Prologue

"He's going to a masquerade ball on a cruise ship tonight, and the transaction will take place on the lower deck. Based on what I've heard, this is one of his biggest transactions—worth a billion pesos. He's not going to waste it, you know." I chewed my gum and popped it in between my lips wearing a dark red lipstick.

"Alright, send us other important details, including the location of his men sa iba't ibang bahagi ng ship, kami na bahala."

"On it," I dropped the call and let out a smile. Another sum of money. Finally, I can resign and go on a far place with my family. I put my phone in my pocket before putting on my sunglasses and immediately walked away from the building. I checked into a famous and expensive hotel to relax and sleep before leaving tomorrow morning. I sent the details my boss needs. Lahat-lahat na iyon walang labis at walang kulang pati na rin kung saang ship at ang blueprint.

I packed my things inside my rolling suitcase after sending those information. I checked my passport at lahat ng kailangan ko para sa flight ko bukas. After checking my things, ay pumasok na ako sa bathroom for a bubble bath. It was so nice. I could smell the fragrance of the rose petals and soap I put in the bathtub and still had time to play with the bubbles with a freaking smile on my face like a fucking crazy woman. When I got bored, I submerged my body and temporarily relaxed before trying to take a nap, ngunit nagising ako ng makarinig ng mabibigat na yabag at ibang tunog na tila may naglalaglagang mga gamit.

I looked at the wall clock and saw that it was almost midnight. I left the bathtub and took my robe to cover my naked body. I took the gun I placed on the mini cabinet before slowly holding the door knob. But before I could turn that around, someone had already done that for me.

Tumambad sa akin ang mga lalaking nakaitim. Nakasuot sila ng itim na face mask kaya hindi ko sila mamukhaan. But seeing the tatts the guy in front of me had on his wrist, alam ko na kung kaninong mga tao sila. I hurried, completely forgetting I was only wearing a robe. I tried so hard to fight, even though it was hard because of what I'm only wearing, but I could still do it. I kicked the other one's gun. Before he was given another powerful kick, it hit his jaw before I faced another one rushing towards me in the back. I caught his arm and kicked it before giving him a heavy punch in his face. I followed to fend off one's knife by dodging his hand and hitting it hard, causing me to hear the sound of his breaking bone.

I was panting, but I am not going to stop fighting. Hangga't hindi ako nakakatakas. Not until I felt a sharp pain near my neck and when something pricked it like a needle, making my vision dizzy. I didn't notice it. Hindi ko agad naagapang maramdaman ang paglapit ng may gawa noon. Ngunit isa lang ang narinig ko bago ako tuluyang mawalan ng malay.

"We got her, Master."

Napamulat ako at kaagad na napasapo sa ulo ng makaramdam ng matinding sakit. Isama pa ang tila panga galay sa bandang leeg ko kaya matunog ko 'yong inunat at minasahe. Fuck! What the hell did just happen?

I squeezed my eyes and rubbed them in every corner of the room I was in. Nang maalala ang nangyari ay kaagad na nanlaki ang mata ko at saka ko lang nakita ang sitwasyon ko. I was kneeling on the floor, pinned against the wall, nakakadena ang dalawa kong kamay sa magkabilang gilid ko, sa loob ng isang kwartong hindi ko pag-aari. The room's color scheme was a combination of white, gray, and black. Ganoon din ang mga gamit. Ang matapang ngunit hindi masakit sa ilong na panlalaking amoy ay nanunuot sa ilong ko. It was interesting to smell. Intoxicating and addicting. Where the hell am I?

Another memory from last night flashed in my mind. The tattoo!

Could I be, inside his fucking room?! Bullshit! Dapat ay nasa eroplano na ako sa mga oras na ito but here I am! Chained. Helpless. Busted. Putangina!

Napaayos ako ng pwesto at tinuwid ang ulo nang marinig kong bumukas at sumara ang pinto. I heard heavy footsteps coming in my direction until someone stopped in front of me.

"I was reckless when I thought you were loyal to me," I wanted to spit on his freaking handsome face, but I remained emotionless, gritting my teeth in disgust. He deserves the betrayal I gave him. Filthy attractive devil. His voice was monotone but with a hint of horror. It was cold, dark, and deep. You'll feel chills down your spine. Authority and power were visible. It was venomous and would make you tremble and weak. That's him. That's what he can do to everyone who's in front of him.

"Kill me," I commanded, like a freaking fearless heroin, which I'm sure I'm not. I was just good at disguise and putting up this brave and unbothered facade just to make everyone know I was strong. I am Storm, a disaster you shouldn't mess with. But when there is a storm, there is a doom, there is an end, and that's the person in front of me.

