Liam chuckled and playfully pinched her cheek, feigning sternness. "What if you got hurt, huh? Imagine if mommy found out you got hurt while out with daddy. She'd be upset, you know."Jovie giggled behind her hands, squirming in his arms. "Oops, my bad, Daddy!""Alright, let's go have some fun!" Liam said, his voice warm with laughter.He carried her off toward the heart of the amusement park, where laughter and music filled the air.An hour later, they settled in a quiet corner. Liam gently set Jovie on a bench. "I'm off to get you some ice cream. Stay put, okay? Don't wander off, and don't talk to strangers. Got it?"Jovie nodded earnestly, the little ears on her headband sparkling. "Okay, daddy! Hurry back!"Liam gave Jovie's hair a gentle tousle and flashed a reassuring smile. Noticing a park employee nearby, he asked her to watch Jovie for a moment. Confident that Jovie was safe, he stood up and strolled over to the ice cream truck nearby.No sooner had Liam stepped away th
Calum did not waste a second after the call. He found Malcolm's number and hit the dial. The moment Malcolm picked up, Calum did not mince words. "Malcolm! Orders from the top! Lockdown, now! No one in or out of Drunham City! Get your troops on it!! Move, move, move!!!"Malcolm, in the middle of a meeting at the Drunham City garrison, was taken aback by the sudden call from Calum, and even more by his demand, a mix of shock and bewilderment on his face."General, why this sudden lockdown? What's going on? You know as well as I do, a lockdown's no trivial matter. It could spark a major panic."If Liam ordered that lockdown to hit the Hughes family in advance?Calum's voice crackled through the phone again, "Why? Malcolm, you seriously have the gall to ask why? This is Drunham City, your turf! In the middle of the day, our little princess was snatched right out from under our noses! You're lucky you're not already in deep trouble, and you dare to ask why? Let me tell you, the boss is
Ignoring the stunned crowd, Malcolm strode out of the conference room. "Adrian, get a message to police chief Howard now," he ordered as he walked. "I want his team on full alert and cooperating without question. And remember, whatever happens, we need to find the Commander's daughter and bring her back safe and sound – fast! If we mess this up, it won't just be your necks on the line, but mine as well!""Understood, Sir! I'll get in touch with Chief Howard right away!" Adrian, who was right there with him, grasped the severity of the situation, his expression grim and determined.Who could have been so bold as to kidnap King Pendragon's daughter in the light of day? Whoever was behind that brazen act then crossed King Pendragon himself, and they were bound to face the fiery wrath of the Commander!That was the same King Pendragon who once led legions—a man who stood before armies numbering a million, his presence magnified by his armor, a sight that inspired awe in all directions!
The district police chiefs and their deputies of the Drunham City all wore glances of sheer panic as they turned their eyes to Howard.Howard, hearing their pleas, slammed his palm down on the desk, his face a mask of icy fury, his eyes blazing red with rage. He bellowed at them, "You have the nerve to ask me what's wrong? How do you even run your beats? Do you have any idea that the Commander, King Pendragon's lady, was kidnapped in broad daylight at an amusement park? Listen up, I don't care how you do it, but you better find the Commander's daughter, and fast! If anything happens to her, it's our heads on the line!"Boom!His words struck like lightning, leaving everyone shell-shocked!What??The Commander's daughter??Those who snapped out of it cried out in disbelief, " Mr. Mosier, you can't be serious? The Commander, King Pendragon, is in Drunham City? His daughter's here?""Yeah, Mr. Mosier, are you sure about this? However, how could that even be possible? The Commander'
"Sir, yes, sir!"The soldiers' roar echoed like a tempest over the garrison, a unified force ready to spring into action.In waves, they piled into Jeeps and trucks, rolling out toward the city's airport, ferry docks, bus and train stations, and every highway checkpoint.That colossal move did not just turn heads—it practically spun them. However, with the brass calling it a joint exercise, the buzz it stirred up didn't cause too much of a stir.The garrison troops were just the start. Under Howard's lead, the Drunham City police station's district offices kicked into gear, blanketing the city in a tight net of control.Theater of war, police station, anti-terror squad—three forces, one mission.In just twenty minutes, Drunham City's streets transformed into a fortress. Soldiers, policies, and elite anti-terror squads swarmed every checkpoint, scrutinizing each vehicle and pedestrian with eagle-eyed precision.A stone's throw away, the amusement park's mundane conference room un
Yevhen was a bundle of nerves!On the way over, he got wind of the news—a little girl was snatched from his park in broad daylight!Normally, he would have brushed it off and told folks to let the cops deal with a missing kid. However, not today.The whole of Drunham City's military, the police force, and the special forces were on the move!The city must be on lockdown, though they were calling it some kind of military drill. However, Yevhen knew better. Seeing the big shots in the meeting room, it all clicked.The girl who was taken? She was someone important. The guy standing before him? He was the kind of important person that made someone realize just how small they were.Liam's face was an icy mask, his brows knitted in anger as he towered over the cowering Yevhen. "Listen up, Yevhen, I'm in charge now. This park's closed until my daughter's found. And you're going to round up every last employee for questioning. Got it? Everyone!""Right away, right away," Yevhen stammere
"And who's pulling the strings?" Liam asked, his voice icy, as he processed the update. "We haven't pinned down the mastermind yet," Howard responded. Liam's anger boiled over. He stared out the window and bellowed, "Dig deeper! I don't care who's involved or what forces are at play! I want answers. Someone dared to target my daughter, and they're going to face the full force of my fury!"Meanwhile, in a desolate part of Drunham City's Western Precinct, a black van raced down a muddy, rutted track before screeching to a halt in front of a weed-choked shell of an unfinished building.Bang!The doors opened and two young men in black leaped out. They scanned the area with hawk-like vigilance, ensuring no threats lurked in the shadows. Only after a silent nod to each other did they proceed.One of them strode to the van's rear and yanked open the back door, hauling out Jovie, who was trussed up like a Thanksgiving turkey.Jovie writhed and wailed, her cheeks streaked with tears, as
The sound of the growl sent chills down Jovie's spine, and she whipped around. In the weak light filtering through the top of the door, she saw the hulking form of a wild dog. Heart pounding, she scrambled back until the cold wall stopped her retreat. With nowhere left to hide, she crouched down, hugging herself tightly, shaking uncontrollably as the wild dog inched closer.Jovie's eyes, wide and shimmering with tears, were locked on the stray dog inching closer. Panic surged through her as she sobbed, "Daddy, please... I need you to save me... Why aren't you here yet? Please, big dog, don't eat me. I'm not tasty at all..."The dog, oblivious to her pleas, halted just a couple of steps away. It let out a menacing growl before lunging at her, snarling viciously, its fangs gleaming and drool reeking as it sprayed from its jaws."Ah!!"Jovie's scream, sharp with terror, pierced the gloom of the tiny room.The hulking dog, jaws agape, launched itself at Jovie. Her screams, a mix of ag