A/N: Thank you for the comments on previous chapter, guys. 100 comments again for an update on Tuesday. Thank you:)

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MARCO's POV

An irritated groan escaped my lips when I woke up because of the incessant ringing of my phone. I tried to ignore it but it kept on ringing continuously. When I couldn't take the noise anymore, I finally gave up and reached for it from the bedside table. I answered it with half-hooded eyes.

"Make sure to have a good reason for you to disturb my sleep right now." I wanted to shout at him but I held myself back so that I wouldn't wake up Maggie.

"I'm sorry, Unu, but I have bad news." Falcon answered seriously and his voice fully woken up my senses. I knew Falcon enough to understood that something bad happened that I wouldn't surely like.

"Apollyon escaped. Someone helped him. We have casualties too because our men tried their best not to let him escape but they failed." My jaw flexed in anger upon hearing that. Apollyon has been in the hospital because of his gunshot wound. The authorities appointed two policemen to watch him at all times while he was at the hospital.

I already sent five of my men to secretly guard the vicinity so that Apollyon wouldn't have the chance to escape. I thought, everything was already under control because he was practically tied down in bed. His hand was handcuffed with the bed.

I didn't know what happened but it looked like Apollyon still has connections. It was my fault. I was devastated these past two weeks because Maggie left me. I had nothing in mind but to follow her whenever she went to because I was paranoid that something bad might happened to her.

I never gave importance to Apollyon anymore because he would eventually go to jail the moment he would go out of the hospital. I let my men handle everything because my focus was to get my wife back.

Now, I realized that I shouldn't've ignore everything that was happening at the hospital. I became too laidback and unconcerned about him that I failed to read the situation.

"How many of out men got killed?"

"Five of them, Unu." My hands balled into fists.

"Do everything you can to find Apollyon, dead or alive, Falcon! Tell Dui to send our men to any potential hideout of Apollyon. Make sure to get him no matter what happens!" I ordered thunderously. Worry consumed me for my parents and Maggie.

Now that Apollyon escaped, he would surely target my loved ones. No! I will never let that happen!

"Yes, Unu."

"Call me when you find him. Failure is not an option, Falcon."

"I understand, Unu." I was about to end the call when Falcon spoke once again.

"Wait, Unu."

"What is it this time?" I asked impatiently.

"I think I have an idea where Apollyon could be heading to by now." My eyebrows creased.

"Where?"

"In your place or Maggie's house. I think, he's after your wife." Upon hearing that, I craned my head to look at Maggie on her side of the bed just to be stunned when I saw that she wasn't there. I felt like my heart suddenly stopped beating.

I didn't notice that she wasn't beside me a while ago when I woke up because I answered my phone without looking next to me.

"Unu? Are you still there?" I heard Falcon ask but the phone slipped off my hand and fell on the bed. I then stood up and quickly went to the bathroom, silently hoping that she was there.

"My queen?" I called but no one answered. I opened the door and looked for her inside but she wasn't there.

I was literally holding my breath as fear started eating my whole system. When I couldn't find her anywhere inside our room, I hurriedly went out and checked the other rooms, even the terrace, while shouting for her name. But she was nowhere to be found.

I hurriedly went downstairs. I was already desperate because I couldn't see her anywhere.

"Maggie! Maggie!" I called for her while walking towards the living room. My voice was echoing throughout the whole house.

Then, I saw my mother stood up from the couch upon seeing me. Her bodyguards were just a couple of meters away from her.

"What happened, figghiu? Why are you shouting you wife's name as if something bad happened to her or something?" She asked worriedly.

"Mamma, have you seen my wife? When I woke up, she wasn't in bed with me anymore." I said as I raked my fingers through my hair. Worry, fear and all the negative emotions began to rule my emotions and I couldn't control it anymore. I need to see Maggie as soon as possible!

"She went out just two minutes ago. I think, she already left." My eyes widened.

"What?! Why didn't you stop her, mamma?! He can't leave! Apollyon escaped from the hospital and there's a big possibility that he would come here!" I answered exasperatedly. Her eyes widened.

"What?! He escaped?! Oh, God. You should go after Maggie! Go!" I ran towards the door even though I was just wearing boxers. I didn't care about my getup anymore. Upon getting out of the door, I heard a squeaking sound of a car's wheel as it drove away in a fast speed.

I looked around and when I didn't see Maggie anywhere, I already knew that she got taken away by the owner of the car which just drove away. I quickly went inside the garage and took the key of my fastest car. I then drove out of the garage, after that white car.

I contacted the guards at the gate to inform them to close the gate so that the white car couldn't go out.

