Wilson said, “OK.”


    Suddenly, the Wolfshade Syndicate’s outer members broke ranks and scattered in all directions. Before Tyree could even react, gunfire erupted, and his right-hand man crumpled to the ground beside him. Chaos erupted instantly.


    Seizing the chaos, Owen snatched the gun from Caleb’s hand and shielded him as they made their escape. ck Rose provided cover as the Arressto trio brought up the rear.


    Tyree roared, “Where the hell are you going?”


    “Tyree.” Russell’s icy voice cut through the air behind him.


    Tyree had barely turned when a bullet mmed right between his eyes. His eyes widened in shock as he stiffened and copsed, dying utterly bewildered.


    As Tyree copsed, a storm of questions shed through his mind. ‘Why did the other members betray us? Why did the Blood Association pull out? And why the hell did the Solemnity Guild show up with so many people?’


    With Tyree dead, his remaining men were wiped out in seconds.


    Wade strode toward ck Rose, his gun leveled directly at her forehead. “What’s the Blood Association trying to pull? nning to move against the Solemnity Guild?”


    ck Rose hastily denied, shaking her head. “I’m not ck Rose. Her whole crew went over the cliff. They’re all dead.


    “But I overheard them saying the Blood Association’s main force is going to ambush the Solemnity Guild tonight. You guys better watch your backs.”


    Wade immediately pressed his earpiece and reported to Emmett, then sneered, “We’ve met before. Cut the act.”


    His finger tightened on the trigger. “No survivors from the Blood Association.”


    ck Rose darted behind Aria, pleading, “I’m not the ck Rose, I swear. Aria sent me here to protect her brother, Caleb!”


    Caleb approached his sister at a measured pace and quietly exined the situation.


    Aria let out a sigh of relief when she saw Caleb was fine, then turned to Dorian and said, “You guys are really something. You took out the whole Blood Association by yourselves.”


    Dorian shrugged. “Your brother did the poisoning, we just finished them off. He said that powder was your form. So, by extension, the kills are on you.”


    Aria paused, then said sincerely, “Thanks for protecting Caleb.”


    At some point, Owen had moved to Aria’s side and gave her fingers a gentle, reassuring squeeze. Aria took his hand.


    Wade shot a distrustful nce at ck Rose, hiding behind Aria. “Back to the Solemnity Guild.”


    Knowing all the Blood Association’s routes, ck Rose led the team to outnk them from behind. The Blood Association’s n backfired, suffering devastating losses.


    Emmett expressed his gratitude, “Thanks to your efforts, we’ve kept casualties to a minimum.”


    Wilson grinned and said, “We owe you one. After all, the Solemnity Guild took us in.”


    Dorian scoffed, “You barely lifted a finger. How shameless of you to speak for all of us?”


    Considering Dorian had protected Caleb, Wilson let it slide and threw an arm around his shoulder. “Dorian did the heavy lifting. Thanks, man.”


    Dorian edged away in disgust, but Wilson, unfazed, just sidled closer. “I never asked what brought you guys to the Solemnity Guild, anyway?”


    Only then did Dorian remember the main thing. He turned to Aria and said, “Aria, Arressto is officially inviting you to join.”


    “Sorry, not interested,” Aria rejected without hesitation. Dorian nodded, not another word.


    Charles murmured, “Cap, isn’t it a bit too soon to give up?”


    Dorian just shrugged. “Why waste breath on a lost cause?”


    ‘She’s worth billions and already has everything. Why would she bother working for Arressto? Besides, after the Margery incident, Aria didn’t exactly hold Arressto in high regard, he thought.


    Dorian turned to Wilson. “We’re leaving. Youing?”


    Wilson said, “I’m heading home for a bit. Joel and Harry will go with you.”


    Dorian said, “Alright.”


    Caleb said, “Aria, let’s head back home together.”


    “Alright,” Aria said.


    ck Rose eagerly raised her hand. “Mind if I tag along?”


    Aria asked, “You’reing with us?”


    ck Rose nodded. “Your brother spared my life. I owe you one. I promised I’d stick with you.”


    Aria said, “You’re free now.”


    ck Rose gave Aria her best puppy-dog eyes. “I’m all alone with nowhere to go,” she pleaded. “Please, just let me stay with you.”


    ck Rose thought, ‘Stick with the big shots, and you’ll never go hungry! She was determined to cling to them, even if it killed her.


    “I can be your bodyguard,” ck Rose offered.


    Aria figured her brother could use some protection. She said, “Since Caleb spared you, you can work for him, but only if your background checks out clean.”


    ck Rose looked at Caleb, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. “My Huthailian ID says Myrtle Xenos. Boss, from now on, I’m yours.”


    Caleb didn’t even get a chance to refuse. Just like that, he had a female bodyguard.