Obsession His Runaway Bride (Noelle and Adrian) novel Chapter 113

Chapter 113: Vigilante

Chapter 113: Vigilante

The hum of jet engines faded as Keegan descended the steps of his private plane while the black overcoat on his shoulders caught the early morning light. His boots hit the tarmac with ease. A line of men in sleek suits stood awaiting him, backs straight, hands clasped behind them. And as soon as his feet touched solid ground, they saluted.

He nodded once before he retrieved two ziploc bags from inside his coat. One contained a single strand of honey- brown hair. The other, a stubbed cigar from Bartholomew Blackwood’s table.

“You know what to do with it,” Keegan said as he handed the evidence to his trusted aide. “I want results as soon as possible.”

The man took the bags with a nod and disappeared into one of the blacked–out cars that had pulled up.

Without another word, Keegan turned and entered the building. It was an inconspicuous skyscraper masked in glass and clean lines, the corporate symbol of his empire. He went straight to his private elevator and as the doors closed around him, he slipped off his gloves and loosened his collar while his expression darkened with thought. After a few good minutes, the elevator chimed open onto the top level with marble floors, glass walls, a panoramic view of the skyline and straight ahead, the doors to the conference room.

As soon as he arrived inside, a dozen men in tailored suits stood. Some were government–affiliated. Others held private fortunes and darker histories. These were not engineers. These were men who paid for protection, power, and silence.

“You’re late,” one of them barked as Keegan entered.

“And yet, you waited.” He smirked as he took a seat and leaned back into the black leather of his chair. He elegantly crossed his leg over the other while his fingers were laced casually over his stomach.

No one answered him–not at first. Most of the gentlemen gathered around the long steel–and–glass conference table were men who ran combat defense networks. But they waited, each one uncertain of how to measure the man in front of them, this private tycoon who walked through the world with calm disdain and fire in his pocket.

It was the older man to Keegan’s left who finally broke the stillness with the scrape of a folder against the table. He spoke in a careful and measured tone as he handed Keegan what he was holding.

“We’ve made progress on the Mach–7 prototypes,” he said as his silver cufflinks caught the overhead lights.” Zurich reports stabilization during second–phase high–atmosphere trials. Far ahead of schedule.”

Keegan gave a slow nod while his eyes narrowed slightly. “And the pulse thrusters?”

“Refinements ongoing. Minor tuning only. They’ll reach full viability before the next quarter.”

That earned another nod. The conversation passed swiftly, nothing wasted, no flourish for flourish’s sake.

A younger man farther down the table leaned forward. His voice held more eagerness than the room warranted.” Madrid wants exclusivity. They’re offering to triple the licensing fees, access, rights, even port control if we-”

“No.” Keegan cut in cleanly, not looking at him. He reached for the untouched glass of water beside his seat. “We don’t bind our hands. Not to them. Not to anyone.”

The young man quickly leaned back, nodding, chastened. A faint, awkward chuckle attempted to escape another corner of the table–but it died the moment Keegan’s gaze turned in that direction.

Another man cleared his throat and adjusted his tie. His posture was more reserved, as though weighing whether

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Chapter 113: Vigilante

+25 BONUS

his concern was worthy of the air it would take to speak it. And when he finally did, his voice was softer. “There’s another matter.”

Keegan’s brows lifted slightly, just enough to signal acknowledgment.

The man inhaled. “The Grays. They’ve surfaced again.” He said the name like a curse. “They’re moving quieter this time. No message. No warning. But they’re watching and listening my every move.”

A weighted stillness passed around the room as the man paused and sighed.

“I know they’re coming for me,” he added as his voice trembled just slightly. “I don’t know when, but I can feel it. I need to know my family’s protected. I have a daughter. She’s nine. I can’t-” He broke off, swiping a hand over his mouth.

Keegan studied him a long moment while his own face gave nothing away before he reached for a black leather folder at the side of the table and opened it with ease. Inside were only two names, both handwritten. One crossed out. The other circled in red.

“You’ll have full coverage by morning,” Keegan said in a voice like iron wrapped in velvet. “Perimeter. Rotation every six hours. Rest assured, I only want what’s best for everyone.”

The man nodded, clearly relieved.

Keegan closed the folder, ready to end the meeting, when a voice sliced through the room.

“What have you been doing recently? Out playing your little heroics again?”

Keegan slowly looked up and met the eyes of his uncle, Akim.

“Relax. I’ve been doing this long before you learned how to leech.”

Akim scoffed at his nephew’s words and began pushing further. “You’re no longer a child. Start acting like the man your father was once.”

The room tensed in an instant at Akim’s words. Every breath was drawn tight, held like a trigger waiting to snap.

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“Kaк ты смеешь.” (How dare you.) Keegan suddenly spoke in a low and deadly tone trying to restrain the anger that ignited in him.

“Ты наблюдал, как разваливалась империя моего отца!” (You watched my father’s empire fall to ruin.) “Ты не сделал ни–че–го.” (You did nothing.) He added.

Akim shifted as his lips parted wanting to defend himself but the next words from Keegan stopped him cold. “И теперь ты думаешь, что имеешь здесь голос?” (And how you think you have a voice here?)

The silence that followed was dense and suffocating. Not one man moved. Not one dared to speak.

Keegan leaned in just enough to press the weight of his fury close before his voice dropped to a stern whisper.

“Ты

–

призрак в моем доме.” (You’re a ghost in my house.) He breathed. “Заговори снова и станешь настояшим.” (Speak again, and you’ll become one in truth.)

Akim froze at the threat. Whatever pride he carried with him crumbled in the stillness. And even the boldest men surrounding them lowered their eyes.

Keegan pulled back as his spine straightened. Then, without warning, he slammed the folder onto the glass table. The crack of impact shattered the tension like gunfire.

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Chapter 113: Vigilante

+25 BONUS

“TO MOя импeрpия тenеpt.” (This is my empire now.)

And with that, he stood and turned as his coat swept behind him while he walked to the door.

He didn’t pause nor did he glance back. Instead, he slammed the door shut and the echo he left behind was louder than anything he said.

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