The Mercenary Queen Strikes Back (Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

Victor’s mind was blown. ‘She looks so young, yet she’s actually a high–ranking elder at Crimson Web HQ? Seriously?‘

When Victor looked at Nova again, awe filled his gaze.

With the other executives still staring in disbelief, Victor got up from his seat, strode forward, and bowed low to Nova.

He stammered, “So you are actually… I was blind and failed to recognize you. Please forgive us.”

Victor only recognized Nova as a high–ranking elder from Crimson Web HQ–he didn’t even dare imagine her status could be even more jaw–dropping.

The idea that she might be the actual founder? That thought had never crossed his mind.

Just knowing her real identity was enough to hit Victor like a ton of bricks.

The Frostwave Bar executives obviously had no idea what Crimson Web was all about.

All they saw was their boss, right after Nova spoke, bowing down with the utmost respect–totally out of character for him.

At that moment, all the execs collectively gawked, their jaws practically hitting the floor.

But these execs were old hands in the underworld game, sharp enough to know when to keep their heads down and play along.

Even if they were dying to know why their boss was showing so much respect to this girl, not a single one of them had the guts to question it.

“Meeting’s adjourned,” Victor declared. “I’ve got business to talk over with her.” He turned to a bald middle- aged man beside him and said, “Lance, take everyone else out.”

Lance nodded and quickly ushered all the execs and their crew out of the room.

That even meant the big guy Nova was still gripping by the neck got dragged out too.

Soon, it was just Nova and Victor alone in the room.

Victor bowed low with extra deference, clearly nervous as he spoke to Nova, “Did the HQ send you for something urgent? Is there something important you need me to do?”

If the people of Ravenport ever found out that the city’s most feared kingpin–the guy who could shake the entire underworld with a single word–was now bowing in respect to a girl who couldn’t be more than a teenager, they’d be floored.

While Victor was tense and on edge, Nova was the definition of laid–back.

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She leaned back, arms folded, hooked a chair closer with her foot, and dropped herself onto it.

She lifted her eyebrows, her eyes cool and unbothered.

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Nova hated pointless chatter, so she got straight to business. “I’m here because I need something from you. I want the latest scoop from the global underworld scene–everything big that’s gone down in the last half- year. You’ve got 24 hours.”

She was talking about mercenaries, hired killers, spies, deadly syndicates, private armies, black market kingpins from every continent, and those families who treat arms trafficking like an inherited business.

For those people, death was just another part of the daily grind.

Every day in the underworld was a game–changer–allegiances flip, empires rise and fall before people could even blink.

Nova had spent six long months stranded on Devil’s Isle, and now, stepping back in, she could tell the whole game had changed again.

That was exactly why she needed the freshest intel on the underworld.

Plus, before going back to the Blake family, she still remembered Ray’s words to her during her escape.

He swore she’d be dragged back to Devil’s Isle, no matter what.

And even if Ray backed off, Devil’s Isle would never forgive her for pulling off the first successful escape. Sooner or later, they’d come knocking.

For Nova, step one was staying ahead of the game—she had to be prepared before anyone came knocking.

Victor had figured Nova was a boss–level agent sent by Crimson Web HQ to issue orders. He hadn’t guessed that all she wanted was info.

After taking a deep breath, Victor nodded eagerly. He said, “Absolutely. It’s an honor serving you.

“May I ask where you’re staying? As soon as the intel’s ready tomorrow, I’ll have someone deliver it straight to your place.”

Nova shook her head. “No need. I’ll be back tomorrow.”

With that, she got up, one hand sliding casually into her pocket, and strode right out–cool as ever, not saying another word.

Business handled. From HQ to the bar, no one dared get in her way this time.

*****

By the time Nova stepped out of the bar, darkness had swallowed the city. Night had truly arrived.

Across the sky, stars poked through like a flock of baby chicks pecking their way out of the shell, each one racing to claim its own glimmer.

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It was almost like the universe itself was hinting–trouble was brewing tonight.

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The stretch from Frostwave Bar to Blake Villa was out of the way, barely any cars or people around, with the streetlights stuttering and fading like they could die out any second.

The night was freezing, colder than usual. Nova was all alone out here, surrounded by darkness.

Suddenly, Nova’s sharp ears picked up the soft hiss of a submachine gun.

The noise was so faint that it nearly disappeared into the night. The shot sounded both silenced and far away.

Still, Nova instantly identified the model just from that single muffled shot.

Nova didn’t even need to see it to know–that muffled pop was pure submachine gun.

