Who the hell is this freak," one of the assassins hissed, voice trembling as he watched the bodies of his fellow Vermont Elite sprawled across the cold pavement.
Fear gnawed at his gut, and the moment Alex gave him permission to scram, he took off running.
They''d trained for decades to be unstoppable, to rule Vermont by Jericho Kane''s side-but all of that meant nothing in the face of this unstoppable force.
He sprinted through the night, lungs burning, and jabbed the call button on his smartwatch.
"Sire," he panted, voice trembling. "We''re facing a monster... and he''s demanding a meeting with Master Kane."
Momentster, Jericho mmed his fist onto a heavy oak table.
The table burst into splinters under his blow.
"Who does that arrogant bastard think he is? Some boytoy of Hilton wants to summon me? Me? The Governor of Vermont!"
"I''ll damn well show him who he''s dealing with!"
Vet hovered nearby like a ghostly shadow.
"Sir, I''ve watched his moves. I''m convinced he''s not just some random man off the street. He killed Vermont Elite''s men too easily. Maybe he''s hiding his true power."
Jericho''s teeth ground together.
He spoke through clenched jaws.
"So what if he''s strong? Nobody hits my daughter and calls me out without consequences. He thinks I''m a joke? I''ll show him pain like he''s never felt."
His voice rumbled with pent-up rage that made the walls tremble.
"What about the Lancaster family? Did our people wipe them out yet?"
Vermont Elites leader'' head dipped low. "No, Sir. So far, we haven''t even managed toy a finger on them."
Jericho Kane stared him down, fist clenched.
"So then, what about the reinforcements we requested from the other Vermont families? You told me they''d help bulk up our forces against the Kingstons."
The assistant''s face went chalk-white. His voice wavered.
"I''m sorry, Sir Kane. Nearly every family refused."
Jericho''s fist mmed on the arm of his chair, destroying it.
"They refused? You''ve got to be joking. The Kanes have ruled Vermont for generations-I snap my fingers, and they''re supposed toe running."
The assistant''s hands curled into nervous fists. "They say they''ve aligned themselves with Kingston."
Kane felt a hot surge of anger light up his veins.
"What? Kingston only controls Vancouver, while Vermont belongs to the Kane
bloodline. Are those traitorous bastards insane?"
Vet exhaled slowly, choosing his words with care.
"Master Kane, I think. They''re not picking sides just yet. They''re watching how we handle this."
"Ever since that boytoy of Hilionid out Be Kane, the other familles are... well, they''re waiting to see if you''ll crush him. If you do, it''ll send a nice, clear message that nobody crosses the Kames."
Jericho''s eyes narrowed, thunder in his voice.
“Refuse me? Fine. If they''re testing my patience, I''ll crush them. No one humiliates Jericho Kane without paying it."
"Gather every man you can find. We''re going to that boytoy-right now and I''ll show the whole damn world how the Kane family deals with disrespect. After that, we''ll hunt down every single family that dared to refuse me. I''ll teach them the kind of regret that gets carved into bloodlines."
A single moon hung high over Vancouver''srgest hospital.
Soft lights flickered on the rooftop helipad, a lonely stage for an impending showdown.
Alex stood there, waiting in the gloom, wind whipping at his hair, face cold and calm.
Soon, a powerful helicopter roared overhead andnded with a gust of wind that nearly tore the metal safety rails loose.
Burly then spilled out, each wearing the dark uniforms of Vermont''s Elite.
Then came Jericho Kane himself-looming tall, cut like a statue, fury etched into every line of his face-and Vet at his side.
A senior Vermont Elite member hurried close to Jericho. "Sire, he''s here."
Jericho''s voice was low and lethal. "I sent you Vermont Elites to handle one man. Now I have to soil my own hands?"
"Pathetic."
Ignoring them all, Alex rolled his shoulders and took a step forward.
“Let''s cut the crap. I have better things to do than babysit trigger-happy goons.”
A flicker of outrage twisted Kane''s features.
He gave a short nod, and twenty Vermont Elite raised their rifles in unison, each one aimed dead at Alex''s chest.
Kane let out a low growl. "This is your final warning, kid. You''ve caused me enough trouble. Kill him-now."
A harshmand rang out from the Elite leader. "Open fire!"
Multiple triggers clicked.
Nothing.
The men tried again, confusion turning into panic.
The rifles were jammed.
A few desperate attemptster, the weapons suddenly detonated in their hands
with a series of brutal sts. 1
Shrapnel tore through flesh and bone.
Several Elite toppled instantly, screaming and clutching at mangled limbs or shredded faces.
Others copsed in silent shock, blood pooling around them.
Vet staggered back, eyes wide with horror.
Kane stared in disbelief, thunderstruck by the violence that had erupted in a blink.
The remaining Elite soldier-wild-eyed and terrified-yanked a military knife from
his belt and lunged straight at Alex, swinging with all his might.
He never got close.
Mid stride, he jerked to a stop and crumpled, eyes vacant.
Death imed him before he hit the ground.
The breeze tore through the rooftop, carrying the smell of blood.
Flickering lights cast jittery shadows on the carnage. Alex stood with an eerie calmn, turning his attention to Jericho Kane.
"You''ve let your daughter run wild," Alex said softly.
"You let your daughter trample Vermont''s citizens without a second thought, and now you''ll pay the price."
"The King''s had enough-effective immediately, you''re finished. Kelly Kingston steps in as Governor tonight."
He locked eyes with Kane, who was nearly shaking with rage and shock.
"Either you ept it, or you don''t. Makes no difference to me."
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