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THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 26~
The thugs snickered, eyeing Zach with disdain."Look at this fool. Thinks he's some kind of hero," one of them sneered, cracking his knuckles."You better keep walking, passerby," another jeered. "No food for you here tonight. Just get lost."Daniella, still catching her breath, darted her eyes between them and Zach. Her heart pounded."You... you know him, don't you?" The leader chuckled darkly, his lips curling in mock amusement. "Well, too bad. He ain’t your knight in shining armor. He won’t be saving you."Zach took a measured step forward, his expression unreadable, his voice low but firm. "Let her go. Walk out of here while you still can, or you'll leave with broken limbs."Laughter erupted from the gang, filling the ruined diner."This one’s got jokes!" one of them howled. "What do you think you are? A one-man army?""You gonna fight all of us?" another smirked. "Come on, let’s see you try."One of them, a burly man with a scar across his cheek, lunged first, swinging a heavy p
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 27 ~
The air was thick with tension as Zach stared at the man kneeling before him. His hands gripped Zach’s tightly as if afraid to let go. His expression was one of deep emotion—raw and unfiltered—as if he had found something he had been searching for his entire life."Master, I know you," the man said, his voice trembling.Zach frowned, pulling his hands away. "Hey, get up." He reached out, gripping the man’s arm to help him stand, but the man remained rooted to the ground.Zach exhaled sharply, shifting his gaze to the growing number of onlookers. The murmurs around them made his skin prickle. "I don’t know you, sir," he added firmly.The man lifted his head, his eyes filled with something that made Zach uneasy—admiration, devotion, desperation."Huh?" The man’s lips trembled before he straightened his back and spoke again. "I’m McDonald Barton. And I genuinely know you, Master."Zach’s breath hitched slightly. McDonald Barton? The name wasn’t just familiar—it was legendary. A business
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~28~
Zach felt like the air had been punched out of his lungs. He stood frozen, staring at McDonald, the weight of the words sinking in like stones in his chest."Your father died 20 years ago."The words rang in his head, sharp and merciless. His fists clenched at his sides, nails digging into his palms. His father was dead.“He was brutally assassinated," McDonald added in a low voice.“Who killed him?” Zach demanded, his voice was low, edged with tension.McDonald lowered his gaze. “I don’t know.”Zach’s jaw tightened, the muscle ticking. “Was it his family?”A silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken truths. McDonald inhaled deeply. “I can’t say. But that led to you going missing. Your grandfather asked you to run.”Zach's head jerked up. A faint whisper echoed in his mind, distant but familiar."Run, Zach! Run and never look back!"His eyes shut tightly as a fragment of memory surfaced—a wrinkled hand gripping his shoulder, trembling yet firm. A voice, aged and desperate. T
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~29~
Zach’s voice was cold, commanding as he asked about his grandfather. "Where's my grandfather? I want to see him."McDonald nodded without hesitation. "Follow me, Master."Without another word, Zach strode behind McDonald, his steps measured, his presence unwavering. The two men walked out of the room and into the lit hallway. Outside, a black SUV awaited them. McDonald opened the door, and Zach slid into the leather seat, silent as the car roared to life.The drive was quiet. McDonald didn’t dare to speak unless spoken to, and Zach was lost in thought. His fingers drummed against his thigh as he stared at the passing lights.Fifteen minutes later, the SUV slowed, turning into an unmarked tunnel entrance. Zach’s sharp eyes scanned the darkness. Hidden passageways, restricted access—his family’s wealth and influence were evident in every detail.As the car emerged from the tunnel, a massive estate loomed ahead. The house was an architectural masterpiece, its walls of frosted glass and pr
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 30 ~
