The Mafia Don's Affection

CHAPTER 14

JOSEPH was worried about Iris. Lumipas kasi ang buong gabi na hindi bumaba ang lagnat ng dalaga kaya naman nagpatawag siya ng doktor upang suriin si Iris. But then the doctor told him that Iris had a fever because she had been soaked in the rain for too long.

Nakahinga na lamang ng maluwang si Joseph nang sumapit ang tanghali bumaba na ang lagnat nito. Inayos niya ang kumot ng dalaga saka sinalat ang nuo. Napatango siya nang maramdaman niya na hindi na ito mainit.

Tumayo siya saka lumapit sa may bintana. Hinawi niya ang kurtina para pumasok ang liwanag sa loob. Binuksan niya rin ang bintana upang pumasok ang hangin. Hindi kasi naka-open ang aircon sa kwarto niya dahil pinatay niya ito kagabi. May sakit si Iris kaya maganda kung magpawis ito ng magpawis.

Napatingin si Joseph sa pinto nang may kumatok. Naglakad siya palapit sa pinto at binuksan.

“Milord.” Andrew bowed his head. “Milord, the underboss wanted to talk to you.”

Sumulyap si Joseph kay Iris saka siya lumabas ng kwarto.

Joseph went to his office and talked to Monti.

“Report, Monti.” Saad niya.

Kaagad naman na nagsalita ang second-in-command ni Joseph. Monti reported about their operations in their legal and illegal business of the De Luca Family.

“How about the other families?” Joseph asked.

Nagulat naman si Monti. “Don?”

“Tell me. Is anyone of them trying to rebel against me?” Joseph asked in a cold voice.

Hearing the Mafia Don’s cold voice, Monti dared not delay his answer, but before he could speak, he heard the Mafia Don's voice. “Forget it. But if any of them try to rebel against the De Luca Family, pay them a personal visit, Monti.”

Personal visits are a means of warning to the family who will try to rebel against the De Luca Family.

“Yes, Don.”

Ngumisi si Joseph. “And if any of them try to threaten us, kill them immediately.”

“Yes, Don.”

“Anyway, how’s my sister?” tanong ni Joseph saka sumandal sa kinauupuan. Alam niyang tapos na ang art gallery nito sa Sicily.

Napangiwi naman si Monti. “Don, it’s not that I don’t want to answer you, but it’s better if you ask the Chief Adviser personally.”

Joseph could only shake his head. Sa sinabi pa lang ni Monti, alam niyang may ginawa na naman ang kapatid niya. “Okay. That’s it. Call me for an update.”

“Yes, Don.”

Joseph ended the call. Sunod niyang tinawagan si Lorenzo.

“Don?” A voice of relief could be heard from Lorenzo.

“You sounded like you were relieved.” Ani Joseph.

“Don, you have no idea what trouble I am right now.” Sabi ni Lorenzo. Nahilot niya ang sentido. “Your sister… your sister caused so much trouble for me.” Aniya.

“What trouble did she cause?” Joseph asked. “Halatang problemado ka.”

“Don, your sister escaped again from her bodyguards. And our enemy nearly catches her. Good thing we arrived on time and saved her. Or else…” napailing si Lorenzo. “I don’t know how to face you, Don.”

Naipikit ni Joseph ang mata. Hindi na siya nagulat na may muntikan ng kumidnap sa kapatid niya. Alam niyang may mga lihim siyang kalaban. Ilan sa mga ito ay kilala niya ngunit ang ilan ay nanatiling lihim kung sino ang mga ito. Of course, they would do anything to threaten him.

“Where is my sister?”

“She’s in her room and resting, Don.” Tugon ni Lorenzo.

“Lorenzo, do everything to control her. Nauubos na ang pasensiya ko sa kaniya.” Seryosong saad ni Joseph. “I don’t care what you do to control her. Just make sure she won’t escape again.”

“Yes, Don.”

Joseph ended the call. Napailing siya. His sister was naughty and always did what she wanted. And yes, her sister was spoiled. Ngayon parang nagsisisi na siya na ini-spoil niya ito noon. Lumaking matigas ang ulo at pasaway.

