I covered my face in frustration, hoping not to be making a mistake. Walking towards the mirror, I looked around the well-designed room, touching my belly to dramatically feel if the baby was still there.
"I waited for you, Rodrigo," I said, trying to make myself believe I was indeed doing the right thing, despite it being hard to believe that Rodrigo abandoned me, I had nothing else to hope for.
I heard a knock on the door. Turning around, I walked towards the direction of the door to reveal who was knocking.
Moving away from the door to create enough space to go through, Datu walked into my room with a weird smile.
He walked towards the bed. Sitting down, he motioned for me to sit beside him.
"So how do we kill Rodrigo?" he asked, heartlessly.
"Kill!" I repeated with a raised eyebrow, frowning.
"And why would you do that?" I added, standing up.
"Do you want to die? If not, don't ever raise your voice when I speak," Datu stated, staring at me.
"Now come back here and sit your ass down before I send you back to where you belong," he commanded.
Slowly, I walked closer to the seat.
"I... I... never agreed to kill him," I stammered.
I watched as the angry expression on his face dissolved.
"Alright, tell me what you think will work, but be careful because if anything should go wrong, you and that child will die for him," Datu threatened.
"How about I being used as bait to lure Rodrigo out to you? Once he's out, all your men would surround him for easy kidnapping and then transfer him to the planned warehouse," I requested.
"And what if he comes with more men than mine?" Datu asked, doubting.
"Leave that to me. I will make sure he's alone. If you don't trust me, then believe that I am doing it because of your threats to kill me and my unborn child.
"Okay," Datu retorted.
"I will give this news to my men to prepare for this mission immediately," Datu added, grinning.
"Now?" I asked in shock.
"Yes, now. Pick up your phone and begin to call him, do whatever you can to get him into that warehouse. Alone!" Datu yelled and walked out of my room.
After staring at the phone without attempting, I heard Datu groaning in anger while directing his men, pushing me to pick up the phone and call.
"Babe, it's me Perlah, I need to see you. Rodrigo, we are having a baby. My family's killer got to me in prison, but I escaped. Now I'm stuck in a warehouse too weak to move. I haven't eaten for days. I need you around me. Come with food and drinks, so I can replenish my energy. Please come alone. I want no noise or drama. It's completely safe here. I will send the address to the warehouse to you via text. Please don't stay too long. And remember to come alone," I announced in silent tears.
"I'm on my way babe, please hold on for me, okay?" Rodrigo's voice sounded at the other end of the call, followed by the end call beep.
I covered my face and cried out; my Rodrigo was going to die today.
"Does he deserve it as claimed by his brother?" I asked myself, still weeping.
"I hope your dumb ass didn't just sit there crying? Have you passed the message to him?" Datu yelled out, standing at the entrance of the door.
"Your brother! Is on his way," I softly stated.
"Great, we are finally making progress to get him. My men are on their way to the warehouse, get yourself in the car, and let's move," Datu yelled, harshly dragging me up with my left arm.
We stayed hidden in the warehouse; I popped my head out as I watched Rodrigo silently walk into the warehouse without his men surrounding him. In his right hand, he had food and in his left hand, he had drinks.
"I'm sorry Rodrigo," I whispered in disappointment, wishing he hadn't come.
RODRIGO'S POV.
Upon arrival at the warehouse, I knew something was not right, but I kept on moving, so I could see Perlah.
Sensing footsteps approaching, I turned around and was stunned.
I was surrounded by armed men, trying to fight back. I was hit with the buttstock of a gun and I collapsed in pain.
I woke up groaning in pain, drips of loose blood from my injured forehead triggered my brain in response to danger.
I stood up from my feet looking around the strange warehouse when my eyes fell on my long-standing enemy who seemed quite contented, pointing a gun at me.
"Oh brother, I should have known you were behind this," I stated, staring at him.
"Not just me, but your wife Perlah, she sold you to us for a sum of money," Datu stated and scoffed, his men surrounding me.
"You wish! Perlah wouldn't even sell me to you for her life," I retorted and grinned.
"Oh really? Then how did you get here," he replied, lowering his gun.
"There's a mistake somewhere, Big Brother. On the contrary, she sold you to me for free, you are just too dumb to understand," I answered and smiled.
Suddenly, a gunshot rang out and a man fell to the ground. In less than one minute, Datu's men were sniped down one after the other.
My men came out of hiding and Datu was left alive, staring at me with maximum disbelief.
"I just can't bring myself to kill you, brother," I murmured and glanced at his frozen self.
"Arrest him and keep him hostage in my mansion," I instructed my men.
***FLASHBACK***
RODRIGO.
"I have a plan, Perlah, it's a terrible one, but we have no other choice than be able to survive their attacks" I stated with a serious face, staring at Perlah sitting at the other end of the bed.
"I'm assigning you a new role to play. You are to deceive the enemy completely by pretending to be on their side," I added.
"Is this the benefit you saved my life for? Sending me on a dangerous mission," Perlah asked in disapproval.
"It's not completely dangerous, you just have to be smart," I retorted with raised eyebrows.
"Smart? Two sworn enemies are after my life, Rodrigo. What if it doesn't work out?" Perlah yelled out.
"Then you are dead. This is just one of my confined benefits for saving your life," I slowly replied.
"You might as well just kill me now, What's your plan," Perlah murmured, loud enough for me to hear.
"I'll arrange for a marriage contract and create a fake identity for you. Disclose the fake identity and have you arrested for identity fraud. Then, I will wait for you to play your part in the plan. Please bring the enemy to me!" I announced and stared at her with a concerned look.
"I thought your benefits would be something romantic. If this is just the beginning of your benefits, I hope I survive this and the rest. If super dangerous ones," Perlah retorted, looking away.
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