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Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 137
137: The Hunt BeginsBut no.Not yet.Dylan’s grip on the knife tightened for a split second before he pulled it away, stepping back. His eyes, dark and unforgiving, stayed locked on Victor.“If I find out you lied to me,” Dylan said, his voice calm but carrying a lethal edge, “I’ll come back. And I won’t be this merciful.”Victor grinned, teeth gleaming under the dim light. “I look forward to it.”Dylan didn’t give him another second. He turned on his heel, disappearing into the night.His hunt wasn’t over.It had just begun.Dylan stormed down the alley, his pulse hammering in his skull. His breaths were sharp, measured—but inside, a storm raged. His fingers shook as he yanked his phone from his pocket, the screen smudged with sweat and dirt.He didn’t hesitate. He dialed.The line rang twice before Ezra picked up.“Boss?”Dylan didn’t waste time. “Track Seraphina.”Ezra paused. “Wait—Seraphina? As in your ex?”Dylan’s jaw locked. “Yes, Ezra. Track her. Now.”Another pause, longer t
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 138
138Dylan stormed through the dark alley, the cold night air doing little to soothe the boiling fury churning inside him. The world felt wrong, like everything was shifting beneath him. Betrayal hung in the air, suffocating him. His phone, clutched tightly in his hand, seemed almost like a lifeline, a tether to whatever thread of control he still had left.His thumb swiped across the screen, and he dialed Martin’s number without hesitation. He needed answers. His pulse pounded in his ears, and his chest tightened as the phone rang. Once. Twice. A third time.Then finally, the call connected, and Dylan’s blood ran cold at the sound of Martin’s voice.“Yeah?” Martin answered, a slight edge to his voice, but nothing that hinted at the urgency in Dylan’s heart.Dylan’s grip on the phone tightened to the point of pain, his knuckles white. “You better have a damn good explanation, Martin.”There was a brief silence on the other end. Dylan could hear the faint sound of shuffling—like Martin
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 139
139Grenville’s VengeanceDylan stood motionless for a moment, staring at the darkened screen of his phone. His heart pounded against his ribs, and his breath came slow and controlled, but his thoughts were anything but calm.Martin’s words echoed in his head.“This is bigger than you think.”Damn it.Dylan was no fool. He knew Martin better than most—knew his tells, his habits, the subtle shifts in his voice when he was hiding something. And Martin was definitely hiding something. Whether it was out of fear or something else entirely, Dylan didn’t know.But he’d find out.Tucking his phone back into his pocket, he scanned the alley for any sign of movement. The city hummed around him—distant sirens wailing, the occasional flicker of headlights illuminating the wet pavement. Shadows stretched along the brick walls, making the air feel heavier, charged with tension.His instincts screamed at him.Something was wrong.If Martin hadn’t betrayed him, then someone else had. And whoever it
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 140
140: The Waiting TrapThe night air clung to Dylan like a second skin as he approached the massive estate. The towering iron gates loomed before him, their intricate designs casting eerie shadows in the dim light. Beyond them, the house stood still. Silent. Too silent.Something was wrong.No guards. No movement. Not even the flicker of a light inside. This was not the setup Dylan had anticipated. He’d been expecting a fight—gunmen, guards, or at least a few hidden cameras—but all he got was silence. A silence so thick, it felt like it was pressing down on him, suffocating him with the weight of something sinister.Ezra’s warning echoed in his mind.“She’s waiting for you, Grenville. Don’t be an idiot—it’s a trap.”Dylan had known that before Ezra even said it. Seraphina was many things—vindictive, calculating, ruthless—but careless wasn’t one of them. And leaving her home unguarded? That wasn’t just careless.It was an invitation.A taunt.He sighed, rolling his shoulders, loosening
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 141
141Dylan stood in the middle of the courtyard, a smug grin on his face, as the twenty men surrounding him slowly closed in. The air was thick with tension, the kind that promised violence. But Dylan didn’t seem phased. He straightened his cuffs, smoothed the sleeves of his shirt, and took a slow, deliberate glance at each of them.“Gentlemen,” he drawled, his voice laced with sarcasm, “are we really doing this?”One of the brutes, a towering figure with a scar running down his face, stepped forward. His fists were clenched, his knuckles white from the grip. “You’re dead, pretty boy,” he growled, his voice full of venom.Dylan didn’t flinch. He didn’t even look impressed. “Dead?” He raised an eyebrow. “I must be doing something wrong, then. Because I’m still very much alive.”The brute’s face contorted with rage, his lips curling into a snarl. “You won’t be for long.”Dylan shrugged, unfazed. “We’ll see about that, won’t we?” His tone was bored, as if he were having a conversation wit
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 142
142Two men came at him with knives, their eyes narrowing as they rushed forward, blades gleaming under the dim courtyard lights. Dylan didn’t flinch. His posture remained relaxed, almost too calm for someone in the middle of a fight. He raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at his lips.“Really? Knives?” he asked, almost bored. “Is this supposed to be intimidating?”The two attackers exchanged a quick glance, confusion flickering in their eyes. They clearly underestimated him.With the fluidity of a dancer, Dylan sidestepped the first man’s thrust, his movements smooth and precise. His foot swept low, taking the man’s feet out from under him. The man crashed to the ground, the knife clattering uselessly across the floor. Dylan stood over him, hands in his pockets, completely unfazed.“Oh, that had to hurt,” Dylan remarked, eyeing the man’s twisted leg with mock sympathy. “Should’ve stretched before this. But don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll walk it off.”The second man lunged at him, but Dy
