The Hidden Dragon Son-in-Law

Send Them A Message

Chapter 5: “Send Them a Message”

Location: Abandoned Meat Packing Plant – Outskirts of Xiang River

11:57 PM

The place reeked of blood, rust, and rot.

Aria Lin sat tied to a steel chair, a bloodied cloth gagging her mouth. Her mascara had run down her cheeks, and her expensive heels were gone. Her dress was torn at the shoulder from struggling.

Ethan Xu stood just out of reach, sipping wine.

"She's bait," he told the camera. "Let's see how long your husband keeps pretending he's untouchable, Ivy."

Ivy—watching the feed from Jaxon’s SUV—was shaking. “He’s insane.”

Jaxon didn’t answer. He was focused, emotionless. A Bluetooth device blinked in his ear.

“Zhao,” he said into the mic, “status?”

Commander Zhao’s voice came through: “Six hostiles on perimeter. Four inside. Two snipers on the rooftop. We’re synced.”

Jaxon’s eyes glowed cold in the SUV’s dim lighting. “No mercy. Injure who you must. Kill who you have to.”

Ivy looked at him. “You’re really going in alone?”

He looked at her. “Not alone. Just first.”

Then the car door opened, and he stepped out into the dark.

—

Inside the facility

A goon with a mohawk lit a cigarette just outside the north entrance. He heard a rustle.

“Hey,” he called, turning toward the crates.

Nothing.

He turned back—only to find a blade pressed against his throat.

Jaxon didn’t say a word. He slit the man’s jugular and caught him before he could hit the ground.

Comm silence maintained.

He ghosted through the side corridors, one room at a time.

Two more guards were playing cards in a side office.

He tossed in a smoke canister.

The door flew open.

Thud. Thud.

Both dropped without a scream.

—

Inside the torture room

Ethan looked at his watch. “He’s late. Maybe he’s not as brave as his reputation says.”

Then the lights flickered.

Went out.

Complete darkness.

“Check the generator!” Ethan snapped.

Two guards left the room.

Seconds passed.

A muffled scream.

Then silence.

Ethan backed away from Aria’s chair, pulling a pistol from his coat. “Turn the lights on now, or I’ll kill her!”

The lights returned.

And Jaxon stood in the center of the room.

Covered in blood.

Ethan froze.

Aria sobbed through the gag.

“I told you,” Jaxon said, walking forward, “you declared war. But you didn’t know who you were fighting.”

Ethan fired.

Jaxon ducked, slid across the floor, and flung a throwing knife into Ethan’s thigh.

Ethan screamed.

Jaxon lunged, grabbed his wrist, twisted—SNAP.

The gun clattered to the floor.

He slammed Ethan’s face into a steel beam.

Once.

Twice.

Blood splattered across the floor.

“You think you can threaten my wife?” Jaxon hissed, slamming him again. “You think you can touch my family?”

Ethan fell to the ground, face shattered, teeth missing.

Jaxon stood over him.

“This is just the beginning,” he said.

Then he looked at the last camera on the wall.

“Let everyone watching know—this is what happens when you touch a dragon’s den.”

He stepped back and nodded to Zhao, now standing in the doorway.

“Burn it.”

Zhao tossed a thermal charge into the corner.

Jaxon grabbed Aria, cut the ropes, and swept her into his arms.

As they exited through the back hallway, explosions erupted behind them.

The entire warehouse went up in flames.

—

Back in the SUV

Ivy sat in the back seat when the door opened and Jaxon climbed in with Aria, unconscious but breathing.

“She’s safe,” he said. “Get her to a doctor. Quietly.”

Ivy blinked at him. “You didn’t kill him?”

Jaxon stared out the window, eyes cold.

“No. I want him alive… for now. His real punishment hasn’t even begun.”

Across the city, deep inside a surveillance room lit by dozens of screens… a woman in a white trench coat watched the entire rescue unfold.

She smiled.

“Ghost Monarch is active again,” she whispered. “Finally.”

She turned to her assistant.

“Send word to the Crimson League. The war’s back on.”