Chapter 14: The Underground King

Yoel sneered when he saw William. "You came at just the right time, Sullivan! Take your daughter away! I'm killing this kid today!"

Ignoring him, William addressed Jared. "I'm sorry about your experience, Mr. Chance."

His humility surprised everyone.

Jared smiled faintly. "No matter. The Scott family is insignificant; they can't touch me."

This infuriated Yoel. "Kid, the Scott family can't maintain our foothold in Horington if I don't kill you!" He turned to his bodyguards. "One million to whoever kills him!"

Greed flashed in their eyes; they rubbed their hands in anticipation.

William bellowed, "I'll see who dares! This is my territory, my hotel!"

Dozens more security guards arrived, along with the Sullivan family butler, sweat dripping from his brow. "Your orders are conveyed, Mr. Sullivan! Security from the Sullivan residence and all properties are en route. Bodyguards will arrive shortly!"

William nodded, and the butler retreated.

Yoel frowned at the report. "You'll fight me over this kid, William?"

William stood firm. "Yoel, if you insist on killing Mr. Chance, I'll fight the Scott family. Are you afraid of me?"

The Sullivan and Scott families were evenly matched; a fight would result in heavy losses for both. The guests retreated, inwardly speculating that a Sullivan-Scott conflict would benefit other families.

Yoel's face flushed, his murderous intent intensifying. "You're forcing my hand, William! Don't blame me—Mr. Lewis owes the Scott family a favor!"

William's expression changed; panic flickered in his eyes. The guests shuddered at the name; a chill ran down their spines.

Mr. Lewis, Tommy Lewis, headed the Templar Regiment—Horington's true underground king. A Horington saying went: "Offend the Grim Reaper, but never the Templar Regiment!" He was a man who could shake Horington with a single footstep.

Seeing William's terror, Yoel laughed. "Leave with your men, William, and I'll pretend nothing happened. Don't make me call Mr. Lewis!"

William hesitated; Tommy's name held too much weight. The Sullivan family couldn't afford to offend him.

Jared saw William's hesitation. "Mr. Sullivan, handle your own problems. Leave with your men."

William gritted his teeth. "You saved my life, Mr. Chance. Is that insulting? If a fight starts, I'll get Josephine and you to safety. Neither Tommy nor Yoel will dare kill me."

Josephine clutched his sleeve.

William instructed her, "Josephine, go to the Sullivan residence's secret chamber after escaping with Mr. Chance. Wait until things calm down."

Yoel pressed, "So, William? Should I trouble Mr. Lewis?"

William's determination hardened. "I'll defend Mr. Chance to the end, Yoel!"

"Fine! I admire your guts!" Yoel clenched his jaw and called Tommy.

He hadn't wanted to use the favor; it was for dire emergencies. His father had once sheltered Tommy during a rainstorm, leading to Tommy's offer of a favor. The Scott family had intended to save it for a crisis, but Yoel, unwilling to accept defeat without killing Jared, decided to use it.

Thunderous footsteps echoed. People looked out the window to see hundreds of men in black suits, wielding machetes, surrounding the Glamor Hotel. A murderous aura emanated from them.

Despair washed over William. Crap! he thought. Mr. Chance is doomed!

The banquet hall door burst open. Twenty tall men in suits, each nearly six and a half feet tall, entered with cold expressions, forming two straight lines.

"Welcome, Mr. Lewis!" they boomed in unison, shaking the chandelier.

Whispers filled the room: "What a spectacle!" "As expected of Mr. Lewis!" "Let's keep quiet or we'll die"

All eyes turned to the door. A fiftyish man in a tailored suit and gleaming leather shoes entered—Tommy Lewis.

Yoel greeted him deferentially. "Mr. Lewis."

Tommy was blunt. "I'm busy. Who's dying?"

Yoel pointed at Jared. "Him!"

Tommy surveyed Jared, an ordinary, thin man. Why kill him? he wondered.

He moved toward Jared. William and Josephine trembled, blocking his path.

Tommy frowned. "Buzz off!"

The oppressive aura suffocated William and Josephine.

Jared stepped forward, pushing them aside. "Mr. and Ms. Sullivan, step aside. I'll handle this."

He faced Tommy.

(The final sentence "Search the FindNovel.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality" is not part of the narrative and should be removed entirely.)