An Understated Dominance by Marina Vittori

A dull sound echoed through the air.

Jovian’s body shuddered. Blood streamed from his eyes, ears, and nose as he crumpled to the ground, lifeless. He was dead. After fighting to his last breath, he had chosen the only honorable way out.

The scene had left even the assassins, who were no strangers to bloodshed, momentarily stunned. Taking one’s own life so decisively wasn’t something just anyone could do. Even the lowest of creatures had the instinct to cling to life, let alone a human being.

“This guy… He’s ruthless,” Ronan muttered, and his face darkened.

Warrick had given strict orders to capture Jovian alive, but now he was dead.

Now, Ronan had no way to deliver. If he had known it would come to this, he would have personally intervened to kill Jovian first.

“What now, boss?” one of the assassins asked.

“Clean up the scene,” Ronan ordered. “I’ll take the body back myself.” With that, he hoisted Jovian’s body onto his shoulder, tossed it into the vehicle, and drove off.

Warrick and Huxley were enjoying a casual tea session inside a luxurious private estate while waiting for the mission’s update.

“Mr. Prescott, it’s been a while, and there’s still no word from your men. Don’t tell me that they’ve failed,” Huxley inquired.

“Impossible,” Warrick replied firmly. “My assassins are the best of the best. There’s even a grandmaster martial artist among them. Taking down two nobodies should’ve been effortless.”

He rarely deployed these elite assassins. But when he did, the mission was always a guaranteed success. There had never been an exception.

so, then I won’t worry.” Huxley

it would’ve spelled trouble

men. Jovian will be captured. The real question is, can you erase all traces of this?”

Nothing from tonight will ever be leaked. By sunrise, Jovian will have vanished without a trace,”

You clean up the mess. We

a successful partnership.” Huxley raised his teacup in a

the two men settled back into their

“Enter,” Warrick called.

open. Ronan stepped in first, followed by two subordinates carrying a stretcher. A body lay on it, draped in

Did you bring him in?” Warrick asked

we could bring back is his body,”

useless fools! I specifically ordered you to bring him in alive. And now

to his knees. ” I’ve failed my

fool! I should kill you where you stand.”

could strike, Huxley raised a hand to stop him. “Calm down, Mr. Prescott. No one expected Jovian to kill himself. What’s done is done. Punishing them won’t change anything. We should focus

sword back into its sheath. “Fine. You live. But

your mercy, Sir Prescott,” Ronan

meant two weeks of being bedridden, but at least he’d keep