The dim light in the large bedroom made soft shadows on the grand and luxurious furniture.

Lucien LaRue sat back in a comfortable armchair, wearing a silk robe that draped loosely over his shoulders. His golden hair shimmered slightly in the light.

On either side of him were two stunning women, both entirely naked, their figures glistening from the oil they’d used to massage his shoulders.

One woman leaned closer and whispered something in his ear, making Lucien smirk.

The other woman ran her fingers along his chest, giggling at every sound of approval he made.

Lucien held his phone in his hand, his sharp blue eyes focused on the screen as he dialed. The call connected, and he put the phone on speaker.

Mike and Taison looked at each other nervously, their faces serious. The four black sedans were parked on the emergency lane.

All the cars had dents and scratches from the earlier failed attack.

The car’s engine quietly hummed, breaking the heavy silence as they prepared for Lucien to get angry.

Mike adjusted his glasses and nodded to Taison, who reluctantly pressed the loudspeaker button.

“Young master,” Mike began cautiously, “we regret to inform you that the mission did not go as planned.”

Lucien’s smooth voice came through the speaker, but instead of the sharp anger they expected, it carried an almost amused tone. “Oh? You failed?”

Mike hesitated. “Yes, sir. The car was too well-secured, and the driver—Ma—was… exceptionally skilled. We were unable to capture the target or stop their vehicle.”

He decided not to say Mark's name to Lucien. He had a reason for this.

Lucien chuckled softly, leaning back further in his chair. “Well, well. I suppose this was a bit unexpected coming from you two.”

“Yes, sir,” Mike said, his tone heavy with resignation. "We're sorry."

For a moment, Lucien was silent. The two men tensed, prepared for a reaction.

Then Lucien laughed softly as if the news entertained him rather than frustrated him. “It’s fine,” he said. “It wouldn’t have worked anyway.”

Mike blinked, caught off guard. “Young master?”

Lucien gestured for one of the women beside him to pour another glass of wine. She complied, her movements fluid and elegant. He enjoyed the rich flavor of his drink as he took slow sips before continuing.

“Think about it,” Lucien said, sounding calm as if they were just discussing the weather. “Even if we had brought her here, what would we do next? Forcing someone like Jessica Moore to bend to my will does not sound fun.”

Taison’s brow furrowed. He leaned toward the phone, his voice incredulous. “Young master… with all due respect, wasn’t the point of this mission to—”

Lucien waved his hand as if to dismiss the idea. “I know I said that. I've changed my mind."

They frowned as they listened to Lucien.

Lucien added, "Do you really think she would like me after being kidnapped? What’s the point of being with a beautiful woman if she doesn’t like you?”

Mike quietly complained to himself, so softly that it was hard to hear, “This guy… sometimes he’s just…”

“Stupid,” Taison finished, shaking his head in quiet frustration.

Lucien, oblivious to their exasperation, kept talking. “No, no. If I want Jessica, I need to make her come to me willingly. Charm her, sweep her off her feet. Show her the kind of life she could have with me.”

One of the women beside him giggled, trailing her fingers down his chest. “That’s right, Lucien. No one can resist you when you put your mind to it.”

Lucien smirked, his confidence only growing. “Exactly. I’m Lucien LaRue, after all. When I want something—or someone—I get them eventually.”

Mike pinched the bridge of his nose, willing himself to stay calm. “Understood, young master. So… what are your orders now?”

Lucien thought carefully as he sipped his wine. “For now, stop. No more reckless actions like this. Gentlemen, we need to be subtle. Subtlety is what wins the game.”

“Yes, sir,” Mike and Taison said in unison, though the weight in their voices suggested they weren’t entirely on board with his plan.

“Good,” Lucien said with a satisfied grin. “Now, leave me alone. I have some distractions to deal with.”

The call ended quickly, leaving Mike and Taison in silence in their car.

Taison let out a sharp breath and tightened his grip on the steering wheel. “I swear, working for this guy will drive me crazy.”

Mike adjusted his glasses. His face was calm, but he spoke with a touch of dry humor. “He might act on impulse and seek pleasure, but he’s still a LaRue. That makes him dangerous.”

