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Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 123
123Olivia’s jaw clenched as Jane suddenly let out a shaky sob, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. The entire restaurant seemed to hold its breath as Jane’s voice quivered, a perfect mixture of heartbreak and outrage.“I can’t believe this,” Jane whispered, her fingers brushing over her reddened cheek as if the pain was unbearable. “I gave everything to this man. I clothed him, I fed him, I built him up when he was nothing! And now—now he has his girlfriend slap me?” Her voice cracked dramatically, and a gasp rippled through the crowd.A woman at a nearby table placed a hand over her chest, shaking her head in dismay. “Oh my God. He cheated on her?”Another patron, a man in a crisp business suit, turned toward his companion, his voice dripping with disdain. “Absolutely despicable. The woman devoted her life to him, and this is how he repays her?”Dylan’s brows furrowed. “What the hell are you talking about, Jane?” he demanded, his voice edged with frustration. “You and I both know
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 124
Just as the murmurs reached a fever pitch, the restaurant manager, a middle-aged man with graying hair and a crisp suit, stormed toward their table. Bobby’s eyes widened the moment he spotted him, and a sly grin spread across his face.“Tony!” Bobby called out, waving him over.Tony’s expression softened as he recognized Bobby, a friendly smile pulling at the corners of his lips. “Bobby! I didn’t expect to see you here,” he said warmly, clasping Bobby’s shoulder in a brief, friendly greeting.“Yeah, well, just came to enjoy a nice dinner,” Bobby replied, his voice dripping with feigned casualness. “But looks like we have a bit of a situation here, don’t we?”Tony’s gaze flickered around the room, taking in the tense atmosphere, the eyes of every patron glued to the unfolding drama. He raised an eyebrow. “What’s going on? It’s a bit… lively in here.”Bobby didn’t hesitate, stepping forward with an exaggerated sigh. “Tony, you won’t believe this. These two,” he said, pointing at Dylan a
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125Olivia let out a humorless laugh, shaking her head as she crossed her arms. “This is ridiculous. You’re just going to take his word for it? Without even asking us what happened?”Tony scoffed. “I don’t need to. I trust Bobby.”Dylan’s jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. “That’s convenient,” he muttered. “You’re siding with the guy whose father practically owns this place. Real fair, Tony.”Bobby smirked, stepping forward with an air of triumph. “Oh, come on, Dylan. It’s not my fault you’re out of your league here. Maybe next time, pick a place that actually welcomes people like you.”Olivia’s eyes blazed with fury. “People like us?” she repeated, incredulous. “What does that even mean?”Bobby feigned innocence, shrugging dramatically. “Oh, you know. People who don’t belong in places like this. People who can’t even afford a decent meal without scrounging for change.”A murmur ran through the watching crowd, and Olivia could feel the weight of their judgment pressing d
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126Bobby let out a bark of laughter, nudging Jane as if Dylan’s words were the funniest thing he’d ever heard. “Oh, this is rich. You really expect us to believe you have that kind of power?”Tony scoffed, arms still crossed over his chest. “Yeah, sure, Dylan. Let me guess—you’ve got a billionaire uncle who just happens to own half the city?”Dylan didn’t respond. He simply slipped his phone back into his pocket and leaned against the nearest chair, unbothered. Olivia, who had been seething moments ago, now studied him with cautious curiosity.The room filled with murmurs, the onlookers exchanging amused glances.“Man, this guy is delusional,” one patron muttered.Another chuckled. “Probably just bluffing to save face.”Even Jane, who had been playing the victim flawlessly a moment ago, relaxed, letting out a small, breathy laugh. “Dylan, sweetie, it’s okay to admit you lost. No need to embarrass yourself further.” She gave him a condescending smile, as if pitying his supposed desper
