The words left everyone at the table stunned, their eyes fixed on Kayden with a mixture of shock and disbelief.
The Rocco family was no ordinary lineage, and they were well aware of the Hellblazer organization and its legendary reputation. This was a group that had existed for over two millennia, guarding an entire nation in its prime. Its mystique far surpassed even that of the Rocco family’s own patriarch.
And yet, Kayden claimed he was going to settle accounts with them. Had they misheard him? Or had Kayden misspoken?
The atmosphere at the table turned tense and strange. Kayden quickly noticed the puzzled and uneasy expressions on everyone’s faces.
He spoke softly, “It’s fine. This is my personal matter. You don’t need to worry-it won’t bring any trouble to the Rocco family. Mr. Rocco, for the sake of your family, perhaps it’s better if we keep our distance.”
“Hey!” Jaxon Rocco grabbed Kayden’s arm firmly, then burst into hearty laughter. “Mr. Scott, what are you saying? What kind of family do you think we are? Do you think I’d be scared of the likes of Hellblazer, that shadowy organization? I’m willing to stand with you through life and death, come hell or high water!”
Jaxon Rocco’s eyes burned with determination, leaving no room for doubt. He wasn’t joking.
He continued, his tone sharp and unwavering, “What I admire about you is your defiance, your unyielding spirit. If you didn’t have that, I wouldn’t even consider you worthy of being my brother. Your courage has completely won me over. If you were a bit older, I’d even follow you!”
As he spoke, Jaxon poured a glass of wine, sliding it over to Kayden.
Raising his voice, he declared, “Drink this, and from now on, you’re my brother! If you ever need anything, just say the word. No matter where you are on this planet, my family will answer your call.”
With that, Jaxon downed his own glass in one go, his boldness radiating through his actions.
Faced with Jaxon’s sincerity, Kayden didn’t hesitate. He lifted his glass and drank it all in one gulp.
“Mr. Rocco, you truly are a man of boldness and generosity. To not drink this would be an insult to you.”
Jaxon pointed at Kayden and laughed. “What ‘Mr. Rocco’? We’re brothers now!”
Kayden paused for a moment, then nodded slightly. “Alright, Jaxon.”
“Ha! Hahaha!” Jaxon Rocco roared with laughter, his joy filling the room.
Turning to his family, he said, “Listen up, everyone! From now on, Mr. Scott is my brother. If I’m not around and he gives you an order, you’ll treat his words as if they were mine. Understood?”
This was Jaxon Rocco-a man who rarely played by the rules.
After an evening of feasting and camaraderie, Kayden bid farewell to the Rocco family.
Mrs. Rocco accompanied him to the door, only turning back once he had left. She couldn’t hide her growing fascination with Kayden. This man had shown her too many miracles in just one day.
At first, when Kayden claimed he had no money and confronted the family head, she had doubted him. Who could have imagined that in such a short time, he would conquer the patriarch’s heart? Such charisma-what man wouldn’t be drawn to it?
If there was anyone to blame, it was Kayden for being too exceptional.
After Kayden had gone, a servant approached Jaxon Rocco and whispered, “Sir, Mrs. Elowen Rocco is missing.”
Mrs. Elowen Rocco was what the family called Elowen Trevino.
Jaxon’s gaze turned ice-cold as he locked eyes with the servant. “When did this happen?”
The servant replied, “It seems she left this afternoon when you went up the mountain.”
Understanding dawned on Jaxon immediately. He took a sip of wine, then slammed the glass onto the table, shattering it into pieces.
His face twisted with fury, the muscles in his cheeks twitching violently.
“Trevino family!” Jaxon growled through clenched teeth. “Do they really think they can do whatever they please? They even dared to desecrate the resting place of my ancestors. I’ll make sure they pay for this!”
With a roar, he barked, “Find Elowen! Bring that wretch back to me-I don’t care if it’s her corpse.”
The servant nodded and silently left.
Jaxon knew exactly what Elowen Trevino had done. The ancestral graves of the Rocco family had been defiled, and it was undoubtedly her doing. She harbored resentment after being excluded from managing the family, and she had retaliated in secret.
When Kayden uncovered her actions, she panicked and fled. Her guilt was written all over her escape.
She had desecrated the family’s graves, caused the deaths of so many family members, and schemed against them for years. This was a deeply rooted hatred that Jaxon Rocco wouldn’t let go unpunished. He would find Elowen Trevino, grind her bones to dust, and then send her remains to the Trevino family.
—
As Kayden left the Rocco family, he walked alongside Wood Faulkner.
Neither of them spoke on their way back to the hotel; they simply walked in silence. Instead of taking a cab, they chose to stretch their legs and stroll after the meal. It felt almost like a couple taking a walk after dinner.
For Wood Faulkner, this was a rare opportunity.
She watched Kayden’s tall figure walking ahead of her and unconsciously quickened her pace. She wanted her shadow to overlap with his, making it seem as though they were walking shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand.
But when she saw their shadows merge, her face fell.
Her thoughts grew heavy, her mind clouded with the memory of Mrs. Rocco’s attitude toward Kayden earlier that day.
Though she was troubled, she dared not say a word.
Kayden was her superior-how could she question her boss’s actions?
To walk beside a man like Kayden was already a blessing. What more could she ask for?
Wood Faulkner, she told herself, what are you thinking? This man is your savior, your hero. Being by his side should be enough. You have no right to be jealous of other women.
At that moment, Kayden took out the box containing the Dragon Blood and examined it closely.
“This Dragon Blood seems to have a sort of spiritual energy,” he remarked.
Wood Faulkner didn’t respond, instead keeping her head down and continuing to walk. Kayden had stopped, but she didn’t notice and kept going until her head bumped into his back.
Startled, Wood Faulkner let out a small cry and stepped back. She looked up at Kayden, her face filled with panic. “I’m sorry, Commander! I wasn’t paying attention. Did you say something to me?”
Kayden looked at her with curiosity. “What’s wrong? Is something on your mind?”
Lowering her head, Wood Faulkner replied softly, “No, nothing at all. What could I possibly have on my mind?”
“Come on, just say it! You’re terrible at lying. Besides being my subordinate, I’d like to think of you as my friend,” Kayden said generously.
Wood Faulkner glanced at him cautiously, then murmured, “I don’t dare.”
Kayden’s voice grew firmer, almost commanding. “Tell me-what were you thinking just now?”
It was as if he were saying, You think I can’t get the truth out of you?