Taison grunted. “Dangerous or not, he’s one hell of a headache.”

***

As Mark drove smoothly along the highway, his phone vibrated softly on the dashboard. He quickly looked at it and saw a message from an unknown number.

Curious, he tapped the screen to read the message.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Unknown: [Stand down. The chase ends here. Today's target was Jessica Moore. Ethan Cole should be cautious—he's next on the list. 160703.]

'160703? That means only one thing,' Mark thought.

Mark’s expression hardened as he processed the message. Without a word, he eased off the gas pedal and signaled toward the exit for the nearest Rest and Recovery Station.

The car smoothly glided off the highway and into the parking lot of the station.

Jordan, sitting in the passenger seat, frowned and glanced at Mark. “Uh, Mark? Why are we stopping here? Is everything okay?”

Mark didn’t respond right away. He kept his focus as he looked for anything strange. Finally, he parked the car near the convenience store at the station and turned off the engine.

Jordan looked around and felt uneasy. “This doesn’t feel right. Also, where are all the cars? It’s a highway. Shouldn’t there be more people here? A gunfight like that should’ve caused a scene, right?”

Ethan, who had been quiet in the back seat, leaned forward a bit. He looked thoughtful. “You noticed it too,” he said. His voice was calm, but it showed he was realizing something.

He glanced at Mark, who met his eyes briefly before nodding.

“That means they're really powerful,” Ethan continued, his tone measured. “More powerful than I thought. The fact that they didn’t hesitate to pull something like that in broad daylight..."

He paused. Both Jessica and Jordan were waiting to listen, "which means they control more than we imagined. The roads, the response times, and even the absence of witnesses. They’ve covered every angle.”

Jessica, sitting beside Ethan, swallowed hard. Her face was pale, and her hands gripped the edge of her seat. “You’re saying… they planned for all of this? That’s insane.”

Ethan nodded, his gaze distant. “It’s not just planning—it’s influence. When you have that much power, you can bend the world around you to hide things in plain sight.”

Mark turned to the group, his expression grim but steady. “And they’re showing us how much they have.”

Everyone paused for a moment. They all felt the heavy realization. Mark stayed calm because he understood a lot about their world.

He then took a deep breath and broke the heavy silence. “Let’s rest here for a while,” he said, his voice calm but firm. He gestured toward the brightly lit station. “Get something to eat, stretch your legs. What just happened must have been too much for you all.”

Jordan raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure it’s safe here? After what just happened?”

Mark nodded, his expression steady and reassuring. “No need to worry anymore. We're safe.”

Ethan leaned forward slightly, his gaze questioning. “Mark, is everything alright?”

Mark met Ethan’s eyes and gave a small nod. “Yes. For now, we’re fine. We’re not being followed anymore.”

Jessica took a shaky breath, feeling relieved. Jordan looked at Mark with doubt but chose not to ask more questions.

Mark unlocked the car doors. “Let’s head inside. While we eat, I’ll explain everything.”

The group got out of the car and looked around the quiet Rest and Recovery Station.

Ethan, Jordan, and Jessica followed Mark closely, their eyes scanning for any sign of danger.

They entered one of the fast-food restaurants there, where the smell of fried food and coffee filled the air. Inside, a family with two kids sat at one table, and a truck driver quietly sipped coffee at another.

Mark gestured toward the counter. “Order whatever you like,” he said, his tone casual but firm. “You all need to eat.”

Jessica hesitated, glancing at Ethan and Jordan. “I’m not moving far from you,” she muttered, her unease clear.

Jordan nodded in agreement, his usually playful demeanor replaced with wary seriousness. “Yeah, same here. I’m not taking any chances.”

Mark sighed, folding his arms. “Relax. They won’t target us here. For now, we’re in the clear.”

Ethan raised an eyebrow. “You sound confident, Mark. But why? What’s changed?”

Mark did not reply right away. Instead, he took out his phone and opened the message he received. He showed it to Ethan, who read it quickly before passing it to Jessica and Jordan.

Jordan frowned more as he read the message. “You’re just going to believe them? How do you know this isn’t a trap?”