Meanwhile, Lorenzo sighed. “I would rather see Don Joseph's coldness and dangerous character than watch over Jacqueline De Luca.” Aniya. Mabilis siyang tatanda kung ang kapatid ni Don Joseph ang kasama niya. At teka lang, kailan pa siya naging bodyguard? He is the Chief Advisor, not a bodyguard, but when it comes to Jacqueline, he is a bodyguard.

“Chief Adviser, Signorina Jacqueline was trying to escape again.” Imporma sa kaniya ng isang tauhan. And here he thought Jacqueline was in her room and resting.

Nahilot na lamang ni Lorenzo ang sentido. He took a deep breath. “Just let her.” Aniya.

“But, Chief Adviser, Signorina is climbing the wall.” Nababahalang saad ng tauhan.

Nagulat si Lorenzo saka lumaki ang mata dahil sa gulat. “What the hell?!” Mabilis siyang lumabas ng villa saka pinuntahan si Jacqueline.

Lorenzo could only blow a loud breath when he saw Jacqueline trying to climb the high hall of Don Joseph’s household.

“Signorina!”

Jacqueline gasped in surprise. Nadulas ang paa niya sa kung saan siya nakatuntong at nakabitaw siya sa hinahawakan niya. She fell down, but she was not worried because she knew that someone would catch her. And she’s not disappointed because Lorenzo caught her in his arms.

Napangiti na lamang si Jacqueline.

“You’re not scared, huh? That’s a high wall, Signorina.”

“I know you would catch me if I fell, and you did catch me earlier.” Nakangiting sabi ni Jacqueline.

Ibinaba ni Lorenzo ang dalaga saka napailing na lamang. “I’m sure Don Joseph will scold you once he’s back.”

Ngumisi lang si Jacqueline at hindi naniwala sa sinasabi ni Lorenzo. “I don’t believe you. My brother loves me the most.”

Lorenzo snickered. “Really?” Natawa siya ng mahina. “I guess, not anymore.” Aniya.

Kumunot ang nuo ni Jacqueline. “What do you mean?”

Nagkibit ng balikat si Lorenzo saka tumalikod. “Don’t bother escaping, Signorina. You can’t escape.”

Ngumisi si Jacqueline. “Really? I escaped last time.”

“Yeah, last time and that’s the last time you could escape under my watch.” Lorenzo smiled. “Don Joseph had given me the authority to control you. So, from now, you are not allowed to approach the wall of Don Joseph’s villa. I’m sorry, Signorina, but that was for your own good.” He slightly bowed his head and walked back to the villa.

Sinamaan naman ni Jacqueline ng tingin si Lorenzo. “See, how would I escape from this house!”

Tumaas lang naman ang sulok ng labi ni Lorenzo. Lumingon siya kay Jacqueline. “Then show me, Signorina.”

WHEN Iris woke up, she stilled when she saw she was in an unfamiliar room. She frantically got up, and her eyes roamed around. Nagtaka siya kung nasaan siya. Nakaramdam rin siya ng takot. Hindi niya alam kung nasaan siya at hindi niya maalala kung papaano siya napunta rito. Napatingin siya sa kaniyang sarili at nakita niyang iba ang suot niyang damit. Sa klase ng damit na suot niya, halatang pag-aari ito ng lalaki.

Inamoy ni Iris ang damit at kumunot ang nuo niya. Pamilyar sa kaniya ang amoy na nakadikit sa damit. “Joseph?”

Inilibot ni Iris ang tingin sa kabuuan ng kwarto. Malawak ito. Parang mas malawak pa ito kaysa sa apartment niya. It had a deluxe bed and pillows. A drawer, a nightstand, a couch, long and thick curtains, and a glass door. Inside the glass door were clothes. May mga painting rin na nakasabit sa dingding. The wall was painted with a grayish color, making the room dim but still pleasant to the eyes.

