Chapter 407: Times Have Changed
Chapter 407: Times Have Changed
BANG!
The moment the first shot rang out, everyone in the area ducked.
"We’re under attack!" someone shouted.
BANG!
Those assigned to Shyaan, Liza, and Ramirez immediately dragged them behind the vehicles. At the same time, the men surrounding Ashley and Primo shielded them with their bodies before pulling them behind another car.
"The Master!"
BANG!
By the time Dominion’s men reached Lucian and Tommy, a third shot rang out.
This time, it struck one of Tommy’s men, who had thrown himself in front of the two as a human shield.
THUD!
"Find him!"
"It’s a sniper!"
"Seal every exit within the perimeter!"
Panicked shouts erupted throughout the area before the echoes of the gunfire had even faded.
Everyone scanned their surroundings with weapons drawn, searching for the sniper’s position.
Moments later, more gunshots erupted from different directions as Dominion returned fire.
Meanwhile, Lucian grunted beneath the weight pressing him down.
Clenching his teeth, he slowly shifted his gaze to the man hovering above him.
Tommy.
His hands were planted on either side of Lucian.
The moment Lucian saw the twisted expression on Tommy’s face, his eyes widened.
Tommy’s arms trembled violently before he lowered his gaze to Lucian beneath him.
"Get out of here," Tommy breathed through gritted teeth. Blood stained his teeth as he spoke. "Take your wife and child... and get them out of here."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Tommy coughed.
He turned his head, his face contorting from the agony burning through his back.
Before he could push himself away, however, all strength suddenly left his arms.
"Sir Tomas!"
Lucian caught him and sat up.
The moment his hand touched Tommy’s back, he felt warm, sticky liquid soaking his palm.
Blood.
Lucian’s eyes trembled as he looked at Tommy, who had used his own body to shield him.
"Master!"
Gustav rushed over, nearly dropping to his knees the moment the gunfire ceased.
But as he approached, the sight of blood spreading across the concrete made him freeze.
When he finally looked up, all he saw was Lucian cradling Tommy as the older man’s face rapidly lost its color.
This was bad.
Meanwhile, Ashley wrapped an arm around Primo and hurried him into one of the waiting vehicles.
Once the gunfire stopped, she immediately looked up.
All she saw was people rushing toward Lucian and Tommy.
"Lucian... Uncle Tom..." she blurted, unable to see through the growing crowd.
Then...
She noticed the blood on the ground.
Her breath caught as her heart seemed to stop.
In that moment, Ashley could only pray it belonged to someone else.
Call it selfish.
Call it cruel.
She didn’t care if it had been Gustav.
Just not Lucian.
Just not Tommy.
Anyone but them.
Before she could cling to that hope any longer, movement caught the corner of her eye.
"Tom!"
Ashley slowly turned.
Liza was desperately trying to rush forward, only to be restrained by one of the men and Shyaan—who had already gotten out of the car—to keep her away from the line of fire.
"Tom!"
Her scream pierced through the chaos.
Raw.
Desperate.
It sounded as though her entire world had just shattered.
Ashley had never heard Liza scream like that before.
Yet somehow... she recognized that kind of pain.
"Tommy... no!!"
Right then, Ashley knew.
The worst had happened.
*****
[Di Carpio Household]
"Haha... hahaha!"
Marshal burst into laughter as he ended the call and placed the phone on his desk.
The grin stretching across his face only widened as his laughter echoed through the office.
"Hahaha!" He shook his head. "Ahh... Tomas. Tomas!"
Leaning back in his chair, he smirked in satisfaction, unable to suppress another laugh.
The call had come from Memphis.
According to him, the job was done.
The threat had been neutralized.
It was perhaps the best news Marshal had received throughout his entire career.
Tommy’s downfall.
"Haha."
Still smiling, Marshal gripped the armrests and rose from his chair before making his way toward the phonograph.
"You should’ve stayed hidden and enjoyed your retirement," he muttered as he walked. "Instead, you showed yourself... and even dared to threaten me."
A smug smile spread across his face as he placed a record onto the phonograph.
Moments later, music filled the room.
Marshal closed his eyes, slowly nodding to the melody.
"Times have changed," he chuckled. "I’m not the same Marshal you used to look down on."
"And you’re no longer the invincible Tomas." He slowly opened his eyes. "What a fool."
He let out another snicker.
"Once you’re dead, I’ll send your wife to join you." His smile grew even colder.
"As for your daughter..." A cruel glint flashed across his eyes. "She’ll continue serving me after Dominion falls into my hands."
The thought alone sent another fit of vicious laughter echoing through the office.
It felt like a celebration.
After all these years, the thorn lodged in his throat had finally been removed.
Perhaps it had taken longer than he would’ve liked. But that no longer mattered.
At least he would never have to worry about Tomas again.
"Hon?"
Suddenly, the office door opened.
Carmella walked in carrying a tray of snacks.
She paused the moment she saw the unusually cheerful expression on her husband’s face.
Smiling, she walked farther inside.
"It seems someone’s in a good mood."
"Haha!"
Marshal turned toward her with a smug grin as she placed the tray on the coffee table.
"So," Carmella said, straightening up and crossing her arms, "what has made my husband so happy? Did you close another major deal?"
"Better."
Marshal strode over to her and stopped just inches away.
He picked up the cup of tea she had brought and took a leisurely sip.
"A problem that’s been lingering for years has finally been dealt with," he said with satisfaction. "Now I can begin expanding into markets I couldn’t touch before."
"A business expansion?" Carmella clasped her hands together excitedly. "Oh, dear! Congratulations!"
Delighted by the news, she happily wrapped her arms around her husband, careful not to spill his tea.
Marshal chuckled.
"Go call your friends. Buy whatever bags you like."
"This is what I love about you!" Carmella giggled. "I should call them and book the designer I’ve been trying to hire."
To an outsider, they looked like the perfect married couple.
A doting husband.
A pampered wife.
They truly looked happy.
If only no one knew that while they celebrated business expansion and luxury shopping...
Another family, somewhere in the world, had just watched their own world fall apart... because of them.