[Dominion Neighborhood]
"What the fuck..." Rum trailed off as he stood on the front lawn, staring at the situation unfolding in the neighborhood.
At the same time, another wave of cars drove past their house. He turned his head, brows knitted together, before shifting his attention to the chopper beaming a spotlight on the biggest house in the neighborhood.
"Holy shit." Vodka had just joined him, but his eyes were fixed on the quiet home across from them. "They’re all going to Betty’s place."
"Not just there. Look." Gin stopped beside him and jerked his chin toward the other houses.
Some of the cars had stopped in front of other homes. Since their house and Ashley’s were among the smaller ones, the people from the High Chamber assumed they were occupied mostly by maids and butlers.
"Red, what now?" Rum asked, turning to Red and drawing everyone’s attention to him. "Did you let her know already?"
The moment these people entered the neighborhood, they had already been alerted. However, they didn’t do anything to stop them because of one thing: it would lead to bloodshed.
No one wanted bloodshed, especially while Lucian was still unconscious.
Besides, it could give these people even more reasons to take down Lucian’s forces. Hence, in this situation, they had to decide how far they were willing to let this go and see where it would lead.
That was why Red had immediately alerted Ashley, but she still hadn’t responded, and there was no movement from the house across the street.
"They’re all moving toward Betty’s home," Red muttered. He thought about it for a moment before turning to the others. "Go to the madam quietly."
"What about you?" Vodka asked.
Red drew a deep breath and glanced at the biggest house in the neighborhood.
"That woman in there is the madam’s favorite. I have to see what I can do."
Having said that, Red wasted no time and jumped out of their house. It was better to move now before more people reached their place.
As for the others, they watched Red leave before setting their sights on the house across from them.
Hiding from the passing cars, they discreetly crossed the street, taking advantage of the power outage caused by Dominion’s first defense team. That was the reason the chopper was using a spotlight.
However, the four men didn’t go directly to Ashley’s house.
Instead, they went to Nolan’s place first and used the side entrance to reach Ashley.
*
*
*
Inside Ashley’s home...
Primo sat up in bed, rubbing his eyes. As soon as he did, he caught Ashley and Nolan’s figures hurriedly moving around in the darkness. They only had this small flashlight on.
[What’s going on?]
Ashley paused while Nolan zipped up a small backpack. She quickly walked to Primo’s side and smiled.
"Primo, there are just some things we need to take care of," she said, holding his hand and squeezing it. "You’ll have to go with Nolan tonight, okay?"
Primo blinked and darted his eyes between Nolan and Ashley.
Ashley was smiling at him, but the panic on Nolan’s face told him everything.
Lucian might have kept Primo away from Dominion’s affairs for his own reasons, but Primo understood Dominion far more than most people expected.
Deep in the boy’s heart, he knew Lucian was the one keeping everyone alive and safe.
And without him?
That was something no one on Lucian’s side ever wanted to imagine.
Even if Ashley hadn’t told him what had happened to Lucian, Primo had already guessed that he had probably been attacked. After all, how many assassination attempts had Lucian survived even before this?
Primo understood all of that.
More importantly, he understood how hard his parents were trying to protect him from it.
"Baby, can you promise Mama that you’ll behave with Nolan?" Ashley’s voice pulled him back to the present. "I promise I’ll come get you, okay?"
Primo glanced at Nolan, who had already slung the backpack over his shoulder, before looking back at Ashley.
The boy already knew what was happening.
But even so...
Primo smiled and scooted closer, wrapping his small arms around Ashley. Resting his head against her, he nodded.
Using his index finger, he gently wrote on her skin.
[Don’t worry, Mama.]
Slowly, he pulled away and smiled.
[I’ll be good and wait for you to come pick me up. But promise me one thing.]
[That Mama will be safe.]
"Vodka and Tank will come with me," she replied before snapping her eyes toward Gin. "Gin, go with them."
"But—"
"I need a clear line of communication while we’re separated," she cut him off. "Only you can do that."
Her eyes swept across their faces before settling on Primo.
Primo nodded.
Then he released her hand and walked over to Rum, taking his hand instead.
Rum blinked and looked down at Primo before noticing Nolan move to his side.
With both of them now under his protection, he looked back at Ashley and nodded.
"No one’s going to touch them," he promised.
Then he turned toward Nolan, Primo, and Gin.
"Gin, let’s go."
"Mhm!"
Without another question, Rum led the group toward the side door connected to Nolan’s house.
Nolan’s home had a hidden escape route for situations like this. Even if someone ransacked this house, they wouldn’t find it immediately.
As they left, Vodka and Tank turned their attention back to Ashley.
"Madam," Vodka said quietly. "What’s your next order?"
A glint flickered across Ashley’s eyes as she walked toward the window beside the front door.
Pulling the curtain aside, she observed the situation outside.
Tank and Vodka waited silently behind her.
Then they heard her speak.
"Let’s get out of here," she said quietly before turning her head toward them.
A cold smile touched her lips.
"To meet the person behind this brilliant idea."

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: My Second Marriage with the Mafia Kingpin