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127Silence.Then—Bobby stiffened, his face burning with humiliation. “You—You can’t do that! My father—”“I don’t care,” Mr. Langford stated coldly. “You’re done here.”Gasps rippled through the crowd.“Did he just—?”“He actually kicked Bobby out?”“But Bobby’s dad practically owns half the city!”“I thought Dylan was the liar. What’s going on?”Bobby’s face turned red with disbelief. “You can’t do that!”Mr. Langford’s gaze was unyielding. “I can, and I just did. You’re banned. If I see you in here again, I’ll have you dragged out.”The restaurant buzzed with murmurs.Jane clung to Bobby’s arm, desperation creeping into her voice. “Wait, Mr. Langford, please! I—I didn’t know—”He didn’t even spare her a glance. “You can leave with him. I don’t tolerate liars.”Jane’s face twisted in horror as the whispers grew louder.“She was so smug a minute ago…”“Guess her crocodile tears didn’t work this time.”“I’d be mortified.”Bobby turned to Jane, expecting her to protest, but her hand s
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 128
128The air outside the restaurant was thick with tension, but Dylan barely seemed to notice. He and Olivia strolled down the pavement, the streetlights casting a warm glow on the sidewalk.Olivia glanced over her shoulder, her brows slightly furrowed as she took in Bobby and Jane’s expressions—shock, confusion, maybe even fear.“You really have a way of making enemies,” she murmured, though this time, her tone held something new. Uncertainty. Because she had thought she knew Dylan—rich, sure, but not this. Not the kind of power that left people like Bobby and Jane speechless.Dylan smirked. “It’s a gift.”Behind them, Bobby finally seemed to snap out of his stunned silence. His face was still burning with humiliation, but now, beneath the rage, there was something else—doubt.“You think this is over?” he hissed, but his voice wasn’t as strong as before.Dylan didn’t even bother turning around. “You keep saying that, Bobby, but the funny thing is… it kinda feels over.”Olivia let out
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129Olivia walked beside Dylan in silence, her mind still replaying the scene outside the restaurant. She had known Dylan for a while, but tonight had peeled back a layer she hadn’t expected. He wasn’t just some rich guy with charm and a sharp tongue—he was something else entirely.She stole a glance at him. He looked… relaxed. As if what had just happened was nothing more than an amusing inconvenience.“You’re enjoying this,” she muttered, half in disbelief.Dylan smirked. “Of course I am.” He slipped his hands into his pockets, looking utterly at ease. “Nothing’s more entertaining than watching someone like Bobby realize he’s not as important as he thinks.”Olivia shook her head, still processing. “Langford,” she murmured. “As in that Langford?”Dylan didn’t confirm nor deny it, but the way his lips twitched in amusement was answer enough.“Dylan.” Olivia stopped walking, turning fully to face him. “Who are you?”For a moment, he didn’t answer. Just studied her, as if debating how m
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 130
130Dylan watched Olivia as she hesitated at her mansion’s entrance. The dim glow of the streetlights softened her features, but he could still see the concern lingering in her eyes.“Thanks again,” she said quietly. “For everything. For the dinner… and for saving my sister’s life.”Dylan waved a dismissive hand, his usual smirk in place. “Don’t mention it.”She studied him for a second, as if trying to figure him out, but eventually just nodded. “Good night, Dylan.”“Night, Olivia,” he replied before stepping back into his car.As soon as he drove off, his easygoing expression vanished. His mind was already shifting to something else, something darker. There was something about the way Bobby had reacted tonight that didn’t sit right with him. That level of anger didn’t just disappear—it festered. And festering anger usually led to stupid decisions.Dylan reached his villa in less than twenty minutes, but the moment he turned into his driveway, a deep sense of unease settled in his gu
