DANCING WITH THE VILLAIN

VI | To Strike Enemies

Rhysand Marfori

Garson

It was dawn and the men are standing on +the cold ground of Sinclaire. Just near the port, the Garson was usually full of boats and ships but today, there were only crates. Crates of containing illegal drugs that don't belong to him but to someone who considers himself a high-ranking official. 

Nakatayo sa gilid niya sina Marcus at Sid. He was puffing his cigarette and he inserted his other inside the pocket of his coat where his gun is hidden too. 

"Darating talaga sila?" tanong ni Marcus katabi niya. 

Napatawa si Sid saka nagssindi ng sigarilyo nito bago sinabing, "Iyon ang sabi ni Rhys. When was he ever wrong, Marcus?" 

Hindi na nagsalita pa si Marcus. Around them are crates and other transported things where their other men were hiding with their weapons on. Because he knows too well how a guy like Davos thinks. Too cautious. Kaya sigurado siyang hindi iyon pupunta nang mag-isa. 

"This won't be an easy transaction," he said. Loud enough for everybody in the Garson to hear. "We will be dealing with a man who might be bringing the whole police force with him or anyone he can find. They might have weapons. Do what you needed to do." 

"Yes, sir!" saad ng mga tauhan niya. Rhysand nodded and puffed another smoke when suddenly, they heard the sound of a car. Marcus and Sid were instantly alert beside him. Ngunit maya-maya pa ay narining niya ang tunog ng iba pang mga sasakyan. His other men were hidden at tanging silang tatlong magkakapatid lang ang nakikita. The cars stopped a few distance from them. Hindi to mapasook sa Garson dahil sa dami ng mga cargo na naroon. 

The first car opened and out came a man. Sumunod naman dito ay iba pang mga lalaki. Hindi niya lang alam kung mga pulis din ba iyon o nagtaatrabaho sa kanya. Rhysand puffed a cloud of smoke one last time before he dropped his cigarette and stepped on it firmly. He inserted both his hands now inside his coat and looked at the number of men coming in their direction. 

Davos Fillian looked respectable with his trench coat and his hat. Rhysand couldn't see any guns out but he could clearly see the bulge on his coat that he hasn't brought only one gun but quite a few of them. 

Rhysand played his tongue inside his mouth and stared at the men who stopped a few meters away from them. Then Rhysand flashed his smile and walked forward when suddenly, the men with Davos pointed their guns at him. they were quick to take their guns out but his men were quick too. The only ones who didn't get their guns out were Davos and him. 

He let out a smirk as he stared at Davos. "I thought you came here to take your stuff? Why are you pointing guns?" tanong niya rito. Davos doesn't look like he was fond of it from the very beginning and was forced to come. 

"I thought you came here to give them to me and yet you brought half your number," sagot naman ni Davos habang inilibot ang paningin sa paligid. His men were stationed around the Garson. 

Rhysand let out a smile, "I can' risk it. Especially that you brought all your bodyguards too." 

Nakipagsukatan pa siya ng tingin sa lalaki bago niya ito natinig na nagbuntong-hininga at saka itinaas ang kamay para senyasan ang mga tauhan nitong ibaba ang mga baril. The men followed and Rhysand's smile became even wider. SAka naman niya sinenyasan ang mga tauhan niyang ibaba rin ang mga hawak na sandata ng mga ito.  

He stepped forward and Davos looked at him. When he was already within arm's reach, he extended his hand. "Nice to do business with you, Davos." 

Rhysand could see how Davos' face twitched in anger. He let out a low chuckle when Davos didn't as much take his hand for a handshake. 

"Very well then," he said. "These crates are all yours. The woods of the crate was painted with gasoline. Two to three of my men were assigned to each crate. Should you do anything suspicious, my men wouldn't hesitate to burn it all down. Nanlalaki anf mga matang nakatining ito sa kanya. 

"You can't do that--" 

Rhysand laughed. "I can," he said and with a snap of his finger, one crate caught fire.

Rinig nilang lahat ang sigaw ni DAvos nang makitang nagliliyab na ang isang crate. Aatake na sana ito sa kanya nang maunahan niya ang lalaki at pinutukan ang isang paa nito. Davos wailed in pain and Rhysand was quick enough to grab Davos ang strangle him using his arm. His gun now pointed at Davo's temple. 

Rhysand felt Davos utterly still when he realized the situation. Davos's other men don't know where to point their guns. 

"Why are you doing this?" tanong ni Davos sa kanya. 

Mas idiniin pa niya ang baril sa ulo nito dahilan para mapasinghap ang lalaki. 

"Tell your men to drop their weapons. After all, it should have been just me and you," he said and eyed Davos' men.  

Davos went silent for a moment. Ngunit kalaunan ay narining niya itong magsalita. "Ibaba niyo ang mga baril ninyo," saad ng lalaki. 

