Chapter 467: Back to the Kingdom

Lisa’s voice sliced through the lingering silence like a blade, sharp and unyielding. "Boss," she said, her tone leaving no room for doubt. "Our team is here."

I exhaled slowly, my gaze sweeping over the group—Lisa, standing rigid, her pistol still holstered but her fingers twitching like she was itching to use it; Angela, leaning against a tree with that smirk of hers, the one that promised trouble; Camilla, pressed against my side, her body still trembling from the night’s violence, her breath shallow; and the others, waiting, always waiting, for my next order.

"Let’s go back," I said, my voice low, final. No one dared to argue.

Then, turning to Lisa, I lowered my voice just enough to make it clear this was for her ears alone—though I knew they’d all hear. "Send a car with Hailey to get Paul." My tone was steel wrapped in silk. "Settle him outside the base. And make sure the doctors see him."

Lisa nodded once, her jaw tight, before barking into her comms, her voice crisp and authoritative. Within minutes, the rumble of engines filled the air—first a military jeep, sleek and armored, then a larger truck for the prisoners.

The jeep pulled up beside us, its engine purring like a predator, and I didn’t wait. I slid into the back seat, the leather cool beneath me, and the others followed—Lisa taking the wheel, Angela claiming the front, while Nicole and Camilla crowded in behind me.

The captured survivors were loaded into the truck, their faces a mess of fear and fury. Jack glared at me, his hands cuffed, his pride shattered.

Drake looked like he’d seen a ghost, his bandaged stumps twitching. Bill just stared at the ground, his shoulders slumped in defeat.

I didn’t look at them.

I didn’t care.

The jeep’s engine roared to life, and we pulled away, the forest swallowing the survivors’ desperate whispers. Nicole pressed close to me, her small hand slipping into mine, her thumb tracing circles over my knuckles. Nicole sat stiffly, her eyes wide, her fingers digging into the seat like she was afraid she’d fall if she let go. Camilla leaned into me, her breath hitching every time the jeep hit a bump, her body still humming with adrenaline.

No one spoke.

The silence was thick, heavy with unspoken questions. Megan finally broke, her voice a trembling whisper:

"How...?" she started, then swallowed hard. "How did you build all this?" Her gaze flicked to the window, where the trees were giving way to the first glimpses of the base’s perimeter. "How did you get all this power?"

I didn’t answer.

Angela chuckled darkly, twisting in her seat to look at her. "Oh, sweetheart," she purred, her voice dripping with amusement. "You don’t get power." She leaned in, her eyes gleaming. "You take it."

Megan flinched, her face pale.

Angela squeezed my hand tighter, her voice soft but firm. "You’ll see," she murmured, more to Hailey than to me. "He provides. He protects." Her gaze flicked up to mine, proud, devoted. "He’s ours."

Camilla didn’t say anything. She just pressed closer, her body radiating relief—she was safe. She was mine.

The jeep rolled to a stop in front of the towering gates of the base. The massive structure loomed ahead—high walls lined with razor wire, armed guards patrolling the perimeter, sleek black buildings gleaming under the floodlights. The air hummed with energy, the scent of metal and power thick in the air.

I stepped out first, stretching my arms as I breathed it in. "It’s good to be back," I murmured, more to myself than anyone.

Angela grinned, stepping out beside me, her boots crunching on the gravel. "Finally," she said, rolling her shoulders. "I was starting to miss civilization."

I turned to her, my expression unreadable. "Settle them," I ordered, gesturing to Nicole, Mira, and Camilla, who stood frozen, their eyes wide as they took in the base’s sheer scale.

Nicole’s mouth fell open, her gaze darting from the guards in tactical gear to the high-tech surveillance towers to the luxurious villas nestled beyond the main compound. "This is..." she breathed, her voice barely above a whisper. "This is all yours?"

Mira looked like she might pass out, her hand flying to her mouth. "I—I didn’t know..." she stammered, her voice cracking. "I didn’t realize you had all this..."

Camilla didn’t speak. She just stared, her face pale, her body trembling like she couldn’t believe this was real. Like she couldn’t believe she was here, safe, protected.

Behind us, the truck carrying the survivors pulled in, and the guards began unloading them, their voices sharp, unyielding. The survivors stumbled out—Jack, Drake, Bill, and the others—their eyes wide with shock as they took in the base. Some whispered among themselves, others simply stared, their faces a mix of awe and terror.

"Welcome to your new home," Angela called out, her voice sweet, venomous. "Hope you like the accommodations."

I didn’t spare them another glance.

I turned away, leaving Angela to handle them, and strode toward my villa. The familiar path was a balm, the crunch of gravel under my boots grounding me after the chaos of the night.

Inside the villa, I stripped off my clothes, the weight of the night still clinging to my skin. The hot shower was heaven, the water cascading over my aching muscles, washing away the dirt, the blood, the tension.

When I stepped out, dressed in fresh clothes, the scent of food hit me—warm, spiced, inviting. My stomach growled, but it wasn’t just hunger that pulled me toward the kitchen.

It was them.

Emily stood at the stove, her back to me, her shoulders tensing as she sensed my presence. She turned slowly, her face lighting up the moment she saw me.

"You’re back..." she breathed, her voice trembling with excitement. She set down the spoon she’d been stirring with and stepped toward me, her eyes shining. "I was starting to worry..."

Jennifer leaned against the counter, her lips curling into a slow, slutty wink as she took me in. Her gaze raked over me, lingering on the way my shirt clung to my chest, her tongue darting out to wet her lower lip. "Took you long enough," she purred, her voice thick with suggestion. "We were missing you."

I smirked, stepping further into the room, my gaze flicking between them. "Where’s Nathalie?" I asked, my voice low, already knowing the answer.

Jennifer’s smirk deepened. "Where do you think?" she drawled, jerking her chin toward the hallway.

I didn’t bother knocking.