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 143
143The remaining three attackers were now visibly shaken, their movements hesitant as they exchanged worried glances. The biggest of them all—a broad-shouldered man with a scar down his cheek—stepped forward, glaring at Dylan with a mix of hatred and disbelief.“You’re not getting out of here alive,” the scarred man growled, his voice low and threatening.Dylan tilted his head, his smirk never faltering. “I beg to differ.”Without warning, one of the men bolted, clearly hoping to escape and warn Seraphina. But Dylan was faster. His reflexes were lightning-quick, and with a sharp motion, he reached for a knife at his belt, throwing it with deadly accuracy. The blade buried itself deep into the man’s shoulder. He screamed in pain, the sound echoing through the courtyard, and collapsed to the ground.Dylan turned his attention to the remaining three men, who now looked more like cornered animals than warriors. They were hesitating, clearly unsure of what to do next. The blood in their v
Rise Of The Phoenix: Dylan’s Rebirth 144
144Once inside, the atmosphere shifted. The heavy scent of floral perfume mixed with the subtle but unmistakable sting of cold steel. Dylan, still trying to shake off the effects of the blow to his head, was dragged across the polished marble floor by two men who seemed to take particular pleasure in his disorientation. His limbs were sluggish, his mind still clouded by the intense pain that rattled through his skull. But as the world around him began to clear, he could make out the shadows of high-backed chairs, gilded furniture, and velvet curtains that blocked out the moonlight, casting an eerie darkness on the grand room.They stopped before the center of the room, and Dylan could feel the weight of someone’s gaze on him. His pulse quickened. That feeling… her. The scent of her perfume lingered in the air, too distinct, too sharp to be mistaken for anything else.“Seraphina…” Dylan muttered under his breath, his voice a mixture of irritation and disdain. His body still felt uncoo
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173 The brick came down hard. Once. Twice. The thug’s skull cracked under the force, blood spraying with each blow. His body spasmed, twitched violently, then stilled. Silence. Dylan stood over the body, chest heaving, blood smeared down his arms and soaking into his jeans. His fingers, still clenched around the brick, trembled uncontrollably. The weight of what he’d done—what he had to do—settled like a stone in his stomach. He staggered back a step. And then he heard it. A soft, broken whimper behind him. “Dylan…” His heart seized. The brick dropped from his hand with a dull, wet thud. He turned. Seraphina lay crumpled against the wall, her face bruised and streaked with blood. Her hand trembled in the air, reaching for him. Her eyes, barely open, shimmered with unshed tears. He dropped to his knees beside her. “I’m here,” he breathed, wiping at his face with a shaking hand. “I’m here, baby. I’ve got you.” Her voice was a rasp. “You’re bleeding…” Dylan looked down. Hi
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173The brick came down hard.Once.Twice.The thug’s skull cracked under the force, blood spraying with each blow. His body spasmed, twitched violently, then stilled.Silence.Dylan stood over the body, chest heaving, blood smeared down his arms and soaking into his jeans. His fingers, still clenched around the brick, trembled uncontrollably. The weight of what he’d done—what he had to do—settled like a stone in his stomach.He staggered back a step.And then he heard it.A soft, broken whimper behind him.“Dylan…”His heart seized. The brick dropped from his hand with a dull, wet thud. He turned.Seraphina lay crumpled against the wall, her face bruised and streaked with blood. Her hand trembled in the air, reaching for him. Her eyes, barely open, shimmered with unshed tears.He dropped to his knees beside her. “I’m here,” he breathed, wiping at his face with a shaking hand. “I’m here, baby. I’ve got you.”Her voice was a rasp. “You’re bleeding…”Dylan looked down. His forearms were
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Chapter 168 – The Calm Before the Storm Seraphina sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the wall but seeing nothing. Her hands trembled in her lap, betraying the storm raging inside her. No matter how hard she tried to steady them, they wouldn’t stop shaking. The weight of her confrontation with Dylan lingered in her chest like a dull ache, refusing to fade. She hadn’t meant to react so violently, but the sight of him standing there, demanding answers—demanding the truth she had tried so hard to bury—had ignited a fury she thought she had buried long ago. She had thought she was prepared for this moment—that she could handle it if Dylan ever returned. But now that he was back, now that he had looked at her with those desperate, broken eyes, she felt everything unravel. She had told herself for years that she didn’t need him. That their daughter didn’t need him. And yet… why did it still hurt? A small, warm hand touched hers. “Mommy?” a soft voice murmured. Seraphina flinche