Rhysand grinned as he saw the hesitation in Davos' men. 

"Now!" Davos yelled and the men dropped their weapons immediately. Rhysand heard Sid signal their men to drop theirs too.  

"Now tell your men to leave this place, Davos."

Davos squirmed and tried to look at him but he pressed the muzzle closer to his temple that Davos whimpered. With a shaky voice, Davos said, "Leave this place. Wait for me outside." 

Agad namang naglakad palabas ang mga tauhan ni Davos. He could hear Marcus chuckling behind him. Agad naman niyang itinulak si Davos dahilan para matumba ito at mapaupo sa lupa. Napatingin ang lalaki sa kanya. Nanlilisik ang mga mata nito. But Rhysand couldn't care less. Being the leader of the Ivory Skulls, he has made a lot of enemies. Usually those enemies couldn't do anything against him as he's got his fingers wrapped around their throats. They know what would happen to them should they try and go against him. This is what he's going to do with Davos. 

"Anong kapalit ang hinihingi mo?" Davos asked. 

Rhysand took a cigarette and lit it before he puffed a cloud of smoke. He crouched in front of Davos and looked at the man straight in the eye. Rhysand could tell Davos got the position to be the Chief of Police for one reason: he could get easily manipulated. 

So he said, "Whoever you're working for--or if you work alone, you should know that I will keep my silence about these drugs. In exchange, I want the cops to turn a  blind to whatever business we do in Sinclaire." 

He saw how Davos' eyes went wide and then his face in disbelief--a typical reaction when one is offered difficult options. Rhysand blew smoke straight to Davos's face and the latter coughed. 

"If you are working for someone higher than you, then you won't get in trouble now. Sinunog ko na ang isang crate but your punishment of losing all of this would be so much greater than if you only lose one." Rhysand looked at the crates and then back to Davos. "Which one is it, Mr. Fillian?" 

Davos looked at the crates around and then he looked back at Rhysand who was now standing in front of him, looking down. Rhysand could see Davos has already made up his mind kaya naman hindi na siya nasurpresa nang tumango ang lalaki. 

"Fine," Davos said. "I will do what you wish. The cops will turn a blind eye to everything you do in Sinclaire. But if you so much as  involve me in that--" Hindi na nito natuloy and nais sabihin nang itutok ulit ni Rhysand ang kanyang baril sa lalaki. 

"You are not in a position to make any requests now, Mr. Fillian. You have already agreed so that means you are already involved." 

Nakatingin si Davos sa kanya na parang sinusubukan siya nitong patayin sa isip nito. Sid stepped beside him and crouched in front of Davos before he said, "You know what happens if you don't do what we ask, Davos." 

Davos nodded continuously and swallowed hard. 

"Where are the wines?" tanong naman ni Marcus. Davos was still shaken by what happened and he lifted his trembling fingers on the back where the cars are. 

Marcus and Sid nodded before they took some men and went to get the crates of wine. Rhysand turned and started to walk away when Davos called his attention. Huminto siya sa paglalakad at tiningnan ang lalaki. 

"The Crown is going to get you and your stupid group soon, Rhysand. I suggest you don't mess with it," Davos said. 

Rhysand faced him fully and said, "Then they can come at me." 

* * * 

Sinclaire Grande

The Sinclaire Grande was at its peak. There was never a day that the bar was empty especially that it was owned by the Ivory Skulls. Rhysand had expected it. After all, being on the good side of the Ivory Skulls would mean protection against their enemies. Sinclaire city is known as a city where the outcasts go. Dito nagtatago ang mga may kasalanan. And they would always seek protection from the Ivory Skulls. Ngunit hindi lahat binibigyan nila ng proteksyon. If one wishes to be granted protection, he or she has to have something valuable to give to the Skulls: a piece of information, lots of money, or anything that the Skulls think is valuable. 

Kagaya nalang ng lalaking nakaluhod sa harapan nila. They are drinking in a private room inside Sinclaire Grande when Fred came and introduced a man who was specifically looking for Rhysand. Ngayon, nakaluhod na ito at humahagulhol. 

"Tell us what happened, mate," saad naman ni Marcus sa lalaki. 

"I know everything about what happened between you and Neinhart," he started. Everyone was silent and what the man said caught Rhysand's attention. 

"I f****d up and Neinhart is going after me." 

"What exactly did you do?" Rhysand asked. 

"I was one of Neinhart's men. You see, we were supposed to be transporting guns but I lost all of them. Now he's going after me and my family." 

Rhysand leaned back on his seat, contemplating the man's words. It is not always easy granting someone their protection. Especially when what the man did was absolutely outrageous and he deserves to be punished.

It was Sid who scoffed and said, "If I were Neinhart, I would do the same to you." That made the man grovel even more. 

"Parang awa niyo na, tulungan niy ako. I can't have my family involved with this!" 

"How exactly did you manage to lose all of it?" tanong naman ni Marcus.

