The Mafia Don's Affection

CHAPTER 12

RICCARDO MANZO, the head of the Manzo Family, smirked while watching his men sparring with each other while sitting comfortably on his chair and sipping his favorite wine.

Hudson, his second-in-command, came to him. “Boss.” He bowed his head.

“What is it?” Riccardo asked.

“Boss, Crisanto Llanes was dead.” Hudson informed.

Nagulat si Riccardo sa ibinalita sa kaniya ni Hudson. “What? Who killed him?”

“I don’t know, Boss. Maybe the Mafia Don. The hitman was traceless.” Wika ni Hudson. “I couldn’t track him.”

“Traceless?” Nagtaka si Riccardo. “Then it’s not the Mafia Don. If he wanted to kill someone, he wouldn’t hide it.” Aniya.

“Then maybe he hired a hitman from the Underground Base, Boss.” Pagsabi ni Hudson ng kaniyang opinyon.

“That’s impossible. The Mafia Don had many subordinates, they were all skillful, especially his assassins and hitmen.” Saad ni Riccardo. “Maybe it’s not him.”

“At the underground base, many of them are high-profile criminals. But the assassin was too mysterious, Boss.”

Ibinaba ni Riccardo ang hawak na wine glass sa lamesa. “Where’s Klint? I need to talk to him.”

Nagtawag si Hudson ang isang tauhan at pinatawag si Klint Estevez, ang pinakamagaling na assassin na hawak ng Manzo Family.

“Boss, you called for me.” Ani Klint.

“Did you kill Crisanto Llanes?” Riccardo asked. He asked Klint to warn the Llanes family, so he sent Klint, but now, he was just informed that Crisanto Llanes was dead. Nabawasan na siya ng isang kapanalig sa grupo niya upang pabagsakin ang Mafia Don.

“No.” Tugon ni Klint. “I didn’t kill him.”

“Klint, you were one of the best assassins in the underground base before you became my assassin. I know you. When you kill, you are traceless too.” Wika ni Riccardo. “You didn’t kill him behind my back, right?”

Klint crossed his arms and calmly faced the head of the Manzo Family. “I didn’t kill him. It wasn’t me.”

“Then who?”

“The most ruthless and dangerous assassin of the underground base.” Sagot ni Klint. “Henry Callahan.”

Lumaki ang mata ni Hudson. “Are you sure about this?”

Tumango si Klint. “I saw it with my own eyes. He killed Crisanto Llanes. I’m not surprised though. While I was still in the underground base, I knew Henry had a conflict with the Llanes family. It’s not surprising that he would kill Crisanto Llanes.” Aniya.

“You saw Henry killing Crisanto? Then why didn’t you stop him?!” Tumaas ang boses ni Riccardo. “Llanes family is one of my supports to take down the Mafia Don.”

Klint snickered. “If I stopped him, I wouldn’t be in front of you and talking, Boss.” Aroganteng saad niya.

“Arrogant.” Ani Hudson.

Tinignan lang naman ni Klint si Hudson.

Kumuyom ang kamay ni Riccardo. “Forget it. Don Joseph went to the Philippines and he hasn't come back yet. I don’t know what he is up to.”

Nagkibit ng balikat si Klint.

“Boss, he doesn’t seem to go there for business.” Ani Hudson.

Ngumisi si Ricardo saka tumango. “I heard that Joseph was busy with his woman lately.”

“Woman?” Natawa si Hudson. “This is the first time I heard the Mafia Don was linked to a woman.”

“Our men residing in the Philippines saw them together.” Wika ni Riccardo at sumimsim ng alak. “This is going to be interesting.”

Kinuha ni Riccardo ang folder na nakapatong sa lamesa saka ibinigay ito kay Klint.

Klint opened the folder and saw a picture of a woman.

“She is the Mafia Don’s weakness. Kill her.” Riccardo ordered Klint.

Klint stared at the photo before saying, “If we kill her now and the Mafia Don learns that it’s us who killed his woman, he will surely declare war. Don Joseph doesn’t usually intervene with the other Mafia families and only focuses on his family. He only became ruthless once his family was hurt. I heard that when his sister got kidnapped by some gangsters. He killed all those gangsters by himself.”

Hudson spoke, “Klint was right, Boss. We can’t afford to lose right now. Our allies weren’t enough to fight against him.”

Napaisip naman si Riccardo. Kunsabagay, tama naman ang dalawa. The Mafia Don was ruthless and dangerous. He was greatly respected and widely feared by the Mafia families. Isang ngiti pa lang kasi nito ay parang nakakamatay na. Sa lamig ng boses at tingin ng Mafia Don, talagang mapapaluhod ka na lamang sa takot. Para bang kapag ngumiti ito ay may dala itong panganib. Even he was afraid of the Mafia Don. That’s why he was gathering allies from other Mafia families to take down the De Luca Family, but the Mafia families were too loyal to them.

The current Mafia Don Joseph Alejandro Auclair De Luca was more ruthless and dangerous than the former Mafia Don Alexandro De Luca.

“Klint, go back to the Philippines and watch the Mafia Don. Tell me all of his movements.” Riccardo ordered. He needed to be cautious. Kailangan niyang malaman ang lahat ng galaw ng Mafia Don. The Don was cunning and scheming. Baka hindi niya namamalayan minamanipula na pala siya nito.

“Yes, Boss.” Tugon ni Klint saka umalis.

“Boss, can we trust him?” Hudson asked when Klint left.

Ngumisi si Riccardo. “He may be arrogant, but he’s loyal.”

