Chapter 513: Will You Shoot Your Own Daughter?

[Flashback]

"What’s rule number one?"

Ashley rolled her eyes at Scott, who was holding a pistol. He gave her a knowing look.

"Never let anyone take your gun," she answered.

"And whose gun is this?"

She studied the pistol in his hand before meeting his eyes. "Mine."

"If I get ahold of it again, I’m firing it at you," he warned before tossing the pistol to her.

Ashley caught it midair and examined it. She tilted it from side to side before pointing it at him.

TAK!

Her lips curled into a smug smirk as a pellet struck him in the chest.

Scott’s brows furrowed. He glanced down at where the pellet had hit him before looking into her eyes again.

"Rule number one: never let go of your weapon, and never let anyone take it," she reminded him with a light chuckle. "Unless... you want them to hold it for a while."

Silence fell between them before a defeated chuckle escaped Scott.

"You got me."

Ashley smirked. "I always do."

"No, you don’t."

"Yes, I do."

"Let’s get out of here. Mission complete."

"Yes, boss!"

*****

[Present Time]

Scott breathed heavily, propping himself against the car’s tires. His stomach was still bleeding, but he was far more concerned about the situation Marshal had gotten himself into.

After all, Ashley would never let anyone take her gun or hold her hostage unless she wanted them to.

It had been years since Scott had last managed to snatch her weapon from her during one of their exercises. He used to try it at random moments to ensure she never lowered her guard.

Ashley never did—not even when she wasn’t on a mission.

"I need to stop her," he breathed, attempting to crawl away from where he had fallen. "He can’t die... not yet."

Meanwhile, on the other side of the cargo containers, silence reigned.

"It’s been a while, Marshal."

Marshal’s breath hitched as his eyes widened in horror. His gaze remained fixed on Tommy, who was perched on the edge of the back seat with the vehicle’s door open.

"How...? Didn’t you die?" he stammered. "How—"

"Did you really think something as petty as what you did would be enough to kill him?" Julio snorted.

Marshal shifted his gaze toward Julio. It was only then that he noticed several familiar faces among the people surrounding them.

His face twisted as he realized he had been played by both Dominion and Tommy. It wasn’t difficult to put two and two together.

Ashley, on the other hand, blinked several times before her face brightened.

"Uncle Tom!"

Tommy smiled and nodded at her. "It seems Dominion has made quite a mess." He shifted his gaze toward Lucian. "It reminds me of our time in the past. Right, Julio?"

Julio glanced toward Dominion, while several of Tommy’s comrades chuckled in agreement.

"We used to run around like that too," one of them commented. "My knees wouldn’t be able to keep up now."

Before the conversation could lead elsewhere, Julio returned his attention to Marshal and Carmella.

"Let them go," Julio ordered, lifting his chin. "There’s no point in continuing this."

"Shut up!" Carmella screamed as panic swelled in her chest. Her frightened gaze darted around the area, and her heart sank into her stomach.

The men who had brought her there lay scattered across the ground.

"The ship," Marshal breathed. "Let’s get to the ship."

"As I said, there’s no escaping now, Marshal," Tommy remarked as he pushed himself up. He gripped his cane tightly and winced slightly as he rose to his feet. "If anything, you’re simply wasting your time."

"My people have blocked every possible route," he continued. "The ship you originally planned to take? My men are already on board, probably enjoying a few snacks while waiting for you and your men to arrive."

Tommy and his people didn’t have the same energy as Dominion. Although they had younger members among them, most of them were already past their prime. They were too old to be running around chasing cars and firing bullets in the middle of the night.

Having known Marshal and Scott for decades, Tommy knew Scott would always have a contingency plan. Who wouldn’t?

That was why, instead of chasing after Marshal, Tommy had stationed his men at every port, airport, private runway, and helipad—anywhere Marshal could use to escape the country.

Even if Dominion had failed to catch Scott, Marshal still wouldn’t have gotten far.

"Die with what little dignity you have left, Marshal," Tommy urged calmly. "It’s over."

Marshal ground his teeth and tightened his arm around Ashley’s neck.

"Give us one of your cars, or I’ll blow her head off!" he roared, still refusing to back down.

He didn’t even consider the possibility that Tommy might be bluffing. He had known the old man long enough to understand that these weren’t empty threats.

Knowing Tommy, he really had blocked every exit.

"Marshal!" Julio roared. "It’s over!"

"It’s not over!" Marshal screamed. "It’s only over when I say it is! Get out of our way!"

Growing desperate, he pointed the pistol toward the sky and fired.

BANG!

The warning shot only earned him more hostility. Tommy’s men kept their weapons trained on Marshal and Carmella, causing Raka to stiffen.

"Marshal, you’re making a mistake," Lucian said coldly. "Even if you manage to leave this place, you have nowhere left to run."

Marshal sneered at him.

"You traitor," he mocked. "How could you do this to your ally?"

"You were the one who severed the alliance, weren’t you?" Julio chimed in, his finger caressing the trigger. "Marshal, this is the end for you."

"I will not surrender." Marshal pressed the weapon harder against Ashley’s temple.

Carmella ground her teeth and pressed her pistol harder against Raka’s back. "Listen to him! I really will shoot this man!"

"Haha! Tommy, you still haven’t changed." Marshal laughed mockingly, as if he still had one final card to play. "You probably think you’ve won, don’t you? Let me tell you something, Tomas. You’re a loser—a pathetic fool. I defeated you a long time ago."

He adjusted the pistol against Ashley’s temple.

"Unless you shoot both of us, I won’t let her go." Marshal’s eyes glinted as he kept his attention fixed on Tommy. "You’re a reasonable man, Tommy. You know me. If you want to kill me, you’ll have to kill her too."

His face twisted into a vicious smirk. "Will you shoot... your own daughter?"