Saintess's Worthless Husband Turned Dragon Commander novel Chapter 135

CHAPTER 119 PART 2

Nicholas Lancaster’s hand cracked across Banyan’s face with enough force to spin him completely around. The thug crashed into a table, blood spraying from his split lip, his earlier vindictive triumph replaced by shocked

confusion.

“Master Lancaster?! What-why-”

Nicholas didn’t answer. Instead, he dropped his cane-the symbol of his authority, the support for his crippled leg -and limped forward with obvious difficulty.

Then he knelt.

Not a casual genuflection. Not a respectful bow. A full, formal kneel-both knees on the floor, hands pressed flat against tile, head lowered in submission that spoke of absolute terror barely restrained.

“Mr. Steel,” Nicholas Lancaster said, his voice carrying none of its earlier authority-just desperate, genuine fear. “Forgive me. I didn’t know. I swear I didn’t know it was you.”

The restaurant froze.

Silence crashed over the space like a physical wave. Thirty enforcers stood paralyzed, unsure whether to attack or flee. Customers stared with mouths hanging open. Even the kitchen staff stopped moving, watching through the service window with expressions of absolute incomprehension.

Banyan Carmichael’s brain short-circuited completely. “Master… Master Lancaster? Why are you kneeling? He’s just-he’s nobody-”

“SHUT UP!” Nicholas’s shout carried genuine panic. “You IDIOT! You attacked Marcus Steel! Do you have ANY idea what you’ve done?!”

He looked up at Marcus, sweat beading on his forehead despite the café’s air conditioning. “After our previous… encounter… my brother and I investigated you thoroughly. Every resource, every contact, every favor we had left. And what we found-”

Nicholas’s voice actually broke. “Every powerful figure who crossed you was destroyed. Completely. The Brand family-wiped out. Three Blade Group-Bridger Davis himself treats you with reverence usually reserved for gods. The Potter family-bleeding money trying to survive your attention. We finally understood why Bridger Davis, one of the most dangerous men in five provinces, looked at you with FEAR.”

“Because you’re not local power,” Nicholas continued desperately. “You’re something far beyond that. And my brother and I–we learned our lesson. Revenge? Impossible. Survival? Only if we stay completely out of your way.”

Marcus Steel looked down at the kneeling man with dragon eyes that carried ancient judgment. “And yet here you are. With thirty men. Ready to cause trouble,”

“I didn’t KNOW!” Nicholas’s protest was almost a wail. “Banyan called saying someone attacked him! I came to help! If I’d known it was you–if I’d even suspected-I would have dragged Banyan here myself and thrown him at your feet!”

He gestured desperately at Banyan, who still looked completely lost. “This fool is nothing! Nobody! He doesn’t understand what you are! But I do! My brother and I BOTH do! Please-please give us a chance to make this right!”

Marcus’s dragon aura pulsed once more, and Nicholas actually flinched, his body remembering pain from their previous encounter-the crippling injury that had permanently damaged his leg.

“You brought men to threaten my wife’s friends,” Marcus observed calmly. “You blocked exits. You created an

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atmosphere of violence. And now you want mercy?”

“Yes! Anything!” Nicholas’s forehead nearly touched the floor. “Name your price! Money! Resources! Whatever you want! Just-just don’t-”

He couldn’t finish the sentence, terror of what Marcus might do stealing his voice completely.

Marcus picked up his wine glass-now empty from pouring libation-and extended it toward Nicholas. “Then pour me another drink. Since you’re here, you might as well be useful.”

Nicholas’s hands trembled so violently he nearly dropped the bottle. Wine sloshed over the rim, but he managed to fill the glass without spilling too much.

“Th-thank you for the opportunity to serve, Mr. Steel.”

The crowd watched with expressions ranging from shock to absolute disbelief. A man who’d made Nicholas Lancaster-one half of the legendary tyrant brothers-kneel and pour wine was clearly operating on a level that transcended normal power structures.

Banyan Carmichael finally grasped the magnitude of his mistake. The color drained from his face. His legs gave out, and he collapsed beside Nicholas, prostrating himself with desperate terror.

“Mr. Steel-I’m sorry-I didn’t know-please-”

Marcus ignored him, sipping the wine Nicholas had poured. “This is acceptable. Now tell me, Nicholas-what exactly did you plan to do here today?”

“I-I was going to teach your party a lesson,” Nicholas admitted, shame and fear warring in his voice. “Restore my reputation through violence. But that was before I knew! Before I recognized you!”

“And now?”

“Now I’ll do anything you ask,” Nicholas said immediately. “You want to go shopping? I’ll be your guide. Carry bags. Pay for everything. Ensure nobody bothers you. Someone of your stature shouldn’t be troubled by ignorant trash who don’t understand who you are.”

Marcus looked at Lance, Anna, and Quinn. “Well? Someone’s offering to pay and carry bags. Thoughts?”

Lance’s earlier terror had transformed into something approaching hysterical giggles. “I-you want my opinion? After watching a legendary crime boss kneel to you?”

“I want your opinion on shopping,” Marcus clarified.

“Then yes! Shopping! All the shopping!” Lance’s voice climbed with slightly manic energy. “But I never want to see that Banyan guy again. He threatened me. He’s awful.”

Marcus’s dragon eyes shifted to Banyan, who whimpered and pressed his face harder against the floor.

“You heard her,” Marcus said calmly, standing and wiping his mouth with a napkin. His dragon aura flared briefly -invisible but creating pressure that made everyone except Quinn instinctively lean back,

“Nicholas. Handle it.”

“Yes, Mr. Steel.” Nicholas didn’t hesitate. He gestured to four of his enforcers. “Take Banyan Carmichael outside. Both legs. Make sure he understands the consequences of threatening people under Mr. Steel’s protection.”

“Master Lancaster-PLEASE ” Banyan’s scream was cut short as strong hands grabbed him and dragged him toward the exit.

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