Astraea

Lorcan made his way to the main courtyard of his brother's huge modern house. During that time that his brother, General Rowan Villan serves the military, he was provided with a house inside their base.

Before he retired, he commissioned an architect to design and construct this house so that his family would have a home once he retired.

And now, his brother and wife along with five daughters lived in this huge modern architecture design home.

Thou huge, the house was simple with fewer furniture and ornaments. The house was just two-story spread in an extensive estate that his brother got from their parents.

Bricks, stones, and stained wood were used in a simplified way to reflect modern aesthetics.

His sister-in-law, Daniella Villan requested large glass windows so that natural light would deep into the interior. She thought that it would give the house a dramatic view.

And of course, open spaces. There were three courtyards in the house and the main yard is his brother's favorite one.

As he walked on the wooden deck flooring of the courtyard, he made his presence known to his brother and sister-in-law. As if on cue, General Rowan Villan and his wife Daniella raised their head at once and looked in his direction.

General Villan looked at his watch then back at Lorcan. "Did you meet the twins?" He asked because he knows that his brother only visits to see his nieces.

"Yeah," Lorcan replied.

"You do know that they called it their private space, right?" Rowan is talking about the study room. Because every time Lorcan would visit, he would see his nieces in their study room.

Lorcan just shrugged his shoulders. Lorcan knows why the girls call it their private space because it is where they talk or do something that their parents should not know.

"Sweetheart, Lorcan rarely visits the girls. So I don't think the girls would mind if Lorcan invades their private space." Daniella said then she looked at Lorcan. "Why don't you stay for dinner?" Daniella asked her in her sweet and soft voice. Brina and Bianca got their soft and sweet voice from their mother.

"You know I don't stay for dinner," Lorcan replied.

Daniella who is used to Lorcan's cold and aloof demeanor smiled. "Maybe this time?" She said then put down the book she was reading on the coffee table.

"When was the last time you get to taste my dishes?" She asked again in a pleading tone.

"I eat at your restaurant twice a week." He said coolly sitting on the accent chair in front of Rowan and Daniella.

"I haven't cooked in the restaurant for two years now. And you never stay here for dinner, that means you haven't tasted my dishes for like two years now? Now I am starting to feel hurt." Daniella jutted her lower lip acting like a child.

If it was her husband, he has already conceded. But Lorcan? Daniella never succeeded.

Daniella Villan was a renowned chef in the country. When she got married to Rowan Villan, he helped her to establish her very first fine-dining restaurant.

Now she owned five fine-dining restaurants around the country and a chain of family-style restaurants.

She used to be the Executive Chef of the main branch which is her first restaurant until two years ago when her daughter Brylee took over her position.

"Give up now, sweetheart. You'll never convince him to stay unless you are one of your daughters." Rowan knows Lorcan well. He knows that he can never say no to his daughters.

Lorcan spoiled his nieces as much as he spoiled them.

But Rowan knows his daughters as well. He knows that they would not invite their uncle to stay for dinner, which makes him wonder why.

"Hmph! At least I tried." Daniella shrugged her shoulders then reached out for the book that she put on the coffee table.

"How's your work?" Rowan asked Lorcan who was looking at the landscaped garden of the courtyard.

When he heard his brother's question, he leaned back in his seat.

"Exciting," He replied ironically because his expression says otherwise.

Lorcan is a cold and aloof person. He rarely shows emotion in front of people even to his family. And Rowan knows that when he said 'exciting' he really meant it.

He wouldn't be a bounty hunter if he doesn't enjoy it.

Lorcan was 18 years old when he got his certification to become a bounty hunter. Before that, he undergoes training under an experienced bounty hunter while studying. And now he is mentoring a couple of rookies who are aspiring to become a bounty hunter.

"I heard that you are planning to put up a bail enforcement and recovery agency," Rowan said. When he learned that his youngest brother became a professional bounty hunter, he was the first one against it.

In recent years, bounty hunting has been publicized although there are still some bounty hunters who choose to keep their identity hidden. But alongside its popularity are some ethical issues regarding the amount of legal power given to them considering that they are still a private citizen.

They are given the power to conduct investigations, perform surveillance, arrest fugitives, and criminals and surrender them to the bail bondsman or the appropriate law enforcement.

Despite being a dangerous job, Lorcan works independently. As much as possible, he would never resort to violence when catching his targets. Often, he would persuade or intimidate them which is a piece of cake for an intimidating man like him.

But most of the time, fugitives and criminals especially those high-risk criminals tend to be aggressive. They would either fight back or attack.

Lorcan has been attacked, hurt, stabbed, and shot during the process of catching fugitives. He knows the physical risk but he enjoys the thrill.

"Yeah, I've been popular these days." He said narcissistically. He is talking about the number of people who wanted to be mentored by him.

Thinking about them made him feel a little guilty, so he avoided Rowan's eyes but didn't make it obvious. Rowan will be mad as hell if he finds out what he did.

He regretted his decision back then. He was weak and was easily persuaded by his nieces. But seeing the satisfied and thrilled expression on their faces after a hunt makes him think that maybe it was worth it.

But last night, when he heard that hysterical laugh of the fugitive that surrendered to the law enforcement saying how he badly injured the bounty hunter that was sent to him, he felt guilty, and worry seeped into his veins.

Because he definitely knew who the bounty hunter he was talking about.

So he immediately rushed into his brother's house which he rarely does just to check out on the twins. He was relieved to find out that they were not injured at all.

He checked Briony's shoulder to see if there is any stab wound just like the fugitive said but there is none.

He will not forgive himself if Briony was hurt or if any of them was hurt. If that happens, he swears that nothing can stop him from pulling them out of this dangerous profession.

And Brina was right. If really one of them was injured, they cannot go home in that condition. They will be facing a lot of questions from their overprotective father if they did. Their mother will be heartbroken to see one of her daughters in a bloody condition.

Rowan sighed. "I should've dragged you to the military when you were younger." He said more to himself. Rowan has three younger brothers. Two of them were also in the military. Lorcan is the youngest and the only one who refused to go to the military.

"I would've run away if you did." Lorcan casually said.

They heard Daniella chuckled.

Rowan shook his head. "I don't understand why you don't like to be in the military? If it is the danger and thrill you are after, I am sure we have enough of that in the military."

"Sure. As well as tons of rules and restrictions." Lorcan said, narrowing his eyes on Rowan.

"Sweetheart, you should know better than anyone that Lorcan is not the type of person that you can keep on a leash." Daniella who was listening to their conversation said.

"Yes, and I don't think he'll ever get married with that attitude." Rowan rolled his eyes. He was quite sure that Lorcan would grow old alone with that kind of attitude.

Lorcan is already 32 years old and he has never heard or seen him with a girl. He even doubted if Lorcan even had an interest in them.

"Don't say that, sweetheart. 32 is still young. And with Lorcan's handsome face, it is impossible that no one would be interested in him. He just needs time." Daniella said as if she knew something that Rowan didn't.

And that made Lorcan feel uncomfortable.