319 Discovery 11

The way Amelia said that she killed someone unapologetically made Damien look at her differently. How baffling was it to know that your mother was an assassin?

He was both surprised and bewildered but at the same time, he also already guessed the reason behind her action but he just had to ask, "Why?"

"A year after I became an agent, Frankie gave me a mission. He wanted me to infiltrate the Park's organization."

Damien was taken aback by what she said. There was even something like this going on? He darted his eyes to the side as if his mind was trying to imagine the possibilities about it happening. "Did you—"

"No, no…" She shook her head, denying what he assumed. "I didn't take it. Honestly, I didn't know your father was in that business… I was hired as his personal security detail, not by the Parks'. I figured that he separated the two to avoid infiltration or espionage. Your father didn't tell me anything so I really had no idea. I only knew after Frankie told me. I then figured that he hired me because I had connections with your father. But there was no way that I could do it. Even though I knew about his involvement with the underworld business, I couldn't accept the assignment."

Damien's mind went back to the past when he learned about his family's business in the underworld. He wondered if there was an incident that could have been Shadow's doing. "What was the mission?"

"It wasn't an assassination or anything. I believe someone gave a tip to Frankie and he needed to know more about your grandfather's business. Shadow needed to be familiar with the happenings all throughout the country. They needed to know the 'Whos' and the 'Whats'. But I declined the mission and when he asked me why I couldn't do it, I had to lie to him."

"What did you tell him?"

"I told him that the reason I left was because I had an affair with your father and his wife and father found out. So I couldn't possibly go back there."

"Why would you say that?" he pondered. How could his mother say something like that and make herself look bad? She was selfless.

Turning around, Amelia went to get the kettle and started brewing a pot of tea for them. She went back to face Damien and placed the pot in the middle of the island counter, letting the loose tea leaves steep.

Shrugging, she answered nonchalantly. "That's the only way I could think of at that moment and it worked. Frankie didn't want to compromise my identity so he let me go and found another agent to do it. I tried to keep tabs on your father… and on you..." She cleared her throat. "Anyway, I learned the truth about Shadow many years later after I joined. At the same time, it has evolved as an organization and became really huge. Some missions even involved going overseas. Months after what happened with the Youngs, Frankie called me in his office."

~~~

About sixteen years ago

One day, Frankie called her to his office and she came in just like usual, ready to receive orders.

"Agent Falcon," Frankie Bianchi called. He was about ten years older than her and he was about the same height as her but bigger. He had an unreadable expression like always and Amelia had never seen him smile even once.

Amelia stood straight and looked straight ahead. "Yes, Sir."

Frankie rounded his desk, his shoes squeaked whenever he walked. He stood in front of the glass window and watched the agents and employees from outside his office. "How long have you been with us? More than a decade? Fifteen years? Time flies by so fast, huh? Where does your loyalty lie, Agent?"

Amelia didn't understand where he was going with his questions but she answered them just like she should. "My loyalty is with Shadow, Sir."

"Hmmm… Then you don't have any reason to keep secrets from us, do you, Agent?" He turned his head towards Falcon and his mouth turned up into a chilling smile. "Do you have secrets, Agent?"

The look on his face frightened Amelia but she didn't show it on her face. There had been only a few times when Frankie scolded her but it was all because of work. This time, however, was something strange. And she started to feel as though she was really in trouble. 

"I don't understand what you mean, Sir," she cautioned.

Frankie looked at her expression for a good minute before he went back to retrieve some pictures from his drawer and then tossed it on his desk.

The moment Amelia's gaze landed on the photos, her heart trembled along with her body.

On the table were photos upon photos of her son, Damien Park who was currently fifteen years of age. There were pictures of him from school, with his friends, and cousins. She became pale white and could not utter a single word after seeing it.

"Hmmm. I don't even have to ask the question. It already looks like you know what I'm talking about. But let me just say it, and tell me if I'm wrong." Frankie sat on his desk, in front of Amelia who was only a few seconds away from breaking.

"Operation Scorpion. You were there when you weren't supposed to be part of the mission. How you heard about it, I don't know. But it made me wonder why you were there. At first, I thought that you just wanted to help your juniors or maybe watch over them since it was Christopher's first time without a mentor. But when we learned about the Parks' involvement that night, I remembered what you told me many years ago… Your affair with Lawrence Park." 

Frankie's voice sounded like he was amused by his discovery. He watched as Amelia's expression turned from one thing to another and then he continued, "So I had them watched — the Parks. Until I came across Lawrence's son…" He clicked his tongue. "Imagine my surprise when I looked at him and saw the resemblance."

"What did you do to him?" Amelia's tear trickled down her cheek as she spoke under gritted teeth.

"Agent, don't worry. I didn't do anything to your son. At least not yet. I also haven't told anyone about this realization. However, this is a problem, no? You have been working with us for a long time now, Agent… But how do I really know where your loyalty lies when you have a son with the Parks?"

Amelia met Frankie's gaze and the two of them gave each other deathly glares. She had done everything in her power to keep her distance away from her son. Despite knowing what his father was, she could no longer take him away from them too. She had no right and the life she was living then was not safe for him either. Now, Frankie learned about her secret. He accused her of being a threat.

But while Frankie thought of that, there was only one thing that Amelia had in mind:

Frankie was a threat to her son.