Chapter 161: Indulgence Before Departure

Chapter 161: Indulgence Before Departure

Penelope snapped the specialized lockbox shut and secured the latch.

"Sam and Sebastian stay here and keep eyes on Harborview City. You're coming with me to the rest room right now to get some sleep. First thing tomorrow morning, we're flying straight to Aurelia!"

Dominic watched her take charge with military precision, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as he braced one hand against the sofa and struggled to his feet.

"You've given your orders, boss. What kind of bodyguard would I be if I didn't obey? But the rules of close protection can't be broken—I'm sleeping in the same room with you."

The moment the rest room door clicked shut, his large, burning frame pressed against her, pinning her to the door. His intense masculine scent mixed with a faint trace of blood hit her full force, making every muscle in Penelope's body tense instantly.

"Dominic, don't push your luck. If those wounds tear open again, even the best surgical team won't be able to save you. Get your ass in that bed and lie down!"

But Dominic didn't back off. His hand slid down along the curve of her waist, and in one swift motion, he lifted her into his arms.

"In times like these, Preston's assassins could show up any second. The only way I can rest easy is with you in my arms."

Penelope found herself placed gently on the soft double bed. Before she could sit up, his body pressed against hers.

The bedroom had only one dim wall lamp lit, its soft glow falling across their bodies, gradually heating the air between them.

Dominic pulled Penelope completely into his embrace from behind, his chin resting in the curve of her neck, his breathing deep and hot. The rough gauze covering his wounds brushed against Penelope's back, sending fine tremors through her.

"You maniac. Do you have any idea how bad your condition is right now? Are you seriously trying to kill yourself?"

Penelope bit out the words through clenched teeth, but her body gradually relaxed, letting his burning hands lock around her waist.

Dominic let out a low laugh, his warm lips barely grazing her earlobe, sending tingles down her spine.

"As long as you still care whether I live or die, I won't die. I plan to stick by your side for the rest of my life—how could I just close my eyes and give up now?"

Dominic's confession was blunt and unadorned, yet it easily breached the softest defenses in Penelope's heart.

Penelope carefully turned over to face him, her eyes reddening despite herself.

"Dominic, listen to me. When we go to Aurelia, no matter what happens, you have to come back alive. That's an order!"

Dominic looked at the tears shimmering in her eyes, his Adam's apple bobbing as dark fire surged uncontrollably in his gaze. He suddenly lowered his head and captured her chattering mouth in a kiss, swallowing back all her worries and commands.

This kiss wasn't violent or punishing like before. Instead, it carried a restrained patience, savoring her taste bit by bit. Penelope's hands instinctively climbed up his broad back, responding clumsily as their breathing gradually intertwined.

The intimacy in the air kept intensifying. Dominic's rough hand slipped beneath the hem of her shirt. The moment his burning palm touched her smooth skin, the electric sensation made Penelope let out an involuntary moan.

Dominic's movements froze abruptly.

He clenched his jaw hard, veins bulging at his temples as he fought desperately to suppress the instinct threatening to spiral out of control. He knew all too well what shape his body was in—if they went all the way, the toxin backlash would kill him.

"Penelope, you're literally trying to kill me. Once we've cleaned out those bastards in Aurelia, I swear I'm not letting you go."

Dominic pulled his hand back with difficulty, pressing Penelope against his chest as he gasped for air, his voice rough beyond recognition.

"Fine. I'll be waiting. As long as you can collect every blood debt we're owed, I'll stay with you for the rest of my life."

Penelope lay in his arms, but her eyes gradually turned cold.

She remembered a yellowed map she'd stumbled across years ago in Jonathan's study. It was a military deployment map of Aurelia from twenty years ago, with one coordinate circled in red pen—the handwriting messy but forceful, as if desperate not to be forgotten.

At the time, she hadn't paid it much attention, assuming it was just something Jonathan had left behind from his days in the arms trade. But thinking back now, that red circle's location was right near the coordinates Preston had given her.

She closed her eyes, burying her doubts deep inside.

The next morning, as soon as sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows into the bedroom, Penelope opened her eyes. The softness was instantly replaced by ice-cold determination.

She carefully slipped out of Dominic's embrace, quickly changing into a sleek black tactical outfit and tucking a silver pistol into the holster on her outer thigh.

When she turned around, she found Dominic had already woken up at some point. He was leaning against the headboard, watching her quietly, his eyes gleaming with bloodthirsty excitement.

"You in that outfit? Even more tempting than an evening gown. Makes me want to twist Preston's head off and use it as a soccer ball for you."

As Dominic spoke, he flipped out of bed smoothly, grabbed a black tactical vest, and pulled it on over his body, covering those vicious scars.

He pulled a military-grade adrenaline injector from the nightstand and jabbed it into his upper arm without hesitation, his mouth twitching slightly.

"Giving myself a shot before we head out—don't want to slow you down when it counts."

He tossed the empty injector into the trash.

Penelope let out a cold laugh and threw the metal lockbox containing the micro-bombs straight into his arms, her gaze sharp as an unsheathed blade.

"Cut the chatter. Take this. We're heading to the airport now. Preston's probably dying to drink my blood already."

Three hours later, an unmarked private jet lifted off from a secret runway at Harborview City International Airport, heading straight for the Aurelia border.

The atmosphere inside the cabin was suffocatingly tense.

Penelope sat in the wide aviation seat, holding a glass of red wine, her expression ice-cold.

Dominic sat across from her, holding a professional chamois cloth, meticulously wiping down the components of a heavy sniper rifle.

"The coordinates Preston gave are for an abandoned munitions factory. It's surrounded by mountains on three sides—a natural kill box."

Dominic reassembled the cleaned sniper rifle. With the crisp click of the chamber locking into place, the murderous intent in his eyes sharpened instantly.

"Since he picked such a nice burial ground for himself, we'll grant his wish. Let him and his perfect antidote dreams turn to ash together in that factory."

The moment her words fell, the private jet officially crossed the border, entering the chaotic and blood-soaked airspace of Aurelia.

The cabin's bright lights suddenly cut out completely, plunging the entire space into darkness. Immediately after, a piercing highest-level radar alarm screamed from the direction of the cockpit, red warning lights flashing frantically in the blackness.

The aircraft began to shake violently. The wine glass slipped from Penelope's hand, crimson liquid splashing across the carpet.

Dominic's eyes—sharp as a wolf's even in the darkness—narrowed dangerously. He grabbed the heavy sniper rifle and rushed to the porthole window.

"Penelope, we've got a problem. Our flight radar's been locked on. Two unidentified heavy attack helicopters are closing in fast!"