The Billionaire Possessive Way

Prologue

Using the high-tech telescope, Colton surveyed from their location a vessel that would carry the rebels they were tracking out of the country. Aside from that, the ship was also loaded with weapons believed to have been stolen from the soldiers they had slain.

The war against the rebels in Zamboanga had stretched on for nearly a month. The affected people in the area endured ceaseless gunfire and explosions day by day.

At eleven o'clock in the evening, the departure of the ship's passengers was scheduled, according to the information they obtained from a trusted source within the rebels' stronghold.

He lowered the telescope he was holding and checked the time on his wristwatch. It's 21:02. Military time.

The crash of the waves and sporadic explosions in the distance were the only sounds in the dark surroundings.

"Colton," his brother Carter called out to him.

Even with only the moonlight illuminating them, Carter managed to handle the weapons they brought. Rifles, bombs, and guns.

"Oh?" He responded curtly.

"I am your big brother—"

"I haven't forgotten that—"

"Show some respect, fucker."

He smirked at his brother. The two of them were tasked with planting bombs on the rebels' vessels. They were a team even before they embarked on their careers in the Philippine Military. They were personally selected by their commodore for this mission to aid the troops in ending the war in Zamboanga.

"Bro, you know how much I love planting bombs in vessels. Give me this opportunity." He removed his long-sleeved shirt, pants, and shoes before putting on the black rush guard overall. "Be my eyes this time."

His brother laid out three bombs on the thick foliage-covered floor. He squatted down to inspect them. He checked each one. They were all sealed to prevent water from seeping in when he ventured into the ocean.

His job was highly perilous, but his heart longed for it. He vowed to risk his life in service of his country. He wanted to be a true hero, not in everyone's eyes but in his own. He wanted to prove to his parents that the path he chose to walk was the right one and that they should be proud of him.

"Can you swim 500 yards within 12 minutes and 30 seconds?" His brother asked skeptically.

"That's only a piece of cake for me," he confidently answered while smirking at his brother, who looked at him with evident doubt on his face. "Trust me with this, it's not like we're even brothers."

"Our parents are waiting for us. Come back here while you still can."

"Even if I'm on my last breath, I'll come back. I promise." He raised his right hand, swearing. "But there has to be a girl here ready to perform mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on me when I return."

"You're still hoping that a girl will end up here?" He shook his head before tossing a bomb to him, which he promptly caught. It hung from his ear, a waterproof listening device. He attached the three sealed bombs to his waist.

"I'll be here at exactly 22:00."

"No, you should be here at 21:57."

"What?" He frowned.

"If you can't handle it, I'll do it." Carter stood up, about to remove the bombs he attached, but he stepped back. No way!

"Alright. I'll be here at 21:57."

"You only have five minutes to plant the bombs," Colton nodded his head and took a deep breath. "I'll be waiting here."

"Noted."

"We are running out of time, Colton. Do your job properly and wisely. I don't want our boss to be disappointed."

"I didn't go through intense training in America just to fail in this mission, bro."

"Good. We need to leave this place at exactly 22:00."

He nodded and determinedly stretched his arms, thighs, legs, and head before giving his brother a fist bump.

"I'm ready!" Colton declared.

"Be safe."

He hid a smile. His brother will always be his brother.

"You too," then he silently waded into the water, taking a deep breath before beginning his strokes.

Colton is part of the Philippine Navy SEAL. Before that, he trained in America for over a year to be a SEAL. He also served there for three years, then he decided to transfer to the Philippines when his parents built a resort in Villa Altaraza as an extension to their mansion. He has dual citizenship since he was born in America.

He also excelled in sniper training in the USA, but he genuinely prefers working in water. He loves the color of the ocean and everything related to the deep blue sea. He enjoys swimming immensely!

"Five minutes more, Colton," he heard his brother's voice through his waterproof listening device.

He hadn't yet felt the strain in his breath due to several minutes of swimming in the dark, chilly sea. He lifted his head slightly to estimate how close he was to the vessel.

