AUTHOR'S POV

Hunter's mansion,
04: 20 pm

" MOVE." Hunter growled at Dash who was blocking his way to let Hunter go out of the room.

" Hunter listen to me. Calm down first-"

" Calm down? Are you f*cking kidding me. She's pregnant. I'll kill that little shit". Hunter's raucous voice echoed.

" Hunter don't. I don't want you to regret it later. Think about it first. Kids aren't involved in our ways". Dash tried to make him understand only to hear a dry chuckle in response.

" Just think it's Zoe pregnant with someone else's child. Will you spare?" Hunter questioned making Dash avert his gaze. " Your fists said it all, Dash. You are scared to even assume what I'm going through". Hunter added looking down at his fisted palms before going towards the door with rage and a drug pocket. He grabbed the knob for a second tightly before twisting it.

" Hunter?" Dash called making him stop and turn. " Zoe-" He took a deep breath before facing him. Hunter's eyebrows crashed together looking at Dash being hesitant to speak. " She... She sent all your island's security codes to Alaric through my laptop".

Hunter trundled towards Dash and stood in front of him. " She did what?" Hunter questioned.

" She was blackmailed-"

Dash's words were cut by the noise of Hunter slamming the drug pocket on the floor. " First Nick. Now you. Now I know why am I seeing new faces here. He has already changed all the staff. Anyone could break in at any time here BECAUSE OF YOUR SILLY WIFE". Hunter roared.

He ran his fingers through his hair. The thick gray curtains of his balcony were blowing by air. He slide them aside roughly and gazed down to see two ships has already stopped. Men in black were silently entering inside with weapons.

" The f*ck". Hunter cursed under his breath. " Dash, get my jet rea- leave it, I'll do it myself". He gritted his teeth leaving the room.

As soon as he went outside he saw Grace who was hurriedly walking towards him but looking behind seemed like she was escaping.

She gasped as she bumped into Hunter. She raised his head to see Hunter looking down at her. She gulped stepping backward. " I-"

Suddenly a loud blasting sound has been heard. She flinched hard and turn to see Hunter's room where she was a minute ago busted. Flames came out from the broken door.

" ZARA". She shouted running towards the room but Hunter grabbed her forearm and pulled her back towards him. " LET GO OF ME. ZARA IS IN THERE ". She cried looking at the black smoke coming out.

The smoke entered the chamber of the photoelectric sensor. The smoke detector triggered the alarm and automatically started pouring water.

" We need to leave this island". Hunter said holding her to take her with him but suddenly found Dash pointing his gun in their direction.

Hunter was taken aback for a moment until he realised someone's presence behind him and Grace.

A team of around fifteen men trooped in and stood behind them. Hunter hid Grace behind his back.

Dash ploded and stood in front of Hunter and Grace, his gunpoint was on the men, and his finger was ready to pull the trigger.

" I'll manage them. Go". Dash said half facing Hunter.

Hunter grabbed Grace's hand and dragged her downstairs with him.

Meanwhile, Caden was searching for Grace in every room upstairs. The smoke and the smoke sensor pouring water were making it too difficult to see things clearly.

Suddenly Caden found some men beating Dash while some died on the floor.

Caden grabbed a lamp from the aside and broke it on one of their heads. Their attention pulled towards him from half-conscious Dash.

Caden proved why he's known as terror by fighting alone against them.

He offered his hand to Dash. Dash grabbed it and sat up resting his back against a wall.

They both knows. This fight is not against each other it's them against the fight starter.

" Where's Ell- Grace?" Caden asked.

Dash looked up at him. " She's in safe hands but your child-" Dash coughed blood between the sentence. He tried to keep his eyes open but failed miserably.

" She's pregnant?" Caden mumbled.

Meanwhile:

Hunter was taking Grace with him toward his jet but suddenly a group of men encompassed them downstairs.

