Chapter Thirty-Four

Zach

While Zach ran around looking for Angelo, he came across Ethan.

“Boss, your destined safely arrived at the compound. She’s now going into the safe room, as we speak,” he ran with Zach on his right.

“Good. Well done.”

Zach walked around the clearing in front of the compound. Then he followed the trails that went farther into the woods, leaving the compound behind.

Ethan followed right behind him. “What are we doing?” Ethan asked him.

“Angelo is here somewhere. I need to find him before he finds Irene.”

Adrian and Jackson emerged from the woods. “Adrian, what are you doing here? Why are you not in the safe room?”

“I am not there for the same reason that you aren’t either. I am not going to stand on the sidelines. I am here to help—now let me help.”

Zach knew it was useless to argue with his brothers. Something about stubbornness and having the same genes. “Do any of you see signs of intruders around here? My powers of perception are still not what they should be.”

Zach was annoyed. He would like for his senses to return to normal so he could function properly and lead his family the way he should.

They all halted when they saw a man coming from behind a tree. The man smiled viciously, but the smile didn’t reach his green eyes. Those eyes. Angelo.

“Finally we meet, Boss Hunter. Are you surprised to see me?” he asked and came closer. Zach’s brothers and Ethan all took a protective stance around him.

Zach stepped forward. “Angelo, what do you want?”

The man’s malicious laugh echoed through the woods. “You know what I want.”

“You’re not getting any of my land.” Zach folded his arms in front of his chest. His biceps bulged with the movement.

“Ooh, but I think I am.” Angelo lifted his eyebrows. “I know your weaknesses, Boss. Isn’t that little assistant of yours your destined?”

“I don’t think that my destined is any of your business.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, Boss.” Angelo took another step closer. He was now about three feet away from Zach.

“I know your little destined. I have touched her, I kissed her, and I am sure, next time, I will fuck her.” He smiled viciously again.

This aggravated Jackson and Ethan. They knew what Angelo said was not true.

“I wouldn’t be so certain of that if I were you,” Zach stated.

“Well…” Angelo’s smile grew wider. “I am. I am certain. She knows me. She knows me better than she knows you. If I were you, I would give in to Mr. Mercer. I would agree with his terms if I were you.”

“Again, my land is not for sale! And it’s not going to be given away under pressure, either!”

Angelo stepped closer, pointing at Zach. “Well, then I would prepare for hell to break loose, mister! Oh wait, hell is already breaking loose.

“Your destined… Wherever she is, I’ll find her, and I’ll take her. Or you’ll have to give me your land, and then I’ll leave your little destined alone.”

In the meantime, his men had formed a circle around them, closing them in. Their taunting was getting louder; they were getting closer.

“You are surrounded, Boss Hunter. Surrender, and you and your destined will live. If you don’t, you die right now.”

“Zach, the soldiers are right behind us. We have backup now. Don’t worry, and don’t surrender—we’ve got this!” Jackson informed him.

“Bring it on, Angelo. Bring on your worst,” Zach said confidently.

That was the start of a bloody battle. After a while, a lot of men on both sides were wounded.

But Zach’s family didn’t seem to have the upper hand. When Zach looked around, he saw his family getting weak, getting tired from all the fighting.

“Zach! We are not going to make it! These guys have too many. They keep coming!” Ethan sounded desperate. “I don’t want to give up, but this is getting out of hand!”

“I know!” Zach responded. “But what other option do we have? If we surrender, we lose everything! We’ll be homeless!”

Ethan’s head hung low. Zach was looking around. What were they doing? Was this fight over land worth the sacrifices his family members were making?

Zach was the one responsible. Maybe he should turn himself in. Maybe that would save the rest, maybe, just maybe?

Just as he was about to find Angelo to surrender, Adrian rushed over.

“Zach! They’ve managed to reach the compound! They’re coming from all sides now!”

“I know, Adrian. Give me a minute and let me find Angelo. I’ll put an end to all of this!”

“Zach! No! Don’t do it! Are you really prepared to give this all up, to give up the legacy of generations? Seriously, Zach?”

“Adrian, we’re losing men! I can’t risk losing my whole family to these guys because of my pride! I have to surrender. I have to, to keep you all safe!”

“Zach, wait—”

“No, Adrian. Get everyone to safety. My decision has been made.”

Zach walked around looking for Angelo. He’d shut everyone out. He didn’t want to be convinced otherwise by anyone.

About half an hour and a lot of wounded and dead later, someone ran to him. “Zach! Zach! Wait, please!”

He turned to look at the person running to him. It was Adrian. He was exhausted from all the running he had done.

“Zach. Stop. Please. My boss just linked me. He is standing at your borders. He asked for permission to enter. He has all his soldiers with him. He is ready to take on these bastards and beat the shit out of them!”

That is a pleasant surprise, Zach thought to himself. That help was not a second too soon!

“Permission granted,” Zach nodded, looking serious. “Let him get over here quick! I was about to surrender.”

“I know, that’s why I was in such a hurry. Hold on, brother. Help is on the way,” Adrian patted his shoulder as he passed Zach.

Another half an hour passed, and the forest became quiet. The few surviving thugs were brought together in the middle of the clearing in front of the compound. Angelo was not found; he was still somewhere out there.

The boss of Adrian’s family walked over to Zach and shook his hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Boss Hunter, although I would have preferred different circumstances.”

“It’s nice to meet you too, Boss Vance,” Zach smiled. “I can’t thank you enough for your help, sir. I will owe you forever.”

“It’s no problem, Boss. I just hope that I can count on you as much as you have counted on me right now, whenever I may need your help.”

“You can, sir, you can,” Zach smiled at the man. “But please, call me Zach.”

“I’ll call you Zach if you call me Jackson.”

“Alright then,” Zach’s smile widened.

“Do you have a place for my men to rest?” Jackson asked. “They would like to eat too.”

“We’ll put these thugs in the dungeons, then we’ll release everyone from the safe room, and then we’ll be able to give everyone a place to rest and something to eat,” Zach smiled.

“Maybe you could stay the night because I would like to ask you for some advice.”

“Sure, you can ask me anything,” Jackson said, and they walked around, giving everyone their orders.