The SUV roared as Zach pressed harder on the accelerator, weaving through the near-empty road. His grip on the steering wheel was tight, his knuckles white with tension. The GPS flickered, showing he was only a few minutes away. He barely blinked as he followed the route, his mind focused on the objective. His heart, however, was a different story—beating steadily, yet filled with anticipation.As he neared the outskirts of the city, the landscape shifted. The towering buildings gave way to a vast, open space with a large body of water stretching into the horizon. It wasn’t the sea, but a massive lake with a stillness that almost seemed unnatural. The GPS beeped, signaling that he had arrived.Zach slowed the SUV to a stop, scanning the area. His phone’s screen confirmed the coordinates. He exhaled sharply and stepped out. The crisp, humid air carried the scent of water and damp earth. The ground beneath his boots was slightly wet, as if it had rained earlier.His gaze followed a narr
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 31 ~
Darius tilted his head, his dark eyes gleaming as he examined Zach. Then a slow smirk pulled at his lips. “Now that I’m really looking at you…” he muttered, his fingers stroking his chin. “I think I’ve seen your face before.”Zach didn’t move, his sharp gaze locked onto Darius, his body wound tight like a coil. He had no patience for whatever nonsense was about to come out of this man’s mouth.“One of my informants told me my beloved Barbara was seen with you.”Zach scoffed, rolling his shoulders. “And what do you want me to do about that?” His voice was laced with mockery. “Last I checked, Barbara was a grown woman who could do whatever she damn well pleased. Or do you think you're worth every woman, Darius?”Darius let out an ugly chuckle, the kind that sent chills down spines. “Talking about worth… are you worth anything at all?” His voice dripped with disdain. “Barbara is classy and rich. If she’s been hanging around you, it’s probably because you had some way of deceiving her wi
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 32 ~
Behind them, Doctor Kieran clutched his daughter tighter. He shook his head, his face pale with fear, a silent warning in his eyes.Darius, still catching his breath, chuckled lowly. Then he laughed harder, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "You’ve made a big mistake."Doctor Kieran took a step forward. "Zach, please," he urged. "Let’s just leave. You don’t know what you’re dealing with. Darius isn’t a man you can take down."Zach didn’t even acknowledge him. His gaze remained locked on Darius.Darius smirked, pushing himself up to his feet. "When I’m done with you, I’m coming for them next." His voice was smug, filled with dark promise.Then he shrugged off his coat, tossing it to the ground. His muscles tensed, his eyes gleaming with the thrill of the fight."You think you can take me on?" He spread his arms wide. "See this, you ordinary piece of shit."Darius stretched his right arm, and as he did, an eerie glow shimmered across the surface. Tiny sparkles flickered like d
THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW ~ 33 ~
The city lights flickered in the distance as Zach climbed into the driver’s seat, his grip on the wheel firm yet steady. The metallic scent of blood still clung to his skin, but he didn’t seem to notice. He turned the ignition, and the car roared to life.Beside him, Dr. Kieran sat stiffly, his fingers curled tightly around his daughter’s small hands. The girl clung to him, still shaken from the ordeal. Zach glanced at them through the rearview mirror, his expression unreadable.With one hand on the wheel, he pulled out his phone and dialed.“Laura.” His voice was clipped. “Meet me near West Haven. I need you to take someone under your protection.”Laura didn’t hesitate. “Alright, Sir.”Hanging up, Zach focused back on the road, weaving through the streets with precision. The silence in the car was thick, but Dr. Kieran finally broke it, his voice hesitant.“You’re… unharmed?”Zach didn’t look at him. “I’m fine.”Dr. Kieran frowned. “You just took down Darius and those brutes like the
Latest Chapter
~ 90 ~