The man was about to answer when Rhysand raised his hand and the man looked at him. Desperation in his eyes. 

"Tell us what you could give in exchange for our protection," Rhysand said and everyone was silent while looking at the man. 

Hope filled his eyes and he said, "I know everything. I know what Neinhart is planning. I know he was planning to get back to you after what you did to Neinhart Haven. I can give you all of that information. I just want you to protect me and my family." 

Silence filled the room and Rhysand swirled the wine in his glass before he said, "Very well. You give us everything you know and I will have men guard your house until everything's over." 

The man's face lit up and bowed his head lower that his forehead almost touched the ground. Paulit-ulit itong nagpapasalamat sa kanya. 

"What's your name?" tanong ni Rhysand. 

Halatang nagulat ito sa tanong niya. "I'm Siegfried, sir." 

"I will trust you and your words, Siegfried. I will do what you ask. But if I find out that you are not true to your words then your family is going to suffer. You understand that you have given your family as our leverage, right?" 

Nakita naman niyang napalunok ito ng laway saka napatingin sa sahig. "Yes, sir." Tumingin naman ito ulit sa kanya at sinabing, "Ang lahat ng sasabihin ko ay totoo. Makakaasa kayo sa akin." 

Rhysand knew he could trust him. Siegfried has a family to protect. Hinding-hindi gagawa pa ng isang pagkakamali ang isang taong alam na kung ano ang magiging parusa niyon. For Siegfried, it's his family. 

"So?" Marcus pried. "What exactly is Neinhart planning?" 

"He was planning to attack the Lady of the Ivory Skulls," sagot naman ni Siegfried.

Rhysand's brow rose and he looked at his brothers. Hindi nila napigilan tatlo ang tumawa. Nagtatakang napatingin naman sa kanila si Siegfried. 

"I am telling the truth! Iyon ang plano ni Neinhart! He wanted revenge, you see. And he's going after the so-called Lady of the Skulls." 

Sid was wiping his eyes while laughing. Napatingin naman si Siegfried sa kanya na para bang nagmamakaawa na paniwalaan ito. 

"I believe you, Siegfried," saad niya. "And that so-called Lady of the Skulls is Eliza Marfori. Neinhart might be going after her because Eliza's a woman and is only the brains of the Ivory Skulls." Then his face became dark as he continued, "He should have known she didn't become the Lady of the Skulls for no reason." 

"Iyon lang ba?" Marcus said in between laughter. Nagtataka naman si Siegfried habang nakatinign sa kanilang nagtatawanan. 

"I'd be more worried of Neinhart's men rather than Eliza," Sid continued and laughed again. 

Napayuko naman si Siegfried. But then he lifted his head and looked at him as if he just remembered something. 

"He was also talking about the Black Sheep." Siegfried's eyes lit up as he was trying to recall it. "I don't exactly know the details but he was talking about going after the Black Sheep. I don't know if that is anything useful to you but--"

Hindi na nito natapos ang nais sabihin nang makitang hindi na sila tumatawa. Rhysand was gripping his glass so hard and Sid and Marcus was looking at each other. 

"What's wrong...?" 

Rhysand looked at Siegfried. "How does he know about the Black Sheep?" tanong niya rito. 

Napalunok naman ang lalaki nang mag-iba ang tono ng boses niya. 

"I...I don't know. Iyon lang ang alam ko. That's he's going after the Lady of the Skulls and the Black Sheep." 

Rhysand closed his eyes firmly and chugged his glass before he stood. Napatingin naman ang iba sa kanya at hindi na niya hinintay ang mga ito na magtanong. He went out of the room and fished his phone out of his pocket.

Colorful curses came out of his mouth when nobody was answering their phones. he lit a cigarette and blow smoke as he tried to calm himself down when nobody was answering their phone. Ilang minute siyang nakatayo doon at paulit-ulit na tinatawagan ang numero sa kanyang telepono nang wala pa rin. 

Napapkit nalang siya nang mariinas habang nag-iisip ng pwedeng gawin. Neinhart can't go to the Black Sheep. After all those years he spent of protecting it, Neinhart shouldn't have any knowledge about it. At malalaman nalang niya na pupuntiryahin iyon ni Neinhart. It's something he would never allow to happen. 

"Excuse me." 

Napalingon naman siya sa babaeng nagsalita sa gilid niya. Perhaps he was too pissed to even care what he looked like now dahil nakita niyang natakot ang babae nang lumingon siya. Pinasadahan niiya ito ng tingin and he instantly knew what kind of woman she was. 

"Is this the Sinclaire Grande?" tanong ng babae sa kanya. Kahit na alam niyang natakot ito, hindi iyon halata sa boses nang babae. 

Rhysand dropped what remained of his cigarette at tinapakan iyon nang mariin saka siya naglakad papalayo. Another problem has arisen and he has to deal with it as soon as he can.

* * *