter came to get an update about the woman they suspected to be responsible for attacking him.

"What else?" he asked while scanning the file with brows creased as the content is just one page. "That's it?" muling tanong nito sa tauhan na hindi nakuntento sa narinig.

"Sorry boss, but her record doesn't show much. And to tell you honestly, it is difficult to find her with these few pieces of information."

Padaskol na napatayo si Maverick at bahagyang sinipa ang silyang kanina'y inuupuan. Marahas siyang napalingon kay Diego at nakadipang hinarap ito, kinuwestiyon ang kakayahan nito.

"Is that all? You don't want to find another way to look for her? I mean Diego, I'm paying you, you worked for me for several years now and I won't accept that lame reason. Use our connections and I want an update within twenty-four hours," wika ni Maverick at tumalikod para iwanan ang tauhan. Tumaas-baba ang dibdib nito sa pagpipigil ng galit. Kahit siya hindi niya maintindihan ang sarili. There is an urge in him to know about the woman who attacked him. He was so curious about her identity but on top of that, he wanted to know who was behind assassinating him. Alam niyang marami siyang kalaban. Marami siyang nakabanggang grupo but he wanted to know specifically who they are. What are their motives and intentions to liquidate him?

"Is it the right time?"

He thought of going to the Philippines, but he remembered what Luxe had told him. He knows that Luxe doesn't like his idea of going back to the country because aside from it's not his territory when it comes to business, he doesn't know as well who his real enemies are.

"But when do I need to make a move?" he murmured as he headed towards the room where he stayed. He was thinking his life was at stake and he wouldn't allow anyone to do that against him. He has to move faster than his foes.

The assassin proves that there was someone who was pursuing and wanted him dead and that's what urged him to go back to the Philippines. He doesn't care anymore what Luxe had warned him. He knows his best friend will understand him. He is Maverick, a dissident to anyone's opinion or idea; Luxe knows that personality of him so he will surely supports him. Never had Luxe never back him up on any of his opinions and ideas.

Pagdating sa loob ng kwarto ay agad hinubad ni Maverick ang kanyang damit hanggang boxer shorts na lang ang itinira at patihayang sumampa sa kama na nakadipa ang mga kamay. Guminhawa ang kanyang pakiramdam nang dumampi ang malamig na hanging nagmumula sa air-conditioning unit sa loob ng kanyang silid. Malalim siyang bumuntonghininga at tumitig sa kisame, iniisip ang magiging kapalaran sa pag-uwi sa Pilipinas.

Pero kailangan niyang alamin muna kung sino ang babaeng sumugod sa kanya at ang nag-utos dito para patayin siya. Walang makakahadlang sa kanya sa desisyon niyang uuwi ng Pilipinas pero hindi rin siya basta-basta na lang uuwi na hindi alam kung sino ang kanyang kakalabanin. Kung kinakailangang gamitan niya ng dahas ay gagawin niya hindi lamang siya mauunahan ng kung sinumang may balak na patayin siya. Kung tutuusin kaya niyang patayin ang babaeng sumugod sa kanya pero hindi pa oras. Kailangan niyang laruin ang laro ng kalaban.

"I'll play with your game whoever you are!"

He said and got up abruptly from his bed and reached out for the remote control of the television.

"A report says that an alleged assassination involving a young businessman happened yesterday at a hotel in Paris. The businessman is safe according to the authorities and no further report about the case."

Maverick turned off the television after he heard what the reporter said. Luckily, he has men like Brando and Diego who always took the initiative to use their connections to block all the negative news which involve him.

Akma siyang papasok ng banyo nang tumawag si Halle sa kanya.

"Yes, Halle?" agad niyang tanong sa dalaga nang sagutin niya ang tawag nito.

"Suspected individuals are loitering around your area in Italy. I think you have to stay here," mabilis na tugon ni Halle.

"Who are they?" muli niyang tanong na napaunat sa kinatatayuan. Mukhang desidido na ang kalaban na kunin siya.

"From the authorities. Your men tried to approach them but they left quickly," muling sagot ni Halle.

