(ɔ◔‿◔)ɔ ♥

(っ＾▿＾)۶🍸🌟🍺٩(˘◡˘ )

My head felt like it was spinning as I fell on the floor, feeling so weak. But even though my eyes were already half hooded, I still could tell what was happening around me. Warren was laughing so hard while looking down at me. Looked like he intentionally didn't shoot me. It was just a mere shot to intimidate and inflict fear in me.

"I changed my mind because it's such a waste if I let you go just like that without using you in anyway. I will keep you alive and break you until you can't take it anymore. I will make sure to catch Vázquez and make him watch as I do whatever I please with you. Isn't that a brilliant plan to take my revenge on him? That will surely make him insane, watching you suffer but he can't even save you." Hearing him speaking as if the devil possessed him added to my anger. I couldn't believe how disgusting he was.

The Warren that he showed me when we were still together was nothing but a fake persona. This is the real him and I'm glad that my grandma saw through him and did everything she could to get him out of my life. No wonder why no one of my siblings ever showed any interest of befriending him.

"M-Maximus will come here...to save me...and when that time comes, you'll be finished. You're nothing compared...to him." I managed to say even in my weakened state. I thought he would get pissed off but I saw him smirk at me, unaffected.

"Let's see about that. Watch me and I'll prove to you how dumb he is. You made a mistake of choosing him over me because I'm far better than him." He took his phone and then called someone.

"Brando, I'm expecting that you already did what I told you to do." He even turned the speaker on so that I would hear what the man on the other line would say.

"We just arrived, boss. We'll be there in a jiffy." A triumphant smile broke across Warren's face upon hearing that.

"Did you make sure that no one has followed you here?"

"Positive, boss. We already escaped before the police managed to block every road."

"Good." He then ended the call and then looked at me once again. "I have a surprise for you, Athena. I'm sure, you're going to like this." Then, as if it was on cue, I heard the door open and Warren looked at the direction of the door.

"Let go of me!" My heart raced upon hearing that familiar voice. I looked at the people who just came in and I felt like my heart stopped beating for a couple of seconds.

"A-Aria..." I tried to get up but I didn't have enough strength. I really felt awful and I couldn't understand what was happening to me anymore. But the fact that they involved my sister in all this gave me strength. I couldn't let them hurt her in any way.

Even though we tend we fight a lot, I love her and I would die for her.

"I told you, Athena. I will get what I want and if you don't want to help me get what I want, I'll just take your sister instead and force her to do what you couldn't do."

"What do you think you're doing to Athena?! Let of her!" Aria yelled in anger. I looked at her direction once again, making sure that she was okay. Looked like her hands were tied as a man wearing a bull cap and face mask was holding her still behind her.

"Shut up! You're only allowed to speak when I told you so!" Warren snapped at her but Aria didn't even blink an eye. She was looking at Warren full of hatred and disgust. Her face was void of any fear.

"Who do you think you are to tell me that?! You're nothing but the son of a vile man who did everything he could to get out of the dirt that he was in by stepping on other people just to get what he wanted just like what you're doing now. Like father like son indeed!" I saw Warren's face redden in anger. He pointed his gun at Aria and I knew that he would kill her if I didn't do anything.

"I said, shut up! One more word from you and I'm going to kill you in front of your beloved sister!" He threatened Aria but she just smirked, daring him.

"Go on. Kill me now." My eyes widened. That was when I knew that I had to do something.

"Warren, stop! Let go of Aria...and I'll do whatever...you want just don't harm my sister!" I said with all the strength that was left within me and sat up. His face lit up.

"Really? Whatever I want?"

"Yes, but you need to get her out of here first and don't harm her in any way. You only need me to sign the marriage papers, right? I'll do it." To my surprise, he laughed as if he already won the game before speaking again.

