Bound by Bullets and Vows

CHAPTER 16

PAGKALAYO ni Reese sa kinaroroonan ni Alaric, sinulyapan pa niya ito at nakita niyang nakatingin ito sa kaniya. She waved her hand at him, turned her back, and quickly walked away while sending a message to Artemis.

‘Bring me a set of new clothes.’

Then she replied to Alaric’s message, but before she could even send it, Alaric was already calling. Nagtago siya sa isang shop malapit sa Sinclair Building saka sinagot ang tawag nito.

“Yes?”

“Nasa baba ako ng Snclair Building. I’ll wait for you. Let’s have dinner.”

Minsan talaga hindi maintindihan ni Reese si Alaric. He was the one who proposed that they would only be husband and wife on paper. Alaric should be cold and indifferent to her, but why does he sound like he is asking her for a date?

Napailing siya. “Ano bang pinag-iisip ko?”

“Reese?”

She cleared her throat. “I’m outside. May inasikaso lang akong importante.”

“I’ll pick you—”

“No need,” mabilis na sabi ni Reese. “Pabalik naman na ako.”

“Alright.”

After the call had ended, Reese saw a familiar car approaching.

It was Artemis.

Nang tumigil ang kotse sa harapan niya, mabilis siyang sumakay sa backseat.

“Young Lady, your clothes were ready.”

Ibinaba ni Reese ang bag ng laptop saka kinuha ang paper bag na nasa kaniyang tabi. She immediately changed her clothes, right inside the car—from Rica Agnes to Reese Sinclair. She straightened her wrinkled clothes and put on her silver mask.

She took a deep breath and looked at Artemis. “Let’s go.”

Tumango si Artemis.

Minaneho ni Artemis ang sasakyan patungo sa harapan ng Sinclair Building kung saan ay nakaparada ang black sedan ni Alaric.

“Being the same person has found a big trouble,” sabi ni Reese saka bumaba ng sasakyan.

“Hi,” she waved at Alaric.

Alaric looked at Reese from head to toe. “What did you do?” he asked.

“I came from…” Hindi itinuloy ni Reese ang kaniyang sasabihin. “Mukhang may bago sa ‘yo. Why are you asking me for dinner?”

Alaric opened the car’s door. “Bakit? Masama bang ayain kitang kumain sa labas? I think that was normal for us as husband and wife.”

Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Reese. “Husband and wife? Aren’t we supposed to be on our own?” she said and entered the car. “You’re supposed to be cold and indifferent to me?”

“Madam,” Julian greeted her.

Reese just nodded at Julian.

Alaric entered the car and sat beside her in the back seat. “Bakit mo naman nasabi ‘yan?”

Pilit na ngumiti si Reese. “Didn’t we sign a contract? No feelings, separate rooms, and no touch?”

Hindi nagsalita si Alaric. He closed his eyes and leaned on his seat. “Can we tear that contract?”

Natawa si Reese saka napailing. Tinapik niya ang balikat ni Alaric. “Don’t make it too hard for yourself.” Aniya. “Ikaw rin lang ang mahihirapan niyan. Don’t you like Rica Agnes—” Napatigil siya bigla. That person was me. She thought and then looked at Alaric. What would he do if he found out that Rica and I were the same person?

Reese sighed. I hope he won’t kill me. Aniya, saka napangiwi na lamang.

“In my opinion, marriage is a marriage. Nothing will change that. Hindi ako katulad ng iba. I won’t cheat even though I like someone else.” Seryosong sabi ni Alaric.

Reese closed her eyes and just hummed. “Hmmm…”

“After our dinner, we go straight to the airport.”

“I haven’t packed my clothes yet.”

Ngumiti si Alaric. “Manang Norma already packed your clothes for you.”

“Oh.” Ngumiti si Reese. “I should reward her when I get back.”

Nagtungo sila sa isang restaurant at kumain. It was just a simple dinner, but for Reese, it had significant meaning. Magmula kasi nang umalis siya sa bansa at mamatay ang kapatid niya, wala na siyang kasamang kumain sa hapagkainan. So, every dinner with Alaric, she was cherishing it. Pakiramdam niya kasi ay hindi na siya nag-iisa at may kasama na siya.

Pagkatapos nilang kumain ng dinner, pumunta na sila sa airport.