Outside the hospital, the sun cast a dull glow over the street where a line of exotic cars gleamed under the morning light. Security guards in dark suits paced near them, keeping watch. Inside the private hospital room on the top floor, the atmosphere was tense.Yvonne lay against the white pillows, her face pale but calm. Her father, Chairman Weather, stood by her bed like a storm contained in human form, his arms crossed, his brows furrowed with anger.The doctor, adjusting his glasses, bowed slightly and said with careful respect, “Sir, Miss Yvonne is stable now. She can be discharged today.”Chairman Weather gave a sharp nod, his face hardening further. His gaze then shifted to his daughter, seething.“How could you be so careless, Yvonne?” he scolded, his voice gruff. “How could you endanger yourself like this?”Without giving her a chance to answer, he spun toward Ricky, her personal guard, his glare sharpening.“And you! You are supposed to protect her with your life! Instead,
~ 89 ~
Zach stood there, hands stuffed deep in his pockets, his heart oddly restless as he watched Barbara flee through the door like a startled bird.What just happened? he wondered, frowning, his mind scrambling to process the last minute.A soft shuffle from behind him made him turn his head slightly. Mary reached downstairs, studying him with a knowing look. She feigned a little cough, a deliberate attempt to draw his attention.Zach blinked. "Uh, Mary. You're awake.""Hmm. Good morning," she replied, her voice carrying a teasing undertone as she folded her arms."Yeah, good morning," Zach muttered, scratching his head, unable to resist glancing back at the front door, half-expecting Barbara to barge back in and take back her unintended confession."Well, Barbara is gone," Mary said, struggling to suppress the mischievous smile threatening her lips.Zach nodded absentmindedly. "Yeah... she’s gone," he murmured, still lost in thought. She said "yes". Did she really mean it? His chest tigh
~88~
The hours dragged by like slow-moving clouds as Zach cultivated, seated cross-legged on the floor, palms resting on his knees, his breathing controlled and deep. Even after the poison in his system had been washed away in mere minutes, he pressed on. His body ached for restoration; his energy reserves felt hollowed out by the night's turmoil. He could feel the faint rush of new energy coursing through his veins, splashing and crashing like a roaring tide against his inner walls.When at last he opened his eyes, the dark circles beneath them had faded slightly. He heaved a breath, steady and low, before dragging himself to the bathroom. Under the steaming water of the shower, he tilted his head back, letting the rivulets wash away the weariness clinging to him like a second skin.After drying off, he made his way barefoot toward the kitchen, gulped down a glass of cold water, then turned to leave. Passing by the first room in the hallway, he noticed the door ajar. Curiosity stirred. He
~ 87 ~
Zach's steps faltered slightly as he entered the villa, a wave of dizziness clouding his vision. He instinctively reached out to the wall but missed. His body leaned dangerously forward—then firm hands caught him."Hey, are you okay?" a concerned voice asked.He blinked away the haze and straightened, forcing a smile as he recognized Barbara’s face. "Yeah," he said, though the faint spinning in his head said otherwise. "Wasn’t expecting to see my finance manager at my house past 11 p.m."Barbara rolled her eyes, a soft smile playing on her lips. "Well, I wasn't planning on staying either. Should’ve been gone hours ago, but your sister wouldn’t let me."He frowned. "Mary wouldn’t let you?""Yeah. I just put her to sleep."He blinked in disbelief. "What?""I brought her back like I said I would. Wanted to leave, but she begged me to stay. Said she felt uncomfortable being alone in such a big house—especially not knowing you’d be back tonight.""I see," Zach murmured, stepping past her,
~86 ~
The doctor cleared his throat, trying to regain composure. "Is that actually yours?" he asked stiffly.Zach raised an eyebrow. "You want to find out?"The nurse, still skeptical, grabbed the payment machine. "If it's counterfeit, security will be happy to deliver you to the police."The doctor leaned in, clearly expecting the worst. "Treatment bills will be approximately ten thousand dollars."Zach inserted the card with a bored expression. "Make it fifty. Get them the best."He input his pin. The transaction processed instantly.Approved.The machine chimed brightly.Silence fell.The nurses blinked at him like he'd grown wings. The doctor paled, sweat beading on his forehead."I...I apologize, sir," he stammered. "Please forgive our...mistake.""You!" he barked at the nurses. "Apologize at once!""Sorry, sir!" the nurses chorused, heads bowed.Zach barely spared them a glance."Move them to the special wards. Get them prepped now." the doctor barked, snapping his fingers at the stun
