Chapter 24: Final Order

Jhoanna's POV

Hinigpitan ko ang hawak sa manibela, ramdam ko ang malamig na pawis sa palad ko. Mabilis ang takbo namin, pero mas mabilis ang tibok ng puso ko. The road was almost empty, the streetlights casting long shadows on the pavement. Kahit anong bilis namin, hindi ko maalis sa isip ko yung boses ng tatay ni Stacey.

"You have until midnight."

Tumingin ako saglit kay Stacey. She was staring straight ahead, her jaw so tight na parang mababasag niya yung mga ngipin niya.

"Stacey," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "We don't have to do this alone. Mikha's getting people."

She exhaled sharply. "You don't get it, Jho. My dad... he doesn't play fair."

"And you think we do?"

She finally turned to me, and for a second, nakakita ako ng takot sa mata niya. But behind that fear was something stronger-determination.

"We're not killers Jho" she muttered.

Napakagat ako sa labi. "No, we're not," I agreed. "Pero hindi ibig sabihin nun na hindi tayo lalaban."

Stacey sighed. "I trust Mikha, pero kilala ko si Daddy. He'll have eyes everywhere. This is a trap."

"Of course it's a trap." Napangisi ako, mas diniinan pa ang tapak sa gas. "That's why we're gonna spring it our way."

Colet's POV

Taneo was pacing back and forth, his usual smug face looking... unsure. Good. That meant I was getting to him.

Sheena, on the other hand, was running out of patience. "So, ano na, gago? Tatlong taon ka pa ba mag iisip dyan?"

"Shh," Gwen muttered. "Let him process bebe"

Taneo shot us a glare before sighing heavily. "You guys don't get it. If I turn against them, I'm dead."

I tilted my head. "And if you don't, para ka lang magiging disposable na pwede nilang itapon"

His eye twitched. Gotcha.

"Di naman ganyan pagka kilala ko sayo nung kayo pa ni Ate Jho ehh at alam mo, Taneo, hindi ko alam kung magiging proud o malulungkot ako kung ano ka ngayon" Sheena added, squinting at him. "Like, pangarap mo ba 'to?"

"Bebe, calm down please," Gwen muttered, though I could see her trying not to laugh.

Taneo groaned, rubbing his temples. "You are the most annoying hostages."

"Thanks," Sheena deadpanned. "Oh ano? Tutulungan mo na ba kami?"

There was a long pause. Then, finally, he exhaled through his nose and muttered, "I might have an idea."

Sheena gasped dramatically. "Taneo! A good idea? Wow, character development."

I barely held back a laugh as he flipped her off.

Pero bago pa kami makapag-celebrate, biglang bumukas nang malakas yung warehouse door.

And standing there, looking like she just walked out of an action movie, was Jhoanna with Stacey

Taneo cursed under his breath. "Oh, for fuck's sake."

Jhoanna's POV

Pagkapasok ko sa warehouse, all I saw was red.

Colet, Sheena, and Gwen-tied to chairs, may mga pasa pero mukhang okey pa naman sila.

Speaking of the devil.

"Taneo? Anong ginagawa mo dito?" I spat, walking straight toward him."I should've known you'd be involved."

"Ate Jho!! Isa sya sa mga nangkid-" Sheena said but..

Taneo cut what she's about to say and raised his hands like he was innocent. "Hey, It's not what you think Jho, tinutulungan ko na nga sila oh"

I narrowed my eyes. "Bullshit."

Sheena cleared her throat. "Ate Jho, Oo na maganda na yung entrance mo kanina, pero pwede ba pakawalan nyo muna kami dito??"

"Ay sorry, Oo nga pala" I moved quickly, cutting through their restraints. The moment Sheena was free, she lunged at Taneo, but Gwen held her back.

"Wala na tayong oras" I said, looking at everyone. "We need to move."

"Uh, Jho may konting problema lang tayo" Ate Colet muttered, pointing behind me.

I turned.

Oh.

An entire squad of armed men stood at the entrance.

Stacey swore beside me. "I told you this was a trap Jho"

"Yeah, yeah," I muttered, rolling my shoulders. "Pero wala ng atrasan toh"

And then, right on cue, the back doors of the warehouse burst open revealing Mikha and Gelo and a group of people who definitely weren't here for a friendly chat.

Mikha smirked. "Missed me?"

"Gelo!?" Stacey asked confusely

"Sorry Staks, medyo nalate ang entrance namin" Gelo said while approaching us

"Ano ba Mikha! Bat ngayon lang kayo" Stacey silently shouted

"Calm down, atleast sumipot kami diba!" Mikha reasoned out while she untied the ropes from my friends.

Nadidinig ko ang steady pero mabigat na paghinga ni Stacey sa tabi ko. Si Ate Colet naman, hinihilot pa yung mga pulso niya kung saan nakatali kanina.

