I shrugged, thankful at our streak of luck. “Did we lose them?” I asked, suddenly realizing the
quiet surroundings.
Drew nodded, eyes on the trail behind us. “Anthony’s a great driver after all.”
Looking out the window, I realized we were already in the main road. We passed by a few cars.
This side of town was a bit secluded, judging by the few cars. As if reading my mind, the noise
of the city began to land on my ears.
“We’re near the city already?”
Drew nodded.
“Where to?” Anthony asked.
“Drei’s.”
~
A good twenty minutes passed before we reached our house. It wasn’t that far from the main
part of the city, but Anthony rounded several blocks along the way, to make sure that our trail
was free from pursuers.
It was now three AM, and surprisingly I stil wasn’t sleepy. Amazing adrenaline.
Anthony parked the car in front of our gate and we got out of the car. Was it because of the time
or is it eerily quiet? I could really hear my breathing.
I steadied myself and rang the doorbell. At last, things were going back to normal now.
After a few seconds, Nanny Helena emerged from inside, opening the gate for us.
“Drei!”
I almost hugged her in relief the moment I saw her. But something stopped me. I saw something
in her eyes that puzzled me. Exhaustion maybe? It was early in the morning, which was
justifiable.
“Nanny.” I managed to answer.
We entered the house without another word. I didn’t dare ask, without knowing why. Anthony
and Drew trailed behind us. Surprisingly, they too, didn’t let out a word.
“Did you hear from Mom, Nanny?”
“Oh she heard alright.”
Our heads snapped toward the living room, to the source of the voice. My jaw literally dropped.
“Kristine?”
“Yes, Ms. Hamilton?”
She was standing in the middle of the living room, her arms crossed in front of her. Her stance
was very strong, very commanding that I couldn’t quite believe that it real y was her. And that
she was a part of them.
Al of a sudden my hands bal ed into fists, realizing what this meant. “Where’s Mom?”
On cue, Kris emerged from the kitchen, leading my tied-up Mom inside the living room. Her
mouth was silenced with what looked like a large hanky, and her hands were tied behind her.
Behind him, there were two guys. One brought a chair, and the other had a roll of ropes.
“You can’t do that to my Mom, buster!” I hol ered.
Just then, there were guys who emerged from behind us, holding us captive. I didn’t notice
Nanny was already held by another guy by the corner of the living room.
As the chair was set beside Kristine, Kris shoved my Mom into sitting, and yet again was tied to
the chair. Smugly, she shrugged. “Apparently, we just did.”
I glared at her with all my might.
“If only you’d let me take her place,” Drew bargained with Kristine from where he stood beside
me.
“Oh and she’l miss all the fun? I’m not a spoiler, Drew. Besides, tradition says otherwise.”
“Screw your stupid tradition!” My rage was seething.
“Wil you shut up?!” she snapped at me.
“Kristine…” I heard Kris calm her. She literally glowered at her twin.
Reluctantly taking heed, she straightened up and exhaled. She calmed herself before speaking
again. “Our tradition has saved this organization…”
“Syndicate!”
She glowered at me as if she would eat me up alive at any minute. But she continued. “…from
being discovered and busted by authorities. Business was going very well and the transition of
leaders and members have been very effective. Families don’t ever turn their backs on each
other, especially on matters as important as these.”
Where was she going with this?
“But then again, don’t always happen the way we plan them.” Her voice was eerily pleasant,
which made me want to vomit.
“Yea, I already know that. What I want to know is why are you the one making the big speech?”
I mocked her.
She chuckled, not exactly a nice sound. While I was stalling, I glanced around the house and
realized that it was heavily guarded. All the corners of the house had men with their guns drawn.
Practically at us. Any way that I would have taken for escape was a dead end. I glanced at
Anthony from beside me and I saw that he too, was seething with rage.
“I see Carley has not oriented you yet,” Kristine continued.
“Obviously,” Anthony snapped. I was surprised that he joined the banter with me.
Taken aback, Kristine swallowed and smiled pleasantly again. “I, Kristine Wong, together with
my twin, Kristian Wong, are the new leaders of the group.”
I literally gaped at her words. So they were the leaders. No wonder Carley kept mentioning they.
“Wel , congratulations, then.” I almost spat at her.
She suddenly neared me, and slapped my cheek, hard.
I heard Anthony struggle free from his captor but failed to do so. There was another shuffle from
somewhere near me and then I saw Drew nearing Kristine and giving her a slap of her own.
The men immediately got Drew back and gave him a punch himself.
“Drew!”
“NOBODY LAYS A HAND ON MY NIECE.” He bellowed at Kristine as another punch from
another guy landed on his jaw.
“No! Stop!”
Kristine straightened up, rubbing her cheek. “As much as I’d like to do that, Drew, your niece
right here just wouldn’t shut up.” He brushed my cheek, then slapped me again.
This time, it was my Mom who shouted from her gag, but it was a muffled and futile sound.
“Wel , enough of the pleasantries. Let’s get right down to business.”
She got back to the center of the living room. Al this time, I can’t help but wonder why she was
doing all the talk and not her twin.
“You all know that you have to hand Anthony in. And now that we have him, there’s no turning
back. Right, Anthony?”
“I would do that, if you’d do me one little favor.”
She cocked her head to the side. “Picky, are we?”
“You need me, remember that.”
Where was he going with this?
She exhaled, clearly bored. “And that would be?”
“Let Drei, Drew and Leah go. Don’t bother them ever again and I’m all yours.”
My heart thumped loudly.
“That’s interesting.” She walked toward my Mom. “But Leah
