For Alexander, only a fool would risk offending the Axe and the Swain family over someone as insignificant as Darnell.
Moreover, since his sister informed him that Darnell was Karlee’s current boyfriend, Alexander didn’t hesitate to throw Darnell under the bus. He then looked at Samuel and added, “You can do whatever you want with this man. His life and death have nothing to do with me.”
As soon as Alexander’s words left his mouth, Darnell sprayed his soda everywhere, while Karlee and Jefferson’s expressions changed dramatically.
“Mr. Chavez, you can’t just abandon me!” Darnell exclaimed.
He wiped the soda from his mouth and clutched Alexander’s arm, lamenting, “You can’t do this to a hero!”
“I just protected Karlee and your sister. Even if you can’t give me a hundred thousand as thanks for saving them, you shouldn’t sacrifice me like this!”
Darnell wiped the soda he had sprayed all over Alexander’s clothes and continued, “What will Jefferson and the others think of you? What you are doing will disappoint your brothers. No one will want to follow you.”
“If I were you, I’d reward a hero like me fifty thousand right away, and then set me up with a few beautiful women for dates, and I wouldn’t sell a hero out to the enemy.”
“Or are you afraid of them?”
Alexander shot Darnell a disgusted look and forcefully pulled his arm away from Darnell’s grasp. “Whether I’m afraid of them is none of your concern. You’re not one of us. I have no obligation to protect you.”
“Most importantly, Mr. Stewart and Cierra aren’t here to deal with Lisa’s issues.”
“But rather your own grievances with them.”
Alexander glanced around at Jefferson and the others and shouted, “We don’t need to step up for someone unimportant just to save face. That’s not bravery. It’s stupidity.”
Samuel and the others laughed, their smiles full of amusement. Karlee and her group felt a sting of hurt, while Cierra showed a hint of admiration, thinking Alexander was quite pragmatic.
“Alexander, I disagree with you on this,” Jefferson interjected, clearly displeased with Alexander. “Darnell may be new to our gatherings, but he is Karlee’s boyfriend, so he counts as one of us.”
“Unless you consider Karlee an outsider, there’s no reason to treat her boyfriend as one.”
“Of course, that’s not the main point. The most important thing is that when Karlee and we were in danger, he stepped up to help us.”
“If he hadn’t injured that big-nosed man, not only would Karlee and the rest have gotten hurt, but your sister would likely have been taken by them to serve as a prostitute.”
Jefferson continued to glorify Darnell’s actions. “He’s done so much, and instead of showing gratitude, you’re betraying him. That’s repaying kindness with ingratitude.”
A few of the young men and women hesitated, then nodded in agreement with Jefferson’s words. Although they were arrogant and spoiled, they couldn’t bring themselves to betray a companion.
Darnell, feeling wronged, shouted, “Exactly! I’m a hero. You have to protect me, not betray me!”
Karlee shot a glare at the idiot, then picked up her phone to send a text.
“Brother, don’t listen to Jefferson’s nonsense. He didn’t help us. He just hid behind Karlee, watching us get beaten like it was a show.”
Lisa dismissed Darnell’s contributions, scolding, “He knew he couldn’t avoid this trouble, so he dealt with them using dirty tactics. How disgraceful.”
Darnell, furious, retorted, “I should have let you be taken away by them!”
Lisa clenched her fists, her beautiful autumn eyes glaring at Darnell. “What do you care?!”
Samuel and the others weren’t in a hurry. They watched the drama unfold like a show, eager to see Jefferson and his group squabble.
“Stop being childish!”
Alexander shot a glance at Jefferson and the others. “This isn’t about repaying kindness with ingratitude. It’s about staying neutral and not being used.”
“Neutral my ass,” Darnell sneered, squeezing out a retort. “Mr. Chavez, you’re just being hypocritical. Your brothers get beaten up, and your sister is humiliated, yet you don’t dare offend them? Just say it outright instead of making excuses.”
“If I were in your shoes, if someone hurt my brother, I’d rush in to settle the score right away.”
“With so many people around, and you can’t even avenge your brothers? You’re not an esteemed young master. You’re a coward.”
Darnell’s words were undeniably provocative. Not only did Jefferson and his group grow dissatisfied with Alexander, but even Shawn’s expression turned complicated as he touched the bruises on his face.
Samuel and Cierra narrowed their eyes, gaining a bit more insight into Darnell, thinking to themselves that this guy really knew how to provoke.
Alexander’s expression darkened, and he said coldly, “Don’t try to sow discord. That tactic won’t work on us.”
“I’ll handle tonight’s events with Mr. Stewart and the others, and I will definitely give the injured brothers an explanation.”
