The woman in blue screamed in pain, stepping back a few paces and looking down at her finger, which had a blister from being burned.
The culprit, Cesar, had just gotten up from the ground. He held a cheap cigarette between his teeth, showing off two gold teeth as he grinned.
The woman in blue was furious. “You burned me with your cigarette?”
“I’m his boss. You told me to get lost, which is an insult to him.”
Darnell jumped down with Bailee, looking at the woman in blue as he spoke leisurely, “Insulting him and getting a burn is quite normal.”
Darnell suddenly realized that having a few underlings wasn’t bad. It meant he didn’t have to get his hands dirty.
Cesar just chuckled without saying a word, slowly exhaling a puff of smoke.
“Bastards, how dare you touch me? You’re tired of living.”
The woman in blue felt a sharp pain and glared at Darnell and Cesar with hatred. “Tonight, you’ll pay for this.”
“Cierra, stop!”
Just as the woman was about to signal her companions to fight, a hoarse yet authoritative voice came from behind.
“Fighting and causing trouble is inappropriate.”
The woman in blue, referred to as Cierra, and her two burly companions immediately showed respect upon hearing the voice and stepped aside to make way.
Darnell looked up to see several men in black surrounding a young man in white who exuded an air of nobility.
These bodyguards each had distinct features but shared an aura of maturity and toughness.
Compared to them, the other men in the bar seemed much less imposing, their eyes sharp like knives but ultimately lacking experience.
The young man in white was particularly striking. He wore white casual pants, white casual shoes, a white shirt, and even a white belt.
His facial features were soft yet carried an air of cruelty. His hair fell over his eyes, and while he wasn’t conventionally handsome, anyone who saw him would feel a chill.
He gave off the vibe of a twisted serial killer, someone who would smile while cutting your throat open.
Upon his arrival, Cierra and her companions spoke in unison, “Mr. Swain.”
Not far away, security personnel who had intended to intervene were stopped by their manager. “Don’t get involved,” the manager instructed with a serious expression.
He recognized this sinister young man, Steve Swain, heir to the Swain Group and son of Zane Swain.
“Mr. Swain, these guys are too arrogant,” Cierra reported to the young man in white. “They even burned me with a cigarette.”
“That just shows you’re useless. Since when did my dog become so ineffective?” Steve replied nonchalantly, “Next time you mess up like this, I’ll have you torn to pieces by wild dogs.”
Cierra shivered and responded, “Sorry, Mr. Swain.”
As they spoke, Steve approached Darnell and Bailee. His gaze lingered on Bailee with intense interest.
“Miss, would you honor me with a dance?”
He completely ignored Darnell and Cesar.
Bailee picked up a bottle of soda water meant for pole dancers and drank it all in one go.
Her pure yet delicate posture exuded a unique charm. When she finished drinking the last drop of water, all the men’s eyes were fixed on her.
Even the distinguished young man in white discreetly swallowed his saliva.
Bailee tossed the bottle onto the stage and replied indifferently, “Sorry, no dance.”
Steve continued to ignore Darnell’s presence and forced a smile. “Then how about a drink? Surely you won’t refuse that?”
He pointed at himself and then at Cierra and her companions. “We came all the way from Fayhurst to have a drink here. As the host, shouldn’t you show some hospitality?”
Any seasoned partygoer would understand his underlying message, but Bailee bluntly replied, “No drink.”
She pointed at Darnell beside her. “If I want to drink, I’ll have him accompany me.”
Darnell smiled and pulled her into his arms. “Don’t say that out loud. Someone might get jealous.”
Cierra’s face turned cold. “Don’t push your luck.”
Seeing Bailee’s soft yet strong demeanor made Steve impatient. He smirked coldly,
“Fine, if you won’t dance or drink with me, then at least join me for supper?”
“Don’t refuse again. I hate people who refuse my kindness.”
“If you refuse again, I’ll have no choice but to use force. Not only will you accompany me tonight, but I’ll also break their arms and legs and throw them into the river.”
His smile was chilling. “The fish in Whiteville River will have a feast tonight.”
Darnell smiled silently and sent a text message to Harry and others on his phone while Cesar squatted down again to smoke as if it had nothing to do with him.
Hearing the threat from Steve made Bailee’s eyelids twitch, but she still gritted her teeth and replied, “Sorry, I’m busy.”
She whispered to Darnell. “Mr. Halford, let’s go.”
Bailee pulled Darnell along as they prepared to leave. She didn’t want unnecessary trouble. But just as they turned around, they were blocked by two of Steve’s men.
Bailee shouted angrily, “What are you doing? Are you going to force yourself on me in public?”
Her flushed cheeks from drinking glowed under the lights, making men hold their breath and feel pity for her.
Many people criticized Steve for going too far, but when his bodyguards pulled out knives, their anger quickly dissipated.
Being a hero required strength. Otherwise, he’d just be someone else’s stepping stone.
“Don’t waste time,” Steve said as he took a stack of money from Cierra, about fifty thousand dollars, and threw it onto the stage with disdainful eyes.
“If you come with me, they’re yours. I won’t hold grudges against those two either.”
“Get lost,” Bailee retorted angrily at being insulted like that. “If you don’t leave me alone now, I’ll call the police.”
“The police?” Steve laughed coldly, “Since when have I ever feared the police?”
Darnell twisted his neck and pulled Bailee behind him while taking a bottle from another patron’s hand. He stared coldly at Steve.
“Do you know who I am?” Darnell asked.
Steve glanced at him and Cesar dismissively. “Why would I know a bumpkin like you?”
Darnell stood tall. “Do you know where I work?”
Steve scrutinized him before replying indifferently, “Tell me your workplace so I can see if you’re worth my time.”
Darnell pressed on aggressively, “Do you know where I live?”
Steve grew impatient. “Why would I care where you live?”
“Good,” Darnell said as he raised his hand high before smashing the bottle over Steve’s head with a loud crash.
Wine splattered everywhere, and glass shards fell to the ground as blood flowed from Steve’s head wound.
Then Darnell kicked him hard in the stomach. Steve flew backward into his bodyguards.
At that moment, most lights went out simultaneously, plunging the bar into darkness.
Chaos erupted, and screams echoed amid the flashing lights.
“Hold them off!” Darnell shouted while pulling Bailee through the crowd. “Your boss has to leave first.”
However, Cesar was much faster than he expected. Cesar already darted ahead, followed closely by Harry’s team, rushing towards the exit.
Damn!
Left no choice, Darnell scooped up Bailee and ran away, realizing how tough it was to be their boss!