Falling for Her Shadows

CHAPTER 5

AFTER making sure that Evron was asleep, she gently closed the door of his room and walked into the living room. Naroon si Dex at Rita. Agad na tumayo ang dalawa nang makita siya. She was dressed in black from head to toe, her hair tied in a sleek knot — gone the warm, smiling coffee shop owner. This was the Chief of the Black Lotus.

“Chief,” Dex and Rita greeted in unison.

Tumango si Nylah. “Take care of Evron.”

“Yes, Chief,” Rita answered.

Nylah stepped out of the apartment. Pumunta siya sa garahe sa mismong tabi ng apartment at may ginamit siyang remote upang buksan ito. This garage was made for her, and she paid a lot for it.

Nang bumukas ang garahe, tumambad kay Nylah ang isang black big bike. Tumaas ang sulok ng kaniyang labi saka kinuha ang helmet at isinuot. She mounted on her big bike and maneuver it out of the garage.

Her big bike sliced through the road, and the wind was embracing her.

Binilisan niya ang pagpapatakbo hanggang sa makarating siya sa harapan ng isang kulay itim na gate. She signaled using the light of her big bike and then the gate opened.

Nylah entered the gate, and the gate closed behind her.

Inside the compound, a two-story mansion stood. Mukhang ordinaryo lamang ang mansiyon sa labas — a modest, two-story mansion tucked inside a not-so high walls. But inside, once the front door closed and the curtains were drawn, the atmosphere changed.

Bumaba si Nylah sa big bike at pumasok sa main door ng mansyon. Nakita niyang nakatayo sa magkabilang gilid ang tauhan ng Black Lotus Organization.

“Chief!” they greeted in unison as they bowed their heads.

Isang tango ang naging tugon ni Nylah bago tinungo ang ikalawang palapag ng mansyon.

The second floor of the mansion was different from the cozy first floor. The second floor was for the Black Lotus operation — stacked with weapons, gears, and maps pinned to the walls.

Five figures stood at attention as she entered.

“Chief,” they bowed their heads; their voices were respectful.

Tumango si Nylah bilang tugon. Her expression was unreadable. She walked to the large wooden table at the center of the room, where a document lay waiting. She sat at the head table.

“Sit,” she ordered, and they obeyed.

Then flipped the folder open, scanning the intel on Silas Luca.

“Chief, it was already confirmed that Silas Luca is here in the Philippines,” Kael, Nylah’s second-in-command, reported.

Tumango si Nylah habang binabasa ang laman ng report. Nang matapos niya itong basahin, nag-angat siya ng tingin saka iniisa-isa niyang tinignan ang mga kasama niya sa lamesa. “This mission," she began, “is not to be messy or bloody. I want long distance killing this time. I want a place with no cameras, no traces and no questions.”

Kael leaned forward. “We’ve scouted his possible hideouts near the port. There’s a window of opportunity tomorrow night.”

“Good,” Nylah replied as her mind was already calculating angles. “Prepare my sniper gun. I will do this mission. I want him gone before he has time to move inland. If the dignitaries in Italy paid double, it means they don’t want a trial. They want silence.”

“Chief, when do we execute?” Another operative asked.

“Tommorrow,” tugon ni Nylah. There was no room for questions in her voice. It was firm. “It’s Sunday. I won’t open the coffee shop. But someone needs to watch Evron. I don’t want him left alone for even a second.” Tumingin siya kay Sera. “You do it. Dex and Rita are not available tomorrow.”

“Yes, Chief.”

Sinulyapan ni Nylah ang dokumento na nakalapag sa kaniyang harapan. For a moment, her face softened at the mention of her son. Then her indifferent expression returned as she spoke, “This is a clean job,” her voice returning to steel. “In and out. No hesitation. No witnesses. We end this before he becomes a bigger problem.”

Sandaling namayani ang katahimikan sa kanilang lahat. They knew what the Chief meant and she never hesitated.

“Dismissed. I expect the full reports by tomorrow night. I’ll make the final call then.” She stood, and they followed.

“Yes, Chief.”

Naglakad palabas si Nylah ng kwartong ‘yon. Lumabas siya ng mansyon at sumakay sa kaniyang big bike. She wore her helmet and left the place… going back to her son, the simple apartment she was renting for both of them.

Nang makarating siya sa apartment, umalis na si Dex at Rita. Nylah undressed her black suit and changed to comfortable satin pajama.

It was already three in the morning. She needed to sleep.

Nylah smiled, seeing her son peacefully sleeping. She slides beside him and falls asleep in an instant.

Tinanghali ng gising si Nylah kinabukasan. When she opened her eyes, her son was no longer in bed. Pero nalaman niya agad kung nasaan ang anak niya dahil naririnig niya ang ingay nito sa kusina. Matalas ang pandinig niya kaya rinig na rinig niya ang galaw sa loob ng apartment.

At mukhang hindi nag-iisa si Evron sa living room.

Nylah got up and climbed off the bed.

Nang makalabas siya ng kwarto, nakita niyang kasama nito si Rita habang si Dex ay nasa kusina at nagluluto.

Dex and Rita are one of her trusted subordinates. Ito rin ang kasama niya sa coffee shop. They were trained mercenaries and also often go out for a mission, but not all the time, since they were focused on protecting Evron. Kahit naroon siya upang magbantay kay Evron, wala siyang tiwala sa mga taong nasa paligid niya. She won’t trade Evron’s safety.

“Boss.” Bati ni Rita.

Ngumiti si Nylah.

“Morning, Momma!” Masiglang bati ni Evron.

“Morning too, Baby.”

“Boss.”

Napatingin si Nylah kay Rita.

Imuwestra ni Rita ang kamay sa medyo may kalakihang attaché case na nasa gilid ng sofa. “Everything you need is here. Kael’s group was also on standby if anything happened.”

Nylah tilted her head. “Nothing will happen. Just collect the thing after it was done,” she said, replacing the word ‘body’ with ‘thing’ because of Evron. Though he’s just a kid but her son was smart.

Ayaw niyang marinig nito ang mga bagay na hindi pa nito dapat marinig.

Nylah picked up the attaché case and went to her own room.

She placed it on her bed and opened it. Tumabad sa kaniya ang unassembled sniper gun. Tumaas ang sulok ng kaniyang labi saka napatango. Kael really knows what she likes.

Kinuha niya ang sleek folder na nakapatong sa may magazine. Binuklat niya ito at binasa ang impormasyon na nakalagay.

She flicked the folder. “Silas Luca, it will be your end tonight.”