Saintess's Worthless Husband Turned Dragon Commander novel Chapter 65

CHAPTER 65 PART 1

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Bridger Davis’s hands shook as he positioned his phone for the video call, the camera angle carefully chosen to hide his broken leg but unable to conceal the bruises covering his face. Behind him, the warehouse’s destruction was visible-unconscious soldiers, shattered crates, Noah Miller’s broken form slumped against a pillar.

Maurice Yarrow’s face appeared on screen, his expensive office a stark contrast to the carnage surrounding Bridger. The Three Blade Group’s supreme leader looked every inch the crime boss-tailored suit, slicked-back hair, the kind of cold eyes that had ordered countless deaths without flinching.

“Report,” Maurice commanded simply.

“Boss…” Bridger’s voice cracked. “The operation failed. Completely. Noah Miller is… he’s been defeated. Half- dead. Gerrard Cooper is captured. I’m captured. All our men are captured. The Grayson City branch is finished.”

Silence on the line. Maurice’s face went through visible shock, disbelief, then settling into cold fury.

“Noah Miller was beaten?” Maurice’s voice came out dangerously quiet. “The Eagle-Claw Miller? The man who’s never lost a fight in fifty years?”

“Destroyed in seconds,” Bridger confirmed miserably. “His technique was… it was nothing against them, boss. Nothing.”

“Against who?” Maurice demanded. “Who did this?”

Aaron Jackson’s face appeared in the phone’s frame, his smile cheerful and infuriating. “Hello, Maurice. Been a while. Remember that time I let you live for two billion? Good times.”

Maurice’s face went purple. “JACKSON! You’re behind this?”

“Partially,” Aaron admitted. “But the real credit goes to my friend here.”

Marcus stepped into view, his dragon eyes meeting Maurice’s through the camera with unsettling directness.” Marcus Steel. Pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

“Steel…” Maurice’s eyes narrowed, recognition flickering. “I’ve heard whispers. You’re the one who—”

“Who your people tried to assassinate,” Marcus finished calmly. “On contract from the Brand family. Which brings us to our current situation.”

“What situation?” Maurice asked, though dread was already building in his voice.

“The situation where you pay ten billion dollars for the return of your captured executives,” Marcus said simply.” Or I start sending them back in pieces.”

“TEN BILLION?” Maurice’s roar was audible even without speakers. “You’re INSANE! The Three Blade Group doesn’t pay ransoms! We don’t-”

“You do now,” Aaron interrupted cheerfully. “Because the alternative is watching your reputation crumble when everyone sees footage of Noah Miller getting destroyed by someone you’ve never heard of.”

“I don’t negotiate with kidnappers!” Maurice snapped. “Bridger, tell this fool who he’s dealing with! Tell him about our resources, our connections, our-”

“Boss,” Bridger interrupted desperately, “with all respect, the authority today isn’t mine. It’s his.” He gestured weakly toward Marcus. “Whatever you want to say, say it to him.”

Maurice’s attention shifted fully to Marcus, assessment replacing rage. “Who are you really? No random enforcer

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defeats Noah Miller. No street tough demands ten billion from the Three Blade Group. So what’s your real story, Steel?”

“The story,” Marcus said calmly, “is that your branch manager Gerrard Cooper violated every rule of your organization. He accepted an illegal contract from the Brand family. A contract to assassinate me.” He paused for emphasis. “The husband of Sacred Saintess Quinn Hartford.”

The color drained from Maurice Yarrow’s face.

“A… a Saintess’s husband?” Maurice’s voice came out strangled. “Gerrard, you IDIOT! You accepted a contract on a Saintess’s husband?”

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ART 2

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CHAPTER 65 PART 2

Gerrard’s face appeared in the frame, bound and miserable. “Boss, I didn’t know! He seemed like just another target! How was I supposed to-”

“SUPPOSED TO?” Maurice’s roar made the phone’s speakers crackle. “You’re SUPPOSED to clear major contracts with headquarters! You’re SUPPOSED to research targets! You’re SUPPOSED to not start wars with SACRED BLOODLINES!”

He turned his fury on Bridger. “And you! You went along with this? You didn’t think to question why we were taking hits on people connected to Saintesses?”

“I didn’t know about the contract until tonight!” Bridger defended. “Gerrard kept it secret! By the time I found out, we were already-”

“Already destroyed,” Marcus finished. “Your men dead or captured. Your invincible enforcer broken. Your branch operations exposed. All because Gerrard wanted some easy money from the Brand family.”

Maurice slumped in his chair, decades of criminal experience telling him this was a disaster far beyond normal underworld conflicts. Saintesses were protected by forces that made gang wars look like schoolyard fights. Their families had connections, resources, and most importantly-divine authority that transcended normal power

structures.

“What do you want?” Maurice asked finally, his voice hollow.

“I already told you,” Marcus said. “Ten billion dollars. Transferred within thirty minutes. Or your people start dying.”

“That’s an impossible amount!” Maurice protested. “Even the Three Blade Group doesn’t keep that much liquid! I’d need time to-”

“You have thirty minutes,” Marcus interrupted. “Figure it out. Liquidate assets. Call in debts. Raid your emergency funds. I don’t care how you get it. But in thirty minutes, either the money’s in my account or Bridger Davis loses a hand. Then Gerrard Cooper loses a hand. Then Noah Miller-if he survives that long-loses whatever’s left of him.”

“You can’t-” Maurice started.

“Can’t what?” Marcus’s voice went cold, his dragon aura making the camera image actually distort slightly. “I don’t negotiate with people who tried to assassinate me. Your organization violated sacred law by targeting a Saintess’s husband. You’re lucky I’m offering you ANY option besides complete annihilation.”

The warehouse went absolutely silent. Even Aaron looked slightly impressed by the naked threat in Marcus’s voice.

Maurice Yarrow-crime boss, killer, man who’d built an empire on violence and intimidation-stared at Marcus Steel through the phone screen and recognized something he’d only encountered a handful of times in his long

career.

True, absolute power. The kind that didn’t bluff. Didn’t posture. Simply stated facts and expected compliance.

“Ten billion,” Maurice said finally, his voice carrying defeat. “Thirty minutes. But Steel-don’t push your luck. The Three Blade Group has resources you can’t imagine. Connections you can’t fight. This isn’t over.”

“It is for tonight,” Marcus replied. “Transfer the money. Get your people back. And consider this your only warning: if the Three Blade Group or the Brand family makes another move against me or my wife, I won’t be asking for ransoms. I’ll be collecting corpses.”

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