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192A man barked orders from the catwalk above, his voice crackling through a cheap loudspeaker.“Give it up, Dylan!” the voice jeered. “You’re too late! You’ll never find her!”Dylan stiffened, muscles tensing. He knew that voice—Roth. One of Dragonia’s former enforcers. Brutal, loyal to the highest bidder. It figured he would be working for whoever had taken Molly.He swept his eyes over the warehouse—metal crates, old machinery, dark pools of oil soaking the concrete. It was too open. Too exposed.“Figures it’d be Roth,” Lilith muttered from her cover behind a stack of barrels, exchanging fire with a guard perched behind a forklift. She caught Dylan’s eye and gave a grim nod. “You got a plan?”“Yeah.” Dylan ducked as a bullet whined past. “Smoke.”Lilith didn’t hesitate. She ripped a small canister from inside her jacket, yanked the pin with her teeth, and lobbed it toward the center of the warehouse.The canister exploded with a loud pop, flooding the air with a choking cloud of w
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191They moved quickly, Dylan checking the old safe hidden beneath the desk. He pulled out two pistols, tossing one to Lilith without hesitation. She caught it easily, checking the magazine like a pro.“Not your first gunfight?” Dylan asked, raising an eyebrow.Lilith shrugged. “You pick up a few things living in the gutter.”Dylan loaded his weapon, tucking it under his jacket. His mind was cold and sharp now, all hesitation burned away. If Molly was in that warehouse, he was bringing her home. No matter the cost.They slipped out into the night, the rain still pounding the city in relentless sheets. Dylan led the way through the maze of alleys, sticking to the shadows. Lilith stayed close, matching his movements with surprising fluidity.When they reached Dylan’s car—a battered black Charger parked in a shadowed corner—he slid behind the wheel, and Lilith jumped into the passenger seat.As they drove, Lilith broke the silence. “You think it’s a trap?”“Of course it’s a trap,” Dylan
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190Lilith shifted uneasily by the door, her fingers tapping against the cracked frame. The tension in the room was thick enough to choke on. She watched Dylan move to the old desk, rifling through a drawer until he pulled out a battered phone.“So, uh…” Lilith began, her voice tentative, “have you thought about calling the police? I mean, they’re supposed to deal with kidnappings, right?”Dylan froze for a moment before slowly straightening up. His eyes locked onto hers, hard and cold. “No.”Lilith blinked. “No?”He shook his head once, firm. “Bringing the police into this would be the worst move I could make. If they even catch a whiff of Molly, whoever took her will know we’re onto them. She’ll disappear into a deeper hole—or worse.”“But—” Lilith started to argue, then stopped when she saw the raw fear in his expression, the kind that didn’t come from distrust of law enforcement, but from experience. Dylan wasn’t guessing. He knew.“You have to trust me,” Dylan said quietly. “This
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189The rain hadn’t let up as they made their way through the back alleys, the city’s dim glow flickering against the wet pavement. Dylan kept his senses sharp, eyes scanning every corner, every shadow. They couldn’t afford to relax—not yet. The ambush had been too close, and the mention of the Black Mantle made things even more complicated.Lilith stayed close, her footsteps light despite the wet ground. She was quiet, her usual sarcasm absent for the moment. They didn’t stop until they reached a rusted metal door, tucked away behind a decaying warehouse. Dylan knocked twice, the sound sharp against the silence, and the door creaked open.“Mr. Nelson’s place,” he muttered, pulling Lilith inside.The inside of the building was dim, lit only by the faint hum of old fluorescents. It smelled like oil and dust. Dylan wasted no time, heading straight for a back room. Lilith followed, her curiosity piqued despite herself.Once inside, Dylan locked the door and leaned against the cracked wal
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188They barely made it three steps toward the Dustline when the first shot cracked through the rain.Dylan yanked Lilith down behind a stack of broken crates just as a plasma bolt scorched the air where his head had been. Splinters and steam exploded around them.“Ambush!” Lilith shouted, drawing her sidearm.“No kidding!” Dylan snapped back, already scanning for shooters.Three figures in dark tactical gear dropped from the rooftops, their movements too precise to be street thugs. They were Reavers—or trained like them. Their visors glowed a sickly green, marking targets even through the downpour.“They’re not here to ask questions,” Lilith said grimly.“No,” Dylan agreed, a grim set to his jaw. “They’re here to bag me.”He pushed her toward a side alley. “Split up. I’ll draw them off—”“Not a chance,” she hissed, but he was already moving, a blur through the rain.The first attacker lunged, swinging a stun baton crackling with electricity. Dylan sidestepped cleanly, grabbing the ma