"Now you're commanding me and I hate it. You think I'll do that after everything you did to me? I lost a billion and that's because of you and your little game, Katana, you deserve to be punished." I felt something inside me went crazy when I heard him call me by my second name. I flinched when he held my jaw to guide my face into looking at him directly in his dark, deep, and scary beautiful eyes.

"Yeah, that's why you should kill me now, Master." mas dumilim at tumalim tingin niya sa akin dahil sa huling binanggit ko. Naramdaman ko ang paghigpit ng pagkakakapit niya sa panga ko na kinabuka ng mga labi ko. His jaw clenched so tight that I could see it.

"Call me that way again..."

"What?"

"Call me master..."

"You're no longer my master, I quit." ngumisi siya sa akin bago marahas na binitawan ang panga ko at umayos na ng tayo. He took something out and it was his gun. Nilapag niya ito sa coffee table niya before he sink himself on his couch and took a pack of cigarette to get one stick and light it. Humithit siya roon bago sumandal at dinipa ang kamay na tila isa siyang hari at iyon ang kaniyang trono.

When he lift his head, ibinuga niya ang usok at halos mapalunok ako ng gumalaw ang adams apple niya. Damn! Bakit pakiramdam ko umiinit sa loob ng kwarto na 'to kahit sobrang lakas ng aircon?

Nawala ang attention ko sa kaniya ng buksan niya ang napakalaking flat screen TV katapat ng kaniyang kama, at bumungad doon ang nasusunog na building. Kumunot ang noo ko at halos mapasinghap ng makilala ang building na 'yon.

The government organization I am working for. Did he burn it down?

"What did you do?" I asked.

"You're the only agent left from your organization, Agent S." He looked at me with a devilish grin on his lips before putting his cigarette in his ashtray and stood up. He removed his coat, leaving him in his black button-down sleeve tucked into his black pants. He pushed his hair back before he walked towards me again, holding his gun. Mahigpit ang kapit niya roon kaya bakas na bakas ang ugat sa kaniyang kamay paakyat sa kaniyang braso.

"And I let you live for a reason."

Akala ko'y hahawakan niya ulit ako ngunit hindi niya ginawa. He just left the room after that, leaving me clueless about his real intention. Bumalik ang tingin ko sa TV kung saan patuloy na ibinabalita ang nangyari, at totoo ang sinasabi niya, walang nakatakas na kahit na sino, they're all gone, at nagawa n'ya 'yon sa ilang oras lamang?

Isang matibay at matigas na padir ang binangga namin. Noon pa lang alam ko na pero noong makakita ako ng butas akala ko makakaya namin. It turns out that he's not just a mere mafia boss; his organization is not just a mere mafia organization; he's beyond. The organization wasn't built in a day and the training isn't a joke but it certainly fell in one.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang oras na akong nakagapos do'n. Nakakaramdam na ako ng pangangalay at sakit sa tuhod ngunit hindi ko ininda. Hindi na rin bumalik pa si Mathicus sa kwartong 'yon at noong magtanghali ay may naghatid lamang sa akin ng pagkain. He tried to feed me but I didn't try to open my mouth. Hindi pamilyar sa akin ang lalaki, marahil siguro ay sa ibang lugar ito nakadestino noong mga panahong parte pa ako ng organization ni Mathicus. Hindi ko nakilala lahat-lahat ng kasapi ng organization niya dahil hindi sila nananatili sa iisang lungga. They're around the world. Scattering, roaming, and living like a civilian. Like a normal citizen.

"Where is he?" I asked. But the guy didn't even open his mouth to talk. Iwas ang tingin niya sa akin habang hinihintay na isubo ko ang nasa kutsarang nakalapit sa may bibig ko pero hindi ko ginawa ang hinihintay niyang mangyari. I was still in my robe. Hindi talaga nag-abala ang lalaking 'yon na bihisan ako. Kung sabagay sino ba naman ako para maging demanding e isa lamang akong traydor.

"Wala akong balak kumain kaya kung wala kang balak magsalita, umalis ka na lang," malamig na sabi ko at hindi naman ito nag dalawang isip na tumayo at umalis.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang oras pa akong nanatiili roon. Ang alam ko lang ay malapit nang mag dapit hapon. Nagbabago na rin ang kulay ng langit ng mga oras na iyon.

I stretched my hand, nang maramdaman ko na talaga ang matinding pangangalay dahil nakaposas ito at kanina pa nakaangat. I was stretching it in a circular motion when I remembered something. Ibinaling ko ang ulo palapit sa isa kong kamay and took the earrings I was wearing. I forgot that this is a high-tech weapon that when I pinch it, it will turn out to be a small pin containing a past killer poison na kapag tinusok ko sa balat ng kalaban ay mabilis itong babawian ng buhay, but today, it's not going to be a weapon but a key that will save me.

