GRAYSONI never thought I'd find myself in a situation like this, sprawled out on a plush bed in a room, surrounded by the subtle scent of roses and scented candle. Jessica's lips are warm against mine, and her fingers trace lazy patterns on my back. The echoes of our recent vows still linger in the air. Sa wakas, kasal na kaming dalawa ni Jessica. She is finally my Mrs. Fiumara.As I deepen the kiss, I can feel the weight of the gold band on my finger, a constant reminder that I am now entertwine with my best friend, now my wife's life."Gray," sambit ni Jessica nang tumigil siya sa paghalik sa mga labi ko. "Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na kasal na tayo."I meet her gaze, "Believe it, Jess," I reply in a low tone. "We made it happen."Her fingers play with the buttons of my shirt as she smiles, the warmth reaching her eyes. "I never imagined a life like this, with a mafia guy as my husband."I gave her a half smile. "Well, believe it, Jess. We're in this together now."She leans
WILDMEN SERIES #49: CHARLES GRAYSON EZEKIEL FIUMARA PROLOGUE I was in a dark room, echoed with the sound of leather meeting flesh, hawak ako ng dalawang malalaking lalaki habang nakatali ang dalawang kamay ko. The bitter taste of vengeance filled my heart as I braced myself for the torment ahead. This was the price I had to pay, the gruesome initiation into the world I sought to conquer. But it wasn't just power and influence I craved; it was retribution for the tragic deaths of my sister Grace and my mother—deaths I had witnessed with my own eyes. Muli akong napakislot sa sakit nang muling malakas na humagupit ang latigo sa likod ko. Twenty-seven, I think that's the count- if I'm not mistaken. I am bleeding, the pain almost cause me to pass out. I'm struggling with my own sanity and I can't barely move. Hindi ko na alam kung tama pa ba ang ang pagbibilang na ginagawa ko sa isipan ko just to distract myself. I only need to get through this initiation to survive. Despite the fact
GRAYSON"Another dead body? Grayson, ano na naman 'to?"That's my friend and Lucille's husband, Nate. I called him to clean up the bloody mess that this fucking man made in the private room inside my office."I got bored so I killed him." I answered after sipping from my cup of tea."Grayson!" He yelled."What? He failed for the second fucking time, what do you want me to do?" I replied as I gets up from the single sofa."I told you to give him another chance , Gray." Panenermon niya habang binubuksan ang body bag."Another chance to what? To failed for the third fucking time?" Ibinaba ko ang tasa ng tsaa sa side table saka ako naglakad papunta sa kinaroroonan niya. "Kulang na naman ang sinupply niya, Nate. Kung parati na lang ganon ay baka malugi ang negosyo ko.""Nadagdagan na naman ang galang kaluluwa na walang habas na pinaslang dito sa building ng FiuScent" Mahinang sambit niya habang isinusuot ang gloves sa mga kamay niya. "Nawa ay maging matagumpay ang paglalakbay mo sa kabilan
GRAYAfter hours of traveling around the city, I found myself inside of St. Michael Memorial Place— lying on the ground, beside my Mom's grave.This will be the last time that I'll be visiting this place, babalik na ako sa Agrianthropos bukas.I will be moving there for good.Kasabay ng paglipat ko doon at pagtira ay ang pagsisimula ng mga dapat kong gawin.After visiting the resting place of my mom and sister and stayed there for u 5 hours. Nag-decide ako na magpakalma muna, umuwi ako sa bahay para matulog.I need to, may pasok ako bukas. I need to be there at 6:00 a.m. sharp or else I will get fired.How will the owner of Fiumara Scent get fired? Go ask my half-sis,the C.E.O herself.I did sleep for approximately four hours, I woke up at exactly 5:00 a.m.I just took a cup of coffee before taking a quick shower and finishing my daily routine in the morning before heading out.On my way to park my car on my usual parking spot when I accidentally witness something odd. Actually, this
