Bound by Bullets and Vows

CHAPTER 14

KATATAPOS lamang ang online meeting ni Reese sa mga board members ng Sinclair Industries nang maramdaman niya ang isang presensiya. Alam niyang hindi si Alaric ‘yon. When walking, Alaric’s footsteps have no sound. But this one has.

Lumapit sa kaniya si Manang Norma, ang mayordoma ng mansyon.

“Madam, may bisita po kayo.”

Bahagyang kumunot ang nuo ni Reese at ibinigay ang hawak na tablet kay Artemis. “Sino po?” tanong niya. Wala naman siyang inaasahang bisita.

Bago pa man makasagot ang mayordoma, narinig niya ang yabag na pumasok sa loob ng living room.

A man entered with a smile plastered on his lips.

Unang tingin pa lang, kahit hindi pa ito nagsasalita, ayaw na rito ni Reese. The bad stench—not literally—is not good for her.

“Sino ka?” tanong ni Reese. Hindi na siya nag-abalang tumayo. If Alaric invited this man, her husband should have informed her about the visitor, but there was no message from him.

And speaking of Alaric, he was on a business trip. Isang linggo ito sa New York at bukas pa yata ang balik nito.

“So, you’re my cousin’s new wife?” the man asked, looking at her from head to toe. “The masked heir of Sinclair.”

Napahawak naman agad si Reese sa suot na maskara. “Who are you?” she asked again.

Ngumiti ang lalaki. “I’m Nikolai. Alaric’s cousin from the father's side.”

“Oh,” Reese reacted, completely uninterested.

No courtesy and no curiosity.

Napakurap naman si Nikolai. He wasn’t clearly expecting that reaction. He chuckled lightly. “I expected… warmer hospitality.”

Reese tilted her head slightly. “I wasn’t informed of your visit.”

“I prefer surprises.”

Pekeng ngumiti si Reese. “I don’t.”

The smile on his lips tightened. Interesting. Nikolai thought.

This woman was not intimidated at all, and not even impressed. He sat on the single sofa, even though the owner didn’t invite him to sit.

“Anong kailangan mo?” tanong ni Reese rito. Kung tama ang impormasyon na nakuha niya. Alaric was estranged from his father’s relatives.

The smile on Nikolai’s lips didn’t disappear.

“Beautiful mansion,” he remarked. “Very Alaric,” he said and looked at the woman in front of him, the woman whom many wanted to get, but his cousin got it effortlessly.

Nanatili si Reese sa kinauupuan.

“Your husband has always liked high walls. Thick ones. Iyong mga tipong mahirap abutin,” pagpapatuloy pa ni Nikolai.

Hindi nagsalita si Reese. She just calmly took a folder from Artemis and started reading the report.

“So, tell me,” Nikolai said. “What does a woman like you see in someone like him?”

“I don’t discuss my marriage with strangers,” kalmadong saad ni Reese.

Natawa si Nikolai. “Straightforward. I like that.” Then he leaned closer. “You know, people say you never remove that mask. They make them wonder what you’re hiding.”

Nag-angat ng tingin si Reese. “You know what?” she said and smiled coldly. “People who wonder too much tend to disappear.”

Sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon simula nang umapak si Nikolai sa loob ng mansyon, tumalim ang mata niya. He straightened. “Now I see why Alaric chose you.”

Bago pa man makapagsalita si Reese, naramdaman niya ang pagdating ng isang pamilyar na presensiya.

Reese turned, and she saw Alaric. His coat was still over his arm. He took one glance at Nikolai and then looked at his wife. Then he looked at Nikolai again, his jaw tightened.

“Nikolai,” he warned.

Ngumiti si Nikolai at hindi ikinabahala ang tingin sa kaniya ni Alaric. “Alaric,” he greeted, spreading his arms slightly. “Back from your trip already? I thought you’d be away for another week.”

Lumakad siya palapit kay Reese. He gave her a knowing look, and he relaxed when Reese nodded.

Alaric’s soft expression hardened when his eyes returned to his cousin. “Next time you enter my property, you announce yourself,” he said coldly.

Nanatili ang ngiti sa labi ni Nikolai. “Still territorial.”

“Anong kailangan mo?” tanong ni Alaric at umupo sa tabi ni Reese.

Nikolai glanced at Reese. “I was just meeting your wife.”

Alaric leaned on the sofa and placed his hand on the backrest of the sofa, behind Reese. It was a silent signal.

Mine.

Kahit hindi ‘yon sinabi ni Alaric nang malakas at sa kaniyang isipan lamang, natigilan pa rin siya dahil mismong sarili niya ay hindi niya inaasahang iisipin niya ‘yon.

“She doesn’t receive visitors without me,” Alaric said.

Nagtaas naman ng dalawang kamay si Nikolai. “My mistake.” But his eyes lingered on Reese. “Welcome to the family,” he said smoothly. “I hope you understand what you married into.”

Sinalubong ni Reese ang tingin ni Nikolai. “I do.”

Nikolai chuckled. “We’ll see.” He turned to Alaric. “Give my regards to the board,” he said with a hint of a threatening smile on his lips. Then he stepped back, but before leaving, he spoke. “This was merely a courtesy visit. Enjoy your honeymoon.”

Then he was gone.

Napabuntong-hininga na lamang si Reese. “He finally left,” she said.

“Pinagbantaan ka ba niya?” tanong ni Alaric.

Umiling si Reese. “Hindi naman.” She looked at Alaric. “He evaluated me.”

