Beth placed the plate gracefully in front of me and replied politely, "Madam, they went back to their house to bring their luggage. Theyâll return shortly."
Victoria nodded casually and didnât think much of it, continuing to enjoy her coffee.
As Beth leaned forward to serve me, her fingers discreetly slipped a small folded note into my hand. I opened it under the table.
"Proceed according to the plan."
I folded it and slipped it into my pocket with the GPS tracker.
Diana and I finished breakfast quickly. We excused ourselves and headed straight to the garage. Diana took the driverâs seat while I sat beside her.
Once inside the car, I pulled out the GPS tracker and placed it in the system storage compartment for a moment, unsure if it had a hidden microphone or camera.
I looked at Diana seriously. "Today I will clean up. Vincent, Ryan, and anyone who comes for us â Iâll put an end to them once and for all."
Diana glanced at me while starting the engine. "So... they are following us?"
I nodded. "They gave me this GPS tracker. They said I have to lead them there, otherwise my mother and father will be in danger."
Diana let out a cold, arrogant chuckle. "Those fools... They will die. They have no idea whom they have messed with."
I chuckled along with her, then leaned over and kissed her deeply. While our tongues danced, I secretly activated my
Nexus ability
, transferring a powerful
Healing Factor
into her body. I didnât tell her about it â keeping it as a surprise for her safety.
I pulled the GPS tracker out of storage and put it back in my pocket. "Letâs go."
Diana stepped on the accelerator and drove straight toward the safe house where Linda and Selena were being held.
This time, no cars followed us openly. They were clearly running a more covert operation, relying entirely on the tracker.
We arrived at the secluded safe house and parked. As we walked in, Angela was sitting at the table with Grace, having breakfast. Linda and Selena were locked in one of the back rooms.
"Dexter... youâre here," Angela said, standing up.
I pulled her into my arms and kissed her passionately before turning to Grace. "Weâre going to have guests soon. Be ready."
Grace nodded, looking at me, then at Diana. After Diana gave her a confirming nod, Grace immediately spoke into her earpiece, alerting her team.
Suddenly, the deafening sound of multiple choppers filled the air â two, maybe three heavy helicopters circling overhead. The ground rumbled as several military-grade vehicles approached from different directions.
Graceâs face turned pale. "Boss... weâre completely surrounded! What should we do?!"
Diana smiled calmly, completely unfazed. "Let them come. Pull Linda and Selena out."
Grace dragged the two women into the main room. Linda and Selena smiled arrogantly, their eyes filled with triumph.
"Whatâs wrong? Scared now?" Linda mocked, laughing. "Why donât you all get on your knees and beg for mercy? Maybe weâll ask them to let you live like dogs."
Selena added with venom, "You thought you could kidnap us and get away with it? Pathetic!"
Diana and Angela both chuckled darkly.
"This is the funniest joke weâve heard all week," Angela said, shaking her head.
Grace and her four guards looked visibly panicked, gripping their weapons tightly.
A loud, authoritative voice boomed from outside through a megaphone:
"Diana... you are surrounded. Itâs best to surrender immediately. Come out on your own, we will take lethal action."
A strong male voice followed: "Linda! Selena! I am here! Nothing will happen to you! Daddyâs here!"
Lindaâs eyes lit up with joy. "Vincent! Selena, your dad is here!"
Linda then turned to Diana and me with a vicious smirk. "Youâre both finished now. You have no idea how powerful my husband is."
The sound of ropes dropping and heavy boots hitting the ground grew louder. Soldiers in full military tactical gear began sliding down from the choppers while others stormed through the entrances, guns raised and red laser sights dancing across the walls.
Diana remained perfectly calm. "Grace, put your guns down. We have guests."
Grace and her four subordinates reluctantly lowered their weapons, though their hands were shaking.
Soon, an older man in an expensive tailored suit walked in confidently, flanked by armed men and another younger man in a suit â Ryan. Vincent had arrived with overwhelming force.
Linda rushed toward him. "Youâre finally here! I thought you abandoned us â mother and daughter!"
Selena looked emotional. "Dad... Ryan..." She ran to hug both her father and husband.
Vincent glared at Diana with pure hatred. "Diana... you wonât end up well for coming after my family. Iâll make you regret ever being born."
Selena screamed angrily, pointing at us, "Dad, kill them all! They are beasts! They tortured us!"
Linda added with pure malice, "Yeah, they donât deserve to live! Make them suffer first!"
Vincent pulled both women protectively behind him. "Itâs okay now. Youâre safe. I promise I wonât let them go. They will pay for every tear you shed."
Ryan shouted at the soldiers, "What are you guys waiting for?! Shoot them all! Leave no one alive!"
I stepped forward.
Time seemed to slow down as I activated
God Speed
. The world around me moved in slow motion. I also channeled
Eternal Vitality
, making my body stronger, faster, and nearly indestructible.
In a blur that no human eye could follow, I became death itself.
CRACK!
I appeared behind the first group of soldiers and snapped the neck of the nearest one with terrifying ease. Before his body even began to fall, I had already moved to the next â grabbing his head and twisting it 180 degrees with a sickening crunch.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
I danced through the room like a ghost of pure violence. Soldiers tried to aim their rifles, but their movements were laughably slow. I ripped one manâs spine out through his back, then used his body as a shield while breaking anotherâs arm and slamming his face into my knee, crushing his skull.