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170 Dylan’s heart thundered in his chest as he rounded the next corner, his breath ragged from the adrenaline coursing through him. He was close, so close. But the sight before him stopped him cold. Seraphina. She was backed into a corner of the hallway, her small frame pressed up against the cold, crumbling wall. A large, imposing man stood in front of her, gripping her arm with a twisted smile on his face. His eyes gleamed with malice. He didn’t look like one of the ordinary goons. This was the leader. The one who was calling the shots. Dylan’s blood boiled as he saw Seraphina’s terrified eyes flick to him, pleading silently for help. His hand tightened around the rifle. He needed to move, but the thug’s words rang out like a shot in the dark. “One step closer, and she dies,” the man sneered, his gun aimed directly at Seraphina’s head. Dylan froze, his grip on the rifle tightening as he weighed his options. Every instinct told him to charge, to take the bastard down without th
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170Dylan’s heart thundered in his chest as he rounded the next corner, his breath ragged from the adrenaline coursing through him. He was close, so close. But the sight before him stopped him cold.Seraphina.She was backed into a corner of the hallway, her small frame pressed up against the cold, crumbling wall. A large, imposing man stood in front of her, gripping her arm with a twisted smile on his face. His eyes gleamed with malice. He didn’t look like one of the ordinary goons. This was the leader. The one who was calling the shots.Dylan’s blood boiled as he saw Seraphina’s terrified eyes flick to him, pleading silently for help. His hand tightened around the rifle. He needed to move, but the thug’s words rang out like a shot in the dark.“One step closer, and she dies,” the man sneered, his gun aimed directly at Seraphina’s head.Dylan froze, his grip on the rifle tightening as he weighed his options. Every instinct told him to charge, to take the bastard down without thinking
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Chapter 169: The First Attack Seraphina jolted awake. A deafening explosion shattered the night. The ground trembled beneath her, the walls quivering as the force of the blast rattled the windows. Glass cracked, and outside, the dark sky flickered with bursts of fire. A thick, acrid scent of smoke and burning metal invaded her senses. Then—a terrified cry. “Mommy!” Seraphina’s instincts took over. She turned, her heart pounding, and found her daughter clutching her arm, her small body trembling. Without hesitation, Seraphina grabbed her and pulled her close, shielding her from the falling debris just as another explosion rocked the compound. The blast sent tremors through the floor, and a fine layer of dust rained from the ceiling. Gunfire erupted outside, sharp and relentless. Shouts followed—orders being barked, men scrambling. The attack had begun. Seraphina’s mind raced. Who? She had made enemies over the years, but this wasn’t just some petty retaliation. This was calculat
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Chapter 168 – The Calm Before the StormSeraphina sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the wall but seeing nothing. Her hands trembled in her lap, betraying the storm raging inside her. No matter how hard she tried to steady them, they wouldn’t stop shaking. The weight of her confrontation with Dylan lingered in her chest like a dull ache, refusing to fade. She hadn’t meant to react so violently, but the sight of him standing there, demanding answers—demanding the truth she had tried so hard to bury—had ignited a fury she thought she had buried long ago.She had thought she was prepared for this moment—that she could handle it if Dylan ever returned. But now that he was back, now that he had looked at her with those desperate, broken eyes, she felt everything unravel.She had told herself for years that she didn’t need him. That their daughter didn’t need him. And yet… why did it still hurt?A small, warm hand touched hers.“Mommy?” a soft voice murmured.Seraphina flinched, snapp
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167Dylan stood there in the empty room, his breath coming in shallow, ragged gasps. His hands still gripped the armrests as if he could hold onto something—anything—to keep himself grounded. But nothing made sense anymore. He had seen the truth in Seraphina’s eyes, even though she denied it. The girl was his. He could feel it deep in his gut.But Seraphina, with all her bitterness and anger, had left him in that cage of his own making. She walked out with the child, leaving him here, imprisoned not just physically but mentally, too.He wanted to follow her. He wanted to run after her, grab her by the arm, and demand she tell him the truth. But deep down, he knew she wouldn’t. Not like this. She had already said too much—he had hurt her too deeply, and nothing he said would ever be enough to fix that.The walls felt closer now. It wasn’t the literal ones of the room, but the ones he had built around himself, the walls he had put up all those years ago. He had walked away from Seraphin
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166Dylan’s mind raced as he stood there, his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn’t shake the thought—that girl, the one Seraphina kept talking about, had to be his daughter. There was no other explanation. He had to know for sure.“Seraphina…” His voice came out hoarse, uncertain. He took a cautious step forward. “How old is she?”Seraphina’s gaze hardened, her jaw tightening at the question. “Five,” she snapped, her eyes flashing with an anger that almost made Dylan step back. “Why does it matter?”Five. Five years old. Dylan’s breath hitched, his heart doing an unsettling flip in his chest. Five years…He swallowed hard, trying to steady his thoughts. It couldn’t be a coincidence. He hadn’t seen Seraphina in five years. That was right around the time he had walked away from her—left them both. Molly was four, and this girl—this child—was five.His legs shook, but he forced himself to keep his composure. “Five… so that means…” He trailed off, eyes wide, trying to piece everything