"It already passed the gates, sir." The guard answered. I punched the steering wheel in rage.

"Minchia!" I shouted as I stepped on the gas. I didn't care if I was still at a residential area and overspeeding. All that was inside my mind was to catch up to that white car.

When I drove passed the subdivision's gate, I added more speed. My engine roared. Thankfully, there wasn't that many cars on the road. After a couple of seconds, I finally manage to get a glimpse of the white car, taking the way towards the freeway.

"Damn you, Apollyon! I'll kill you this time as a payment for taking my wife!" I hissed as the sleeping beast inside of me starting to dominate me.

I pressed the voice command button of my car. "Call Dui." I commanded and after a couple of seconds, my brother answered.

"Yes, Unu."

"I need your help right now. Someone took Maggie away. I'm on the pursuit right now. We are here at the freeway. You can track my location. I need backup." I instructed without losing my focus on the car that I was tailing.

"Copy, Unu. I'll send back up as soon as possible." He then ended the call. I noticed that the car that I was tailing maneuvered to the right lane and then went back to the right lane after he overtook the two cars that were blocking its way.

He sped up even more and then overtook all the vehicles before him in order to get away from me. I looked like he already noticed me tailing him. My jaw clenched tighter as I drove past the speed limit. I didn't stop pursuing it even though he was expertly driving like a professional racer.

I've had my own share of practice driving cars like this so it wasn't that hard for me to follow his every move. Then, when the road was finally cleared, without any other cars aside from us; I took that as an opportunity to catch up to him.

I maneuvered my car on the left lane and did my best to match his speed until our cars were finally on the equal speed, driving side by side. That was when I confirmed that Maggie was indeed inside the car. She looked mad while yelling at the driver. I looked at the driver and confirmed my suspicion. It was indeed Apollyon!

I rolled down my right passenger's window and then shouted. "Damn you, Apollyon! Give me back my wife!"

He looked at my direction and then smirked. "Do you really think that I would do that? I already have her, Thamuz! Say goodbye to your wife because I will never let you have her again! She will be mine to keep!"

The anger that I was feeling doubled upon hearing what he said. "I will never allow that to happen, Apollyon! She has nothing to do with you so let go of her, you b*stard!" I retorted and then stepped on the gas at full extent. The engine of my car roared loudly. The speed was overwhelming but I managed control it easily.

"Minchia!" I hissed when he matched my speed. If only I could fly, I already flew out of my car and killed Apollyon right there and then.

Then, my phone rang. It was Dui. I answered it. It was automatically connected to my car so I could hear everything while driving.

"Where are you now?" I asked while kept on throwing glances at Apollyon, afraid that he might escape and take Maggie away from me.

"We're approximately 10 kilometers ahead of you, Unu. Do something to stop Apollyon's car just after you pass the bridge. We'll do the rest."

"Copy. Make sure that Maggie will not get hurt. He's got her inside his car." I informed through gritted teeth.

"Don't worry, frati. We'll get her. This time, we won't let Apollyon escape again." He then ended the call. I then formulated a plan in order to stop Apollyon at the agreed place. I wanted to bump him with the side of my car but I was worried that he might lose control of the vehicle and Maggie would get hurt.

I took the gun inside the mini compartment of my car. If only Maggie wasn't there inside his car, I would've rained bullets to his direction.

But then, I noticed that his car was suddenly running in an unsteady way. The wheels were squeaking as it zigzagged across the road. He reduced speed too. Then, I saw the reason. Maggie was already fighting with Apollyon inside the car.

She has her arms wrapped around Apollyon's neck while the latter's right hand was trying to hit her in order to free himself from her grip.

"My queen!" I screamed. I looked before us and noticed that the bridge was about half a kilometer away ahead of us. I had to do something to make him stop. Since his speed reduced, I easily sped up until I reached the agreed place.

I then stopped and swiftly blocked Apollyon's way. He didn't have a choice but to stop. It was so close that I thought, his car would hit mine.

I hurriedly went out of my car, intending to approach Apollyon's car to get Maggie but I stopped on my tracks when I saw him got out of the car together with Maggie. He has his gun pointed at my wife's head.

"Do you really think that you could get Maggie unscratched this time? Over my dead body, Thamuz! If you kill me, I will make sure to take her with me!" He shouted like he already lost his sanity. He looked nothing like the Keith that became Maggie's boyfriend.

He was still wearing the hospital gown. Looked like he went straight to my place after he escaped the hospital. Whoever helped him must have really planned everything beforehand.

"Damn you, Apollyon! Maggie has nothing to do with our fight so let go of her!" I hissed. He smirked.