If this were somewhere where people were actually allowed to carry guns, it wouldn’t be strange.

But this was Zoria–a place where firearms were totally outlawed, and Nova knew that all too well.

That thought made Nova’s blood run cold.

Whether it was fate or just pure instinct, Nova’s body moved before she even realized it, shifting to the side on autopilot.

In the blink of an eye, she vanished from where she stood.

She was already cutting through the darkness, zeroed in on the source of that distant shot.

Her footsteps were practically ghostly as she moved through the silence.

In the pitch–black night, she raced ahead, barely making a sound–after less than two minutes, something new caught her notice.

A woman’s voice drifted from up ahead. “Please, have mercy. I was wrong.

“I swear I won’t ever do it again. I shouldn’t have betrayed Shadow Sanctum. Just give me another chance. I beg you. Please, just one more chance.”

She sounded absolutely desperate, terror shaking through every plea. Her fear was unmistakable, making her voice tremble uncontrollably.

At the same time, Nova finally managed to make out the scene ahead.

Deep among the tangled trees stood a breathtakingly handsome man.

With a face as cold as stone, he pressed his foot down hard on the head of the woman who was groveling and begging beneath him.

He stood around six feet two inches, towering and clearly in his early twenties.

Even with the faintest moonlight barely lighting the scene, you could still make out the razor–sharp lines of

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his face.

His sculpted profile, high nose bridge, and thin, straight lips only added to that striking, almost dangerous handsomeness.

He was dressed in deep black night gear; his lean, perfect physique and icy arrogance made him look like a dark angel straight from hell.

His legs, almost too long for reality, pressed down mercilessly on the woman’s head, every movement cold and unfeeling.

Everything about him–from the way he moved to the look in his eyes–radiated sheer defiance and icy indifference.

As soon as Nova caught a clear glimpse of his face, her eyes widened in shock.

‘No way. It’s him,‘ Nova thought, adrenaline kicking in.

She knew him well–far more than just a passing acquaintance. Still, this was the very first time they’d actually met in person.

Or to put it bluntly, the icy man standing before her was none other than the king of the underworld.

He was the undisputed leader of Shadow Sanctum, the most powerful and terrifying assassin syndicate on earth, Damien Thorn.

To most people, he was almost like a demon and a god rolled into one–a legend that made hearts freeze and souls tremble.

No exaggeration, this guy was the coldest, most ruthless killer alive. His hands were deep in blood from more lives than you could count.

His legend? It was the kind of tale you could binge for three days straight and still barely scratch the surface- his name was pure myth material.

Almost 80% of the world’s arms deals had his fingerprints all over them, and his influence didn’t just run the underworld–it seeped into 30% of the so–called legit business world too.

With power and riches enough to challenge a nation, calling him terrifying felt like an understatement.

And this terrifying man was Nova’s mortal enemy.

Right now, he was the only true threat to her in the entire global underworld.

Nova knew Damien all too well–his reputation was legendary in her world.

But this was the first time they’d actually met face to face. If they’d run into each other before, swords would’ve been drawn for sure.

“Too late,” Damien’s voice came, icy and emotionless, as if the woman crushed under his boot wasn’t even worth glancing at.

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The sound sent a pleasant shiver down your spine, but mixed with an undertone that made your hair stand

on end.

All the while, he was doing something that could freeze the blood in anyone’s veins.

With one gloved hand, Damien casually gripped a submachine gun, the weapon seeming almost an extension of his will.

The muzzle was pointed straight at the woman, clawing desperately beneath him.

He opened fire without a shred of hesitation.

She jerked and flopped like a fish out of water, and in less than two seconds, she was dead.

Nova knew exactly how it was–Damien could be drop–dead handsome, but his methods were pure ruthlessness.

Even Nova herself didn’t dare face him head–on; with someone like Damien, caution wasn’t just smart–it was survival.

She had no idea why he’d suddenly shown up here tonight.

One thing was obvious: Damien was Nova’s destined nemesis.

In the underworld, if two heavyweights couldn’t join forces, then it was war–the only other option was to be each other’s sworn enemy.

It was kill or be killed.

If Nova ever faced him, a deadly fight would be inevitable.

So Nova planned to quietly disappear before Damien even noticed she was there.

Nova was just about to turn and melt into the shadows, when Damien’s head suddenly snapped her way.

His deep, arrogant eyes locked onto her with the fierce intensity of a predator who had just found its prey.

‘Crap, he spotted me,‘ Nova thought, her heart skipping a beat.

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