Keegan’s POV
Coldness lingered in my expression as the car came to a stop at the hotel’s entrance.
The door opened, and I stepped outside, leaving Cassandra behind.
Her expression immediately turned bitter.
I didn’t bother looking back.
I started walking toward the entrance, where influential guests had already gathered in the main hall.
They greeted me with smiles and congratulated me as I passed.
I stopped abruptly when Cassandra bumped into my back.
Annoyance flashed across my face.
“Get a hold of yourself,” I snapped.
She pouted before slipping her arms around mine.
“Daddy, don’t be mad at me, okay?” she said with a smile.
She tilted herself toward me, deliberately trying to draw my attention.
My expression hardened.
She deliberately crouch herself down to reveal her cleavage to me.
I pulled out my handkerchief and tossed it over her chest.
Her smile vanished.
Disgust crossed her face as her polished nails dug into my arm.
“Can’t you just move on, Keegan?” she exclaimed.
“You’re embarrassing me in front of everyone like I mean nothing to you.”
My jaw tightened as she keep digging her nails into my flesh.
Without answering, I grabbed her arm and pulled her toward the hallway where no one could see us.
The moment we were out of sight, I caught her by the neck and held her firmly against the wall.
She coughed as her hands immediately grabbing my wrist as she tried to push it away.
“Watch your mouth, Cassandra.” My voice dropped.
“You’re not in a position to command me.”
I released her as she stumbled back, clutching her throat and struggling to catch her breath.
I straightened my suit and returned to the gathering without another glance.
Vincenthius spotted me and immediately approached.
“Boss, can you stay for a while?” he asked.
“It’s your engagement ceremony with Cassandra.”
He gave me a subtle signal toward the stage and I sighed.
“I’m definitely losing my patience around her.” I loosened my tie slightly.
“Can’t you just marry her instead?”
Vincenthius suddenly choked on his drink.
“Boss?”
“I’ve already got a woman. That’s enough for me,” he addes.
My brows creased.
“Who?”
“Maximo’s daughter. Vellona.” I rolled my eyes and bitterness eripted in me.
He scoffed.
“Maybe you could work it out with her.”
I pointed my gun toward his side and he immediately steadied himself.
“Do you wish to die?”
He only shrugged his shoulder and I narrowed my eyes at him.
Before I could say anything else, Cassandra’s father approached us.
“You better protect my daughter, Keegan. It’s an official alliance, after all.” I loosened my tie further and looked at him.
“It’s an alliance, not an actual marriage,” I snapped.
His expression turned cold and vile.
I didn’t wait for his response.
I walked away from the table and headed toward the balcony.
I needed air.
The noise from the gathering faded behind me as I stepped outside.
Then I noticed another car pulling up.
The door opened and woman stepped out.
My eyes immediately settled on her.
She wore a deep-red dress with a long slit along the side.
Dark mascara framed her eyes, while deep-red lipstick matched her dress.
A man dressed in black followed closely behind her.
My brows drew together.
Who the hell were they?
I watched as the woman walked toward the hotel’s entrance.
I turned toward one of the hotel staff members and motioned for him to come closer.
“Do we have any special guests?” I asked.
“A woman, perhaps?”
The staff member shook his head.
“All of the listed guests are already present, sir.”
He lowered his head before continuing to deliver drinks to the tables.
My patience was already wearing thin.
Before I could investigate further, Cassandra appeared beside me.
She grabbed my arm and pulled me toward the stage.
“Welcome, everyone!” she announced brightly.
The guests turned toward us. This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
“This is the very day of our engagement ceremony!”
Applause filled the hall.
I stood beside her with a blank expression.
This is hilarious….When will this end?
“It pleases us to see you here tonight!” Cassandra continued, smiling at the crowd.
“Our marriage ceremony will be next month!”
My eyes narrowed at her and at Vincenthius.
He shrugged his shoulder at me.
Next month?
I hadn’t agreed to that.
Before I could react, Riego raised his glass.
“Let’s toast to them!”
He took a drink while giving me a deliberately teasing look.
I glared at him and my muscles tensed I was about to step off the stage when the lights went out.
The entire hall dropped into darkness.
A second later a loud gunshot echoed into the room.
BANG!
A gunshot ripped through the room as screams erupted from the guests.
Another shot followed.
Then another.
BANG!
BANG!