Jessica's eyes grew wide. “Wait… I was the target?!” Her voice was low, but her shock was clear. “If I’d been alone…”

Her words trailed off, and her hand gripped the table edge tightly. Ethan tried to comfort her, his voice calm. “Jessica, you’re not alone. You're safe. That’s what matters.”

He turned his attention back to Mark. “But Jordan’s right—how can you be so sure? Is it because of the numbers at the end of the message? What do they mean?”

Mark leaned back slightly, his expression unreadable. “Those numbers, 160703, are the date of one of my missions. A mission I shared with two men… Mike and Taison. They were in the final car we passed during the chase.”

Ethan’s eyes narrowed as he processed the information. “Mike and Taison… Your old comrades?”

Mark nodded, his voice steady. “We lost touch years ago. But seeing them in that car and then receiving this message with those numbers—it’s not a coincidence. It’s their way of letting me know they were there and that, for now, we’re not in immediate danger.”

Jessica still looked pale, her mind racing as she tried to piece everything together. “But why? Why would they send you a warning if they were chasing us?”

Mark exhaled, leaning slightly forward, his voice measured but serious. “Based on how this unfolded and the fact that Jessica was the target, I’m almost certain Mike and Taison are working for the LaRue family.”

Jessica blinked, her shock deepening. “The LaRue family? As in… one of the Great Families you mentioned earlier?”

Mark nodded. “Yes. Specifically, they were likely sent by Lucien LaRue, one of the five main heirs of the family.”

Jordan frowned, confusion etched across his face. “Wait, hold on. Why would some heir to a powerful family like the LaRues go to all this trouble just to kidnap Jessica? That doesn’t make any sense.”

Mark paused for a moment, his expression turning slightly awkward as he considered how best to explain.

Finally, he sighed, resigned to the truth. “Lucien… let’s just say he’s not known for his restraint. He’s… the horny kind of young master.”

For a moment, everyone was silent. Then, Ethan, Jessica, and Jordan showed looks of disgust and confusion.

Jordan was the first to speak. He threw his hands up and said, “So, let me get this straight. This guy decided to attack us, chase us down the highway, and shoot at us… just because he likes Jessica?”

Mark shrugged, his tone matter-of-fact. “That’s how people work when they have power. They don’t think about consequences. They just act on their impulses, knowing they can cover it up later.”

Jessica looked incredulous. “That’s insane. I mean, who does something like that?”

Mark’s lips thinned into a line. “People like Lucien LaRue.”

Ethan spoke calmly but asked a pointed question. “Mark, do you think Mike and Taison sent you that message because they disagree with Lucien’s methods? Or did they send it because they recognized you and wanted to prevent a conflict?”

Mark thought about this for a moment, looking away as he considered the possibilities. “It could be a mix of things. Lucien might have realized this plan was foolish, or Mike and Taison might have stepped in because they didn’t agree with his orders. But…”

He paused, his tone softening. “It could also be because of the history we share.”

Jessica leaned forward slightly, her curiosity piqued. “History? What kind of history?”

Mark's jaw tightened, and for a moment, he looked like he might not respond. Then his expression softened slightly, revealing some vulnerability. “We served together in the army. We’ve been through a lot. Some bonds don’t break easily, no matter how much time passes.”

The room fell silent, the weight of Mark’s words settling over them. Ethan, ever observant, nodded slightly. “That makes sense. If they sent you that message, it wasn’t just about stopping the mission. It was their way of protecting you—and us.”

“Maybe. Or maybe they have their own plans. Either way, we are safe for now. That’s what matters most,” Mark concluded.

Jordan sat back in his chair and breathed out sharply. “This feels like something from a bad soap opera. A horny young master, secret army buddies, and a Great Family pulling strings. Let's bet on what’s next? I call ninjas.”

Jessica rolled her eyes, but a slight smile appeared on her lips. “Jordan, not helping.”

Ethan looked at Mark. “We must not underestimate anyone as we move ahead. Not the LaRues, and not whoever else might be watching.”

Mark nodded, his expression resolute. “Agreed. We stay alert. Always.”