Chapter 99: terrorist attack

Lucca pov

Just a few minutes ago, I had been drugged, and those men who surrounded me had also consumed copious amounts of alcohol.

The atmosphere had become increasingly heated, and they started getting handsy.

Someone wanted to try something on the hammock, and the others circled around us, laughing hysterically and clapping their hands, wanting to witness the show.

The man who had posed like a victor took numerous photos and then unsteadily climbed onto the hammock.

He had just made it up when someone shoved him from the half-suspended position.

The shadow above me disappeared.

The man plummeted directly from the rooftop of the Sky Garden Restaurant into the pool below, crashing into the bottom with a tremendous splash.

The people singing and dancing nearby took about ten seconds to fully comprehend what had happened. A scream pierced the air, quickly followed by others.

Gunshots echoed from the building. Everyone trampled over the naked bodies as they fled the restaurant, shouting "terrorist attack."

The Lycans, who had just been enjoying themselves, now ran in wild disarray.

I was lifted up by someone and quickly taken away from the scene.

They placed me in a car, but the hot, stuffy air made me vomit.

Vincent used a handkerchief to wipe my mouth and then laid me flat on the seat to prevent me from stepping in my own vomit.

"Photos found at the scene," a bodyguard handed a phone through the car window.

Vincent glanced at it, "Have they been sent out?"

"No."

Vincent took the phone, "Manage the scene. Have David come to see me immediately."

I retched once more.

Vincent opened all the car windows and supported my head, preventing me from moving too much.

I looked terrible, reeking of alcohol, drenched from head to toe. My breathing was shallow, my face flushed, my hands icy cold, and I was speaking incoherently.

"It's me," Vincent said softly, "Don't be afraid... I'm here."

Vincent's POV

Lucca was still in agonizing distress.

She never drank alcohol to begin with, let alone with something extra to enhance the mood.

When I rushed into the party earlier, more than half of the attendees had seen it, but the shock and stares had failed to sober me up.

All I wanted was to find her immediately.

In a gathering like this, she was like a lamb coated in honey, waiting to be placed on the fire and roasted, to be feasted upon by countless people.

As I reached the top floor, I couldn't spot her immediately, but I saw flashes of light dancing around.

A group of people surrounded the half-suspended birdcage-like enclosure, and the entire structure seemed on the verge of collapsing under their weight.

Their raucous laughter and teasing were deafening, and I could almost instinctively sense what was happening. I made my way towards that direction.

Lifting the vines, I entered the dim yet frenzied corner.

I saw her helplessly curled up on the hammock, under the influence of alcohol and drugs, her face flushed, and she was struggling instinctively, utterly non-threatening. Someone thought the timing was right and hastily climbed onto the hammock.

"You little slut!" he taunted her.

The scene nearly mirrored that night two years ago.

—Until I reached out, shattered the mirror, and pushed the person on top of her off the balcony.

Information among Lycans spread quickly.

But the David family's response was even quicker than the news.

When I returned to the mansion, David was already waiting for me in the study. Three envelopes were on the table, sealed with crimson wax, each containing a substantial check and a bullet.

"Three casualties in total, right?" David pushed the three envelopes toward me.

"I've already contacted all the signal tower operators in the vicinity. Any messages sent tonight from there will be traced, identified, and destroyed."

This included text messages, multimedia messages, online data, and so on.

"The phone contents are still being reviewed one by one," David said, releasing his hands and interlocking his fingers. "Is there anything else we should be aware of?"

I looked at the envelopes and double-checked the names of the deceased.

"Find an appropriate organization and immediately claim responsibility for the shooting incident to the media."

"You don't need to tell me that," David replied with amusement. "The attack video has already been prepared. Many people were shouting 'terrorist attack' and then scrambling toward the safe exit... Isn't that realistic enough?"

I rubbed my temples.

The David family was highly experienced in handling such matters. From the moment of our alliance through marriage, they became our most reliable allies.

Compared to most arrogant and incompetent Lycans, the Davids were cunning and ruthless jackals.

David had been to battle, killed Somali pirates, and hunted whales and bears.

Most of the time, he kept his tail tucked, appearing humble and unnoticeable.

However, when his allies hunted, he silently followed behind, making sure to clean up every last bit of the enemy's remains.

Our family and the David family were like the substantial checks and bullets sealed in envelopes. We could both exert overwhelming force to silence others.

I saw David remain silent for a long time and had to shrug. "Come on, David, we've seen worse than this. Don't put on that expression."

He raised an eyebrow coolly.

"Of course, you don't have a son attending these debauched parties."

"I have a daughter attending debauched parties," David said calmly.

"Have you ever seen me angry? No, I'm not angry at all. As long as she's happy."

"She" referred to Mary.

"Besides, your unhappiness is mainly because of Rino," David continued, picking up a cup of red tea and drinking it in one gulp.

His rough fingers, covered in thick calluses, were completely incongruous with the delicate porcelain.

He smiled, revealing yellowed teeth, looking quite sinister.

"You're not happy because your property was touched by someone else."

"It's a combination of both," I replied without much emotional fluctuation.

David was always difficult to read emotions from beneath that overly beautiful face.

He was a born politician, capable of stirring emotions even when he had none.

David suggested, "If you're truly unhappy, I can send Rino to military school."

"He'll be begging to come back within three days," I said, not having made up my mind about what to do with Rino. "Let's discuss it before school starts."

"In that case..." David gently set down his cup and asked cautiously, "Is this matter considered settled?"

I stared at him for a while and then replied, "Yes."

David let out a small sigh and raised his hands.

"No lingering grudges?"

"None." I stood up from my seat, holding the cane in my hand, and said calmly, "No one's inheritance will change, and no one will be punished. We remain the strongest alliance."

David also rose and gave me a nod.

"I'll ensure that the follow-up work is handled properly. I hope to see you and Linda's 20th-anniversary photo in the New Year, Lord Lycan."

He smiled gently, like an ordinary father. "Of course."

The midnight tea party quickly ended. As I left, I caught a glimpse of Rino darting from the end of the corridor.

I didn't know how long he had been waiting there. Perhaps he thought he was going to be disciplined separately, but I honestly didn't have time to deal with him.

Lucca was still in critical condition at the emergency station.

She went into shock in the car, and I transferred her to the ambulance before bringing her back to the mansion.

There were no visible external injuries on her, at most a few shallow bruises that would disappear by tomorrow.

However, I couldn't shake off my concern. She looked truly awful, her eyes vacant and devoid of consciousness, which was terrifying.

In the darkest of times, there was still a fire in her eyes.

But now, it was gone.

As I exited the castle, the butler suddenly approached me, whispering, "Lord Lycan, there are reporters at the gate..."

"Why are there reporters? Hasn't David handled this?" I asked impatiently.

"No, it's not reporters here to cover tonight's incident," the butler handed me a business card, "It's an interview journalist from 'Ivory Tower'..."

I brushed the card away impatiently with my cane. "Why won't they give up? Pack doesn't welcome documentary cameras."

I hurried to the emergency station, and Lucca lay silently in a glass room. It occurred to me that I had prepared a Christmas gift.

However, on Christmas day, our interactions were far from pleasant, and the gift remained ungiven.

Lucca had never given me a gift, which in a way, was probably a good thing—she wouldn't know when my forty-first birthday was, and she wouldn't have to wish me a Merry Christmas with my family.

The gift I had prepared might have had a touch of romance to it.

However, once it was brought to light by Lucca, it would turn utterly ugly, as she herself had stated.

Our relationship was not one where we exchanged gifts.

I entered quietly, and my leather boots made not a single sound.