“I’m a bit scared.”
Darnell took a spoonful of porridge. “But I think saving you is worth it. You look like you have a lot of money.”
He chuckled. “Taking a risk for an eighteen million dollar reward seems worth it.”
“You won’t forget to repay me, will you? After all, I saved your life.”
Throughout the conversation, Darnell never asked about Houston’s identity or who was after him. It seemed like none of that mattered to him. He only cared about the reward.
Houston’s phone, gun, and dagger were placed beside his head, giving him a sense of security.
Hearing Darnell’s words, Houston wanted to shoot him. This bastard kept reminding him of repaying the favor.
However, Darnell’s smug demeanor made Houston secretly relieved.
Houston witnessed Darnell’s shamelessness and arrogance last night. Daring to oppose the Axe and the Swain family, kicking Samuel, and smashing his head made Darnell’s risky rescue understandable.
Thinking of this, Houston cleared his throat and said with determination in his voice, “Don’t worry. As long as I make it back alive, I will repay you.”
Houston’s weak hand trembled. “Ten million is too little. My life is worth at least fifty million.”
“Great, that’s what you said.”
Darnell pulled out a prepared pen and paper from under the chair. “Here, sign it in black and white.”
“Once you sign this, you’ll be the first client of Darnell’s Elite Force and receive comprehensive protection from us.”
“And because you’re our first client, you’ll enjoy ten benefits.”
“A free pair of cloth shoes, a set of clothes, two quilts, a charger, and three meals a day with a standard not less than one hundred dollars…”
Darnell continued enticingly, “There will also be a fruit platter every evening and twenty-hour guard duty.”
Houston was bewildered. “Darnell’s Elite Force?”
Darnell replied politely, “I just opened a security company specializing in maintaining Woodsea’s safety while occasionally taking on smaller jobs.”
“Like yours…”
Security? Those who wanted to kill him were all ruthless criminals.
Houston felt like crying.
Darnell handed him the pen. “Go ahead and sign it.”
Tears in his eyes, Houston signed the unreliable security contract. He had no other choice.
“Congratulations!”
Holding the signed contract, Darnell patted Houston’s shoulder with a smile. “From now on, you’re under Darnell’s Elite Force’s protection.”
“No one can take your life unless they offer more money than you…”
Houston fainted immediately.
After signing the fifty-million-dollar contract, Darnell finished his porridge, treated Houston’s wounds, and changed his bandages. After finishing everything, Darnell left the basement with the porridge pot.
Outside, Garrett was waiting and guarding. Darnell poured the remaining porridge into Sugar’s food bowl and then turned his head slightly.
“Don’t let any suspicious people get close. This is our big client. We won’t need to work for three years if we keep him safe.”
Garrett nodded happily. “Don’t worry, boss. No one will harm him.”
He still didn’t ask who Houston was but trusted Darnell completely.
Ding!
As Darnell left the parking lot and returned to his apartment stairs, a call came in. Putting on his headset, he heard a cheerful voice.
“Mr. Halford, guess who?”
Darnell glanced at the number. “Mr. Gregg?”
“Oh my, Mr. Halford is truly amazing. You guessed right away.”
Feeling insulted by Chandler’s comment on his intelligence, Darnell heard Chandler laugh heartily.
“Mr. Halford, are you free tonight? Let’s have dinner together.”
“I’ll introduce you to some friends who could help your business.”
Dinner?
Darnell became interested. “Will there be beautiful women?”
Chandler paused before pretending to be angry. “How could there not be beautiful women? That would be an insult to me!”
“There are cute ones, sweet ones, voluptuous ones, plenty to choose from.”
Darnell’s eyes lit up. “Really? So many types of beauties? Alright then. I’ll come tonight. Where should we meet?”
After hanging up the phone, Darnell whistled happily. He hadn’t seen any beauties while rescuing Houston these past few days and didn’t want to miss this chance.
Just as he finished speaking, a soft voice sounded. “In high spirits? Planning to meet some beauties tonight?”
Darnell shivered and looked up to see Judith standing at his door with a playful expression on her face.
“What beauties?”
Darnell instantly denied it. “Captain Meech, what are you talking about? I don’t understand.”
“You wouldn’t understand anything bad for you.”
Judith raised her delicate chin domineeringly. “I don’t care if you’re pretending or genuinely confused. Remember that you’re my boyfriend.”
“If you fool around with other women besides that little girlfriend of yours, I’ll have you neutered.”
“Captain Meech, you’re too overbearing.”
Darnell’s excitement faded as he took out his keys to open the door for Judith.
“We’re just pretending to be a couple. Why do you care?”
“I can’t help it. I’m naturally possessive.”
Judith glanced around Darnell’s apartment. Though simple and unadorned, it was clean and orderly.
The daffodils on the windowsill were thriving under his care, something she appreciated in a man who liked cleanliness.
Despite her own messy room.
Darnell opened the fridge and tossed Judith a bottle of soda water before grabbing a carrot for himself.
“So? Do you have good news today?”
Judith sat across from him with her usual cold elegance during work hours as she handed him a file folder.
“I’m starting to understand why Areli called you her lucky star. Your luck is indeed better than most people’s. I racked my brain trying to find ways for you to get close to Elon, but I couldn’t come up with anything suitable.”
She smiled wryly. “But then you went grocery shopping and stumbled upon an almost-dead Houston, a perfect opportunity.”
Darnell looked proud. “Opportunities always favor those who are prepared.”
“How is his condition now?”
Judith teased lightly. “Will he survive? You should’ve taken him to the hospital.”
“Rest assured. My medical skills are good. If I can diagnose Kameron’s condition accurately, what’s a few knife wounds?”
Darnell bit into his carrot with a crunch. “He’s out of the woods but still needs some time to recuperate.”
He shifted topics abruptly. “Did you find out who was after him?”
“Based on your photos of the blades and wounds, and that lotus-shaped arrow, I can tell you that it was Seven Wolves who attacked them,” Judith revealed without hiding anything from Darnell.
“Seven Wolves is an infamous gang led by seven leaders, They used to dominate drug trafficking along coastal areas,” she explained further.
“They’ve always had grudges against Elon. They even fought over a woman once before. This time, it seems they encountered Houston alone, so they attacked him.”
“The lotus-shaped arrow belongs specifically to their fifth leader, a weapon meant more for torture than killing outright,” she concluded grimly.
Darnell nodded slightly. Dealing with the wound from the arrow yesterday had been a significant drain on both his time and energy.
“I’ve already sent people to trace their whereabouts. I’m sure we’ll have news soon,” he said.
At this point, Judith let out a soft sigh. “Whiteville is truly going through a turbulent time.”
However, Darnell’s expression remained calm and unruffled. Instead, he picked up the five-centimeter-long arrow, examining it with interest.
“The storm hasn’t truly arrived yet,” he remarked.