Queen of Wild Cards novel Chapter 230

He wanted to give her time to think it over carefully. After witnessing her skills tonight, he was absolutely certain that not only could she protect herself, but her combat abilities might even rival his own.

Originally, he believed that keeping his true identity a secret was the best way to keep her safe. Sometimes, ignorance was the ultimate shield.

But tonight changed everything.

The sheer precision of that needle throw wasn't something just anyone could pull off.

Since she was clearly capable, why not face the dangers as a true partnership? Husband and wife working in tandem could be an unstoppable force, and it might even lead to breakthroughs he couldn't achieve alone.

Stella looked down, weighing her options for a few seconds before making her decision. Her voice was resolute. "Tell me. I won't sell you out, and I will never betray you."

Julius nodded. "Alright. I trust you."

He took a breath and explained, "Publicly, I'm the CEO of the Blackwood Group. But in reality, I'm the Captain of The Nightfall.

It's a black-ops unit that answers only to high-level defense officials. You can think of us as a modern-day shadow intelligence network.

But unlike private bodyguards, my team doesn't protect a single individual. Our mandate is to covertly investigate cases the official agencies can't touch, and to dismantle dark syndicates that operate above the law. Does that make sense?"

Stella nodded. It wasn't hard to grasp. No matter where you went in the world, the pristine image of peace was always a facade.

There were always monsters who slipped through the cracks, committing unspeakable atrocities. When the standard justice system failed to hold them accountable, off-the-books units like his were necessary to balance the scales.

Remembering a detail from the past, Stella asked, "So, that time you said you were going on a business trip... you were actually out on a mission?"

Stella shifted slightly, unsure of where to begin. "I don't even know where to start. Why don't you just ask what you want to know?"

Julius desperately wanted to say, 'I want to know absolutely everything about you.'

But he knew if he pushed too hard, this stubborn girl would immediately shut down.

Instead, he asked, "Your combat skills are incredible, and your medical knowledge is top-tier. Are you willing to tell me how you learned all of that?"

Stella took a moment to organize her thoughts before answering. "When I was ten, my grandfather took me away. He was deeply connected with all sorts of people and was basically a major underground boss.

He took me out to the countryside and hid me with some of his trusted associates. As it turned out, all of his friends were masters of some specific trade. I spent my time picking up a little bit of everything from them, so I managed to learn a few tricks to survive."