The private jet lifted smoothly off the runway, banking east toward the coastline. And below them, Reese saw the city shrank into scattered lights.

Inside the cabin, everything screamed in luxury—leather seats, soft ambient lighting, a set of sofas, and a mini-bar in the corner. Kasama nila sa loob si Julian na nakaupo nang ilang metro ang layo sa kanila. Maliban kay Julian, may mga kasama rin silang bodyguard.

Reese was relaxed, sitting by the window.

Magkaharap sila ni Alaric at isang maliit na lamesa ang nasa pagitan nila.

“So, where are we going?” tanong ni Reese habang binubuksan ang kaniyang tablet.

Alaric loosened his tie. “Don’t worry, I won’t sell you,” he joked, earning a plain look from Reese. “We’re going to Thailand.”

Reese’s lips formed an ‘o’. “That’s good. Matagal ko ng gustong pumunta doon pero hindi ko magawa dahil sa dami ng ginagawa—” she suddenly stopped when she remembered they were going there to work. “Forget it. We’re going there for work.”

Alaric chuckled. Tumingin siya kay Julian saka ito sinenyasan na lumapit. Julian came, and he whispered. “Adjust my schedule. Make sure I can accompany Reese to have fun.”

Agad namang naintindihan ni Julian ang gustong iparating ng amo. Tumango siya. “Considered it done, Boss.”

Tumango si Alaric.

Reese glanced at Alaric after seeing his schedule sent by Julian. “You scheduled two meetings and a weapons inspection.”

“Efficiency is romantic.”

She rolled her eyes. Nakuha pa talaga nitong magbiro. Then she leaned back in her seat. “I wonder,” she said calmly, “what will happen to me if I betray you?”

Alaric didn’t hesitate. He lifted his hand and dragged his finger slowly across his throat. “I’ll kill you.”

Napakurap si Reese. Then she scoffed. “Do your thing,” she said and turned back to her tablet. “Makikipag-meeting lang ako kay Artemis through call.” She tapped her earpiece.

Ngumiti si Alaric at napatitig kay Reese. His smile was a real one and unguarded. He hadn’t expected her reaction. Kung iba lang baka nag-panic na ito pero iba si Reese. Most people flinched at hearing the word ‘kill’, but Reese just adjusted her schedule and spoke calmly into her comm.

Alaric leaned back.

The masked woman who could dismantle networks and companies in just a flick of her finger. He hadn’t expected himself to trust her either. Maybe because she had given him her trust, too—the Sinclair System. No one will ever trust other people with an asset that is worth more than a nation—weapons supply chains, satellite-linked intelligence, and generations of corporate powers.

But Reese had given it to him effortlessly.

Not as leverage, but as an alliance.

Kung ibang tao, they would have demanded guarantees, contracts, or hostages. Reese had just simply said ‘here’.

And for him, that meant something.

Nang matapos si Reese sa pakikipag-usap kay Artemis, tumingin siya kay Alaric na kanina pa niyang nararamdamang nakatingin sa kaniya. “Staring is rude, Mr. Volkov.”

He shrugged. “I’m thinking.”

“That’s a dangerous habit.”

Alaric chuckled. He crossed his leg and leaned on his chair. “Bakit mo ginawa ‘yon?”

Reese frowned slightly. “Ang alin?”

“The Sinclair System.”

Reese leaned her head back against the seat. “Maybe because you’re direct,” she said. “You don’t pretend to be moral. You just tell people who you are.”

Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Alaric. “That’s your standard?”

“Yes.” Sagot ni Reese saka ngumit. And maybe because I could feel that you won’t take advantage of me like others wanted.

Silence fell on them, but not awkward. Just heavy.

Tumikhim si Alaric. “Don’t worry, I will protect you.”

Reese’s eyes narrowed behind the mask.

“This time, I will protect you wholeheartedly and not because you are my responsibility.” Seryosong saad ni Alaric. Not a promise made lightly. And he never promised something like that.

Sandaling tiningnan ni Reese si Alaric bago siya tumango. She returned to her tablet, her fingers already inscribing a weapon’s design on the blank sheet.

Alaric kept himself busy by reading, but his eyes were glancing at Reese—her masked face, wondering what Reese looked like behind the silver mask.

But no matter what Reese looked like, nothing can change the fact that she is his wife now.