Chapter 18: THE OTHER ME TOOK MY MAN; THE CHEF WANTS ME DEAD!

DANIEL'S POV

As I step out of the hotel, my mind is racing. I pull out my phone and call some of my most trusted men. "Meet me at Marcus's house now," I say, my voice sharp and urgent. I don’t have time for delays. Something doesn’t feel right, and I need to get there as soon as possible.

The ride feels longer than usual. My grip tightens on the steering wheel as I speed through the streets, ignoring the usual traffic rules. When I finally arrive at Marcus's house, my stomach drops. The sight before me makes my heart pound even faster. Several of my men, the ones I had secretly assigned to protect Marcus, are lying lifeless on the ground. Their blood stains the concrete, their bodies twisted in unnatural positions. The Dogs of Hell have killed them. My chest tightens with anger and fear. If they got this far, then Marcus could be in danger.

My men, the ones I called, are already there when I arrive. They stand alert, weapons ready, scanning the area for any further threats. I barely acknowledge them as I step forward, moving closer to the house. My hands clench into fists as I approach the door, and my breath catches in my throat when I see that the entrance has been broken down. My worst fear strikes me like a lightning bolt— Marcus could be dead.

Ignoring the sinking feeling in my gut, I rush inside. My eyes dart across the room, searching frantically. Then, I see him. Marcus is standing there, his phone pressed to his ear, looking perfectly unharmed. Relief washes over me so fast that I don’t think before acting. I move toward him, closing the distance between us, and kiss him. It’s deep, desperate. I grab his waist and pull him closer, feeling his warmth, grounding myself in the fact that he’s alive.

"I thought you were hurt," I whisper against his lips, my voice barely steady.

Marcus smiles slightly, but there's worry in his eyes. "I’m fine, but they’re coming for you, Daniel. Especially Adrian. He was given the task to kill you," Marcus says, his voice heavy with concern.

I pull back slightly, my eyes locking onto his. "I’ll be fine," I assure him, though my mind is already calculating the risks. "Right now, you are everything that matters."

Marcus exhales deeply, stepping back. "You can’t stay here any longer. Come stay with me," I tell him. It’s not a request— it’s a plea. I can’t lose him. Not like this.

Marcus hesitates, shaking his head. "Nope, I will be fine," he insists.

I feel frustration bubble inside me. "The Dogs of Hell will come for you again if they can’t get to me. Don’t let them use you as leverage against me. Please, Marcus," I say, my voice firm yet desperate.

Marcus lets out a heavy breath, his shoulders sagging slightly. "Okay," he finally agrees, and I feel a slight sense of relief.

I turn to my men, giving them a sharp nod. One of them steps forward and leads Marcus outside to be taken to my most secured house. I watch them leave, but my mind is far from at ease. Liam’s words echo in my head. He told me that in his world, Marcus was killed. If that could happen there, then it could happen here. I can’t let that happen.

I gather my men closer. "We all heard what Marcus said," I say, my tone cold and lethal. "Adrian, the popular chef, has been tasked with killing me. I want him dead. Tonight. No mistakes. No delays. Do you understand?" My men nod, and without another word, they disappear into the night to carry out my orders.

With that settled, I turn my focus back to Liam. I need answers. I need to know exactly how Marcus died in his world. I head back to my bike and ride straight to the hotel.

When I step into the reception, Nina’s eyes widen in shock. "I thought you left just a few minutes ago?" she asks, confusion written all over her face.

I force a casual smile. "Yeah, I forgot something," I say, though my gut tells me I already know what I’ll find.

I head up to Liam’s room, but the moment I step inside, I realize he’s gone. The room is empty. The air is still. It’s as if he was never here at all.

Nina appears behind me, her brows furrowed. "Sir, I’m not sure you forgot anything because I personally cleaned up the room," she says.

I turn to face her, my jaw tightening. "Really?" I ask, already knowing the answer. She nods, and I sigh. Liam is gone, and now the question remains— where did he go?

Frustration burns inside me, but I push it down. I have to get back to Marcus. I head outside, get on my bike, and start the long drive home.

Minutes later, I finally arrive, feeling exhausted but determined. I step inside, eager to see Marcus. "Where is Marcus?" I ask Scott the moment I see him.

Scott looks confused. "You stopped us on the road and went with him," he says.

My blood runs cold. My fists tighten at my sides as realization hits me like a punch to the gut. That wasn’t me. That was Liam. Liam pretended to be me and took Marcus. Rage floods my veins, a fire burning through every inch of my body. How did I not see this coming?

Before I can process my next move, my phone rings. I glance at the screen— an unknown number. My gut tells me to answer.

I press the phone to my ear. The moment I do, I hear laughter. A slow, mocking chuckle that makes my skin crawl.

"Who is this?" I demand.

"It’s me, Adrian," the voice on the other end says, smooth and confident. "The man you sent your men to kill."

My jaw clenches. "Oh," I say, keeping my voice steady.

Adrian chuckles again. "I’m sorry to break this to you, but all your men are dead. And since you made the first move, let me make one thing clear— I have celestial beings supporting me too."

My breath catches. My grip on the phone tightens. "How do you know that?" I ask, my voice a low growl.

But Adrian doesn’t answer. The line goes dead.

I stare at my phone, my mind racing. How the hell does he know about my celestial backup? That’s a secret only a handful of people know.

A storm of emotions crashes over me. Liam has taken Marcus. Adrian just wiped out my men. And now, I find out that he has a supernatural advantage.

I exhale sharply, my body tense with frustration and rage. Everything is spiraling out of control, and I need to act fast.

Because if I don’t, I might lose everything.