December 28, 2023. Chapter 1-2.
The heat of the moment continued in the car. Lily and Lucas were still at it, making out intensely. They did not care about the driver, but thankfully, the poor guy's eyes were on the road. With Lucas kissing her hungrily, Lily felt like her lips had swollen. The driver must have felt the urgency of the situation that he sped the moment they entered the private community that belonged to Lucas and his siblings. As soon as they arrived at the mansion, the car skidded to a stop. Lucas and Lily hurriedly got out of the vehicle. Lily ran up to the door first. She opened the door just in time for Lucas to catch up with her. He immediately carried her weight, lifting her so her legs automatically wrapped around his waist. Lucas forced Lily against the wall. He pushed his entire body onto her frame, kissing her wildly while he ground against her. When Lucas firmly tugged on her jacket, Lily pulled away and complained, "No, no. This is Versache." "Sweetheart, I can buy you more of
"We will have to figure out a way to get to the hotel safely, to securely travel to the city's municipal office, to drive to the site location, then visit the hospital to see the affected workers, and go back, possibly without being detected," Lily said while studying a map of Koplin City with Gunner. A hiss left Lily's lips. She said, "This is difficult." "That is so many trips for someone being targeted," Gunner remarked. "We need as much help as we can get," Lily declared. "That's why I have coordinated with the military and local authorities, but we can't always rely on them. We have to have our own men." "I have already instructed our people from the Black Hawk to secure the hotel first," Gunner said. "I have asked for twenty contractors." Lily nodded. She said, "That should be enough. I will bring six of Lucas' existing bodyguards." While Lily and Gunner were planning the visit to Koplin City, Ryan and Lucas met in the study. "Maybe I should go with you. You will leave
Back in Rose Hills, Axel was humming in his sleep. Flashes of his memories came to him in a dream. He witnessed his younger self undergoing military training and recalled the immense joy upon discovering he would graduate. To Axel, the military wasn't just a source of stability; it also allowed him to explore different cultures. Beyond that, it gave him a structured environment and a profound sense of purpose. Axel's eyes flinched, seeing an image of him leaving for his first deployment. It was the first time he lost a friend. In that dream, he relieved the challenges of serving his country. He remembered feeling hurt but was too angry to dwell on the pain. He recognized belonging to a brotherhood that would always have his back. The bonds formed through shared experiences and facing challenges together created lifelong friendships. This was true, even within the Alpha Vipers. At the thought of Alpha Vipers, Axel felt goosebumps all over. He saw the faces that mattered to him. To
"Again, we are sorry for your loss, Misses Gomez. We know this will never replace your husband's life, but I could at least ensure that you and your children will live comfortably," Lucas said while giving Misses Gomez a ten-million-dollar check. He also presented a certificate to the woman, granting two of her children a college scholarship at the University of Koplin. The settlement for the workers who died was held within Koplin Intercontinental Hotel's first conference room. Each affected family was given time to express their frustration about the accident. Lucas wanted to ensure he didn't just pay them but also let them know he was willing to listen. More than just the compensation, he earnestly wished to show that he was sincerely sorry for the death of their beloved. Each family has different needs, so Lucas tried to customize the settlement accordingly. His lawyers repeatedly drafted one contract to another, according to the family member's satisfaction. At the end of that
On the freeway, there was an eerie calm before the storm. Commuters were unaware of the impending danger should they put their noses where they did not belong. Inside a black pickup truck, Bane waited impatiently, his eyes narrowing at the Lexus car ahead. "Sir, the first car in Mister Thompson's caravan had collided with the teenager's car we had paid off. The exit to the Koplin Intercontinental Hotel has been blocked. It looks like the middle car is in a panic and is driving a hundred kilometers per hour," one of Bane's men reported. A more sinister laugh escaped Bane's lips. He turned off the safety of his handgun and said, "There is no running away from me, Lucas. I'm going to catch you tonight and make you pay!" He glared at the driver and said, "Hurry up!" "Yes, Sir!" The driver stepped on the gas, and a chase ensued. "They know we are after them. Lucas, you think they can run, but there is no escaping me now!" Bane laughed at the desperation of Lucas' men. Whoever was
A sudden sharp, shattering sound pierced the stillness of the night. It sounded like a window; a large expanse had exploded within the hotel suite. Lily gasped awake and found herself staring into the dark. She whispered while pushing Lucas awake, "The lights are out." She heard that audible click coming from Lucas's handgun, which meant he was turning off his safety. Lily also searched beneath her pillows and found her own Glock 22 pistol. "You wait here. I'll check it out," Lucas said protectively. Who was he kidding? Lily got off the bed before him and whispered, "No, you wait here. I'm your bodyguard, remember?" In the end, they walked barefoot to their bedroom door and slowly opened it, their pupils dilating and adjusting through the dark. Hours after the attack on the freeway, Lily and Lucas decided to get a little rest. They have already scheduled to depart from Koplin in the morning, leaving the investigation of the collapsed building in the hands of the structural fore
"No, you say your last prayers." The voice was oddly familiar, and before Lucas knew it, the man with tattoos took a blow to the head, causing him to collapse on the floor and falling unconscious. Lucas looked back in the same direction and saw Axel. He said, "Looks like you need a hand there, buddy." "Lily!" Those were Lucas' first words, and his head snapped toward his wife. Axel seemed to understand what Lucas meant. He held his gun up and shot the first man who was standing close to Lily. Axel hit the unknown man in the shoulder, and he also fired at the other man, but the latter jumped to the nearest cover. Seeing Axel, Bane yelled, "Axel Green! You come back from the dead!" In a blink of an eye, Bane took Axel by surprise. He threw Lily in his direction, and she fell on top of Axel, his gun flying in an unknown direction. They toppled to the floor, leaving it up to Lucas to protect his wife. With Bane preparing to attack Lily and Axel, Lucas jumped. He put a distance be
"How is she?" "She is holding up. The trauma caused her to faint. She had a few blows to the head during the attack. She had a grade 1 bleeding, but it will heal on its own." "Does Aiden know?" "I told him that his mommy got hurt and needs time to heal, but I haven't told him the degree of the situation. I did not want him to panic." Lily heard voices around her. The thought of Aiden potentially worrying over her forced Lily to fight the drowsiness. She called, "Lucas." "Lily," Lucas responded. Lily immediately felt her husband's firm hand grip around her. He pecked her knuckles repeatedly, saying, "Thank goodness you are awake. How are you feeling?" "Lily," another voice came through, and she immediately recognized it as her brother. Turning to the other side of the bed, she gasped, saying, "Liam." "I need water," she said under her breath. "My throat feels so dry." Lucas was quick to help her up. Liam gave her some water, and she slowly drank it. After quenching her thirst,