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Home / Urban / THE UNFORSEEN DOMINANCE OF ZACH MARLOW / ~176 ~
~176 ~
Author: Gem Lynne
last update2025-08-27 23:30:23

The moon hung pale and swollen in the ink-black sky, its light spilling faintly across the sprawling Dawson estate. Midnight cloaked the mansion in silence, save for the faint rustle of leaves as a cool breeze drifted through the gardens.

Dawson slipped out of the back door, his footsteps light but urgent, his breath shallow as his eyes darted around the grounds. He moved cautiously, hugging the shadowed walls, until he reached a narrow gravel path hidden behind overgrown hedges. The path curved toward a concealed entrance, a heavy, steel-framed door embedded into the earth at the far back of the estate.

He glanced over his shoulder, ensuring no one followed, then crouched before a keypad, fingers trembling slightly as he entered a ten-digit password. A soft click sounded, and the reinforced door groaned open, revealing a dimly lit staircase descending deep underground.

Taking a steadying breath, Dawson slipped inside, closing the door behind him.

The air was cool and damp beneath the
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  • ~ 179 ~

    Rabiu attempted to escape through the side entrance, shoving past startled guests, but before he could make it far, Zach caught him by the collar and yanked him back with force.“You think you can mess with me and walk away?” Zach’s voice was low, dangerous.Rabiu stammered, “I-I know…”A sharp punch landed on his jaw, sending him stumbling against a parked car. Gasps erupted from the crowd.“Pathetic,” Zach spat, wiping his knuckles before stepping back.The tension was palpable, the heavy silence hanging between Zach, Rabiu, and Dafne like a sharp blade waiting to slice through the air. The ruined warehouse smelled of damp wood and metal, the faint crackle of fire from a broken lantern in the corner adding an eerie undertone. Shadows stretched across the floor, their shapes twisting under the dim light.Rabiu wiped the trickle of blood from the side of his mouth, his chest heaving as he spat on the ground. “I won’t succumb to you, Zach,” he said, his voice hoarse but laced with defi

  • ~ 178 ~

    The air was thick with tension. Zach stood, staring vaguely at the door, his posture firm, his face calm but hard. “I’ll take Rabiu myself,” he said, his voice sharp as steel, cutting through the silence. The others stirred uneasily before him, exchanging glances, but his gaze was firm and commanding. “No interference. No one follows. He’s mine.”There was something in the way he said it, a cold finality that allowed no argument. But Laura stepped forward hesitantly.“Young Master… are you sure? Rabiu doesn’t play fair. He’s…”“I said he’s mine,” Zach snapped, his voice low but heavy with authority. “Not a soul follows me, or you’ll regret it.”Reluctantly, Laura nodded and stepped back, though his frown deepened. The sound of Zach’s boots echoed as he mounted the staircase.Later that night, Rabiu arrived at the warehouse, his footsteps crunching against the gravel. He was confident, smug even, his lips curled in a sly smile. His hand toyed with the black leather pouch he carried,

  • ~ 177 ~

    At Zach's villa, the air inside was calm, save for the low hum of the central air conditioning and the occasional rustle of leaves brushing against the glass windows.Dafne sat curled up on the edge of the velvet couch, staring blankly at the threatening messages flashing on her phone.Rabiu: “Time’s almost up, Dafne. Don’t forget what you owe me.”Rabiu: “Raise the cash, or you know what happens to you.”Her stomach twisted into knots, but today she had resolved to do something she should’ve done days ago – confess everything to Zach. No more secrets. No more carrying Rabiu’s shadow like a curse on her shoulders.She inhaled sharply, rehearsing in her head how she would tell him she was once Rabiu’s ally… that years ago, she had known Rabiu was going to try to kill Zach but had said nothing.Her chance came sooner than expected.The front door chimed.Dafne turned just as Laura stepped inside the villa, her stiletto heels clicking lightly against the marble floor. She was carrying a

  • ~176 ~

    The moon hung pale and swollen in the ink-black sky, its light spilling faintly across the sprawling Dawson estate. Midnight cloaked the mansion in silence, save for the faint rustle of leaves as a cool breeze drifted through the gardens.Dawson slipped out of the back door, his footsteps light but urgent, his breath shallow as his eyes darted around the grounds. He moved cautiously, hugging the shadowed walls, until he reached a narrow gravel path hidden behind overgrown hedges. The path curved toward a concealed entrance, a heavy, steel-framed door embedded into the earth at the far back of the estate.He glanced over his shoulder, ensuring no one followed, then crouched before a keypad, fingers trembling slightly as he entered a ten-digit password. A soft click sounded, and the reinforced door groaned open, revealing a dimly lit staircase descending deep underground.Taking a steadying breath, Dawson slipped inside, closing the door behind him.The air was cool and damp beneath the

  • ~ 175~

    The dining room was quiet, but the silence felt strange, heavy, and sharp like a stretched string seconds away from snapping. Dawson sat frozen by the table, his gaze fixed on Zach. His blood ran cold. His breath hitched faintly.That face… that jawline… those sharp eyes.Zach and Yvonne exchanged a look, stunned by Dawson's reaction.Dawson couldn't answer their question and looked down. It dawned on him like a cruel revelation.Logan’s son.Zachariah Marlow. The one his father, Lex, had searched for ruthlessly, the one Lex had sworn to destroy, the last piece of a silent war that started decades ago. And now, he, the boy he was meant to deliver and kill, was standing right under his roof.Dawson’s knuckles whitened as his fingers clenched against the wooden edge of the table. His throat burned, and his heart pounded erratically.Yvonne, oblivious to her father’s turmoil, turned to pick up the delicate silver locket from the tray on the table, intending to return it to Zach. But the

  • ~174~

    For a moment, silence drowned the room.Barbara’s jaw tightened, her hand curling into a fist by her side. Zach’s brows furrowed faintly, his voice even but laced with quiet tension.“Yvonne,” he said carefully, “I appreciate the invitation… but you don’t get to decide who I bring or don’t bring.”Yvonne blinked, feigning surprise but masking her frustration with a gentle laugh. “Of course,” she said softly, though the glint in her eyes betrayed her annoyance.Barbara took a step forward, her tone quiet yet cutting. “Good. Because this isn’t going to be one of those little games where you test boundaries.”Yvonne’s lips curved faintly. “Oh, don’t worry, Barbara. I don’t play games.”“Mm.” Barbara tilted her head, her smile tight, faintly mocking. “Neither do I.”The two women stared at each other, tension coiling in the air. Zach glanced between them but said nothing, momentarily speechless. Breaking the silence, Yvonne’s voice softened as she fixed her gaze on Zach, though her words

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