BANG!
I grabbed Cassandra’s arm and pulled her behind me.
“EVERYONE! Protect the boss!” Vincenthius shouted.
The room exploded into chaos.
Tables overturned and the sound of glasses shattered against the floor.
People screamed as they rushed for cover.
I reached beneath my coat and drew my gun.
Another burst of gunfire tore through the hall.
I ducked as bullets struck the wall behind us.
“Move!” I ordered Cassandra.
She clung to my arm.
“Keegan, oh my God! Please do something!”
Tears streamed down her face.
“Fuck!”
I shoved her toward the nearest cover.
“Hide in here and don’t reveal yourself. No matter what happens.”
“But—”
“NOW!” I ordered her.
She scrambled behind an overturned table.
I pulled the night-vision glasses prepared by Killian and slipped them on.
The darkness sharpened into shades of green.
Figures moved between the tables.
They wore a black tactical suits, weapons were raised towards us.
They weren’t some random attackers.
They were organized.
A muzzle flashed across the hall.
I fired back.
The man ducked behind a pillar.
Another appeared from the opposite side.
I fired again then he disappeared behind a table swiftly.
“There’s too many of them!” I shouted.
Gunfire continued from every direction.
Vincenthius crouched beside me and fired several rounds toward the attackers.
“They’re skilled, boss!”
I glanced at him.
Blood was running down his shoulder.
“You’ve been hit.” I snapped.
He looked into his shoulder as he gace a slight groan of pain.
“It’s nothing.”
Another bullet struck the floor beside us.
Vincenthius pulled back.
“That was close.”
“Stay down.” I leaned out from behind the table and fired toward two approaching figures.
One dropped behind cover.
While the other immediately returned fire.
Bullets slammed into the furniture around us.
Guests cried out from across the hall.
Someone knocked over a table while trying to escape.
The attackers kept advancing.
There every movement was controlled.
It was deliberate.
As if they already planned this assasination for a long time.
They knew exactly what they were doing.
A figure suddenly rushed from the side.
I raised my gun.
Before I could fire, Riego crawled beside us and shoved two spare guns into our hands.
He looked toward the attackers and shook his head.
“I’m not helping you,” he snapped.
“I’m protecting my sister, you asshole!”
He turned and fired.
Several attackers ducked as the shots forced them behind cover.
“Keep your head down!” I ordered.
Riego ignored me and fired again.
A groan came from somewhere across the room.
The attackers shifted positions.
“Boss!” Vincenthius shouted.
I looked toward him.
“They’re spreading out!”
I scanned the room and he was right.
Three men moved toward the left side while the other two stayed near the entrance.
Another group was closing in from the rear.
They were surrounding us.
“Don’t let them get behind us.” Vincenthius nodded.
We fired together.
The hall echoed with gunshots.
We are allarmed when a smoke filled the air.
The sharp smell of gunpowder mixed with the broken glass and overturned furniture.
For a moment, the attackers retreated.
We had an advantage.
I reached for a grenade and signal him.
“Now!”
Vincenthius pulled one out as well.
We prepared to throw them toward the attackers when they suddenly throw something.
PSSSH!
Something hit the floor between us then a cloud of smoke erupted instantly.
“Smoke bomb!”
I immediately covered my mouth.
Vincenthius did the same.
The hall disappeared behind a thick gray haze.
“Stay together!” I shouted.
My voice echoed through the smoke.
I could barely see my own hands.
Footsteps moved around us.
It was fast.
I raised my gun and listened.
They aren’t firing us anymore, I tried to see something behind the thick smoke.
A sudden burst of gunfire came from somewhere ahead.
I dropped behind the nearest cover.
Riego cursed beside me.
“Where are they?” He asked as he tries to shoot somewhere.
“Don’t move.” I tried to see through the smoke.
Shapes appeared and vanished.
The attackers were using the smoke to reposition.
I tightened my grip around my gun.
Then my eyes caught something moved through the haze.
It was the hem of a dress.
My eyes locked onto it then realize that it was the same woman from the entrance.
She moved through the smoke as if she knew exactly where she was going.
My brows furrowed.
Why was she here?
And why wasn’t she running?
The woman disappeared deeper into the smoke.
My grip tightened around my weapon.
Damn it.
Was this a planned massacre?
By her?
(人 •͈ᴗ•͈)