Is this destiny?

~ Los Angeles, the Cliffside Villa ~

In the planning room…

"We have intruders!"

Michael's statement made everything still. Only his voice was heard: "Seven of them are approaching us from the forest on the left side of the main gate…"

"Who is patrolling nearby?" JoAnna asked when she approached the screen that showed live feed from one of the cameras on the property.

"Corey and Merve are in the area, with Bella." Oni responded.

"Why are they there?" Sophia asked in panic. Two youngsters with a dog. Merve is good in self-defense, but she is not cleared for duty. And what will they do if something happens to Corey? Do they have any weapons?

"Most of the regulars are out on missions, and they volunteered." Michael explained.

Sophia rubbed her forehead with more force than necessary.

"Tell them to hide…" Sophia instructed. "We need someone else there as soon…"

"Six intruders at the Beach House!" Michael interrupted Sophia. "I will tell Hong. He has with him four generals and Atlas. They can handle them."

"Who can handle the seven intruders here?" JoAnna asked.

Zack stood up. "I will go with Kitty and Vega. Dezy and Bas are on standby, I will take them with me. Notify Corey and Merve that I'm on the way."

Sophia wanted to stop him, but then she realized that Kitty and Vega are used to going on missions, and they listen to Zack. Well, at this point, they don't have many options.

"Ah, why did Aiden leave?" JoAnna grumbled and walked to the room next door. If Zack leaves without Masika, she will flip.

…

Outside…

"Dezy, Bas… we are on!" Zack called and whistled a call for Kitty and Vega while tucking a pistol in the back of his belt.

"Wait!" Masika screamed while dashing after Zack. "I'm coming with you."

"The intruders are coming through the forest. Not a good environment for sniping."

"I am much more than a sniper." Masika said. "Don't you dare to think of going there without me."

Zack had no intention to argue because he knows that unless he knocks her out, she is coming. And he does not want to knock her out. "Let's go… I will brief you on our way there…"

…

At the Beach House…

Hong ended the call with Michael, and he called Daniel, Tejan, Xiaohui, and Rosa. "Kids, we have guests. Let's go and welcome them."

Hong was about to whistle to call Atlas, but the big black panther was by his side already, looking toward the forest and wagging his tail slowly.

Hong patted Atlas' neck. "You already know we have intruders. Maybe you should lead the way…"

…

At the Cliffside Villa…

Corey and Merve crouched in dense foliage they found nearby, and both were holding onto Bella's collar.

Bella started growling.

"Shhh…" Merve shushed Bella while patting her head. "We need to wait for backup…"

"Are you scared?" Corey asked in a whisper.

"A little bit." Merve admitted. "You?"

"I don't want to die. Not now that I found you."

Merve smiled. "Do you need to be mushy in this situation?"

"This is not mushy…" Corey protested, but he was whispering so it sounded a bit whiny. "I am happy with you. And I want to enjoy it longer. Much longer."

"You are happy that you are sleeping with me."

Corey grinned. "That too… Are you saying that you don't like it?"

Merve blushed and lowered her gaze.

Corey put his hand behind Merve's neck and pulled her closer. The two of them kissed and just as Corey deepened the kiss, Bella started licking their faces.

"Eww…" Merve grimaced while wiping the drool from her cheek.

Corey shook from suppressing his laughter. Merve's face was comical.

"If not for you here, I would be scared." Corey said.

"If not for me here, you would not be in this situation." Merve stated a fact.

"I would go anywhere, as long as it's by your side."

Merve smiled. "You are mushy again."

"And you like it."

"I do." Merve said with a goofy smile on her face.

"How can you flirt?" Masika was right behind Merve and Corey, and she startled them. "Don't you see that the bad guys are only a few meters away? Be aware of your situation."

"Take these…" Masika gave one pistol to Merve and one to Corey. "You know how to use them, right?"

Merve frowned. "I'm not very good."

"Point at the bad guy and pull the trigger." Masika said. "If one of the good guys is nearby and you fear that your aim is off, shoot above heads, that will startle them. This is the safety…"

"Ready?" Zack asked.

"The two of you stay low." Masika told Merve and Corey. "Guns are for your protection. This is not training. The intruders are armed. Let us handle the fighting…"

Zack whistled shortly, and Vega, Kitty, and Bella dashed at the intruders.

Masika, Zack, Dezy, and Bas were right behind them.

It took about ten seconds and four gunshots, and it was quiet. Only the low growl of three animals was heard.

"We got all six of them." Dezy said.

Zack paused. "Six? There should be seven."

As soon as Zack finished his statement, they heard a gunshot from the side.

Masika realized that it's from the direction where Corey and Merve are, and Masika dashed that way.

Masika paused at the sight of Corey hugging Merve with a dead guy next to them. Corey was holding onto a gun and his whole body was stiff.

"You got him in the forehead. Good aim…" Masika said while prying the pistol from Corey's grip.

"It was my first time to shoot." Corey said in a whisper.

"And you did good." Zack said while patting Corey's shoulder. "You protected Merve. We got all seven of them. Take their weapons and let's check their phones and wallets to see who they are. Maybe we find out who sent them."

"At least two of them are alive." Masika said. "We should take them with us and interrogate them."

They confirmed that out of seven intruders four are dead and three are wounded. They ended up dragging the three survivors to the Cliffside Villa. The dead ones will need to wait.

Corey watched how Zack, Masika, Dezy, and Bas are calm and collected. He and Merve are dragging an unconscious guy by his ankles, and Corey can feel that he is still shaky. Merve's expression is unreadable.

"Are you OK?" Corey asked Merve.

"Yeah. Thank you for protecting me. He was behind me and if not for you, he would kill me."

Corey focused his gaze on the ground in front of him and it took a few steps for Merve's words to sink in. She is right. Corey saw the man pause when he spotted them, and he was raising his hand which was holding onto a gun. If Corey hesitated for a second, Merve would probably be shoot, she was between Corey and him.

Corey smiled. He did well. He protected her. Charlie will be proud when he finds out.

---

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