The Mafia Lord's Secret Lover-Chapter 380: Ambush?

"That’s too simple," Renata replied. "A few days ago, they dropped everything. Completely withdrew. Especially after we handled Natalie Martinez. Now suddenly they’re attacking Wright logistics again?" She shook her head. "Something doesn’t line up."

Ethan watched her, silent for a moment, then nodded once.

"That’s your second assignment," he said. "Find out why."

Renata’s lips curved into a slow grin. "Now that sounds fun."

"Keep me updated." Ethan finally stood, straightening his jacket.

"Yes, Boss E." Renata leaned back in her chair, eyes gleaming like a predator already tracking prey.

As Ethan walked toward the door, Renata called after him, voice light but edged with danger. "E, by the way, if the Martinez Group wanted a war... I’ll make sure they remember who started it."

Ethan didn’t turn back. But his smile, small and cold, said everything.

...

The night had deepened by the time Ethan finally left the X-Guard headquarters.

Snow drifted lazily from the sky, soft white flakes swirling under the streetlights like tiny falling stars.

The town had quieted, the kind of silence that usually soothed restless minds.

But Ethan’s mind was anything but calm.

He drove toward his house a few miles away, one hand steady on the steering wheel, the other resting casually near the gear shift.

His eyes were forward, but his thoughts replayed everything from the past days.

The sabotage in Velden.

The Martinez Group is crawling back like cockroaches after he had already stepped on their tails. The uneasy feeling Renata had voiced.

He exhaled slowly.

He wanted it all resolved before the new year arrived. Clean slate. Fresh start. No lingering enemies. No unfinished messes.

Unfortunately, life rarely listens to wishes.

His eyes flicked to the rearview mirror and saw one black van.

He frowned slightly. Probably a coincidence.

A few seconds later, another glance.

Still there.

He changed lanes. The van changed lanes, too.

He turned onto a quieter road leading away from his neighborhood.

The van followed.

A second black van appeared behind the first.

Ethan let out a short breath, half laugh, half annoyance.

"Ambush?" he muttered under his breath. "Or am I just feeling dramatic tonight?"

He tried to dismiss the thought. But instinct was a cruelly honest companion, and his instincts were screaming.

He tested them.

At the next intersection, he made a sudden turn onto a narrow street that led nowhere near his home.

Both vans followed without hesitation.

His lips curved into a slow, amused smirk.

"So that’s how it is. They wanted to play with me..."

He accelerated. Snow scattered under his tires. The vans sped up as well, now closing the distance.

Then a third vehicle appeared.

Ethan raised his eyebrows. "Wow. You guys came in bulk. Must be a holiday sale."

He could have called Renata. Could have contacted X-Guard. Could have summoned a response team in minutes.

But Ethan Wright had never been the kind of man to run from trouble.

"Fine," he murmured, gripping the wheel as he slowed the car deliberately. "You want to play? I’ll entertain you."

He guided his car into an empty parking lot beside an abandoned warehouse, snow crunching under the tires. The engine idled for a moment before he turned it off.

Silence fell.

Then the three vehicles behind him stopped one by one, headlights bathing the lot in white light.

Ethan stepped out of his car leisurely, shutting the door with a calm click. He straightened his coat, ignoring the cold air biting at his skin.

Doors opened.

Men poured out.

Big. Broad. Scary face. Dressed in black. At least eighteen of them.

Ethan counted automatically.

Eighteen.

He chuckled softly to himself. ’Whoever sent these people was very careful. Or did they know I wasn’t an easy opponent?’

One man stepped forward. Taller than the rest, shaved head, scar along his jaw. The obvious leader.

"Mr. Wright," the man said politely, though his tone held no warmth. "Please come with us."

Ethan slipped his hands into his coat pockets, studying the group with mild curiosity, as if he had stumbled upon a poorly organized street performance. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"Why," he asked smoothly, "would I follow you?"

A ripple of laughter passed among the men.

One of them whispered loudly to another, "Tsk. Tsk. He’s either brave or stupid."

Another replied, "Doesn’t matter. We get paid either way."

Ethan tilted his head, hearing every word. "I appreciate the concern for my intelligence," he said, voice calm. "But you still haven’t answered my question."

The leader’s smile thinned. "You don’t need to know. Just cooperate."

Ethan’s smirk returned. "Funny. Because I was about to ask who sent you. Seems like we both want answers."

The men behind the leader shifted, some cracking their knuckles, others pulling their jackets tighter. No guns visible. Yet.

Ethan’s eyes flicked over them again. No bulges at the waist. No weapon outlines.

’Good. It will be a messy fight if they bring guns!’ Ethan thinks to himself.

One of the younger men snorted. "Boss, he’s just one guy. What’s he gonna do? Talk us to death?"

The group laughed again.

Ethan laughed with them.

It threw them off.

"Actually," Ethan said, stepping forward casually, snow crunching under his shoes, "I was wondering the same thing. Eighteen of you. One of me. Either someone overestimated your numbers... or underestimated me."

The leader’s eyes narrowed. "You talk too much."

"And you ask too little," Ethan replied pleasantly. "So tell me, who sent you?"

The leader remained silent.

Ethan sighed, looking almost disappointed. "That’s a shame. I was hoping tonight wouldn’t involve effort."

Another man whispered loudly, "Boss, he doesn’t look scared."

"Yeah," someone else muttered, "He looks bored."

Ethan heard them again. He chuckled. "Bored is accurate."

The leader finally raised a hand, signaling his men forward.

Ethan rolled his shoulders, loosening his stance, still calm, still smiling.

He wasn’t afraid of eighteen men, especially when his instinct flared up about how weak they were.

He was only mildly curious whether any of them had been foolish enough to bring a gun.

If they had...

Then tonight would be much messier than he expected or liked.