An Understated Dominance Novel (Dahlia & Dustin) by Marina Vittori updated 2025-26 - An Understated Dominance Chapter 2723

Chapter 2723

The bullet didn’t hit the thug directly, but it struck the ground right at his feet, sparking against the pavement.

He yelped in fright and stumbled backward.

The sudden gunshot stunned the other thugs as well. They froze, staring at Natasha with wary, uncertain eyes, not daring to move any closer.

“Husband, are you okay?!” Natasha rushed to Dustin’s side, her gun still trained on the crowd.

Dustin, breathing hard, leaned against the railing and wiped the blood from his mouth. “I’m fine. Just a small injury,” he said, waving her off.

But his disheveled appearance—and the fact that he was clearly fighting far below his old level—only deepened Natasha’s confusion. She couldn’t hold back anymore. “Husband… you used to be unstoppable. Why are you so weak now?”

Dustin gave a helpless smile. At this point, there was no point hiding it. In a low voice, he said, “I’ve lost all my cultivation. Right now, I’m no different from an ordinary person.”

“What?!” Natasha’s eyes widened in shock. “How is that possible?!”

“It’s a long story. I’ll explain later.” Dustin shook his head.

Natasha still had a thousand questions—but now wasn’t the time.

She gritted her teeth, her expression hardening. “Fine. Then I’ll get you out of here myself.”

Just then, the crowd parted, and Mateo and Hayes—who had been watching from the sidelines—finally stepped forward.

Mateo looked at the gun in Natasha’s hand without the slightest fear. Instead, he let out a mocking laugh. “Natasha, put that thing down and come with me quietly. Maybe I’ll consider sparing your pretty little husband. But if you keep resisting, he’s a dead man tonight.”

Natasha’s expression turned ice-cold. “Mateo, don’t do anything stupid. I’m warning you—you can’t afford to provoke this man.”

“Can’t afford to provoke him?” Mateo burst out laughing as if she’d told the funniest joke in the world. “Spare me. In Dragonmarsh, who can the royal Spanner family not afford to offend? Don’t try to scare me. I may have to leave you untouched, but that kid? He’s done for.”

His gaze swept over Natasha’s body, shameless and hungry. He licked his lips. “Still… I could be persuaded to let him live. Just spend one night with me, and we’ll pretend none of this happened. How about it?”

“You’re dreaming!” Natasha snapped, her whole body trembling with fury.

Mateo’s expression instantly darkened. “Then you leave me no choice.”

He raised his arm and shouted to the surrounding thugs, “Get him! Whoever cripples that boy gets one million!”

Greed lit up their eyes. Clubs tightened in their hands as they began to advance again.

Natasha fired another shot into the sky. “Take one more step and I swear I’ll shoot!”

The gunshot froze the mob again—but only for a moment.

Mateo sneered. “She’s got one gun and a handful of bullets. We’ve got dozens of men. What are you afraid of? Move! First person to take him down gets double!”

The thugs exchanged glances—and greed beat fear. With a roar, they surged forward again.

Natasha went pale. Her hand trembled around the pistol. She didn’t know who to shoot first.

Dustin grabbed her hand firmly and glanced at the rushing river below the bridge. His eyes hardened.

If things truly reached the breaking point, their only chance might be to jump—and pray they survived.

But just then—

A barrage of sharp, piercing sirens exploded from every direction.

The sound echoed across the entire overpass.

Seconds later, the heavy thrum of helicopter blades filled the sky. A police chopper descended overhead, its blinding searchlight sweeping across the bridge like a divine spotlight.

The overpass lit up as bright as midday.

At both ends of the bridge, dozens of police cars with flashing red-and-blue lights stormed in, boxing in Mateo’s convoy from all sides.

Doors flung open. Fully armed officers poured out, riot shields up, guns raised, all of them aiming at the thugs.

“DROP YOUR WEAPONS! HANDS BEHIND YOUR HEAD! GET DOWN!” the commanding voice boomed from the loudspeaker.

The sudden reversal stunned every thug on the scene.

Seeing the countless barrels aimed their way—and the overwhelming force arrayed against them—their bravado evaporated. One by one, they went pale, tossed their weapons aside, and crouched down with their hands over their heads.

Natasha let out a long, shaky breath. Her legs softened beneath her, and she leaned heavily against the car. “We made it… finally.”

Dustin also felt the tension drain from his body. As a mortal, without his cultivation, he had almost fallen into the hands of these gutter-level thugs.

He needed to be more careful going forward. One careless move could get him killed.

Mateo and Hayes, however, didn’t look frightened—only frustrated and irritated.

Hayes adjusted his suit and snorted coldly.

With the influence of the Spanner royal family, even if they were arrested tonight, it would be nothing more than a routine process. They’d be out before sunset tomorrow.

Still, getting caught like this was humiliating.

As the police took control of the scene, Hayes glanced at Dustin and Natasha, standing close together.

His eyes grew darker—cold, venomous.

This wasn’t over. Not even close.