"Let the ceremony begin then. I want to show everyone that we had an official ceremony and that I didn't force you in any way so I want you to smile and enjoy every moment of it." He looked around. "Where is the pastor?" He asked when he couldn't see him. I noticed him running away before I fell on the floor a while ago because of the gunshot.

"He's in the toilet, boss. Looks like he got so scared that he needed a break." One of his men answered while laughing.

"Call him now! I want to get this over with!" One of his men went to get the pastor and after about a minute, he returned with someone but it wasn't the same pastor a while ago.

"Boss, the pastor is unconscious that's why I took the other pastor. Looks like the other one couldn't take it anymore." He said and I felt so bad. I could tell that the pastor was afraid earlier. Looked like they kidnapped him too.

I lifted my gaze to the other pastor, expecting to see the same expression on his face, but I felt like my breathing stopped upon seeing his face. Even though he aged a lot and has long mustache and beard, I couldn't be wrong.

My lips parted, intending to say something to him but the look in his eyes told me not to say anything that could give him away.

"Where did you get this man? Are you sure he's an officiant?"

"Positive, boss. We got him from the same church as the other one earlier this morning." Warren nodded his head.

"Good. Let's begin then."

"No! I will never sign until I see you letting go of Aria!" I insisted and Warren's face hardened.

"No. Marry me first before I let her go."

"And how sure am I that you will let go of her after that?"

He scoffed. "Don't worry, Athena. I only need one of you."

"Okay. Let's get this over with." I answered even though I felt so awful inside and out. My heart was breaking into pieces not to mention that I felt like losing consciousness any moment. I looked at the officiant but the expression on his face didn't even change.

What is he doing here? Is he really a pastor now? But how come?

"You! What are you still doing standing there? Start the ceremony now!" Warren snapped at him but he remained quiet.

"I said, start!" Warren was about to point his gun at him when he suddenly pulled a gun from his back pocket and shot Warren. But Warren saw it coming and because of that, he got only shot in the shoulder. His reflexes saved him.

He fell on the floor. "Argh! Damn you!" I heard a series of gunshots again as his men tried to kill the officiant but he managed to shoot them before they could even pull the trigger.

He was shooting at them expertly and I got rooted on my feet, watching him in shock.

"Fùck you! I'm going to kill all of you!" I saw Warren point the gun at me but I felt too weak to even run away. He looked like he already lost his mind and didn't care if he would kill everyone in that room.

I closed my eyes and just prayed that Warren would miss but someone pushed me out of the way that's why Warren missed.

I thought I would fall on the floor but no. I fell on someone else's body that served as a cushion. I opened my eyes and gasped when I saw those tantalizing hazel green eyes.

"D-Dolce metà?" I uttered softly. I couldn't believe that he's here. He was the one who was holding Aria still a while ago. I didn't recognize him because he was wearing a bull cap and face mask.

"Maximus! Don't let your guard down!" I heard him yelled.

"Fùck!" Maximus grunted as he quickly rolled us over because someone shot us. It was Warren who was already bloody but still trying his best to get up as his remaining men helped him by fighting that man. Thankfully, Maximus was quick enough to avoid the bullet.

"Athena!" I heard Warren yell as his men was pulling him out of the door while exchanging bullets against Maximus' men and him. I looked around and noticed that a lot of Warren's men were already dead. I saw new faces that I didn't see a while ago. Looked like they were Maximus' men.

"Onyx, get Athena out of here!" I heard him say. Onyx approached us and he was with Aria who looked like in panic.

"Let's go, Princess Athena. We need to get you to safety."

"But—"

"—Go, mi hermosa. I need to finish something." He said and then ran off. Onyx and their comrades protected us until we managed to get out of there. But before we managed to escape, I saw that he was left in there, fighting Warren's remaining men inside.

"What about him? He's going to be killed!" I said full of worry.

"Don't worry, Princess Athena. He and Z are going to be alright." Everything that happened was very overwhelming but when we reached outside, my body gave in. Before I totally blacked out, all I was thinking was Maximus and him.

