Chapter 263 As Close as Brothers
"He's trying to kill me!" Kaelen screamed, his voice cracking with fear. "Sound the alarm!"
Sure, he had bodyguards, hanging out by the elevator, but he’d walked into the suite alone. Big mistake. Golden Valley’s top-notch safety record had made him drop his guard. If this were Evalia, he wouldn’t have dared to go solo.
The Cascade Group was a five-star joint, with extremely tight security. No way anyone could just stroll in here. The idea of an assassination attempt in this place? Never even crossed his mind.
Now, staring down the barrel of a gun, Kaelen felt like he was doomed. This wasn’t some amateur; the assassin’s eyes were ice-cold, showing years of deadly experience. Sure, he and Thelonius had combat training, but what good was that against a gun? Real life wasn’t an action movie where fists beat bullets. Unarmed combat was useless against blades, and blades were a joke against guns. That was the harsh reality.
Kaelen couldn't even hope for the bodyguards to save him, as Golden Valley strictly banned guns. His men, as skilled as they were, were unarmed. Charging a gunman would be suicide, just adding more bodies to the count.
Helplessness washed over him, leaving him clinging to the desperate hope that someone, somehow, would come to their rescue.
Thelonius, pale but quick, hit a small panic button he always carried. He never thought he’d actually need it. Golden Valley was supposed to be safe, and even if something did go down, it wouldn’t involve the untouchable elite like them.
But in this chaos, that little button was a lifeline. When danger stroke, the first rule was to alert the authorities. The cops were the long arm of the law, and even if they couldn’t handle it themselves, they’d call in backup. Just having law enforcement around could scare off even the most determined criminal.
The alarm wasn’t a magic button to summon the police instantly; they weren’t superheroes who could teleport. It was a deterrent, a warning siren in the night. And it worked. The assassin hesitated, his finger tightening on the trigger for a split second. But only for a moment.
"A valiant effort, but pointless," the assassin said, his voice as cold as ice. "The nearest police station is a good ten minutes away. Plenty of time for me to finish up and vanish."
"Who are you?" Kaelen begged, his voice trembling. "Who sent you? Name your price. I'll double it. No, ten times! Just tell me what you want!" He knew it was a long shot, a desperate plea to a man who clearly lived for this kind of thing.
The assassin just smiled, a chilling, empty grin that sent shivers down Kaelen's spine. "Your offer is generous, but I’m a professional. I have standards," he said, his voice dripping with twisted pride. "And besides, I believe in giving my clients their money's worth. They pay for a clean kill, and I like to give my victims the courtesy of knowing who sent them to their maker. It’s a little professional courtesy."
Kaelen cursed internally, 'Standards? Courtesy? This guy is a stone-cold killer, talking about ethics like he is some kind of respectable businessman.'
He clung to the faint hope that his bodyguards would hear the commotion and come charging in, guns blazing. But deep down, he knew this might be the end.
"Listen closely," the assassin said, his voice dropping to a low, menacing purr. "My name is Raymond Bishop."
Kaelen's blood ran cold. "Raymond? The Raymond? Number seven on the dark web?" He stammered, his mind spinning. "But how? How did you get here so fast? Did someone put a hit on me already?"
"Let's just say I was in the neighborhood," Raymond replied, his tone casual, almost bored. "And don't flatter yourself. Stalling won't work. You're already dead. Just accept it." He raised his gun, finger ready on the trigger.
Thelonius, seeing the inevitable, made a split-second decision. He lunged forward, throwing himself in front of Kaelen, taking the bullets meant for Kaelen.
Six shots rang out, each one tearing into Thelonius's body, splattering the pristine walls with blood. He crumpled to the floor, his lifeblood soaking into the plush carpet.
"Thelonius!" Kaelen screamed, his voice raw with grief and rage. They weren't related by blood, but their bond was deeper than any family tie. Seeing Thelonius sacrifice himself... it was both humbling and utterly heartbreaking.
And on a practical level, Thelonius was invaluable—his right-hand man, his confidante. Losing him was a blow, even though Kaelen didn't know if he could survive..
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