The Mafia Don's Affection

CHAPTER 7

INAYOS ni Joseph ang suot na sombrero saka naglakad palayo sa apartment ni Iris. A few meters away, he saw Andrew and Austin waiting for him. And he asked them to pick him up.

“Milord.” Yumuko ang dalawa.

“Don.” Yumukod rin ang mga tauhan nila na kasama ng kambal.

Tumango si Joseph saka mabilis na pumasok sa loob ng nakabukas na sasakyan. Andrew and Austin entered the van before they closed the door. Pumasok rin ang mga tauhan ni Joseph sa dalawang sasakyan na nasa harapan at likuran ng van.

Tinanggal ni Joseph ang suot na sombrero saka sinulyapan ang apartment ni Iris sa hindi kalayuan. “I’ll come back, Iris.” Mahinang niyang sambit.

“Milord, how’s your health?” tanong ni Andrew. Concern was laced in his voice.

“I’m fine. I have already recovered,” said Joseph. He sat comfortably and leaned on his seat. He took a deep breath and sighed. “Andrew, send some of our subordinates to protect Iris,” he ordered.

Nagkatinginan si Andrew at Austin. “Milord?” Sabay pa nilang saad.

“Just do what I said.” A small but genuine smile appeared on Joseph’s lips. “She took care of me. I’m afraid that my enemy would learn about her.”

Napatango ang kambal.

“Anyway, I wasn’t informed these past few days as I was focused on my recovery. Ano ang kinikilos ngayon ng Llanes Family? I killed their underboss.” Sabi ni Joseph. In the Mafia family, the underboss is one of the important members of the family. And he killed the underboss of the Llanes family. Of course, the head of the Llanes Family was furious, but Joseph didn’t care.

He is not the one to be blamed for it. The Llanes family asked for it. Kung hindi lang sana sila pumanig sa Manzo family, sana buhay pa ang underboss ng Llanes family. He was not the type of person who would kill someone without any reason.

Andrew sighed and informed the Mafia Don about the situation of the Mafia Organization while he was not around. “Milord, the spy, said that the Llanes Family was furious. The Boss of the Llanes Family wanted to avenge his second-in-command. He even put a bounty on your head.”

Joseph snorted. “How much?” he asked. Gusto niyang malaman kung magkano ang nakalagay sa ulo niya.

Andrew looked at his twin.

Austin shrugged. “It’s cheap, Milord. No one would want it except those individuals who did not belong to the organization.”

Ngumiti ng tipid ni Joseph. “Tell me.” Aniya.

“Ten million, Milord,” said Austin.

Natawa ng mahina si Joseph saka napailing. “Alam ba nila na hinahanap niyo ako?” tanong niya.

Umiling si Andrew. “No, Milord.”

Napatango si Joseph. “That’s good.”

“Milord, what is your plan now?” Austin asked.

Tumingin si Joseph sa labas ng binata ng sasakyan. He could see some establishment they were passing by. Then he saw a café.

“Austin, can you buy me some cookies at that café?”

Kaagad namang pinatigil ni Austin ang van saka bumaba upang bumili ng cookies na gusto ng Mafia Don.

While waiting for Austin, Joseph couldn't help but shake his head. “Tell a million, that’s too cheap for me.” Aniya. “Andrew?”

“Yes, Milord.”

“Inform all the Mafia families that the Llanes family has offended me. They sent their underboss to kill me and I killed him. They put a bounty on my head. Tell them whoever could kill the Boss of the Llanes family would be rewarded. Twenty million euros.” Joseph smiled dangerously after telling his command.

Andrew didn’t question the Mafia Don. He immediately took the order of the Mafia Don.

When Austin came back, he gave the cookies to the Mafia Don.

Joseph ate quietly. When he arrived at his mansion, he received a call from his chief advisor. Tumaas na lamang ang sulok ng labi ni Joseph dahil alam niyang nalaman na nito ang inutos niya kay Andrew.

He went to his private office and sat on his swivel chair. While having a call, he was enjoying eating his cookies.

“You killed the underboss of the Llanes family?” gulat na tanong ng chief advisor niya. “And you even offered twenty million euros for the head of the Llanes family?”

“Yes, and yes.” Sagot ni Joseph sa dalawang katanungan ni Lorenzo.

“Why?” Lorenzo asked.

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Joseph. “He wanted to kill me. Lorenzo, you’re my chief advisor, you should know what’s on my mind.”

Lorenzo sighed. Kilala niya si Joseph at alam niya kung paano ang takbo ng utak nito. Joseph loved playing with his enemies. If the enemy was a schemer, Joseph was cunning and decisive. He would never let anyone stand in his way. If his enemy was one step ahead, he was five steps closer.

“Don, you’re creating chaos.”

Joseph munched the food in his mouth and swallowed it. Then he retaliated coldly to Lorenzo. “They started it. They wanted to kill me and get the position of Mafia Don. Ako lang ang tumatapos sa sinimulan nila.”

“Don, won’t this backfire on our family?” Lorenzo asked.

“Don’t worry, no one in our family will be hurt,” Joseph assured Lorenzo. He already knew the situation of the five families. Since the two families have pledged an alliance with his enemy, then they must be eliminated. Sa totoo lang sa una wala naman siyang planong patayin ang mga ito kaya lang ang mga ito ang nagsimula. Siya lang ang tumatapos sa sinimulan nila.