Napatango na lamang si Hudson at hindi na nakipag-argumento sa kaniyang amo.

JOSEPH was chatting with Iris in his room while he was resting when Andrew entered.

Andrew bowed his head. “Milord, Crisanto Llanes are dead and are now known in the entire organization.”

Joseph wasn’t surprised to hear the news. It’s not surprising at all. Talagang malalaman ng lahat ng nasa Mafia Organization ang tungkol sa nangyari kay Crisanto Llanes lalo na at kasapi ito ng Underground Organization.

“Then how about the heir of Crisanto Llanes? Does he have any movement?” Joseph asked. Now that the father is dead, his son will replace him and take his position.

“According to our spy inside the Llanes household, Milord, the heir was focused on his father’s burial.”

“Keep an eye on him.”

“Yes, Milord.”

“You may go.’

Andrew bowed his head again before he left the Mafia Don’s bedroom.

Bumalik naman si Joseph sa pakikipag-chat kay Iris.

‘I’m tired of typing. Call?’

Kaagad naman na tinawagan ni Joseph si Iris.

“Hello…”

Narinig ni Joseph na may tumutunog sa kabilang linya. “What are you doing?”

Iris, from the other line, looked at what she was doing and smiled. “Eating.”

Tinignan ni Joseph ang oras sa suot na relo. “It’s already late.”

“Yeah, I just finished my proposal. Deadline na kasi bukas.”

“Bukas? You have class tomorrow?” tanong ni Joseph. Sumandal siya sa headboard ng kama.

Nilunok ni Iris ang kinakain bago sumagot. “Yeah, morning.”

“May pupunta ka ba ng hapon bukas?”

Tumingin si Iris sa kalendaryo. Gumuhit ang malungkot na ngiti sa kaniyang labi. “Oo, may pupuntahan ako bukas.”

“I’ll accompany you.”

Iris smiled. “Wala ka talagang magawa sa buhay ‘no? You could be anywhere you want.”

Natawa naman ng mahina si Joseph. “Yeah, I’m free tomorrow. I’ll accompany you.”

“No need. I wanted to go alone.” Ani Iris.

Joseph could feel the sadness in Iris's voice even though she masked it with a happy voice. He had already perfected the art of pretending and knew that Iris was sad even though he couldn’t see it and only heard her voice. He senses it.

“You’re sad.” Ani Joseph.

Natigilan si Iris. “Ahmm, no. I’m happy.” Pinasigla niya ang boses.

Tipid na ngumiti si Joseph. Hinayaan na lamang niya si Iris. “Iris, if you have a problem, you can come to me for help. You can rely on me.”

“Rely on you?” Napaubo pa si Iris dahil sa sinabi ni Joseph. “Why?”

“We’re friends…” humina ang boses niya nang banggitin niya ang salitang ‘friends’ dahil alam niya sa mismong sarili na gusto niyang mas higit pa sa kaibigan ang gusto niyang maging relasyon nila ni Iris.

Ngunit alam niyang hindi pa ito ang tamang oras para doon.

“Thank you but I’m fine.” Wika ni Iris.

“Iris, you can treat me as a friend or a brother that you can rely on anytime.” Napangiwi si Joseph dahil sa mga lumalabas sa bibig niya.

Really? Brother? He’s asking himself for trouble.

Napangiti naman si Iris. “Okay. Fine. I’ll rely on you, brother.”

Nahilot ni Joseph ang sentido. “It feels weird hearing you calling me ‘brother’.”

“You asked for it.” Kibit balikat na sabi ni Iris. Uminom siya ng tubig saka tumayo. Kinuha niya ang pinagkainan at lumapit sa sink.

Ini-loud speaker niya ang cellphone.

“You’re washing?”

“Hmm…” Iris hummed. “Sandali lang.”

“Take your time.”

Mabilis na tinapos ni Iris ang paghuhugas saka lumabas ng kusina. Patakbo siyang nagtungo sa kaniyang kwarto.

“Be careful of your steps, Iris. Don’t run.”

Agad na tumigil si Iris sa pagtakbo. “How did you know?”

“Matalas ang pandinig ko.” Ngumiti si Joseph.

Iris pouted. “Scary. Pakiramdam ko alam mo ang lahat ng ginagawa ko.” Aniya saka pumasok sa loob ng kwarto at humiga sa kama.

Natawa ng mahina si Joseph. “Hindi naman.” Sort of.

Napailing na lamang si Iris. “Mr. De Luca, hindi ba magagalit ang girlfriend mo kapag nalaman niya na tumatawag ka sa akin? Though we’re not doing anything. Jealousy is another matter.”

Malakas na natawa si Joseph dahil sa sinabi ni Iris.

“Why are you laughing?”

“You…I’m laughing at you.” Napailing siya habang natatawa pa rin. “I don’t have a girlfriend, okay? I’m single and available.”

“Then find yourself a girlfriend.” Iris yawned. “I’m sleepy.”

“Actually, I like someone.”

Iris closed her eyes. “Then confessed to her. Don’t bother me.”

Joseph smiled. “I fell for her at first sight.” Aniya.

Iris just hummed. Antok na antok na siya.

“Okay. Sleep now. Good night.”

Iris hummed again.

Joseph ended the call and placed his phone beside his pillow. Humiga siya at napatitig sa kisame. He reflected on himself. Napailing siya nang may mga marealized siya sa sarili niya na hindi naman niya dating ginagawa.

I don’t want to admit it, but I’ve changed.