Taneo let out a loud sigh. "Yep. 'Eto 'yung reason kung bakit ayokong madamay sa gulong 'to."

"Walang may pake Taneo," Sheena muttered.

Biglang may pumalakpak. Mabagal. Malakas

Nanlamig buong pagkatao ko.

A man stepped out of the shadows sa likod ng mga armadong tauhan. His suit was pristine, not a single crease. Pero yung presence niya? Bigat. Parang lahat ng oxygen sa warehouse, naubos.

Stacey stiffened beside me.

"Dad."

Her father's smirk was sharper than a knife. "Hello, princess. Do you missed me?."

I clenched my fists. Yung tingin niya kay Stacey-parang gamit na kailangan lang ayusin-pinapaso sikmura ko sa inis.

"I should've known babalik ka sa gulong 'to, Robles," he continued, now looking straight at me. "You just can't stay away, can you?"

I smirked. "Well, you know me Sir. Gusto kong sirain araw mo."

His expression didn't change, pero kita ko yung bahagyang twitch sa mata niya.

Good.

"Enough games," he said, taking a step forward. "You've made your point, Stacey. Now, come home before this gets worse."

Stacey's hands clenched at her sides. "I'm not going anywhere with you."

His smile was patient, practiced. "Don't be dramatic anak. You know this isn't a fight you can win."

"Oh?"

Mikha stepped forward, cracking her knuckles. "Then you clearly don't know us."

And just like that-

The tension snapped.

Biglang may gumalaw sa mga tauhan niya, pero bago pa man makaabot sa amin, Mikha was already on him, twisting his wrist so hard na kumalabog yung baril niya sa sahig. Gelo ducked under a punch, kneeing a guy straight in the stomach.

And then-chaos.

I barely had time to react bago hinatak ni Stacey ang braso ko, pulling me aside just as a bullet whizzed past where we had just been standing.

"Stay close," she muttered, pulling out a concealed knife from her boot.

I grinned. "Yes, ma'am."

Sa gilid ng paningin ko, nakita kong si Gwen and Sheena were already in the thick of it- Gwen moving with precise, trained strikes. Si Sheena naman? Well. She was mostly just being a problem.

"Hoy!" Sheena yelled, swinging a metal pipe and smacking a guy over the head. "Sa tingin mo lampa ako?! Lumaki akong may walong kuya, gago! TRY ME."

Ate Colet, meanwhile, had Taneo in a headlock. "Piskit ka, kala mo maiisahan mo kami, di kami tulad mong uto uto, ikaw may kasalanan kaya may mga pasa kami sa mukha!"

"I GET IT, I GET IT!" Taneo wheezed.

Napangiti ako saglit, pero hindi ko natapos 'cause I had to dodge a punch. Sumalubong yung kamao ko sa panga ng isa sa mga tauhan ni Mr. Sevilleja, at sa tabi ko, Stacey was a goddamn whirlwind, moving with deadly precision.

Pero then-

A sharp gasp.

Napalingon ako, just in time to see Stacey stumble back, clutching her side.

No.

Parang may nag-snap sa utak ko.

Before I could think, I was already moving. Nilapitan ko yung lalaking nakasaksak sa kanya, at bago pa siya makapagsalita, sinubsob ko na siya sa sahig with enough force to rattle my bones.

And then my fists moved on their own.

One punch.

Another.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Until he stopped moving.

"Jho tama na!, we're not killers remember-" Stacey's voice wavered.

Parang dun lang ako nagising.

I spun around and rushed to her side, catching her before she could fall.

Blood.

Too much of it.

"No, no, no Stacey" I whispered, pressing my hand over hers, trying to stop the bleeding. "You're okay. You're fine."

Her breathing was uneven, but she still managed a weak smirk. "Stop panicking Jho, I'm fi-."

Then-

A sharp click echoed behind me.

"Don't move," malamig na boses ng tatay ni Stacey mula sa likod ko

Nakaupo siya sa sahig, duguan ang balikat, pero pilit pa ring inaangat ang baril this time, hindi lang sa'kin, kundi sa direksyon ni Stacey.

"Stacey..." bulong niya, "Still disobeying me" Nanigas si Stacey sa tabi ko, pero hindi siya umatras, humakbang pa siya nang kaunti, kahit halatang pinipigilan siya ng sakit sa tagiliran niya.

"Really?" malamig niyang sagot, pero halatang pinipilit lang maging matapang. "'Yan pa rin ba yung script mo, Dad?"

"Don't call me that," biglang sigaw ng tatay niya, "You lost the right to call me that the moment you chose to betray this family!"

"Enough," A guy suddenly appeared out of nowhere. "Put the gun down."Pero tumawa lang ang daddy ni Stacey.

"Akira..." Akira? Stacey's older brother "Ano to' reunion? After everything I built for you two?"

