Hours later, at the beach house where Ashley and her team were staying, everyone slept from sheer exhaustion.

A lot had happened even before the insane mission Ashley had come up with.

First, someone attacked her in front of countless witnesses. Then came the attack on Tommy and Lucian.

After that, Tommy’s fake funeral.

It was a lot to happen in just a few days.

But it wasn’t anything new.

The crew was already used to such eventful days. Even Khan’s team was no stranger to chaos, considering the kind of lives they lived in the underground world.

So, being able to sleep peacefully without any interruptions was something all of them appreciated.

By morning, everyone was awake, drinking coffee and eating toast.

"Now that I think about it..." Vodka hummed as he stared at the toaster in the kitchen. "...this place is nice, isn’t it?"

"Yeah." Gin, who was seated on a stool by the counter, nodded. "My bed last night was phenomenal. I should buy one when we get back."

"Did you check the brand?" Warriyo asked. "I want one too."

The beach house was large enough to have a room for everyone. However, not all of them had bothered sleeping in the bedrooms.

Red and Khan ended up sleeping in the living area, claiming one couch each. Fortunately, the couches were large enough that neither of them complained.

That morning, everyone looked unusually relaxed.

Some held mugs in their hands. Others casually chewed on toast.

Rum, meanwhile, had a slice of bread hanging between his teeth as he slowly nibbled on it.

"Now that I think about it, is this Master’s rest house?" Rum wondered aloud. "Or a vacation home or something?"

He leaned against the doorframe leading to the deck, where the others were enjoying the peaceful morning view.

"You don’t know if Dominion owns this place?" Nelek asked while helping Vodka prepare more toast in the kitchen.

"Nope." Vodka shook his head. "Dominion is rich, and we’re not important enough to know every rest house or beach house the big bosses own."

They knew of a few properties under Lucian’s name. They even knew some of the high-ranking members’ favorite villas and vacation homes.

But they didn’t know everything.

Just then, Ashley walked into the open dining and kitchen area.

"Good morning," she greeted as she headed straight toward the refrigerator.

Unlike everyone else, who was still enjoying their coffee after a successful night, Ashley already looked ready for the next mission.

Her hair was tied into a neat ponytail. She was dressed in black. Although she wasn’t fully geared yet, she certainly looked prepared.

Ashley grabbed an empty glass and poured herself some water.

"Madam," Gin called, leaning against the counter.

At the sound of his voice, the men on the deck—Red, Khan, Tank, and Rus—stretched their necks to look inside. Their view of the kitchen was partially blocked by Rum, who was still leaning against the doorframe.

Ashley turned toward Gin and raised her brows.

"What is it?"

"This place..." Gin glanced around. "Is this a newly acquired vacation home for you and Master?"

He asked out of pure curiosity.

Who knew?

Perhaps after this mission, Ashley would reward them with some vacation time and allow them to return here.

Ashley blinked a few times. Then, she answered flatly.

"This place doesn’t belong to Dominion."

For a moment, everyone simply stared at her. Then, Rum slowly pulled the toast out of his mouth.

"Don’t tell me it’s yours?" he asked suspiciously. "Are you secretly rich?!"

Ashley laughed. "Rich?"

She placed her glass down and grabbed one of the sandwiches Nelek and Vodka had prepared.

"I have money now, but most of it goes straight back into the company. So, I’m not that rich yet." She glanced around. "I definitely can’t afford a place like this."

Ashley had been dead broke despite working day and night for the Di Carpios. No one would believe how little she’d been compensated for everything she’d done.

That was why, when she married into Dominion, she hadn’t had a penny to her name.

"Then whose place is this?" Gin blurted out as his curiosity only deepened.

Ashley tilted her head and let her gaze wander around the beach house. It took her a few seconds to realize why none of them knew.

There weren’t any photographs in the house.

Nothing that would immediately reveal the owner’s identity.

Ashley looked back at the men staring at her with undisguised curiosity. In the end, she told them the truth.

"Scott’s."

For the next several seconds, no one moved. Even the men on the deck stared at her blankly.

Did they hear her correctly?

The owner of this place was...

Scott?

Marshal’s hellhound?

The right-hand man of the very people they’d just messed with last night?

SLAM!

Gin suddenly slammed both hands against the counter. Rum’s mouth fell open, and the slice of toast he’d been nibbling dropped straight to the floor.

Meanwhile, Nelek and Vodka lost their grip on the bread they were holding, sending the slices falling back onto the plates.

A breath later, everyone shouted in unison.

"WHAT?!"

Ashley flinched. Her eyes widened as the men from the deck rushed inside.

"Are you crazy?!" Red gasped, frantically looking around the beach house.

It was only then that the security cameras mounted around the property suddenly became extremely disturbing.

Before Red could even act, Khan pulled out his gun.

BANG!

The camera on the deck shattered.

"Shit!" Red reached into the kitchen, grabbed a knife, and hurled it toward the CCTV camera mounted in the corner.

CRASH!

"Guys—"

Ashley barely got the word out before the sound of shattering equipment echoed throughout the house.

Rum had already jumped away from his spot. The rest were on their feet, ready to destroy every camera they could find.

"Enough!" Ashley’s voice stopped them.

Everyone froze as they slowly, they turned toward her.

Ashley exhaled deeply and leaned her side against the counter.

"This place belongs to Scott, but he never comes here," she explained. "And even if you don’t destroy the cameras, the footage will be deleted."

Gin frowned. "What if he checks and sees us before the footage gets deleted?"

"He’s right!" Rum nodded vigorously. "We can’t afford to be complacent!"

"If Scott checks the footage and sees us..." Ashley paused. "...he’ll delete it."

Everyone’s brows furrowed.

Ashley sighed. "Just calm down first so we can discuss our plans for later."

The men exchanged uncertain glances before looking back at her.

Ashley smiled.

"Do you really think I’d stay here if I knew this place was dangerous?" she asked. "I like our life in the neighborhood."

Her smile softened. "And I like my neighbors. I wouldn’t gamble with your lives."

Rum scrunched up his nose and narrowed his eyes.

"Why are you trying to make me blush?"

Ashley stared at him. "I mean it."

Still, hearing those words from her—especially the last part—was enough to calm everyone down.

One by one, they gathered around the kitchen.

And over breakfast, they began discussing their plans for later.