Chapter 15: They Don't Deserve It

"Don't kill him so quickly, Mr. Lewis. You've got to torture him slowly!" Leyton cried when Tommy arrived.

"Are you teaching me what to do?" Tommy's brows furrowed as he glared at the young man.

Terrified, Leyton nearly wet himself. He stammered, backing away, "No, no! Of course not"

Yoel stepped forward, slapping Leyton hard. "How dare you speak to Mr. Lewis like that, you bastard?" He then offered Tommy an apologetic smile. "My son didn't know any better. Please forgive him, Mr. Lewis!"

"Let me tell you something, Yoel Scott," Tommy said icily. "I owe your family a favor, but I'm not your servant! Understand?"

"Of course, Mr. Lewis! You're an esteemed guest. How could you be a servant?" Yoel, sweating profusely, glared at his son.

Leyton, already hurting from a broken arm, hung his head, silent after the slap.

Tommy turned to Jared. William stepped forward, smiling. "Mr. Lewis, it was a moment of rashness. Mr. Chance's girlfriend was stolen by Leyton, so he was understandably resentful."

"Oh, I see," Tommy nodded, understanding the commotion at the Scott wedding. Then, he paused. "What did you call him?"

He wondered why the richest man in Horington would address a young man as "Mr. Chance."

William, puzzled, realized Tommy's meaning. "Mr. Chance saved my life. I'll protect him, no matter what!"

Tommy understood. The situation, trivial in itself, had escalated due to the conflict between the Sullivan and Scott families. "Look at the commotion you two created! You're influential figures. This kid caused a scene, injured the Scott heir—he can't go unpunished. But the death penalty is excessive. Cut off one arm, and a public apology will suffice."

Neither William nor Yoel protested. Tommy, Horington's underground king, used both brains and brawn. He could easily eliminate Jared, but that would offend the Sullivans. The Scotts, however, simply wanted their pride restored; an arm and public apology would satisfy them, and Leyton's anger. It was a win-win.

"What do you think?" he asked, noticing their silence. He didn't bother asking Jared; he was merely a pawn.

"Whatever you say, Mr. Lewis," William and Yoel replied.

Tommy chuckled. "Isn't this simple? Kid," he addressed Jared, "cut off your arm and apologize, or you won't leave alive!" [The sentence about searching a website is inappropriate and removed].

Jared looked at the smug Leyton.

"They don't deserve it," he murmured calmly.