Secrets of the Cactus Men
19| The secret

“Philip, you are the leader of a group of mafia.”

Philip grinned. He imagined, how would people praise him?

A great man who leads a group of the most respected people throughout a black market operation in Los Angeles. However, he could not imagine how Flores would accept it later.

“You're not happy?”

Philip looked down, breathing out. “You are who exactly?” ask Philip. “You keep mentioning who I am, but you don't tell me a little bit about you.”

“Then you thought I'd believe you?” Philip looked. The smile was at first glance similar to her, but Philip hesitated if he had a sister.

“Hellena.” He introduced himself. Hellena was his name, as he had just said.

“Then your father became ill and your mother died, Black Joe was under my command, Philip.” Hellena explained a little.

“It can be said that I saved Black Joe while you were playing house-housing with Flores Lottie.”

Philip frowned. “You know my wife's name?”

Hellena nodded. “Your daughter's name is Elisa.” He's proud of himself. “You are a repairman who is always humbled by the people around you and ...”

“You found out about me, Hellena?” Philip replied with a sniff. “That's a privacy violation.”

Hellena laughed. He took something from the desk locker in front of him. Putting a stack of paper in front of Philip.

“In addition to being stupid, you are also not good at hiding your identity,” Hellena said with a grin. “I got a note about your life just by flicking my finger.”

Philip glanced at the paper in front of him. Hellena even got a photo of her wedding to Flores a few years ago. However, to get information about Black Joe, it was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

“Philip,” call Hellena. “I don't want to waste my time.”

The two exchanged looks. Hellena was more serious, whereas Philip was like a clumsy person.

“Back to Black Joe.” Hellena lowered her tone. “Everyone wants to meet you, make yourself the successor of this place.”

Philip shook his head. “You've been doing so well all this time, why suddenly hand it over to me?”

Hellena moved away from her seat, moved away from Philip and picked up something. A key. Philip continued to pay attention to Hellena's activities in the corner of the room.

“Black Joe needs a real heir.” Hellena interrupts in the middle of her busy life, I don't know what she's doing. “You are the original heir, whereas I was just returning the favor.”

Hellena opened a— box taped in the cold, like a— medicine box and a keyhole was inside. The woman opens something, Philip's focus is stolen into one corner of the room. A cold behind the wall.

“What is it?” ask Philip.

Sharp weapon ranks of various types, shapes, and sizes. Philip had seen some, in the action film Flores liked the most. The rest are so foreign to Philip.

“This weapon needs its master,” Hellena said as if presenting dozens of these weapons to welcome Philip's return.

Philip frowned again.

“I won't tell stories about the greatness of Black Joe, Philip.” Hellena approached Philip, then thrust the key within her grasp. “You should return to Black Joe.” immediately

Philip remained silent. He saw the ranks of firearms and sharp weapons. Philip never touched a gun, not even a kitchen knife when he replaced Flores for cooking.

“How?” Hellena urges. “You don't want you to have to ..”

“I'm a father.” Philip. “I am a husband and head of household.”

Philip confirmed his sentence. “I'm not your leader.”

Hellena laughed out loud. “You are funny once.”

Philip gave a long sigh. He was serious, that he would never leave Flores for now. Jokes about him being the successor to Los Angeles' biggest mafia gang start to make him sick.

“I have to go back.” Philip moved from his place. “Flores and Elisa are definitely waiting for me at home.”

“Never look for me again!” Philip walked to the doorway. “I won't be back here,” concluded Philip.

Philip flinched as he opened the door. In front of him, several guards stood in all-black clothes. Philip occasionally glanced at the bag of pants they were wearing, a pistol and a folding knife tucked in there, worthy of being called a secret agent or a hitman.

“For what back there, Philip?” Hellena tried to prevent Philip from leaving.

Philip turned his head as Hellena approached him. “You are not considered and always humbled.”

“Not your business.” Philip said ketus.

“In this place, you will be glorified.” Hellena stood in front of Philip, preventing him from stepping. “Not even anyone dares to look into your eyes, Philip.”

Philip grinned sharply. “You just did it.”

Philip pushed Hellena's body aside from before him. He left without looking, his footsteps had no doubts.

“Lena.” Someone called Hellena. “You'll let him go just like that?”

Hellena grinned. “He will come back here by himself. After all, this is his home.”

...ΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩΩ...

Philip did not want to leave Flores and Elisha. He will defend his household as much as he can. This storm must pass, everything will disappear and return to how it was. That's how Philip thought until tonight.

Finally, he went home. Philip misses Elisa and Flores.

“I have to apologize to Flores.” Philip murmured. He had to walk from the bus stop to his house. The motor is badly damaged. Black Joe only guarantees to deliver Philip's bike in two days.

Philip was standing not far from his house. However, the unpleasant sight managed to stop Philip's footsteps. Philip's eyepiece captured an unusual scene.

“Flores?” Philip frowned. His eyes tried to break through the dimness of the street light. “Truely Flores.”

Philip limped when he saw Flores get off Marc's car in a semi-conscious state.

“Honey!” Philip shouted while running in a hurry. He even ignored the bandages on his legs that looked reddened because blood was seeping out again.

Marc looked up at Philip's voice. Instead of letting go of his embrace from Flores, the man tightened his embrace.

“Honey!” Philip stopped in front of them.

“What happened, huh?” Philip was about to grab Flores reddened face, but Marc brushed his hand away violently.

“I will deliver Flores to his room,” reply Marc with a ketus. He pushed Philip's body.

As a husband, Philip did not remain silent. “You are not entitled!” Philip pulled Marc by the shoulder and took Philip out of the man's arms.

“She's my wife,” Philip said with fiery eyes. “You've gone too far, Marc!”

Marc chuckled, without sin. “You just acknowledged her as a wife after she had a hard day all day?”

Philip remained silent. He glanced at Flores who was heavily drunk.

Marc approached Flores and was about to rub the top of his head, but Philip dismissed Marc's hand.

“I'll come again, Honey,” whispered Marc on Flores. “As you wished earlier, I will not leave you alone again, Flores.”

Philip clucked violently. “What are you doing, huh!” He pushed Marc's body away. “She's my wife!”

Marc smiled in anguish. He showed off the ring on his finger, then pointed at Flores' ring. When Philip looked over, their rings were exactly the same.

“What ...”

“We're a couple now, Philip,” cheated Marc then laughed satisfied. "I told you, I'll take back my first love."

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