“So, you planned everything in advance before?” Lorenzo asked. “You sounded confident right now.”

Joseph chuckled and didn’t answer Lorenzo’s question. “I’m tired. Let me get some rest.” Aniya saka pinatay ang tawag.

Nagtaka siya nang wala na siyang makuhang cookie sa loob ng paper bag kaya naman tinignan niya ang loob nito. Naubos na niya pala ang cookies. He took a deep breath and leaned on his swivel chair.

Iris image popped suddenly into his mind. Nagmulat siya ng mata saka kinuha ang cellphone sa bulsa. Hinanap niya ang contact ni Iris sa cellphone niya. Kinuha niya ang contact ng dalaga ng palihim. He actually feels guilty for what he did. That’s why he couldn’t bring himself to send Iris a text.

Joseph could only sigh. Umayos siya ng upo saka binuksan ang laptop. Several emails popped up after he opened his laptop. Binuksan isa-isa ni Joseph ang mga email na natanggap niya. Most of them are from Auclair businesses and were sent by Amadeo Martin. And they were sent to him a few days ago.

Sigurado siyang mainit ang ulo ni Amadeo dahil hindi niya pinansin ang mga email nito. But Amadeo never lashes out at him when he doesn’t want to work. Of course, Amadeo didn’t dare to do it because he was still his superior. Amadeo needs to respect him.

After replying to all of Amadeo’s emails regarding Auclair's businesses, he moved to the personal emails he received. However, the personal emails he received were all deleted after he read them.

Then he called Austin into his office.

“Milord, it’s already late. You should rest.” Ani Austin.

Tumango si Joseph. “I will. Austin, I have a task for you.”

“At your service, Milord.”

Pinagsiklop ni Joseph ang kamay sa lamesa. “I want you to protect someone for me.”

IRIS removed the surgical gloves she was wearing, and she threw them in the garbage bin. She tilted her head and held her nape. Medyo nangalay siya habang nakaupo siya sa harapan ng laminar flow. Nag-inat siya para ma-stretch ang kaniyang mga ugat.

“Tired?” Rose asked while looking at the microscope.

“Yeah, I’m tired.” Sagot ni Iris saka umupo sa kaniyang swivel chair. Sumandal siya. Talagang nakakapagod ang trabaho nila bilang mga Research Specialist. Lalo na at sila pa ang nagpa-process ng mga papel pero nahihirapan pa sila dahil ang tagal bago ma-process ang mga papel na kailangan nila.

Ipinikit ni Iris ang mata saka sandaling nagpahinga.

“Hi, ladies.” Bati ni Nate at pumasok sa loob ng laboratory. “May dala akong pagkain.” Anito.

Iris heard Nate, but she didn’t open her eyes. Gusto niyang magpahinga kahit sandali lamang. May mga estudyante pa siyang kailangang i-assist mamaya.

“Rose, Iris, kumain na muna kayo.” Pag-aya ni Nate.

“Alam mong bawal ang kumain dito sa laboratory.”

Nagkibit ng balikat si Nate sa sinabi ni Rose. “Wala namang makakaalam basta walang magsasabi. Sige na. Kumain muna tayo bago kayo magpatuloy sa mga trabaho niyo.”

Suddenly, Rose’s phone rang. Sinagot ng dalaga ang tawag nito saka rin lang ito nagmamadaling umalis.

“Babalik ako mamaya, Iris.”

Iris just waved her hand.

“Iris, kumain ka na muna.”

Nagmulat ng mata si Iris saka tinignan ang pagkain na dala ni Nate. “Thanks.” Aniya. Kumuha siya ng pagkain at kumain na rin.

“Iris, may gagawin ka ba after ng klase natin sa sabado?” tanong ni Nate.

“Wala pero balak kong magpahinga. Pakiramdam ko ay drain na ang energy ko dahil sa pagiging abala ko nitong mga nakaraang araw.” Tugon ni Iris.

“Pwede ba kitang ayain na lumabas?”

Bahagyang natigilan si Iris saka tumingin kay Nate. “Nate, I’m not a fool not to know what you want.” Seryoso niyang saad. “Sinabi ko na sa ‘yo noon pa na wala kang aasahan sa akin.”

Napabuntong hininga si Nate. “Wala ba talaga akong pag-asa sa ‘yo?”

Umiling si Iris.

Ngumiti si Nate saka tumango. “I understand, but just let me treat you as a friend. I won’t cross the line. Let’s just be friends. Masaya na ako doon.”

Huminga ng malalim si Iris saka tumango na lamang. Hinayaan na niya si Nate sa gusto nitong gawin basta nasabi na niya rito na wala itong aasahan mula sa kaniya.

But suddenly, Joseph’s image appeared in her mind. Nagtaka siya saka iniling ang ulo. “Why did he suddenly appear in my mind?”

It was one week since Joseph left her apartment. Sa totoo lang nasanay sa binata na dadating siya sa apartment niya at madadatnan niya ito. Napapangiti na lamang siya habang naalala ang binata. But then she lost her smile and shook her head. This is weird.