~ 85 ~
His scream snapped the others out of their daze.“Get him!” The leader yelled.Two of them lunged forward at once.Zach ducked beneath the first swing, then drove his elbow hard into the man’s ribs. The impact sent him spinning to the pavement, wheezing.The second came with a short blade.Zach seized his arm mid-strike, twisted, and with one violent jerk, flipped him over his back. As the man hit the ground, Zach snapped the joint with ruthless precision. The crunch echoed.Two more were already coming.Zach didn’t hesitate. He grabbed one by the neck mid-charge, slammed him headfirst into a nearby brick wall. The man’s body slumped as blood sprayed down the wall in a thick line.The last attacker barely had time to shout before Zach spun, gripped his throat with both hands, and squeezed.The man struggled, legs kicking, fingers clawing at Zach’s arms, but it was no use. His gasps turned to silence, and then—nothing.The leader, still on the ground, stared wide-eyed. His last man—a y
~ 84 ~
“No…” Yvonne breathed, panic crawling up her spine.She watched in frozen horror as he raised his hand to strike.“Fine!” she shouted, her voice cracking. “I’ll get it!”She rushed back to the car, her hands trembling as she reached beneath the front passenger seat — the only place she could think of hiding it earlier. Her fingers curled around the small, black flash drive. Reluctantly, she walked back toward them, raising it up.“Hand it over,” the man ordered, eyes greedy.“Not until you let him go,” she barked, refusing to be intimidated.The leader smirked, then flicked his fingers lazily. The two men shoved Ricky down and released him.Yvonne’s eyes stayed on Ricky, making sure he was breathing, before she slowly stretched the flash drive toward the leader. He snatched it and inserted it into a portable reader clipped to his belt.She crossed her arms. “You and whoever sent you — Pablo — you’re both going down. Soon.”He looked up from the device, laughter dancing in his eyes. “
~ 83 ~
Around 9:30 p.m., the night air hung thick with tension as a sleek black Aston Martin DBS Superleggera sped down a narrow, almost deserted street. Its glossy surface glinted under flickering street lights as it weaved expertly through sharp bends and broken asphalt.In the backseat, a striking young woman with waves of rich red hair sat upright, her green eyes flicking anxiously to the tinted back windscreen. Her name was Yvonne Weather, Dynasty Group’s heiress. But tonight, she wasn’t dressed in power or privilege. Tonight, she was a fugitive, holding onto something the world would kill to have.“They’re still on us,” she muttered to herself, her fingers tightening around the silver flash drive in her hand. Her other hand raked through her red hair in a restless sweep.“Hurry, Ricky!” she urged sharply.Behind the wheel, Ricky, her loyal bodyguard in a leather jacket and stone-cold stare, kept his eyes fixed on the road. “I should call for backup, Miss…”“No.” Her voice sliced throug
~ 82 ~
Zach gently pushed the hospital ward door open, careful not to disturb the quiet atmosphere Inside. As he stepped in, his eyes immediately found Daniella, propped up on a pillow, her hair a bit messy but her face glowing softly under the fluorescent light. Her mother was still seated beside her. Lou looked up and smiled faintly at him.Daniella turned as she heard the door creak. “Zach,” she called, her voice still a little weak. “Is your sister gone?”Zach nodded as he approached. “Yeah. Barbara took her home since it's getting late.” He gave her a warm smile and pulled a chair closer to her bedside.Lou looked at him with genuine gratitude. “Thank you again, Zach,” she said, voice filled with emotion. “You saved my baby… I can’t even count how many times I’ve said that, but really, thank you.”Zach chuckled softly. “That’s the umpteenth time, Mrs. Lou.”Lou wiped a small tear with the back of her hand and tried to lighten the mood. “If something had happened to Daniella… I don’t kno
