Saintess's Worthless Husband Turned Dragon Commander novel Chapter 260

CHAPTER 180 PART 1

The Red Widow sat in Pearl on the Water’s private recovery suite, her legendary crimson dress replaced by simple medical garments. Bandages covered the worst of her injuries from the Lancaster estate infiltration. Two weeks ago, she’d been within three meters of Atlas Lancaster’s bedroom. Tonight, she was healing under Marcus Steel’s protection.

She looked up when Marcus entered, her eyes sharp despite the lingering pain.

“You offended Willson Pavilion,” she said without preamble.

Marcus closed the door. “I disciplined an arrogant child. The organization he belongs to is incidental.”

“Incidental.” The Red Widow’s laugh was bitter. “Willson Pavilion isn’t incidental to anything. They’ve existed for centuries. Their reach extends across continents. Their disciples are trained from childhood to be weapons. And you just crippled a branch manager’s son.”

“I stopped short of killing him,” Marcus corrected. “There’s a difference.”

“Not to Maurice Springs there isn’t.” Red Widow shifted, wincing as the movement pulled at her healing wounds. “You need to leave Five-River Province. Tonight. Before he arrives. I’ve faced Willson Pavilion operatives before. They’re not like normal fighters. They’re conditioned to value duty over survival, trained to kill without hesitation, backed by resources that make provincial power look insignificant.”

Marcus walked to the window, looking out at the nighttime city. “I’m not leaving.”

“Then you’re a fool.”

“Maybe.” Marcus’s dragon aura manifested briefly, making the air feel heavy. “But I’m a fool who keeps his word. I told Maurice Springs I’d be here when he arrived. I don’t break promises.”

Red Widow studied him for a long moment. “You’re not afraid at all, are you?”

“Fear is a choice,” Marcus replied. “I choose differently.”

His phone buzzed. Miguel Abbott’s message was brief and precise: Target moving. Northwest approach. ETA twenty minutes.

Marcus pocketed the phone and turned from the window. “He’s coming. Time to get ready.”

“Ready how?” Red Widow asked. “You can’t fight a branch manager in the hotel. Too many civilians. Too much collateral damage.”

“I’m not planning to.” Marcus moved toward the door. “There’s a wooded area half a mile northwest of here. Only viable approach route from the hospital to Pearl on the Water. If Maurice is coming on foot, which my intelligence suggests he is, he’ll pass through there.”

“So you’re going to him.”

“I’m meeting him halfway,” Marcus corrected. “Less dramatic that way.”

Red Widow shook her head slowly. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

“So do I,” Marcus said, then paused. “Actually, that’s not true. I know exactly what I’m doing. Whether it works is a different question.”

He left before she could respond.

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In his private suite, Marcus dressed with the same methodical precision he brought to combat. The light purple suit he chose wasn’t expensive or flashy. It was simply distinctive, memorable, the color associated with every major rescue or intervention the Dragon King had made across multiple provinces.

People who’d been saved recognized the purple. People who’d been defeated remembered it.

Marcus adjusted his collar in the mirror, his dragon eyes calm and focused. Tonight would add another memory to that collection.

Miguel Abbott was waiting in the lobby, surrounded by his security detail. “Boss, my people have confirmed Maurice Springs left the hospital on foot. Moving at normal human speed, trying to blend with late-night pedestrians. But the tracking devices my network planted on several of his disciples show his general trajectory.”

“The forest route,” Marcus confirmed.

“Yes. He’ll reach the northwest edge in approximately fifteen minutes.” Miguel paused. “You’re really going to face him alone?”

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