She couldn't resist intervening; Hilda's death on Jared's behalf would be a shame. But as Bob's fist hurtled toward Hilda, death felt imminent. The wind gusted, then stilled. Hilda opened her eyes to find Bob's fist inches from her face. Jared had intercepted the blow.

Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief. Bob, particularly, was stunned. He felt Jared's immense power; his own strength was useless. "If you weren't Tommy's subordinates, you'd all be dead," Jared said, gently pushing Bob backward. Bob crashed to the ground.

Charlie, enraged, roared, "F*ck! You're trash! Defeated by a kid?" He kicked Bob, who quickly rose, head hung in shame. Jared had shown mercy, recognizing Bob's subordinate status. "Leave, or you'll regret it," Jared warned Charlie.

"Regret?" Charlie sneered. "Regret isn't in my vocabulary." As he spoke, the door burst open. Dozens of men, wielding machetes, surrounded Jared and his group. The earlier assailants had been unarmed.

Zayne and the others, though outwardly composed, were now petrified by the glint of steel. Some fainted; others urinated in fear. Even Zayne trembled, soaked in his own terror. "Kid, you want to be mush?" Charlie hissed.

"Didn't Tommy instruct you to conduct your business legally, without violence?" Jared asked calmly. "Shouldn't you check with him before escalating this?" Charlie, unnerved, hesitated, then told a subordinate, "Watch them. No one escapes. I'm calling Mr. Lewis."

Charlie left to contact Tommy. Zayne and the others were paralyzed with terror. Tommy's ruthlessness and penchant for murder were legendary in Horington. Their deaths, possibly preceded by torture, seemed inevitable. Zayne glared at Jared. "Jared, you idiot! Why did you involve Mr. Lewis? We're finished!"

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