How come he's here and looked like he knows Maximus too? There were many questions in my head but I didn't have the chance to voice it out because everything became silent as darkened engulfed my senses.

"Ath!" The voice of Aria was the last thing I heard before I lose consciousness. I've been enduring since a while ago but I couldn't take it anymore...

As per instruction of Red Fox, Onyx, Aria and I got onto the helicopter as soon as we could and the ride towards Athena's location felt like an eternity. I couldn't believe that during our wedding day, this happened. I knew that they would eventually retaliate any time soon but I didn't expect that they'd do it on our wedding day.

Someone is a traitor among us and I need to find who that was after I save Athena. The wedding was a secret and only our close friends and families were invited but the enemies still managed to discover about it.

My jaw clenched tightly. I wanted to fly into a fit of rage but I knew that this wasn't the right time for me to lose focus.

But much as I want to focus only on saving Athena, I need to deal with the enemies at the same time and finish what they've started. This has been going on for so long and I need to end it now so that everyone would finally live in peace.

"Damn that Joaquin. Why did he even have to leave Costavia? We need his help the most now." Onyx grunted while shaking his head.

"You know that something happened so he needed to leave and go back to the USA." I answered without looking at him.

I don't know the exact details yet but apparently, T and S got into a big trouble that's why Joaquin needed to go back as soon as possible. I was worried too but I couldn't go there to help. I need to save Athena first.

"Damn. This is what we get for involving ourselves in the underworld but I can't complain now. If it's not because of the organization, we don't have any connections like this. Because of that, we know Athena's location right now."

The corner of my lips twitched. "That's why I've been telling you to quit just like I did." He shook his head.

"That's out of the question, bud. Even if I quit, my enemies are still going to come after me. I'm not like you who has all the support that you need that's why it was a lot easier for you to just leave when you felt like you've had enough." I could hint the bitterness in his voice.

Onyx has always been the easy-going type but when there are times like these that he turns serious too. I released a breath.

"You know that you can always count on me. Just tell me if you need help in anything and I'll be there for you just like you're doing to me now. I know that you have a lot to do too but you still chose to be here to help me and I appreciate that very much." He looked surprised.

"Are you really my best friend? Don't tell me, you're one of his impostors?" He asked with knitted eyebrows.

"Fùcker!" I hissed and he laughed.

"With that kind of tongue, you're definitely the original. Well, I was just kidding. It's just that, I'm not used of hearing things like this from you. It's kind of refreshing to be honest." His face turned serious. "But on a serious note, I appreciate what you said. For now, let's just concentrate on our mission and save your beloved princess." I gritted my teeth upon hearing that. My hands were already itching to kill those motherf*ckers.

"You're right. Let's end this now, Nyx. Once and for all."

"You can count on me." He answered and then cocked his gun with a hardened face. Then, we heard Aria clear her throat.

"Excuse me but what do you mean by underground? What organization were you talking about?" Onyx and I looked at each other. Damn. We forgot that she's here with us.

"It's nothing, Princess Aria. You don't have to concern yourself about that. For now, you need to prepare because what we're about to do is very dangerous." She huffed.

"I know it's dangerous but I don't care. All I want right now is for Athena to be rescued from those monsters."

"As long as we execute the plan without any mistake, I'm sure that everything's going to be alright." I said.

"You're right." Aria answered worriedly as she looked outside the window. Then, after about five minutes, my watch vibrated. I pressed the button to read the message.

'Z, land at least 500 meters away from the target's location. We can't afford for them to notice you. The captain already knows where to land. The guys are already there, waiting for you while Xerus is already inside. And one more thing, charge in only when you receive the signal.'

It was a message from Red Fox. Then, the captain announced that we were about to land. It felt like everything was in a slow motion and if I could only fly there, I would've done it in a heartbeat.

After we landed, I saw our men there, waiting for us. Then, I noticed that man.

"Oh, my God! Who is he?" Aria asked in horror as she gazed at the beaten-up man.

