Landon's POV
{Onyx Reign Military Force – 12:17 P.M.}
I walked into the facility like I owned it—because I did. Every pair of boots in here marched to my command. My shoes hit the polished floors with a sharp, steady rhythm. Cold eyes followed me, but none dared to speak. They didn't know me as Landon. Here, I was Killian Vane Blackthorne—the Marshal, the ghost who led wars from the shadows.
No one knew what I looked like, not even the soldiers who swore loyalty to me. I kept my identity hidden for a reason.
Fear worked better when it was faceless.
I entered my office and locked the door behind me. The air smelled like old leather and cold metal, but still familiar. I walked to the desk, sat down, and turned on the encrypted system in front of me. Within seconds, the call connected.
My screen filled with faces—generals, colonels, captains. Some I trusted. Most I didn't.
In fact, I don't trust all of them except my wife.
My camera stayed off, as always.
"Marshal," General Whitmore said, straightening in his chair. "We've gathered everyone as requested."
"Good," I said. My voice was low and calm, but there was no mistaking the steel in it. "We're facing a possible preemptive strike from Country A. Intelligence confirms their activity near the border. This isn't a drill. This is war prep."
The room went silent.
Then General Torres spoke up, "With respect, Marshal, are we certain? We haven't seen direct engagement—"
I cut him off with a sharp breath. "We don't wait for engagement. We prevent it. If you want to wait until missiles fly over your children's heads, be my guest. But not on my watch."
No one argued after that.
"General Whitmore," I continued, "I want every border post reinforced. Use double personnel. I want night recon flights increased, especially around the north-west lines."
"Yes, Marshal."
"General Torres, your division will begin civilian protection drills in the cities. Quietly. No panic. Use fire drills if you must."
"Understood."
"Colonel Ramirez," I said, leaning forward in my chair, "I want you to investigate all ongoing internal communications. If anyone's leaking info or holding contact with Country A, I want their heads before dinner. Clear?"
Ramirez nodded. "Crystal clear."
We spent another twenty minutes going over blueprints, resource lines, potential allies, cyber attacks, and threat levels from Countries A and C. I handled the room like I always did—with force and precision. The men beneath me might've outranked others in public, but not here.
Here, I was king.
When I re-assigned General Whitmore additional logistical duties on top of the ones I'd already dumped on him, he couldn't hold it anymore. Well, that's what he deserves for almost trying to hit me in public and also hitting on my wife.
"Marshal," he said, trying to keep his tone respectful. "With due respect, I'm already handling..."
"Do you want to keep your stars, Whitmore?" I said, my voice dropping to ice. "Then shut up and get it done."
He went quiet.
"I don't care if your legs fall off. If I say jump, you jump while stitching your limbs back on."
The silence that followed was long and heavy. Just the way I liked it.
I checked my watch. 2:34 P.M.
"I'm done for now," I said. "I'm going to pick my daughter up from school."
I didn't give them time to respond before ending the call.
I stood, exhaled slowly, and pulled off the uniform top. I changed quickly, switching to plain clothes—just a regular man in a dark T-shirt and jeans. It felt strange, that whiplash between Marshal and father. But I was used to it now.
By 3:15, I was in the car, heading toward the school.
.
.
{Onyx Military Academy – 3:42 P.M.}
Lila ran to me with that smile that always hit me like a punch to the gut. That tiny girl had more impact on me than any warhead.
"Daddy!" she yelled.
I bent down, lifting her up easily into my arms.
"How was school?" I asked.
"Boring," she said with a pout. "Math was hard."
"Math is always hard," I said. "That's why we beat it."
She giggled. "You can't beat math, Daddy."
"Says who?"
---
{Kelsey's Residence – 4:20 P.M.}
We pulled up to the house, and just as I parked, another car rolled into the driveway.
Kelsey.
She stepped out, brushing her hair back with one hand and locking her car with the other. We met at the entrance, almost in sync.
Her eyes flicked to me, then to Lila.
She smiled.
"I see someone remembered to pick her up," she said to me, teasing.
"I had to pick her up on time," I signed to her.
Kelsey bent to kiss Lila's forehead.
"And I'm sure you didn't trouble your father too much..."
Lila shook her head with a small pout. Well, that was a lie. She did trouble me a lot on our way back.
Before Lila could speak, Kelsey raised her head to look at me.
"Sylus called me. He said you stole the car and ran off,"
I shook my head, about to raise my head to sign to her...
Lila frowned, digging her fist into her side.
"Daddy did what? Daddy would never steal!"
I narrowed my eyes.
Of course, I did. I stole the car to get home on time.
"Calm down, tiny human. I also know daddy doesn't steal," Kelsey said to Lila and looked back at me.
"I trust you," she said to me, waving it off. "Sylus talks too much. He probably misunderstood your actions. He also doesn't know sign language...."
I nodded like an obedient cat. She smiled at me and held Lila's hand as we walked in.
We stepped into the living room. It was quiet and cosy. The air smelled like lavender.
Lila dropped her backpack and skipped toward the couch.
Kelsey walked beside me, close enough to feel the warmth of her skin.
Just as we were about to sit down, the news on the TV changed.
"...the Marshal has issued an urgent national alert regarding the possible military threat from Country A. While his identity remains undisclosed, government officials confirmed the situation is being handled with the utmost priority..."
The room fell silent.
Lila stared at the screen. I stood frozen. Kelsey didn't say a word at first.
Then she reached for the remote and shut the TV off.
I turned to her. She looked away from me.
Lila frowned.
"Mommy? Why'd you turn it off?"
"I... I don't like that man," Kelsey said quietly.
"Are you scared of the attack?" Lila asked.
"No, sweetie," she replied. "I'm not,"
"Daddy's here. He'll protect both of us."
I glanced at Lila and she looked back at me.
Well, that's a surprise. She doesn't like me? Kelsey doesn't like me? Why am I feeling something weird in my chest?
Kelsey crouched and pulled her daughter into a hug.
"Of course, your daddy will protect us," she said.
I stepped closer, watching the two of them.
"Mommy?" Lila asked. "Do you like Daddy?"
Kelsey froze. I froze also. Why would Lila ask such a question?
Then she looked up at me. For a second, her eyes were filled with something I couldn't understand.
She looked back at Lila and nodded slowly.
"Yeah," she whispered. "I do like your daddy."
Lila looked at me next, then at the hallway.
"Then why don't you sleep in the same room?"
I stared, holding back my smile.
Way to go! Lila! I'm going to get a bucket of ice cream for her tomorrow.
Kelsey didn't move from where she was. Her mouth parted slightly as if the question knocked the air from her lungs.
She turned her face away and I swear, I saw her face flushed red.
Does she really like me?
But, she still doesn't like me as the Marshal. Just... Landon.
It's not that bad.