The Ex-Convict’s Secret: I Command an Army
William Hartwell · Ongoing · 160.2k Words
Introduction
They didn't know his secret.
Ten years ago, he was framed. But in prison, he became something else. Today, he is the Mercenary King — commander of millions.
He hides his power to protect his wife and daughter. He plays the loser. He takes the insults.
But when his enemies cross the line…
The Mercenary King will stop pretending.
Chapter 1
Valdoria.
Harborview City, Blaze Mountain.
On the ocean, an entire aircraft carrier fleet stood guard.
In the sky, hundreds of fighter jets circled overhead.
One hundred and eighty thousand mercenaries, armed to the teeth, had placed all of Blaze Mountain under complete lockdown.
All because a big shot had arrived in Harborview City!
At the foot of the mountain, countless wealthy and powerful figures had gathered.
Even the oil tycoons who controlled Valdoria's economic lifeline were squeezed into the crowd, just hoping to catch a glimpse of this important person.
On the mountain path, a tall figure walked on foot.
He was dressed simply, yet carried an extraordinary presence.
Behind him followed a man built like a bear, 6 feet 7 inches tall, with a bayonet-shaped scar on his face that gave off a powerful sense of intimidation.
Kane Lockwood frowned, "Bayonet, why all this fuss?"
"Mr. Lockwood, I know you prefer to keep a low profile. This wasn't my doing - those old guys from Harborview City set this up."
Bayonet huffed, "But still, you're the Mercenary King, leading the world's largest mercenary organization, Tempest Mercenaries. You're the idol of millions of mercenaries. This show is way too small!"
"I'm going to kick those old guys' butts later!"
They reached the mountaintop.
The setting sun looked like blood, cold wind howling.
Thirty-eight lonely tombstones stood in the wilderness.
Kane stared at the tombstones, hatred surging through him!
He had once been the business genius of the Lockwood family. At fifteen, he helped lead the Lockwood family to great heights, making them the most powerful family in Harborview City, bar none!
At eighteen, he got into Harvard Business School with outstanding grades.
Everyone believed he was the heir to the Lockwood family.
His stepmother, Ophelia Rivera, treated him well and even threw him a celebration party.
Having lacked a mother's love since childhood, he even thought of her as his real mom.
Once, he threw himself in front of Ophelia to block a bullet, lying in a pool of blood, nearly dying on the operating table.
But Ophelia turned out to be truly evil.
To help her biological son seize the Lockwood family fortune, she secretly drugged Kane with an aphrodisiac at the party and tried to get into his bed.
Luckily, Kane escaped, but by mistake ended up having sex with an innocent girl.
Overnight, the business genius became a scumbag everyone despised!
Kane's father was so angry he coughed up blood and passed out on the spot.
The next day, he was sentenced to ten years in prison for rape and thrown into Harborview City's harshest maximum-security prison.
Ophelia teamed up with three major powers in Harborview City to kill thirty-eight members of Kane's family, divided up the Lockwood Group, and threw herself into Kane's uncle's arms!
This hatred kept him going through the darkest days in prison.
By chance, he found an opportunity to escape and became a mercenary.
In just a few years, he defeated countless opponents and finally claimed the throne of Mercenary King!
He now commanded the world's most powerful mercenary organization, Tempest Mercenaries, with a million mercenaries under his control and unmatched power.
Now, he was back!
The Rivera family - what you owe me, I'll take back bit by bit, with interest!
But what concerned him most was that girl he'd had sex with that night.
To this day, he still didn't know who she was.
Kane asked, "Bayonet, did you find out who that girl was?"
Bayonet spoke respectfully, "Mr. Lockwood, yes, I did!"
"Her name is Isabelle Spencer. She's from a small family in Harborview City."
"Mr. Lockwood, after Ms. Spencer had sex with you, the Spencer family bribed officials to secretly obtain a marriage certificate for her with you to save the family's reputation. Legally speaking, she is now your lawful wife. She later gave birth to a little girl, who is currently being taken in by Ophelia."
Kane's heart leaped with joy.
He was a father?
Isabelle had carried the shame of being "impure" and given birth to a rapist's child - who knows what kind of pressure and scorn she'd endured!
In prison, Isabelle was the only person who ever visited him. She said she didn't blame him.
She was the person Kane owed the most!
Bayonet continued, "Ophelia is throwing a birthday party and wants to invite you."
Kane asked, "When? Where?"
"Tonight at 6 PM, the Lockwood Estate!"
The Lockwood Estate - once Kane's home!
"Tell Ophelia I'll attend the party."
Kane agreed, then smiled coldly, "Also, help me prepare a big gift for her!"
......
At the Lockwood Estate, a grand birthday party was underway.
Outside, luxury cars lined the streets.
All the guests were wealthy and powerful figures, and there were even famous singers performing on stage.
Ophelia wore a red evening gown, her long hair flowing over her shoulders, her skin smooth, her figure curvy - proud as a queen!
She was stunning and noble, the center of everyone's attention!
"Mom! Great news!"
Suddenly, a young man in his twenties rushed in, his face full of joy.
Silas Lockwood.
Kane's half-brother from a different mother.