Mabilis ko kinagat ang dulo nito kung alin ang safe part niya at mabilis na sinuot sa butas ng posas kung saan pinapasok ang susi at kaagad iyong kinalikot. It was a matter of minutes when I successfully freed my hand. Kinuha ko na sa pagitan ng mga ngipin ko ang pin at binukaan naman ang nasa kabila. When I successfully freed myself. Kaagad akong tumayo I searched the whole room for weapons. Kumuha na rin ako ng damit at wala akong pakialam kung pag-aari 'yon ni Mathicus.

After securing that I was armed. Mabilis akong tumungo sa balcony ng kwarto to check the perimeter. Puno ng bantay ang bawat corner ng bahay. Tinalon ko mula sa balcony hanggang sa sanga ng punong malapit dito and balanced myself hanggang sa makababa ako sa kabilang bakod. Ngunit bago ko magawa iyon ay may nakakita na sa akin.

I ran as fast as I could while I could hear heavy footsteps running after me. Sunod-sunod ang narinig kong putok bago ako lumiko at patuloy na tumatakbo.

Shit! I heard the sound of a vehicle! Lumiko ako sa mas maliit na daan at nagpatuloy sa pagtakbo. It was getting dark. Pinagpatuloy ko lamang iyon until I heard a sound of gun at may naramdaman akong sakit sa tagiliran ko.

I almost fell because of that, pero nagawa ko pa ring tumayo at tumakbo. I took one gun at nilingon ang may gawa noon bago nagsimulang magpaputok dahilan para magtago sila. At nagkaroon ako ng tyansa na makalayo.

It was already dark. The street lights were the only source of radiance for me. Ramdam ko ang pagtagaktak ng pawis ko simula noo pababa sa aking leeg. Walang ibang maririnig kundi ang mabibigat na hakbang na ginagawa ko. Humahapdi ang aking tagiliran habang patuloy akong tumatakbo. The area was secluded, ang bahay lamang ata ni Mathicus ang bahay dito o mayroon man ngunit malayo. Or maybe parte pa ito ng lupa niya. Damn! What a very unlucky day! I grimaced when I reached the dead end.

"There she is!" kaagad akong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ng boses bago muling nilingon ang padir at sinukat kung gaano 'yon kataas. I know I'm not going to make it, based on my current condition. So when I saw them five meters away, I immediately put my hands up.

"Hands at the back of your head, Miss Storm." I did what one of them said. Nakatutok ang mga baril nila sa akin habang ang isa sa kanila ay lumapit to get all my weapons. I was left empty-handed. "Handcuff her, Eliot."

"Bullshit Devsin, don't mention my name!"

"Idiot! You mentioned mine too! Fuck you man!" mas lalo akong napangiwi ng magtalo sila. Mga ugok! Dahil sa kalokohan nila ay mabilis akong nakakilos. Nakuha ko ang posas ang lalaking nagngangalang Eliot ang naposasan ko. I heard the guy named Devsin curse under his breath. The table turned at silang dalawa na ang hawak ko sa leeg.

I pointed my gun at Eliot's temple while my arm was wrapped around his neck. Kaagad siyang napakapit sa braso ko.

"Stupid, Eliot! Master will kill us, I swear!"

"Fuck you! It's your fault!"

"Gun on your feet, Mr. Devsin." muli pa itong napamura at kaagad na binaba ang baril niya sa may paanan niya. My lips curved. "Kick the gun towards here." I commanded.

Tila asong sunod-sunuran na sinipa niya ang baril niya patungo sa akin. Pinulot ko 'yon still not letting go of Eliot's neck. After getting the guns and leaving them empty-handed, I slowly walked, dragging El with me until we shifted positions. Si Devsin na ngayon ang nasa kinatatayuan ko kanila, nakataas pa rin ang kamay at kunot noong sinusulyapan ang kasamahang hawak ko sa leeg, bago bahagyang napapamura ng mahina.

I was about to let go of Eliot when the cold lips of a gun touched my temple.

"Let him go or I won't hesitate to kill you," Those authoritative, venoumous voice stopped me. Maging ang paghinga ko'y mabilis na tumigil. My body went rigid as my arm let go of its grip on Eliot's neck. Nakita ko pa ang mas malutong na pagmumura ni Devsin at dinaluhan ang umuubo-ubong si Eliot. While I remained frozen as the man behind me held my freaking waist and pulled me closer to him, dahilan para bumagga ako sa matigas niyang dibdib. I could feel his warm breath against my ears as I almost shut my eyes when he tightened his grip on my waist, trying to keep me still.