Iris tried to calm herself. Wala naman siyang nararamdamang kakaiba sa sarili niya. Iniapak niya ang paa sa sahig saka dahan-dahang tumayo. Hindi naman siya nahihilo o nakaramdam ng kakaiba kaya naglakad siya papunta sa pinto. Bahagya itong nakaawang ang pinto kaya sumilip siya sa labas. Dahan-dahan niyang hinila ang pinto para hindi ito lumikha ng ingay saka siya muling sumilip. Nang makitang walang tao saka siya lumabas.

Dahan-dahang lang si Iris sa paglalakad habang nakahawak siya sa pader. Pakiramdam niya kasi ay matutumba pa rin siya. Wala siyang makitang tao at sobrang tahimik ng paligid. Naglakad siya hanggang sa may nakarating siya sa may pintuan.

Nalulula si Iris sa mga nakikita niya sa loob. The walls are all marble. The furniture, glass doors, dividers, and the staircase she was facing — she knew that they covered a million costs. The interior designs of the house — err…mansion — masasabi niyang mansyon ang kinaroroonan niya kahit pa hindi niya pa nakikita ang kabuuan nito — are all excellent. Halatang mayamang tao ang nakatira. There were also paintings on the walls. Though they looked simple, she knew they were expensive. Baka kulang pa ang buhay niya na pambayad niya kung may nasira siya sa mga ito. Huwag naman sana.

Dahan-dahang bumaba si Iris ng hagdan pero nasa kalahati pa lamang siya nang marinig niyang may tumawag sa pangalan niya.

“Iris.”

Mabilis siyang tumingin sa ibaba ng hagdan at nakita niya si Joseph. May kasama ang itong ilang kalalakihan na pare-parehong nakasuot ng black suit. While Joseph was wearing casual clothes, he was wearing a turquoise long sleeve polo at natupi ito hanggang siko, then he was wearing white pants and paired with white shoes making him look more handsome.

Though Joseph looks gentle, the men behind him are scary. Napaatras si Iris saka napalunok.

Joseph noticed Iris’s expression. Kaya sinenyasan niya ang mga tauhan niya na umalis. Yumukod ang mga ito bago sila umalis.

Umakyat naman si Joseph patungo kay Iris. Agad niyang sinalat ang nuo nito. “Bakit ka lumabas ng kwarto? You still need to rest.”

“Anong nangyari sa akin?” tanong ni Iris.

Nagtaka naman si Joseph. “Wala ka bang maalala?”

Umiling si Iris saka napahawak sa railing ng hagdan.

Joseph sighed. Pinangko niya si Iris.

Nagulat si Iris sa pangbuhat sa kaniya ni Joseph. “Put me down.”

“No.” Sabi ni Joseph saka umakyat ng hagdan habang buhat si Iris.

“Pero…”

“Iris, you need to rest. I’m bringing you back to the room. Ang taas ng lagnat mo kagabi. Mabuti na lamang at bumaba kaninang umaga.” Saad ni Joseph habang nakakunot ang noo.

Hindi na lang gumalaw si Iris at hinayaan si Joseph na buhatin siya. Humawak na lamang siya sa balikat nito. “I got sick?”

Tumango si Joseph.

“Oh. No wonder.” Sabi naman ni Iris. “I just remembered myself under the pouring rain then wala na akong maalala.”

Joseph sighed heavily. “Sinabi mo sa akin na kada taon na ginagawa mo ang magpabasa sa ulan. Nagkakasakit ka ba?”

Tumango si Iris. “Yeah.”

“Sinong kasama mo?”

“Wala. Mag-isa ko lang naman. Bumaba naman ang lagnat ko pero may mga pagkakataon na si Rose ang umaasikaso sa akin. She’s nice.” Nakangiting sabi ni Iris.

Joseph slightly kicked the door of his room to open. And he deposited Iris on the bed. “Stay here. Sasabihan ko ang chef na magluto ng pagkain mo.”

“I’m fine now—”

“You’re not fine, Iris.” Seryosong sabi ni Joseph saka lumabas ng kwarto.

Sumandal naman si Iris sa may headboard. “Is he mad?”

Pero wala naman siyang ginawa upang magalit ito. Napakamot na lamang si Iris sa batok. Men are hard to understand sometimes.