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187Dylan didn’t answer—not right away.He tore around the corner with Lilith on his heels, boots slapping against the wet stone, the scent of ozone still trailing after them like a storm cloud. His jaw was clenched tight, eyes hard with something between fear and fury.“Dylan!” Lilith shouted again, grabbing his shoulder and yanking him to a stop behind a rusted iron gate. Rainwater dripped from her coat. “Talk to me. Who the hell was that?!”He exhaled slowly, chest rising and falling. His eyes darted past her, scanning the alley. “His name’s Veyr.”Lilith’s brow furrowed. “Veyr? That supposed to ring a bell?”“It should.” He wiped blood from a shallow cut across his cheek with the back of his wrist. “He’s not just anyone. He’s a Reaver.”Her eyes widened slightly. “Wait. Reavers? As in those Reavers? You mean those ghost-story assassins we used to joke about during rook rotations?”He nodded grimly. “They were never just stories. I saw one of them tear through an entire outpost onc
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186The distant wail of sirens echoed across the cobbled streets, bouncing between ancient stone buildings like the cry of a hunting pack. The scent of smoke and gunpowder lingered in the air—sharp, metallic, and wrong.Lilith’s lips curled into a smirk as she slid a fresh blade into her wrist sheath. “Well, that’s our cue. Watch is on the way. Time to vanish?”Dylan didn’t answer.He stood completely still, his brow furrowed, eyes locked on the shadowed rooftop where the glint had first appeared—too slow to be a scope, too deliberate to be a mistake. His hand hovered near the grip of his sidearm.“Dylan?” Lilith prompted, stepping closer.He held up one hand, silencing her.“There was a sixth,” he said, voice low and hard.Lilith blinked. “What?”“There was a sixth,” he repeated, scanning the rooftops. “The whistle. It was a signal. Five came at us—but six heartbeats were watching.”“Are you sure?” she asked, suddenly serious.He nodded once. “Positive. I felt it. The sixth didn’t en
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185Outside the Tavern — Moments LaterThe night air hit like a wave—cool, quiet, and heavy with everything that just happened. The door creaked shut behind them, muffling the tavern’s buzz, but it didn’t stop the whispers from bleeding through the cracks. Dylan and Lilith stood under the flickering lantern light, its soft hum the only sound for a heartbeat.Lilith adjusted the collar of her coat, eyes gleaming. “You do realize half the underworld just peed their pants in there, right?”Dylan didn’t answer. She tilted her head, watching him with mild amusement. “So, what now? You just embarrassed the most feared crime boss in the city. He might’ve backed down tonight, but Goliath’s pride? That doesn’t bleed—it explodes.” Just then, a whistle sliced through the silence.Dylan’s head turned slightly, just enough to catch the glint of movement from the rooftop across the street. He didn’t blink. Didn’t flinch.Lilith’s smile faded. “Snipers.”The hiss of a bolt echoed—thunk!—as it embe
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Ron coughed, blood spattering the wooden floor as Dylan Grenville pressed him hard against the tavern wall. His suit was torn, face swollen from the hits, and the cold steel of Dylan’s gaze was more suffocating than the grip around his collar.“You’re making a mistake,” Ron rasped, spitting blood to the side. “You think I’m the end of the line? You’ve just made an enemy you can’t handle. My boss—he’s Goliath. You hear me? Goliath. The man who eats corpses for breakfast.”That name echoed like a thunderclap.Chairs scraped.A drunk at the bar nearly dropped his mug. “Did… did he say Goliath?”A bald man near the hearth froze mid-laugh. “No damn way. You mean that Goliath?”From the shadows, someone muttered, “The one who blew up an entire casino over a poker insult?”The barmaid behind the counter dropped a glass, shards scattering. “I heard he skinned a man just for calling him ‘big guy.’”A grizzled patron in a tattered coat leaned over his shot. “Burned down three blocks just ‘cause