Alaric nodded grimly. “That’s worse. Don’t trust him.”

Tumingin si Reese kay Alaric. “He wants your empire and your Shadow Organization.”

Nagulat si Alaric nang marinig ang huling sinabi ni Reese. “How did you…”

Nagkibit ng balikat si Reese. “I own the Sinclair Industries. We have the most advanced networks. Of course, if I wanted to know something, I would find out.”

“You investigated me?” Alaric asked, but not questioning, just curiosity.

Reese smiled. “I did.”

Alaric chuckled lightly. “You’re honest.”

Reese just shrugged again and continued reading the documents in her hand.

Alaric studied Reese’s masked face. “You handled him well.”

“He underestimates me.” Sabi naman ni Reese.

“And so does everyone else.”

Ngumiti na lamang si Reese. Then she remembered something. “Kumain ka na ba?” kaswal niyang tanong.

Natigilan si Alaric at mabilis na napatingin kay Reese. “What did you say?” tanong niya na bahagyang nagulat.

Reese didn’t look at Alaric. Her eyes were focused on the documents she was still reading. “I was asking if you had eaten already? Magpapahanda ako kay Manang Norma ng pagkain mo.”

Alaric stared at Reese. Since his parents died, this was the first time someone had actually asked if he had eaten.

“What?” tanong ni Reese at tumingin kay Alaric. “Kumain ka na?”

Pagkarinig nang pangatlong beses, sigurado na si Alaric na tama ang narinig niya. He smiled, shaking his head.

Tumingin si Reese sa mayordoma nasa malapit lang. “Pahanda po ng pagkain ni Alaric.”

“Join me.”

Reese looked at Alaric. For some reason, she saw a different Alaric—different from the cold Alaric. Somehow, Alaric looked like a puppy showing his puppy eyes. Mabilis siyang napakurap at nag-iwas ng tingin. “Alright.”

And that’s when they found themselves inside the dining area. Katulad ng nakaraan, magkaharap silang nakaupo sa hapagkainan, and the head of the table seat was empty. She didn’t know if Alaric purposely sat in front of her and let the head table empty.

“You know,” he said casually after munching his food, “we still owe the world a honeymoon.”

Napaubo si Reese at hindi nag-angat ng tingin. “A honeymoon,” she repeated flatly.

Tumango si Alaric. “Yes.”

She finally raised her head. “When we signed the engagement, we both agreed to have no feelings. No feelings. Separate rooms. And means of one thing, no marital obligations.”

“I did say that.” And I actually wanted to regret it. “Pero hindi ang marital obligation ang tinutukoy ko.” Sabi ni Alaric.

Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Reese. “If not about marital obligation, then I assume that’s your way of saying you have a mission.”

Alaric smirked. “But bear with me. Since you already know me as the Boss of Shadow, I can bring you along.”

Uminom si Reese ng tubig. “Hindi ako interesado na sumali sa mga lakad mo sa organisasyon mo.” Aniya sa kalmado ngunit determinadong boses.

Ngumiti si Alaric. He leaned back in his chair. “But you’re my wife in name,” he pointed out. “You should come.”

Reese lifted one hand and pointed at her silver mask. “I’m masked.”

Alaric shrugged. “I don’t care, and they won’t care.”

Reese clicked her tongue softly. “Tsk.” She crossed her arms. “You’re just using ‘honeymoon’ to work on your organization.”

Ngumisi si Alaric. “Smart,” he admitted. “Yes, it is.”

Reese tilted her head. “So, you plan to parade your newly acquired wife while negotiating black-market logistics.”

“Something like that.”

Bumuntong-hininga si Reese. “You really don’t separate personal and operational life, do you?” aniya saka nagpatuloy sa pagkain.

Kumuha si Alaric ng ulam. “The Volkov and the Shadow are separate. Volkov is a legitimate, and Shadow is…”

“Illegal.” Pagtatapos ni Reese sa sasabihin ni Alaric.

“We don’t hurt the innocent.” Alaric defended himself.

Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Reese. “That’s a line many men cross once power becomes convenient. Minsan natatakot na silang bumagsak o bumaba sa kinaroroonan nila.”

“I don’t,” Alaric said firmly.

Reese held his stare, and after a moment, she gave a small shrug. “Good.” Aniya. “So, what exactly do this so-called honeymoon involve?”

Painosenteng ngumiti si Alaric. “Private airstrip. Two cities. One weapons broker who owes me a favor. And a Shadow regional commander who needs reminding who he works for.”

Reese exhaled slowly. “And where do I fit in?”

Alaric looked at Reese. “Anything where you want.”

“I won’t be a decorative.”

Ngumisi si Alaric. “I wouldn’t insult you like that. I know that you won’t rely on me because you have your own power.”

Ibinaba ni Reese ang hawak na tinidor. “I’ll need secure access to Shadow’s internal comms.”

Already negotiating. Alaric chuckled. “You don’t waste time, huh.”

“Hindi.” Sabi ni Reese. “People who do end up dead.”

Napailing na lamang si Alaric. “You realize what this looks like, right?”

Reese swallowed her food. “Enlighten me, Mr. Volkov.”

“A mercenary king taking his masked wife on a working honeymoon.”

Reese deadpanned.

Alam niyang nang-aasar lamang si Alaric. Pero minsan hindi niya lubos maisip kung si Alaric pa ba ang kaharap niya. Sometimes, Alaric acts cold, but the next he would smile as if nothing happened.

But it will be a good thing if they treat each other with respect.

That’s the most important thing.