Chapter 3

In the dark, the male manager, Blake, didn't say a word. He raised his leather-shod foot and kicked me hard in the stomach.

The sharp pain made me gasp, my stomach churning violently.

"That's for trying to freeload off my woman!"

"That's for sticking your nose where it doesn't belong!"

He screamed, his voice warped by jealousy and rage. He looked down at me, ordering the two strongmen, "Beat him! Teach him a lesson he won't forget!"

The two security guards were clearly his loyal henchmen. Without hesitation, a relentless storm of punches and kicks rained down on me. I bit down hard, swallowing every cry of pain. My bones felt like they were being shattered, my internal organs dislocated.

His taunts continued. "What do you think you are? Nothing but a pathetic freeloader, living off his sister's success!"

"I told you I'm her brother! If you don't believe me, ask Mia! Call her right now, I'll tell her!" I struggled to explain, but the man ignored me completely. Only when I started feeling dizzy did he raise a hand to stop them.

He nudged my shoulder with the tip of his leather shoe, looking at me triumphantly. "You'd better be a good boy and pay for that meal today, then cough up another hundred thousand dollars."

"That's what you get for meddling in my and Mia's business and trying to use her money."

"I'm not afraid of making a scene. Mia will sort it out for me."

I was curled up in a ball, aching all over, weakly protesting, "That's my own money. I told you, if you don't believe me, ask her."

His face changed. He kicked me, and the two security guards immediately understood, their punches and kicks raining down on me again. I knew he wouldn't listen to anything I said. If this continued, I could really be in serious trouble.

After I coughed up a mouthful of blood, I used my last ounce of strength to grope for my phone on the floor.

"Stop... I'll... I'll pay."

He seemed satisfied with my surrender. He motioned for the two security guards to stop, then squatted down and patted my swollen cheek. "See? Would've been easier to just do that from the start, wouldn't it? You had to learn the hard way, huh?"

"One hundred thousand dollars. Not a cent less."

I lay sprawled on the cold floor, gasping for breath, my lungs burning. I ignored him and dialed my friend Ryan's number.

The call was answered quickly.

"Ryan, bring two hundred grand to my sister's restaurant."

"I need it now."

Ryan paused on the other end, then sensed something was wrong. "Liam? What's going on with you? Your voice sounds..."

"Don't ask. Just hurry." I cut him off and hung up.

Blake's eyes lit up at the mention of "two hundred grand," a flash of greed crossing his face. He probably thought I was scared silly and was offering more money to beg for mercy. The triumph on his face was now impossible to hide.

"Smart move."