"Silas, what's the great news?"
"I invited the Mercenary King to your party in the family's name, and I just got word - he accepted!"
"Are you serious?"
"That's amazing!"
The usually cold Ophelia trembled with excitement.
"The Mercenary King commands Tempest Mercenaries with a million mercenaries under him. He's powerful beyond measure!"
"I heard the governor mobilized one hundred and eighty thousand soldiers to seal off all of Blaze Mountain for the Mercenary King!"
"Even the oil tycoons who control Valdoria's economy couldn't get a meeting with him!"
"If we can host the Mercenary King, what powerful person in Harborview City won't show you respect?"
Ophelia couldn't help feeling proud.
This news pushed the party's atmosphere to its peak!
But then, a discordant voice suddenly rang out.
A wealthy woman muttered, "What's so great about that? She only got what she has today through dirty, shameless tricks!"
Her husband frantically covered her mouth, "Shut up!"
Hearing this, Ophelia's face instantly darkened, her beautiful eyes shooting out a cold glare.
Just then, a chubby boy with freckles walked out, leading a little girl by the hand.
The fat boy tore off a chicken leg and threw it into a dog bowl on the floor, "Winnie, come here!"
A little girl in ragged clothes, thin and sallow, crawled on the ground like a dog, grabbed the chicken leg, and wolfed it down.
The fat boy exclaimed, "Silas was right - she really is a dog!"
The man from earlier whispered, "I heard that's Kane's daughter."
The wealthy woman looked at Winnie and shuddered hard.
At the same time, she felt angry, "How can she treat a child like a dog? That's evil!"
Suddenly, Silas appeared before the woman like a ghost and grabbed her by the collar, "What did you just say?"
The woman trembled, "Are you afraid of people talking about what you've done?"
"How dare you insult my mom! You're asking for death!"
"But since it's my mom's birthday, I'll spare your life. However, I want one of your hands!"
Silas grinned wickedly.
The next moment, two bodyguards rushed over.
One bodyguard grabbed the woman's wrist tightly.
The other pulled out a sharp machete.
No matter how much the woman and her husband cried and begged, Silas showed no mercy. He licked his lips, his eyes gleaming with savage excitement.
Just then!
Boom!
Suddenly, a pitch-black coffin came flying through the air and slammed into the bodyguard.
The bodyguard screamed, coughed up blood, and flew dozens of feet away.
Bang!
The heavy coffin crashed heavily onto the floor.
The ground cracked, fractures spreading like a spider web.
"Who's there?"
Silas was shocked.
Everyone turned to look at the entrance.
"Me! Kane!"
A tall figure had appeared nearby at some point.
His expression was determined, his whole presence extraordinary!
"It's Kane!"
"Why is he here? Isn't he in prison?"
"Today's the day he gets out!"
"He actually brought a coffin to a birthday party - he's got some nerve!"
People around whispered to each other.
"Dear mother, do you like this gift of mine?"
Kane reached out and grabbed the coffin weighing several hundred pounds, lifting it with one hand. Under everyone's shocked gaze, he walked up to Ophelia.
Ophelia flew into a rage, "You rapist, you murderer, how dare you come to this house! Get out!"
Kane's lips curved into a cold smile, "You want me to leave? Weren't you the ones who invited me here?"
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Please note: this story contains strong language and mature scenes.
This is the second book in the series, but it can be read as a stand alone.
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A Queen Among Tides is the 5th book in the Queen Among Series/The Gods' Saga. This is an interconnected series. To see how it ends, I recommend reading the full series.
Books in the series order:
A Queen Among Alphas - Book 1
Bite-Size Luna - A Queen Among Alphas Prequel (available under book 1)
A Queen Among Snakes - Book 2
A Queen Among Blood - Book 3
A Queen Among Darkness - Book 4
Whole Again - A Queen Among Alpha's spin-off (available under book 1)
A Queen Among Tides - Book 5
Valor, Virtue, and Verve - Tides Prequel Spin-off (will be available under book 5)
A Queen Among Gods - Book 6
Runaway Empress - A Queen Among Snakes Prequel (will be available under book 2)
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"Bella." Ethan's tone shifted, taking on that warning edge I knew too well. "Faye is vulnerable right now. She's terrified you'll resent her, that this will divide the pack. The last thing she wants is for this baby to come between us."
"Then you shouldn't have done it." I met his eyes squarely, letting him see the ice in mine. "Go back to your son."
"For fuck's sake." He dragged a hand through his hair. "How many times—it was artificial insemination. They used my sperm, yes, but Faye and I never—"
Bella let out a cold snort. Such brazen lies. Her mate had an affair with his brother's partner, and his entire family helped force her out with nothing, all to make way for the mistress to take her rightful position. Poor fool—he thought she was just an unwanted adopted daughter, easy to dismiss and control. He never knew the computer genius he'd been searching for was his own Luna.
Since he'd tainted himself, Bella was done. She rejected him and reclaimed what was hers, rising to the top with help from Victor, who'd been secretly in love with her for years.
When Ethan tried winning her back: "You don't want our child growing up fatherless."
Bella smiled mockingly. "The child's father isn't you."
