My Second Marriage with the Mafia Kingpin-Chapter 17: Not this hotel

Hours later...

Their group arrived at one of the luxury hotels in the country. As soon as they arrived, the men carrying Ashley’s luggage cursed her in their hearts.

"Just what is in here?" one of them gasped in horror, grinding his teeth as five men in total struggled to carry one of her suitcases. "It’s so damn heavy!"

She had brought several pieces of luggage with her, and she had specifically pointed to one for them to carry.

But that one turned out to be the heaviest.

One of them was tempted to check if there was a body inside.

"Damn!" one of the men huffed as soon as they placed the last suitcase on the trolley. "That’s the last one."

All five of them heaved sighs of relief, but it was short-lived.

"I don’t like this hotel!"

Ashley crossed her arms, refusing to step out of the car.

The door was already open, simply waiting for her to get out. Even Lucian hadn’t stepped out yet, despite his door also being open.

"It looks..." She trailed off as she peeked outside, staring at the grand hotel entrance. Her face twitched slightly before she huffed and looked away.

"I don’t like it!" she repeated. "It looks too cheap for me!"

"Too... too cheap?"

The guards, who were panting after unloading her luggage, stared with their mouths hanging open.

They couldn’t help but look back at the entrance, which practically screamed money. Even though Dominion was prospering — and being part of the organization meant they were somewhat used to luxury — they would never have experienced anything like this in their personal lives.

"That little—" one of the men shot the car a glare after hearing Ashley refuse to come out. "Is she really going to waste money just because of her whims?"

Just as he said that, Lucian’s hand appeared from inside the car, waving gently before he reached out and closed the door.

Then he rolled down the window and looked up at Gustav.

"We’re changing hotels."

Ashley blinked, watching Gustav lower his head before glancing in her direction.

She pursed her lips, suddenly sensing that her life might be in danger.

"Yes, Master."

Gustav lowered his head again, keeping his thoughts to himself. Then he stepped aside, watching the vehicle drive away.

"Captain!"

The men hurried toward Gustav, irritation written all over their faces.

"Are we really changing hotels?"

The man beside him hissed in frustration.

"Does she even know how heavy her luggage is?! She’s the only one bringing this much stuff, and now she’s throwing a tantrum after we just finished carrying it!"

"She’s doing this on purpose, right?"

Gustav looked at his men, who were clearly frustrated. His eyes swept over the bellman’s cart before returning to them.

"It’s an order," he said.

"But, sir—"

"This is an important meeting after the last one fell through," he interrupted coldly, fixing them with a firm look. "I know none of you are pleased that she tagged along or that she’s ruining everything. However, those are small matters if it means she won’t ruin the deal."

A glint flickered across his eyes as he suppressed his own frustration.

"Let’s start moving."

Reluctance was obvious, but in the end, they dragged themselves into loading the luggage back into the vehicles.

After all, Gustav was right.

This was just a small — petty — adjustment if it meant keeping Ashley under control.

But when they followed Lucian’s car to the next address, everyone stared in disbelief at the much smaller and simpler hotel located in a quiet town next to the city.

"We’re changing hotels... to this place?"

One of the men stood outside the entrance, his face twisting.

"How dare that woman make the master stay in a place like this?"

The hotel looked quite old, though the exterior had been freshly repainted. Even so, their thoughts immediately turned to security.

Unlike the first hotel, this one only had a single guard standing outside.

"Are we really staying here?" one of them demanded, whipping his head toward Gustav. "Sir, this is insanity. How can we stay in a place like this? There isn’t even proper security!"

In the first hotel, they would have been given private suites along with professional security. The owner of that hotel was someone Lucian personally knew and would gladly host Dominion temporarily with the best services and protection available during Lucian’s stay.

Gustav’s eyes also flickered with bitterness, but he suppressed it.

"Just follow the orders," he said. "Don’t worry about security. That’s the reason you’re here."

That was true.

But it would still be better if the place had its own security.

*****

Meanwhile, inside the small hotel Ashley had chosen, she happily waited for their room keys in the lounge with Lucian.

She peeked at him, and as expected, he didn’t seem bothered at all.

I’m sure his men are furious about this, she thought. But this place is safer than that hotel. This entire town is.

His enemies already knew he planned to stay in that first hotel.

After all, the man who had offered that hotel to Lucian... had already been bribed.

"Above all," she whispered.

Lucian’s brows rose slightly as he glanced at her.

Ashley flashed him a wide smile.

"Lu, I told you — I’m your lucky charm. If this deal goes well, buy me dinner."

"..." Lucian leaned back, maintaining his composure even though he should have already been somewhere else.

If she hadn’t thrown that tantrum earlier, Lucian would have already arrived at the meeting without ever leaving the car.

But strangely enough, that didn’t anger him.

"Okay?" she hummed when he didn’t answer.

"Mhm."

*****

[Dominion Territory]

Nolan stood by the ruined garden, deep in thought.

His thoughts halted when he sensed someone beside him.

Primo held up a piece of paper.

[What are you doing here?]

Nolan smiled subtly and let out a shallow breath, glancing toward the ruined garden.

"I’m just thinking..." Nolan hummed thoughtfully.

Before Ashley left with Lucian, she had been digging up soil in this garden.

"...why did the Madam fill one of her suitcases with soil from here?"

He tilted his head slightly.

"Also... it’s like she already knew the Master was leaving on a business trip."