To everyone here, Ashley and her people were their heroes. Well, most of them—except Rum, who had left every single passenger he drove more traumatized than they already were. Especially the first batch who had ridden his bus that day.
As for some of the children and women, they approached Vodka warmly. The children called him a hero, while the women made sure he was well-fed. After all, they owed Vodka their lives.
The same went for Warriyo, who had also served as one of the designated drivers that day after completing his first task.
Nelek, Rus, and Khan were also surrounded by some of the men they had fought alongside. Khan hadn’t been on the field that day, but everyone knew who had bombarded the entire base that night.
Some of the children also approached Primo, quickly dragging him away to play with them.
As for Ashley and Liza, they sat with Ophelia and chatted away just like everyone else.
Lucian stood off to the side, quietly watching the scene unfold before him.
With the number of people gathered here—and more still arriving—it looked more like a celebration. Yet, there wasn’t any real chaos. There were simply people smiling, chatting, and laughing the afternoon away.
Even the air felt warm.
"How peaceful," he whispered, leaning against another tree.
His arms were crossed as he watched Primo play with children he had only just met. Even Tommy had joined them, keeping an eye on the children as they played.
Then his gaze shifted to Ashley, just in time to catch Ophelia wiping her eyes.
Lucian could already guess why she was crying happy tears.
He turned his attention to the field, smiling faintly at how healthy the grass looked beneath the afternoon sun.
"Even the weather is perfect," he muttered, his finger tapping against his arm.
When his gaze returned to the feast, another quiet smile curled on his face.
"She doesn’t need Dominion anymore," he told himself quietly. "Neither do I."
And as he drifted further from the present, his mind wandered toward the kind of life they could have without Dominion.
Money certainly wouldn’t be a problem.
Lucian could open a small shop in some quiet town while Ashley continued expanding her business. If she ever needed his help, he would give it his all.
They could simply be normal people living normal lives, far away from the violence of the underground world.
He could envision it.
A peaceful life where they didn’t have to worry about who was scheming behind their backs. A life where they didn’t have to wonder who might attack them next.
Just a simple life with him, Ashley, Primo... and perhaps, a new baby.
Lucian smiled.
Then his eyes slowly opened.
His brows furrowed the moment he saw the tree branch overhead.
When did I... fall asleep under the tree?
He reached for his head as he pushed himself upright. His head throbbed for a moment, and when the pain eased, he looked toward where the feast had been taking place.
But the feast was gone.
The happy chatter was gone.
The peaceful afternoon was gone.
What lay before him instead were bodies scattered everywhere.
Blood pooled beneath them.
The field was on fire, flames raging wildly across the grass.
"What—Ash!"
Lucian jolted up, only to wince as a sharp pain tore through his side. He instinctively clutched it, feeling something warm and sticky against his palm.
When he pulled his hand away, all he saw was blood.
The realization had barely sunk in when Lucian coughed, blood spilling from his mouth.
"Ah. He’s still alive." A voice suddenly came from his other side.
Lucian turned instinctively, seeing armed men standing nearby.
Among them was... Memphis.
But Lucian couldn’t focus on him. His eyes immediately veered toward Ashley.
One of the men was carrying her over his shoulder like a sack.
Ashley looked badly beaten, but she wasn’t completely unconscious. She still managed to lift her head, revealing the bruises covering her face and the blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.
"Lu... cian."
Lucian’s breath hitched as his entire body stiffened. Her voice was barely above a whisper. Yet he heard it loud and clear.
"No—" he choked, trying to push himself up, only to realize his legs had been shot as well.
Memphis smirked, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. He walked toward Lucian, listening to the broken words leaving his mouth.
"Don’t... don’t... touch... her..." Lucian dug his nails into the ground, dragging himself after his wife. He stopped when a pair of boots appeared in front of him.
"Who would’ve thought I’d live to see the day you crawled at my feet?"
Lucian slowly looked up.
Memphis crouched before him, the smug look on his face as clear as day. He chuckled, his eyelids lowering as his eyes glinted dangerously.
"Lucian..." Memphis reached down and grabbed his jaw, his fingertips pressing into either side of Lucian’s cheeks. "How does it feel... to have everything taken from you?"
The smile on his face disappeared, leaving behind nothing but coldness.
"To fly so high, only for the sun to burn your wings."
"Don’t..." Lucian breathed heavily. "...touch her."
"Don’t worry." Memphis smiled again as he released Lucian’s jaw. "I’m not going to hurt her. She’s my wife, after all."
Lucian’s breath hitched, his eyes widened.
"Even though she’s not really my type, it seems you truly adore her," Memphis continued, his smile twisting into a smirk. "So I’ll take good care of her. I’ll dress her properly, teach her how to be a proper wife, and make her carry my children... just for the fun of it."
He licked his lips.
"As for the boy..." His smile widened. "Accidents happen. Unlike you, I can’t take care of another man’s child and call him mine."
Memphis paused before lowering his head.
"And you... this is as far as I’m letting you live." His eyes darkened. "It was fun watching you. I’ll take care of everything from here."
With that, Memphis rose to his feet and turned on his heel.
"No!" Lucian roared, desperately reaching for him. "No! Don’t—don’t—"
A violent cough cut him off. Still, Lucian forced himself to crawl after them.
But the distance between him and the men taking his wife away only grew wider and wider.
He ground his bloodied teeth, his nails digging deeper into the earth. His chest rose and fell with rage, helplessness, and murderous intent.
"MEMPHIS!"
*
*
*
GASP!
Lucian’s eyes snapped open as he sucked in a sharp breath.
His vision was blurry, his eyes unfocused. Beads of sweat covered his forehead, but a cool breeze brushed gently against his skin.
When his vision finally cleared, all he saw was Ashley’s face hovering over him.
She blinked innocently, studying him.
"Lucian... are you okay?" she asked.
Lucian furrowed his brows. Only then did he realize his head was resting on her lap.
Just then, Primo’s face came into view, staring down at him.
Then Red.
Khan.
Charm.
Tommy.
Liza.
Almost everyone had gathered around him, staring curiously.
"You..." Lucian gulped, staring at all the familiar faces hovering over him.
He studied them for a few seconds longer before finally letting out a breath of relief.
They were fine.
Everyone was still here.
But deep in his heart, Lucian had just realized why he couldn’t step down from Dominion.
Not yet, he thought.
As long as Memphis was alive... stepping down was not an option.
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