"I can see their lookout."

"Of course," the voice on the other end sounded sarcastic. "Don't get caught."

He returned to swimming with little splashing. When the vessel was clearly in his sight, he descended further, gauging the depth before lifting his head slightly from the water.

"We need to leave earlier tonight," he heard that voice from above. He concealed himself beneath the bow of the ship. "By eleven, the boss said this ship should be gone."

"They changed their departure time," he informed his brother.

"What?"

"They moved up the ship's departure. Eleven o'clock."

"Stay with the plan, Colton."

"Yes."

"Hurry. The rebel's getaway ship is set to explode at 22:30."

He didn't speak further and swam beneath the ship. He propelled his body toward the ship's stern, detached one bomb from his waist, and affixed it there.

"Two more to go. Come on, Colton." Carter's voice sounded urgent. "You only have three minutes left."

He submerged his body beneath the water and swam toward the ship's midsection. Just as he did earlier, he attached another bomb there.

He swam faster towards the front of the ship, seeing from above that rebels were boarding, armed and alert. Some were even looking into the water, in his direction. It seemed like they were ready to shoot at the slightest suspicion.

He submerged even further to avoid detection, removing the remaining bomb from his body and sticking it to the ship's bow, coinciding with a light shining down on him from above.

"Fuck..." He silently cursed as he looked up and saw three men holding a flashlight, pointing it in his direction.

"It seemed like something moved just now!"

"Fire your guns!"

Before he could hear the succession of gunshots, he quickly swam away.

He's really skilled in underwater swimming. The training in America was life-threatening, but he was glad he surpassed it.

"Colton!" It was his brother's voice, shocked and concerned at the same time.

He must have heard the gunshots and seen the attack through the telescope.

"There's someone! He's there!"

A series of gunshots echoed, chasing him even as he remained underwater. Above the water's surface, he noticed the red dots following him; they were from rebel rifles.

It wasn't the lack of breath that caused him to slightly slow his strokes, but rather the throbbing pain in his left arm and the spreading ache in his leg.

"Colton! Speak!" He groaned in so much pain as a response, so his brother would know he's still breathing. "Damn! You're alive! Come on!"

Despite the pain in his arm and leg, he still managed to swim to where his brother was. He could endure the pain, but the dwindling air in his chest gradually pulled him down. It was so dark and cold, he couldn't see anything underwater.

He badly needed air! He forced his head above the water, gasping for breath and storing it in his chest. When he opened his eyes, he saw a figure not far away on the shore. His brother.

"Go down! Fucking go down! Colton! They have their snipers at your back!"

Before he could submerge again, he felt the stinging pain in his shoulder and back. Another shot from their opponent hit him, making his body weak and immobile.

If this is the end of his life, he would gladly accept that this is God's plan for him.

At least, before his life would end, he was able to finish his mission. That's the only matter that he is proud of.

Each powerful wave felt like a lash on his body and wounds. With the pain, he felt like a stone with no sensation. He couldn't even manage to take a sip of the salty water.

Colton let the waves carry him to the seashore where his brother, Carter, was waiting.

All he needed was the air to ease the tightness in his chest. He had passed the drowning test to become a full-fledged Navy SEAL, but it seemed like he might drown now.

His legs were numb. He couldn't feel any pain in that part of his body. This added to his concern. Not his legs! No, not his legs!

His eyes were closed, but he knew he was conscious because he could hear his brother repeatedly calling his name along with sharp curses.

"Colton! fuck! Wake up!" His brother gave him CPR, but it didn't seem to have much effect. "You want me to cut off your wedding proposal with Gail?!" He threatened him.

No!

Gail was his longtime girlfriend, and he had been planning to propose to her after this mission. That's why he needed to make it out alive and breathing.

Carter tried to revive him several times, but his body was too weak to respond. It wasn't until he heard a woman's voice from somewhere that he found the strength to fight for his life. Maybe this was the help his body had been waiting for. A mouth-to-mouth resuscitation from a woman didn't sound bad at all.