Foster father

07

After seven hours of off-road driving, they finally returned to the mercenary group's temporary base in Myanmar.

The child had been asleep in Carter Vaughan's arms for half the day. After waking up, he was bored and lay on the car window, looking outside. The scenery had been the same all the way—messy and unremarkable.

Finally, the car turned into a valley, and after passing a narrow, winding mountain road, the view suddenly opened up to a flat area where many military tents were scattered.

Though it was a temporary base, everything was well organized. Their employer this time was quite wealthy and had provided them with plenty of good weapons. Since the mercenary group set up camp here, they had been eating and drinking well, living very comfortably.

At the entrance of the base, there were guards. Even though the driver was a familiar comrade, they still maintained strict security, inspecting the vehicle before letting them in.

Kostki drove straight into the central open space surrounded by tents. A Black man, holding a bottle of liquor, dramatically blocked the car's way. Kostki rolled down the window and la

Dino laughed along, not moving out of the way, making suggestive movements and flipping him off.

The car’s front swerved just inches from Dino and stopped.

Per frowned, “Single, don’t hurt him, be more careful.”

Kostki laughed, “He’s fine. That little guy’s been hanging on him for so long, and he’s not even complaining.”

Carter Vaughan laughed and scolded, “What’s he, a few pounds? That w***e Vera clung to you for a whole night, and I didn’t see you complain either.”

Joe burst into laughter, clapping Carter Vaughan on the back. “Get out, the boss has missed you.”

Carter Vaughan, limping, got out of the car. Oliver looked at the various people gathering around them. Not a single Asian in sight, just a bunch of tall, broad-shouldered men. The child was terrified and clung tightly to Carter Vaughan.

Seeing Carter Vaughan getting out, Oliver hurried to get out too. However, the Humvee was too high for him, and he struggled to climb up. In his panic, he forgot how short his legs were and tripped, nearly falling out of the car.

He screamed, “Uncle!”

Carter Vaughan quickly turned around and grabbed him by the waist. A sharp pain shot through his arm—he knew his wound had reopened.

Per jumped to his side. “Single…”

Carter Vaughan dropped Oliver to the ground. “I know, baby, re-dress it for me.”

“Single…” A deep voice rang out from the crowd. The voice was calm, refined, and completely at odds with the image of the surrounding rough soldiers.

At the sound of the voice, the crowd automatically parted, creating a path.

A tall, handsome man with blonde hair and blue eyes walked over slowly. He wore a cream-colored cashmere sweater and dark gray slacks, exuding an elegant aura, as if he were attending a Hollywood celebrity gathering rather than hanging out with a group of rough mercenaries.

Carter Vaughan looked up. “Boss.”

The man was El Moray, the leader of the "Peregrine" mercenary group.

El walked up to him, gently patted his arm, and sighed, “It’s good you made it back alive.” His gaze then fell on the small child who was clinging tightly to Carter Va

El furrowed his brow. “Joe spoke to me on the way here. Is this the child you brought back?”

Carter Vaughan nodded. “Yep, can’t shake him off. See?” He raised his leg, and the child immediately clung to it, eyeing El suspiciously.

El shrugged. “We’re not a charity. What are you going to do with him?”

Carter Vaughan was about to speak when a strange voice cut into their conversation.

“Oh my God.” A thin, pale white man pushed through the crowd, his face ghostly white, eyes filled with an unnatural lust. He stared hungrily at Oliver,

The child was terrified and instinctively tried to hide behind Carter Vaughan.

Carter Vaughan's eyes burned with murderous intent. He tossed aside his crutch, drew Joe's handgun, and pressed it hard against the man's crotch just as his disgusting hand was about to touch Oliver.

The man froze instantly, wide-eyed, staring at Carter Vaughan.

Carter Vaughan’s expression twisted into a snarl as he glared at him.

“Single, what’s this about?”

Carter Vaughan spoke coldly, his voice carrying enough weight for everyone to hear, “Jim, this kid is mine from now on. If you touch him, not even a single hair of his can fall out, or I’ll cut off your d**k and make you eat it.”

Jim’s face changed, eyes filled with malice. He took a step back and sneered, “Yours? Hahaha, what a joke. When did you start liking this kind of thing? You used to find me repulsive, remember?”

Carter Vaughan spat on the ground, “Pfft, I still find you disgusting. He’s my son.”

“Son?” Jim laughed hysterically, clutching his stomach. “Hypocritical yellow dog, you just got him before me, that’s all.”

Carter Vaughan sneered. “You can try and take him. Want to duel me for him?” He handed Joe back the gun, revealing his murderous expression. “Pick your weapon.”

No one spoke. The air felt as if it had frozen.

Jim's face twisted with rage. He glared at Carter Vaughan before turning around and walking off.

Infighting was strictly prohibited in the mercenary group, but if two members reached an irreconcilable hatred, they could challenge each other to a duel, witnessed by the entire group.

No one, not even Jim, would dare challenge Carter Vaughan to a one-on-one duel. This young, handsome Oriental had the killing power of a demon.

El watched with amusement and teased, “Single, if you duel, I’ll bet on you to win.”

Carter Vaughan smirked at Jim’s retreating back. “You’d make a safe bet.”

El raised an eyebrow, his arms crossed. “So… he’s your son?”

Carter Vaughan gave the child, who was shaking in fear, a disgusted look. “He’s not quite as useful as I was back then, but… I suppose, yeah, he’s mine now.”

El waved his hand dismissively and called to the onlookers. “Go do what you’re supposed to do.”

When they were finally alone, El shook his head. “This isn’t the same as how your father took you in. I wouldn’t recommend doing this.”

Carter Vaughan patted El on the shoulder. “Boss, bro, I’ve made up my mind. Raising him could be fun. Just like how our father raised us, I think I can raise a kid. It’s a fine tradition in our mercenary group—to have someone to carry on the legacy.”

El’s stunning blue eyes stared deeply into Carter Vaughan as if seeing through him. “Though you always say live for today and not for tomorrow, you still want to leave something behind when you die, don’t you? Like how your father died, but he left us.”

Carter Vaughan chuckled and shook his head. He patted El on the shoulder again. “El, I’m not thinking that far ahead. I just think it’ll be fun. Don’t worry, I won’t let him drag us down. If he becomes a burden to the group, I’ll end it myself.”

El sighed lightly, offering a graceful smile. “My reckless little brother…”

Per led Carter Vaughan into the single-man tent he had prepared for him and quickly tended to the reopened wound.

After Per left, the tent was left with just Carter Vaughan and Oliver, the two of them staring at each other.

The child curled up in a corner, looking around curiously.

Carter Vaughan tapped the table. “Get me a glass of water.”

The child hesitated but slowly went to pour him a glass of water, nervously handing it to him.

The tense atmosphere from earlier, when Carter Vaughan had nearly killed Jim, still hung over the child. Though he didn’t understand everything they had said, he felt it was somehow related to him, and it scared him.

After Carter Vaughan finished drinking, he said, “Come here.”

The child slowly approached, looking up at him, speaking quietly. “Uncle, will you take me home?”

Carter Vaughan’s face darkened. “I told you already, I won’t take you home. If your parents are dead, I might take you to see them.”

The child understood the sarcasm and flinched in fear.

Carter Vaughan grabbed his chin, staring into his eyes, speaking slowly. “From now on, consider your parents dead. You won’t be going back to them. From now on, you’re going to be my son.”

The child’s eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Carter Vaughan.

After saying that, Carter Vaughan felt an unfamiliar emotion stir inside him.