Chapter 4 Swift Beating

Richard snapped his fingers at his men and ordered, "Finish off this motherfucker!"

At that command, the gangsters surrounded the members of the Davies family while thumping their fists and clubs against their palms.

Alexander glanced at them and mocked with a contemptuous smile, "It seems you all have a death wish. Not to worry, Father Christmas came early."

"Alex!" Nadine screamed as soon as she heard that. She grabbed his hand and pulled hard. "What's wrong with you? You only just got out of prison. If you're sent there again, how do you expect your father and I to live on?"

Seeing that his mother was frightened, Alexander held her arms and rubbed them comfortingly. "Mom, this is just self-defense."

Nadine lost it immediately.

"Wasn't it self-defense when you saved Sharon? Have you forgotten where that landed you? Stay out of this, Alex."

After that stern warning, Nadine took out her purse and walked up to Richard with an apologetic smile.

"Richard, please don't take Alex's words seriously. I have some money to add to that."

The way Nadine cowered in his presence made Richard ten times more arrogant. He flashed Alexander a taunting smile.

"Look at how smart this old woman is. You must have learned nothing in jail. Your head is still not screwed on right. Maybe you didn't receive enough beating."

Out of the blue, Richard yanked the entire purse from Nadine.

He fished through it and brought out all the bills he could find. His frown immediately returned. In a fit of rage, he raised the purse and brought it down on Nadine's head.

"You old hag, do you take me for a beggar? What the hell is this?"

It turned out that Nadine had only crumpled and tattered one-dollar bills in that purse.

The second Richard finished speaking, Alexander gave him a kick that uprooted him from his feet and threw him off.

Richard, whose back had just hit the hard ground, winced in pain as he roared, "Fuck that bastard up! Whoever breaks all his limbs will be rewarded with twenty thousand dollars! And one hundred thousand for his fucking life. I'll take the responsibility for whatever happens afterward!"

The ears of all the gangsters pricked up when they heard those rewards. Without wasting time, they picked up their weapons and charged at Alexander at the same time.

"No!" Nadine screamed and opened her arms wide, intending to shield her son.

But in a trice, the gangsters were sent flying away and crashing to the ground with thuds. Most of them began to cry like little boys.

Richard couldn't believe his eyes.

What the hell was going on? How in God's name were his men sent flying somewhere else?

Alexander, who hadn't broken a single sweat, slowly walked over to Richard with a cold face.

"I warn you! I work for Mr. Johnson! If you dare lay a finger on me, he will skin you alive. Your parents will not be spared too!"

When Richard saw the murderous glare Alexander had, he threatened while retreating in fear. Finally, his back was up against a concrete fence. He had nowhere to turn to now.

A sharp sound pierced the quiet air. Alexander's big palm had just landed on Richard's cheek.

"Don't you dare to do that again!"

Alexander didn't give a damn now. He gave Richard another slap on his left cheek this time.

The thin man's face turned red and puffy in an instant.

"I'll only say it once! Kneel and apologize to my parents right now!" Alexander ordered with fire in his eyes.

With a dull thud, Richard sank to his knees in front of Santino and Nadine without thinking twice.

"Mr. and Mrs. Davies! I was wrong! I promise to never do that again. Please forgive me."

As he spoke, he bowed to them and his forehead hit the ground.

At his third bow, Alexander placed his foot on the back of his head and pressed the man's face into the dusty ground.

Santino grabbed his son's arm and said, "Alex, please get a grip. Don't send yourself back to jail just because you want to get back at him. We can't afford to lose you again!"

Looking at his father's worried eyes, Alexander sighed, took his foot off, and kicked Richard in the belly.

Richard staggered up to his feet. Before he could dust his clothes, he ordered his men to run for their dear lives.

"What's the rush, Richard? Let me see you off." Alexander's taunting voice came just as Richard turned around. This was followed by a hand on his shoulder.

Richard cursed in his heart but still had to force a smile and say, "Thank you!"

The two walked to a corner out of Alexander's parents' sight. Finally, he let go of Richard's shoulder and slammed him against the wall. "Just so you know, you would have been a dead man or maybe gotten bundled up in a stretcher if my parents weren't here."

"Alexander, please have mercy on me. I'll turn a new leaf," Richard begged, clasping his hands together pitifully.

"I want to listen to my parents, but then again, you just smacked my mother in the head. What are you gonna do about that?" Alexander uttered, his lips stretching in a meaningful smile.

Richard took the hint immediately. With his hands shivering, he held out the envelope he just received.

"Please use this for her treatment..."

"Now, scram!" Alexander growled after yanking the envelope and stuffing it into his pocket. He watched Richard run for his dear life before returning to his parents.

"Dad, Mom, everything is fine now. You should continue your lunch. There's something else I must do now."

The couple instantly grew nervous when they heard their son's words.

At the sight of the worry lines on their faces, Alexander explained hurriedly, "Don't get me wrong! I just want to go buy some stuff to make you medicine. I'm not going to make trouble."

Just now when Alexander's father held his arm, he had noticed his severed finger. He wanted to do something about it.