"Are there any meetings we need to attend here? If we're done—"

"I will follow you in two days. I have a meeting with Tyra." putol ni Halle sa mga nais pa niyang sabihin. Alam na kaagad nito ang kanyang binabalak na pag-uwi oras na narinig ang balita mula sa Italya.

Pero napakunot ang noo ni Maverick. Matagal-tagal na rin na hindi niya narinig ang pangalan ng babae mula kay Halle. Kaya nagtataka siya kung bakit makikipagkita ito sa kanya.

"What about her?" he asked in curiosity, trying to know why they had to meet.

"It's a girl thing but don't worry, I'll be careful," Halle said with assurance that he doesn't have to worry about it.

"Let me know everything about your meeting with her," he said and bid goodbye to Halle.

Mapagkakatiwalaan naman niya ang dalaga but not the people she's acquainted with. Tyra is the only daughter of a known mafia in France but never had a clash with his group. It seems that the group has set boundaries between their groups to not have conflict against each other.

He was about to continue going to the bathroom when his phone started ringing again.

"What the hell!"

Mahinang mura ni Maverick nang biglang napatigil sa balak na pagpunta sa banyo. Halos mag-isang linya ang kanyang kilay sa sobrang inis at marahas na dinampot ang kanyang mobile phone.

"What?!" magkahalong inis at galit ang kanyang tono nang tanungin ang nasa kabilang linya. Si Brando.

"Boss, there is a message from Sanctuario de Atlas," tugon ni Brando na inignora ang mainit na ulo ng amo.

"What is it?"

"I'll send the code!"

"Okay!" Maikling wika ni Maverick at pinatay na ang tawagan. Hindi pa man nakalipas ang ilang segundo ay natanggap niya ang code na sinasabi ni Brando.

Nagsalubong ang kan'yang mga kilay at matiim na itinikom ang bibig nang mabasa ang code. Napapaisip siya kung ano ang pakay ng matandang lider sa kanya. Napahimas siya sa baba nang wala maisip na sagot sa kan'yang katanungan.

Mabilis na pumasok sa banyo si Maverick at naligo. At habang naliligo, iniisip ang pagkikita nila ng kilalang lider ng sikat na grupo sa Pransya. Minsan niyang naging kliyente ito nang bumili ng isang luxury car para daw sa apo nito. Mismong si Maverick ang nag-design dahil sa pakiusap ng matanda. Malaking halaga ang katumbas, natural. May halagang katumbas ang bawat request ng kliyente lalo na kung siya mismo ang gagawa ng disenyo pero naging palagay ang loob niya sa matanda dahil sa halos magkapareho ang ugali nila. Two thousand and eleven nang magkakilala sila nito. Pero mahigit dalawang taon bago ito nagtiwala sa kanya. Naririnig na ni Maverick ang tungkol sa grupo na hawak nito pero halos dalawang taon din bago ito magtiwala sa kanya.

A group but one who is powerful with the backing of authorities. His group was known to many as a cult, but there is no proof for Maverick to believe what it says.

Walang sinumang galing sa otoridad ang mangiming gumalaw sa grupo nila. Isa sa mga bagay na mas higit sa kapangyarihan ni Maverick. In Italy, he was known as a businessman. May mga koneksyon din siya pero iba ang grupong bumubuo sa Sanctuario de Atlas. It brings mystery sa mga nakakaalam. Even the location of its residence is intriguing. Kahit mga myembro nito ay walang nakakaalam kung sinu-sino.

Pagkatapos maligo ay agad gumayak si Maverick at binalikan sina Brando at Diego.

"Brando, you go with me. Diego, continue to find the record of that woman. Use all the connections you have, kill if need to kill to get any information with regards to her," Maverick said authoritatively, standing by the door, staring at his men intensely.

"Yes, Boss!" halos magkasabay na tugon ng dalawang tauhan sabay tayo ni Brando at sumunod sa kanya na agad tumalikod pagkatapos manduhan ang dalawang tauhan. Si Diego ay hinarap na muli ang trabaho. Kaliwa't kanang tawag at monitor ang hinaharap para tawagan ang mga asset nila na inatasan niya para alamin ang lahat tungkol sa babaeng umatake kay Maverick.