Despite his righteous tone, to others, it only sounded like he was afraid of the opposing forces and too scared to stand up for his brothers. It sounded like an excuse only a coward would use.
Darnell ignored Alexander and instead pulled Jefferson closer, laughing, “What’s so good about being his brother? Why don’t you be my brother instead? You can give me a hundred thousand or so every month as a sign of respect, and I’ll help you get your revenge.” He pointed at Samuel and the others, adding, “Whoever hurt you, I’ll make them pay double.”
Darnell thought of his Darnell’s Elite Force and felt it was the perfect time to advertise his company and attract some clients.
Before Jefferson could respond, Alexander coldly laughed, “Jefferson, you’d better use your brain and not let him fool you so easily.”
“Allying with him won’t just bring you trouble. You might not even make it out of here alive tonight. A person who oversteps their bounds without the capability to back it up is likely to die young.”
Lisa chimed in, “Jefferson, don’t seek your own death. Making the wrong choice will have serious consequences.”
Jefferson scoffed at Darnell’s arrogance, but hearing Alexander and Lisa belittle him made him roar in anger, “I’d rather be his subordinate than your friend. At least he’s a man of guts, while you are nothing but a coward.”
He called out directly to Darnell, “Boss!”
Lisa and the girls all scoffed, shouting “Idiot!”
Darnell grinned, “Good! Here, have some chips. Consider it a welcome gift.”
He grabbed a handful of chips and placed them in Jefferson’s palm. “Remember to treat me to meals, drinks, and ladies in the future.”
Karlee wanted to find a hole to hide in, pretending she didn’t know this embarrassing man…
Alexander snorted and waved his hand. “Those who follow me, step to the left.”
“Those who want to follow Jefferson to seek death, stand with them. Remember, those who aren’t on my side, I won’t stand up for them.”
With a rush, everyone moved to the left, gathering near Lisa, leaving only Jefferson and the silent Karlee beside Darnell.
Cierra chuckled coldly, “So there are indeed those unafraid of death? Who gave you the courage to oppose the Swain family and the Axe?”
Samuel stretched lazily, “If they want to seek death, let’s help them.”
Jefferson felt a mix of confusion as he looked at the chips in his hand, struggling to speak, “Boss… can you really get revenge for me?”
“Of course!”
Darnell flicked the chip crumbs off his clothes and charged into the crowd, catching everyone off guard as he kicked Samuel, who had been watching with a smile.
Then, he slapped the big-nosed man who had been hostile toward him.
Bang!
Both Samuel and the big-nosed man grunted, crashing backward, taking down several others in the chaos.
Darnell pointed at the fallen Samuel, “You hurt my brother. I’ll kill you.”
So cool!
Karlee and many women were stunned, almost gasping in shock. Jefferson and the others were equally dumbfounded, unable to react.
“Get him!” Samuel, clutching his pained abdomen, shouted, “Kill this bastard!”
Cierra waved her hand, ordering her men to charge at Darnell.
Darnell didn’t retreat or run sideways. Instead, he charged forward, knocking two people aside and charging into the private room like a bull.
Samuel and Cierra’s expressions changed dramatically as they yelled for their men to stop Darnell. Alexander and the others rushed in behind him.
Once inside the hall, Darnell rolled away to create some distance, then stood up and saw a one-armed man sitting in the center.
He wore shorts and was shirtless, enjoying a steak with a bright smile, waiting for Samuel’s “gift”.
“Sir, help me!”
Darnell rolled up to Houston, and before the few men behind him could block him, he grabbed Houston’s arm and shouted, “Someone’s trying to harm me! Please help!”
Houston was savoring his steak, left only in his underwear, waiting for Samuel’s “gift”. He never expected that instead of the woman he wanted to see, Darnell would burst in, clinging to his arm and shouting for help.
What made him feel even worse and want to cry was that a whole crowd of people poured in.
Over sixty pairs of eyes were staring at him. Nearly naked, Houston felt utterly humiliated.
“Security! Security!”
Seeing Houston unresponsive, the boisterous Darnell suddenly pulled out his supreme card and shouted, “I’m a supreme card’s cardholder! Someone’s bullying me!”
“Someone’s trying to hit me! Someone’s trying to hit me!”
The security guards who had been watching from a distance were stunned, but when they saw Darnell raise his VIP card, they rushed in like a swarm.
“Everyone, stop! Stop!”
Darnell seized the opportunity to dart out, hugging the lead security guard. “Big bro, I’m a VIP customer. A few low-tier guests are bullying me.”
“You have to stand up for me. I’m a distinguished guest here.”
Karlee and Jefferson’s group collectively sighed, “Shameless!”