—This isn't me anymore? Really?What does she expect me to do? After witnessing the death of my own family, did she expect me to be depressed and feel sorry for myself? That's not the real me, anymore. That's not my thing.Tapos na akong magluksa, tapos na ako sa kabanata ng buhay ko kung saan mas ginusto ko na magkulong at kaawaan ang sarili ko.Isang bagay na lang ang nais kong gawin ngayon, 'yon ay ang maipaghiganti ko ang Mommy ko at si Grace nang hindi umaasa sa letseng batas na umiiral sa bansa ito. Pagod na ako sa paulit-ulit na paagsasampa ng kaso at pagbabasura nila dahil kesyo hindi matibay ang ebidensya at kung ano-anu pa.Basura.Lahat sila, basura."And where do you think you're going?"Sa pagbaba ko ng hagdan ay ang nakasimalmal na mukha ni Yuri ang sumalubong sa akin. Magkasalubong ang kilay, isang linya ang labi, at halos sumayad ang mapulang nguso niya sa sahig.Mukhang naisumbong na sa kaniya ni Lucille ang mga kalokohan ko. What to expect? Si Lucille 'yon."Yeste
GRAYSONPasado ala- una na ng umaga nang marating namin ang Agrianthropos. May three-storey mansion akong naipatayo doon, sa tulong ng recruiter ko na si Indigo Magtanggol at malapit kong kaibigan na si na nagpahiram ng helicopter para makarating kami rito. Hindi ko kasi maaaring gamitin ang private plane ko at tiyak na malalagot ako kay Yuri at Lucille, sigurado akong mate-trace nila at susundan ang kinaroroonan ko. "Kumain ka lang ng kumain diyan, pagkatapos ay maligo ka na at magbihis. Magpahinga ka na rin." aniko matapos kong simsimin ang huling patak ng tsaa na nasa tasa ko."Bakit mo ito ginagawa? Bakit mo ako tinutulungan?" aniya habang diretsong nakatingin sa akin."Dapat ba hinayaan na lang kita na gahasain ng 'yon?" Ito ang namutawi sa aking bibig matapos kong ibaba ang tasa. "Hindi mo naman ako kakilala o k-kaanu-ano—" I cut her off."Just say thank you and be it." Malamig kong sambit."Anong kapalit? K-Katawan ko ba? P-Pera? Ano?""Mahirap bang sabihin ang salitang "
YZA“Nakapasok na ako sa isla ng Agrianthropos. Hawak ko na si Grayson.”pagbabalita ko sa kanang kamay ng boss ko na si Berto. “So, what’s the next step?”“Akitin mo, bihagin mo. Do your thing woman, make him fall for your charm. Hanggang sa tuluyan na siyang mapasakamay natin.”aniya mula sa kabilang linya.“That's an easy job, boss. Kanina pa nga lang ay laway na laway na ang mokong na ‘yon sa akin e. Sisiw na lang ‘yan”sambit ko. Nakagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi ko.That’s not an easy job.“Very good, our future attorney. Keep up the good work and make sure na wala ni ida sa miyembro ng Foedus ang makakaalam ng plano natin. Maliwanag? Foedus is Foedus, walang sinasanto ang mga tao riyan. Mag-ingat ka kung ayaw mong ikaw ang paglamayan imbis na ‘yang ampong apo ni Big Boss.”“Areglado boss, akong bahala ” aniko bago ko patayin ang tawag. Ibinalik ko ang cellphone sa bulsa saka ako lumabas mula sa banyo. Bumalik ako sa malaking kama na kinahihigaan ko kanina— ang kama na naging dah
GRAYSONI was in the middle of a deep talk with Yza when this motherfucker- named Zeithyium Ripley called. Kahit kailan ay wrong timing siya kung tumawag, lagi niyang itinatapat na may kausap akong importante.Lumabas ako ng kwarto at tumungo sa kusina, ayaw kong makita ni Yza kung paano magsalubong ang kilay ko habang kausap ang kaibigan kong 'to.Zeithyium Ripley is a pain in my ass "At last you fucking answered my call. I thought you're dead 'coz you keep on ignoring me," he said from the other line."I'm a busy person, Z! You know how I hate being-" he cuts me off. Tarantado talaga siya "Whatever your reason is keep it for yourself, I'm not interested especially if it's about girl."Napahilot ako sa sintido ko nang sabihin niya 'yon, kahit kailan ay may sapak siya sa ulo. "I'm in the middle of a meeting, Z.""If you say so my friend," saad niya na halatang hindi kumbinsido sa isinagot ko."Fuck!" mahinang usal ko. "Why did you call?""I have an offer, meet me at our favorite ca