"You forgot what I am capable of, Katana. Have you forgotten our deal? Would you like me to make you remember?" My eyes automatically shut. Hindi kinakaya ang bigat ng bawat salita niya.

"Escaping me is another way of suicide. Don't you know that?"

"Why don't you just kill me, Traze?" I growled.

"I told you to call me master. You're not allowed to call me by my name... unless I want you to call me that way. Bad girl." He licked the corner of my ear that almost made me groan. I can't believe he's doing this to me in front of those two fools who were just watching us like they were watching a live p*rn! Damn it! Hinawakan ko ang braso n'yang yumakap na sa tiyan ko dahilan para mas maidiin niya ako sa katawan niya. Dumiin doon ang kuko ko every time that I could feel his warm, sinful tongue running over my skin.

"M-master, stop!" He didn't do anything to stop. He continued doing what he was doing right in front of his men! This is completely humiliating! Nanatili ang baril niyang nakatutok sa sintido ko habang tinutuloy ang ginagawa niya. No matter how I try to stop him, I know he won't do it.

My system is messed up, lalo na noong tumaas ang kaniyang kamay hanggang sa baba ng dibdib ko. I gasped. Devsin and Eliot wanted to look away, pero tila parang may pumipigil sa kanila kaya nasasaksihan nila ang ginagawa ng kanilang master sa akin. I groaned in frustration and embarrassment as I felt his hand hold my left mound.

"Traze, s-stop... please... sasama na ako." nangingilid ang luha at nanginginig ang boses na sigaw ko. Automatically he stopped. Like I just said the safest word that could make him stop doing anything na may kaugnayan sa akin. Hinihingal ako ng sandaling binitawan niya ako at binaba ang baril na hawak niya. Agad na nag-iwasan ng tingin si Eliot at Devsin, like the withdrawal of their master from holding me was a sign for them to look away. Ramdam ko ang panginginig ng katawan ko ngunit pinili ko 'yong itinago bago mariing pumikit ng maaalala lahat-lahat ng bagay na ginusto kong kalimutan at akala ko'y magagawa kong kalimutan, kung hindi lamang nasira ang plano ko.

"Seeing you act like that, I guess you already remember what you tried to forget, bad girl." parang kulog ang boses niya ng sabihin niya 'yon. Unti-unti akong humarap sa kaniya at marahang nag-angat ng tingin. Mas matangkad siya sa akin at tanging dibdib niya lang ang kita ng mga mata ko kung hindi ko iaangat ang ulo ko para tingnan ang mukha niya. He looked down on me with his unpredictable, emotionless dark green eyes.

"You're my master, and I am your..." I trailed off. I swallow the lump in my throat.

"Go on... continue."

"Slave," nang tingnan ko siya ulit ay may sumilay nang ngisi sa mga labi niya.

"Good girl. Now, get in the car and fulfill your part of the contract. I'm done with your punishment." tinalikuran na niya ako at nauna nang pumasok sa black mustang na pag-aari niya.

Muli akong napalunok at pilit pinalakas ang sarili sa kabila ng panginginig.

So that was his punishment to me for escaping. He humiliated me in front of his two men. At alam kong hindi pa iyon ang parusa niya para sa ginawa kong pang t-traydor.

I closed my eyes and when I opened them again, I forced my feet to walk towards his car. At nang makasakay ako ay saka ko inalala kung bakit napasok ako sa sitwasyon na 'to.

He was the target of the government organization I was working for. I needed money at that time. Malaki ang kikitain ko sa mission ko, and that was to spy on Traze. Entering his organization is not easy. I needed to pretend to be a woman giving service to billionaire bachelors. Sa pag-aakala kong madali kong makukuha ang attention niya pero nagkamali ako.

Suplado siya, at walang pakialam sa mga babaeng umaaligid sa kaniya so change of plan. I applied as his spy. I offered him that I would spy on his target government organization. He made me prove myself, so I sneaked out crucial data and information for him. When I proved myself to him, he already accepted me. Ngunit hindi roon nagtatapos ang lahat. He's a clever beast. Siniguro niya na hindi ko siya basta-basta matatakasan at maloloko. He made a deal and made me sign a contract.

A contract between a master and a slave. And for every wrongdoing I commit, he'll punish me a punishment I won't like. That's how that contract works. And all I could do was just obey him, or else he'd do horrible things not just to me... but to my family. He put a leash on my neck and let me draw in his manipulation. And again, he has my consent. I was a fool and arrogant for accepting the deal.

I just got myself into a situation where I have no safe escape.