"Is he the one, Nyx?" I asked Onyx.

"Yes." He confirmed. I looked at Aria.

"He's one of the enemies." She looked horrified but anger was evident on her face as she stared at the man that our men caught earlier today who looked scared for his life. I scoffed. People like him only know how to feel fear when they're on the verge of death.

"I already told you everything I know. Please, let go of me already." He begged. I looked at him without any emotion on my face.

"You haven't done your part yet so shut up and just walk." I ordered him and one of our men made him stand up. His hands were tied together behind his back.

We trekked towards the target's location, careful that no enemies around would ambush us.

We stopped around 50 meters from the house when we heard a phone ringing. It was our captive's phone.

"You know what to do." Onyx said to him as he untied him. That man looked at the two of us full of fear before he did what he needed to do. He answered the phone and told their boss that he already has Aria with him.

After that, Onyx knocked the man unconscious. We got divided into four groups and went on our separate ways. Just as planned, everyone hid around as I took Aria inside, pretending that I was one of them. When we reached the door and someone opened, he asked about the passcode and I answered right without a hitch.

Thanks to that man that our men captured, we now know everything such as the passcode in order to be recognized as one of them and enter.

When we arrived inside that room, I almost lost my cool and killed everyone there upon seeing Athena on the floor, still wearing her wedding gown. She looked so weak and pale. I looked at the man with her.

So, the intel that I received a while ago was right. He's indeed the one. I couldn't believe that I didn't notice that he was a threat to everyone. Well, he's got a new face and kept a low profile all this time. He even used Athena's best friend, Lucca, to get closer to the Royal Family and I.

But looking at him now, I couldn't be wrong. I could never forget that vileness and laugh. They're indeed the same person.

"Let go of me!" Aria yelled hysterically. Thankfully, she was a good actress. Athena looked so scared as she saw Aria and then offered Warren to sign the marriage papers in exchange of letting Aria go.

When Warren's men called the officiant, I almost gasped upon recognizing him. Xerus?

Red Fox told me that he was already inside but I didn't expect that he actually pretended to be officiant and let his daughters see him. He's not in good shape to fight now because of his injury. I heard Aria gasped in shock. Looked like she recognized him.

"What—"

"—Shhh. Don't say anything." I whispered to her. When the ceremony was about to begin, Xerus shot Warren but the b*stard managed to dock a little bit and because of that, he got shot by the shoulder.

He was so angry that he even planned on shooting Athena but I didn't let that happen. I let go of Aria as Onyx and the others charged in. Thankfully, I managed to get her out of the way and used my body to cushion her. After that, I instructed Onyx to get Athena and Aria out of there before following Warren who was now escaping.

I noticed that Xerus was having a hard time fighting two men in a hand to hand combat because of his injury but he motioned for me to just go and follow Warren.

Upon exiting the house through the back door, I saw them getting onto the car. I was about to shoot them but they shot at my direction. I took cover behind the nearby statue. Then, they drove off.

"Damn you! I will never let you escape!" I grunted and then went to the middle of the road as I rained bullets at the moving car.

"Hop on." I looked at the one who spoke. Manuel. I got confused of what he was doing there but I put my questions aside and quickly got onto the motorbike. The motorbike roared as we drove off, following the enemies.

I whistled in awe of how he expertly maneuvered the motorcycle. I've never seen him as badass as like this before.

"I didn't know that you're good at this."

"Shut up and just take the grenade launcher at the back!" I was taken aback of the way he answered but I didn't have time for that.

I looked behind and saw that there was a grenade launcher, attached to the seat. I took it and cocked it. I aimed at the target who was now at firing bullets back at us. Fortunately, Manuel knew exactly what to do to in order for us to not get shot.

I released a breath and counted one to three, making sure that my aim was precise before pulling the trigger. The car that we were following exploded right in front of our eyes. We pulled up about 10 meters away the burning car.