Akira didn't flinch. "You didn't build anything. You controlled it Dad."

Mas lalong tumalim yung tingin ng tatay nila. "Controlled? I kept this family alive for the both of you!"

"By destroying us?" Stacey suddenly cut in. "By treating us like we're yours to own?"

Lumapit pa siya, kahit nanginginig na yung kamay niya sa sakit. "You didn't lose us, Dad," Stacey said, voice cracking but firm. "You pushed us away."

"You don't understand," mahinang sabi niya, pero mas delikado pa kaysa sigaw. "Everything I did... was for the sake of our family and for your protection"

Akira shook his head slowly. "No," malamig niyang sagot. "You did it for control. And now look at you."

Stacey stared at him, tears slowly building in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Her jaw tightened as she held his gaze

"Protection dad? You pointing a gun at your own daughter... that's protection?"

"YOU THINK I ENJOYED THIS?!" sigaw niya, bumalik yung galit, "You think I wanted my children to turn against me?!"

Akira stepped closer, voice dangerously calm. "Then put the gun down Dad."

Pero imbes na ibaba nya, mas lalo niyang hinigpitan yung hawak, At sa isang segundo, lahat nangyari nang mabilis.

"Stacey, MOVE-" sigaw ni Akira.

BANG!

Akira fired back instantly.

Their father froze, as if he hadn't fully processed what happened, until the gun slipped from his hand slow and heavy followed by his body collapsing to the ground.

He sank to his knees first, then fell flat onto the floor.

Stacey froze.

"Dad..." mahinang bulong niya, parang hindi pa rin naniniwala.Lumapit agad si Akira, pero hindi para sa tatay nila para kay Stacey.

"Stacey,Look at me." Akira said while we both assisted Stacey, Pero nakatitig lang si Stacey sa katawan ng tatay nila.

"Hindi ko... hindi ko ginusto 'to kuya" bulong niya, nanginginig na.Akira placed a hand on her shoulder, firm.

"I know," mahinang sagot niya. "I know, I'm sorry I just need to do what I need to do, You're bleeding too mu-," nag aalalang sabi ni Akira, then laugh echoed through the warehouse.

Taneo.

Nakatali na ang mga kamay niya sa likod, hawak ng dalawang SWAT officers, pero kahit na nakorner na siya, may bahid pa rin ng kayabangan sa mukha niya.

"Wow," he said, shaking his head. "Akira, SWAT officer ka na pala ngayon? Sino'ng mag-aakala?"

Akira's face remained unreadable. "At ikaw naman," he replied, voice flat, "isang traydor at kriminal. Sino'ng mag-aakala?"

Napangiti si Taneo. "You don't get it, do you?"

Tumikhim siya, as if composing himself, before smirking.

"Lahat ng 'to, para sa kumpanya nyo at sa daddy nyo"

Dahan-dahang lumingon si Akira kay Stacey, whose face had gone completely blank.

"Ano'ng ibig mong sabihin?" Akira asked, voice dangerously low.

Taneo shrugged. "Simple lang. The Sevilleja Corporation is a legacy. It was meant to grow. But Stacey? She's weak. She doesn't have what it takes, Kaya kung ayaw niyang ibigay sa akin nang kusa, edi pipilitin ko na lang siyang mawala sa equation."

I felt Stacey tense in my arms.

"You bastard," she whispered.

Taneo just laughed. "Oh, come on, Staks. It's nothing personal-just business."

Akira took a slow step forward, his jaw clenching. "You tried to kill my sister... for money?"

"Not just money, Akira. Power."

"You're pathetic."

For the first time, Taneo's smirk faltered. "Excuse me?"

Akira scoffed, shaking his head. "You really think owning a corporation will make you powerful? That title was never yours to begin with."

"At ikaw pa ang magsasabi niyan, ha?!" Taneo snapped, eyes burning with frustration. "A man who abandoned his family's legacy? A Sevilleja who chose to be a lowly cop instead of running an empire?!"

"At least hindi ko kailangang pumatay para makuha ang gusto ko," Akira shot back.

Silence.

"Secure him. Make sure this bastard rots in prison."

Walang nagawa si Taneo nang hatakin siya palayo ng SWAT, his struggles useless.

Akira let out a slow breath before turning to Stacey.

"You need medical attention Staks" His voice had softened, but his urgency was still there.

"Ako nang bahala sa kanya," I cut in, adjusting my grip.

Akira's gaze snapped to mine.

"Siguraduhin mong ligtas ang kapatid ko" he said, voice low.

Nagtagpo ang mga mata namin.

Then, after a tense moment-I nodded.

"Secure the scene," he ordered his team, his voice clipped, professional. "We're done here."

And just like that-

I turned to Stacey, adjusting my hold on her as she leaned into me. Her body was weak, her breathing shallow, but she still managed a small, teasing smirk.

⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ── End of Chapter 24 ── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