" We are surrounded". Grace grabbed Hunter's arm tightly. She knows him. As he always remembers when to not be his enemy.

Hunter looked down at Grace whose eyes were fixed on the man who entered the circle with the slain smirk on his face and a gun in his hand.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk". Alaric King!

" Escaping from your own empire." Alaric stopped in front of Hunter and Grace. " Let me help you escape the world". His eyes turned dark. " Separate them". Ric commanded.

Grace tightened her grip around Hunter's arm as a few men approached them.

" Do not touch her". Hunter warned pointing his gun at those men. Still, they dared as Hunter was alone against them.

In an attempt to separate them some got shoot and some got injured as Hunter fight them but Hunter got attacked by many simultaneously. The gun fell from his hand and those men started to beat him more.

One of them grabbed Grace's forearm tightly and pushed her towards Ric who encircled his hand around her neck and pulled her towards himself. Her back crashed against Ric's chest. She tried to wiggle out but Ric was way too stronger in front of her so she used another trip.

She tried to kick him but failed as he was quicker than her. " Don't be over smart women". Ric seethed in her ear. Still, she bit his wrist which loosened Ric's grip around her.

Hunter managed to push those men and took a step towards them but Ric pointed his gun at him. " Stop right there". Ric said but Hunter didn't stop. " Stop or I'll-". Ric pulled the trigger. The bullet left the gun and dig into Hunter's shoulder causing him to let out a hiccup.

" H-Hunter". She cried running towards him but Ric grabbed her by her hair and made her turn around. He clenched his jaw and placed a tight slap across her face. She yelp and fell to the ground.

" GRACE?". Hunter shouted as she didn't even move.

" Tie them". Ric commanded making his men obey him.

Hunter's eyes were fixed on Grace who was unconscious but getting pulled harshly towards the basement along with Hunter but he wasn't able to even breathe properly as he was beaten so mercilessly.

Soon they tied them both to the chair behind each other. Hunter groaned trying to hold the pain as Ric slammed his knee into Hunter's stomach. Blood spurted out from his mouth.

" Alaric". Hunter spat the blood and gazed up to see Ric's bloodshot eyes on him. " I know this isn't for the crown only? This isn't you? What made you this way? ". Hunter asked as he knows Ric. He would have killed them if he only want the crown but his anger said there was something more that he wants.

" Dad". Ric replied. " He made me this way. He always says... be like Hunter. Look at him and how far he has gone. Learn something from him. I never meant anything to him. It was always Hunter. His proud son since childhood. No matter how hard I try, you were and are his favorite. Why not me? " He asked, his voice softer than usual.

Hunter closed his eyes breathing deeply. Ric isn't wrong this time. It's not like his father never supported him. He supported Alaric financially, gave him powers, anything and everything he always asked but never when he needed a dad.

He is a great father but failed as a dad. He was always Hunter's and even Hunter has felt this but never spoke a word.

" There'll be only me. No Hunter. No injustice". Ric muttered making Hunter open his eyes.

" She has nothing to do with all these, Alaric. Let her go".

" She has. Her fault is she belongs to you. And I'm here to destroy everything you have ever earned. The crown will be mine and only. I'll show dad that I deserve that not you".

" Alaric, take the crown. let her go. She's pregnant ".

Alaric's eyes darkened more. All his maniac mind thinking was...she's pregnant and Hunter probably is the father. His kid, the next heir.

" Done". A man said planting a bomb in a corner.

" Leave". Ric commanded everyone in the basement. He stayed there silently for several beats in deep thought. He roamed and scratched his temple with his gun. The only thing making him think twice is the baby in Grace's belly.

Kings' has never made any kid bleed. Their hands aren't scattered in any kid's blood in history.

Suddenly he stopped roaming. " She has to die for sure". He muttered standing in front of Hunter.

A beep snapped Hunter's face up.

" Meet you in hell brother".

• It takes a monster to destroy another monster.

Chapter published on: 28 August 2022