"C'mon, Thamuz. She's got everything to do with our fight! If not because of the two of you, I would've already won the game by now. The price was destined to be mine but you took it away from me and I will never forgive you for that! I'll make sure that you will end up with nothing just like what you did to me!"

"Give her back to me." I said through gritted teeth. He laughed sarcastically.

"You look so desperate to have her, huh? Oh, c'mon, Thamuz. I know you too well. You just want to save her because you still need her for the final rule. You desperately want the Alessi wealth and the position so much that's why you're here, pretending to be her knight and shining armor!" My hand balled into tight fist as I saw the pain that registered on Maggie's face.

"Don't listen to him, my queen. You know how much I love you and I'm here to save you because I want you to stay by my side. Just like I've told you before, I am willing to give up any wealth and position just to be with you. You're the most important woman in my life aside from my own mother and I will do everything in my power to have you back." I said while staring directly into her eyes.

Her eyes brimmed with unshed tears as she smiled at me. I knew that instant that she believed everything that I've said.

"I love you, my queen." I uttered full of love. Her tears fell.

"I love you too, Marco." I was about to talk again but I got interrupted by the laugh of Apollyon.

"Watching you two makes me laugh. Do you really think that you could take her back from me? Just like what you've told me before; finders keepers!" My blood boiled. I cocked my gun and pointed at his direction.

"Let go of her, now!" I roared but that just added to his amusement.

"Go on, Thamuz! Pull the trigger. I'd like to see you try." He then laughed loudly like an insane person. I furtively looked around but I couldn't see any of my men or Dui around.

"What? You can't do it? You've really become soft, Thamuz, and I will use that weakness of yours to get what I want!" He then began dragging Maggie towards somewhere. To my surprise, a black car pulled up and five armed men came out.

All their guns were pointed at my direction.

"This time; I'm the winner, not you." He said evilly and continued dragging Maggie towards the black car.

"Marco! Help!" My wife shouted desperately.

"Kill him"! Apollyon ordered. I quickly run behind my car ad used it as I shield. I thought I was already doomed but then, another batch of bullets rained towards the location of Apollyon's men. It was coming from the top of the bridge above us.

I smirked when I saw that all Apollyon's men got killed.

"Marco!" My attention went to my screaming wife.

"Shut up! Don't call his name because he's already dead!" Apollyon shouted in anger and to my horror, he slapped her.

Rage overtook my senses as I used that opportunity to approach them swiftly. He pushed Maggie inside the car and was about to close the door when I hit his head with the gun that I was holding.

He fell on the ground but I didn't stop. I kicked him for a couple of times full of anger before punching him with all my might several times until he finally lose consciousness. His face was full of blood but I wasn't contented yet.

I was full of rage that I pointed my gun at him. I was about to pull the trigger when Maggie stopped me and got out of the car.

"Marco, stop! Don't put the justice in your hands!" She cried as she threw her arms around me and embraced me tightly. She burrowed her face on my chest.

"He made us all suffer and he deserves to die!"

"I know that but he should go to jail and pay for his sins. Don't let him escape the law by killing him. His dirty blood is not worth it to stain your hands, Marco. I don't want you to kill another person again. Please, stop." She sobbed. Her body was slightly shaking.

My anger subsided almost instantly upon hearing her cries. I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her forehead.

"Shhh. Stop crying, my queen. Everything's over now. You're safe." I whispered in her ear.

"I was so scared. I-I thought, I wouldn't be able to see you and be with you again." She answered while still crying.

"Did you really think that I would let him take you away from me? Never, my queen. Never. You exclusively belong to me and even if a hundred Apollyons would try to take you away from me, I will fight for you. That's how much I love you." I felt relieved that I managed to save her.

"I love you too, Marco. So much." My heart jumped with so much happiness upon hearing that. I cupped her face and made her look at me. Our eyes met.

I wiped her tears with my thumbs and was about to kiss her when we heard someone screamed.

"Thamuz!" My eyes widened as I saw Apollyon holding a gun, pointing at us. He was still lying on the ground. He smirked and was about to pull the trigger when we heard a couple of gunshots. I thought, he succeeded on shooting us but no.

Maggie screamed in fear and was about to turn her head to look at Apollyon but I didn't let her. I hugged her. "It's over, my queen. Everything's over." I whispered to her, calming her down.

My eyes went to Apollyon who was now dead on the ground. His body was full of blood. Even though I didn't see who shot him, I already knew who. My trusted sniper.

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What do you think of this chapter?

Who expected that Marco would eventually save Maggie?

Who do you think shot Apollyon?

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