At 5:30 AM, Darnell walked into the hospital room next to Kameron’s, carrying a large bag of breakfast.
In that room were Jolie and Raelynn.
Three police officers stood guard at the door. When they saw Darnell, they nodded in recognition, clearly aware that he was the one who saved Kameron.
Darnell smiled and nodded back, sharing the breakfast he brought with them and asking them to take a portion to Kameron before pushing open the door.
Upon entering, he saw Judith chatting amiably with the two women. Jolie and Raelynn seemed to have calmed down, their spirits returning to a semblance of their old selves.
Darnell cheerfully called out, “Good morning, ladies!”
Seeing Darnell, Jolie and Raelynn struggled to sit up. “Mr. Halford!”
Their faces were filled with respect and gratitude. They both knew that if it weren’t for Darnell’s intervention last night, they would likely be in far worse circumstances.
Judith glanced over. “You’re here.”
“Don’t get up. Just lie back down,” Darnell urged, stepping forward to gently push them back onto the bed. “Beauties look better lying down than standing.”
Jolie and Raelynn chuckled, and the room was filled with a bright, lively energy.
Judith’s expression turned frosty. “Smooth talker.”
“I thought you liked me this way, Captain Meech.”
Darnell grinned, unashamedly teasing Judith. Just as she looked ready to snap at him, he quickly held up the breakfast bag.
“Don’t take a swing at me. I brought breakfast for all of you. If you hit me, how can you enjoy this feast?”
Judith’s stomach grumbled, forcing her to suppress her anger. With a huff, she replied, “I’ll let you off this time because of the breakfast.”
Darnell laughed as he set the food out on the table, the aroma wafting through the room and making everyone’s mouth water. He looked at the two women in bed.
“Ladies, what would you like to eat? Just tell me, and I’ll bring it to you. You shouldn’t move too much since you’re not feeling well.”
His gaze lingered a moment longer on Raelynn, who now wore a hospital gown that made her look even more graceful.
With her delicate features, flawless skin, and clear eyes that seemed to see through one, she looked remarkably beautiful, reminiscent of a pure college student.
She shared a similar charm with Jolie, and Darnell silently praised himself for rescuing her last night. Otherwise, such a beauty would have been ruined.
“Thank you, Mr. Halford, but we can manage ourselves,” Raelynn replied, her cheeks flushed as she and Jolie hopped out of bed to join him.
They both had fair legs, bright and enticing.
They sat beside Judith before turning to Darnell with smiles. “Mr. Halford, sit down and eat with us.”
Raelynn even playfully winked at Darnell, her cuteness radiating as she extended her hand for a handshake.
Darnell laughed and took her hand, finding it soft and delicate.
“Don’t call me Mr. Halford. It sounds so formal. Just call me Darnell.”
Jolie and Raelynn both blushed, silent.
Judith looked at Darnell, who feigned disappointment. “See? Jolie and Raelynn are afraid of you.”
Darnell sighed dramatically. “Captain Meech, my heart is pure.”
Judith retorted without missing a beat, “But your intentions are not.”
Jolie and Raelynn giggled, and the atmosphere in the room turned warm and inviting.
Raelynn stole a glance at Darnell, her heart fluttering at the memory of their earlier interaction and handshake. A rosy blush crept onto her cheeks.
Deep down, she felt inexplicably happy.
In the desperate moment last night, when she felt hopeless, Darnell had stood in front of her, saving her from the clutches of the Axe.
Every boy dreams of being a hero who rescues a damsel in distress, and every girl dreams of being saved by a hero.
At that moment, Raelynn thought that this suddenly appearing guy was so brave and handsome…
But now that she thought about it, he also seemed a bit flirtatious and mischievous.
Hmm, definitely a bit naughty! He even sneaked a squeeze of her hand… but why didn’t she feel repulsed at all?
Raelynn’s cheeks flushed deeper as she took a sip of milk to hide her embarrassment.
Soon, the four of them settled down to eat breakfast. Jolie and Raelynn hadn’t eaten anything the night before and had been through a grueling ordeal for over ten hours. Now, with warm food in front of them, their appetites were insatiable.
As they devoured their food, they also kept offering bites to Darnell, making Judith shake her head in disbelief.
“Are you two alright?” Darnell asked, looking at Jolie and Raelynn. “Did you get a thorough check-up?”
“Don’t worry. They’re fine,” Judith interjected, glancing at the two women. “Jolie has a few bruises, but nothing serious. Raelynn was drugged and hit her head, but after treatment, she’s alright.”
“The doctor said the most important thing is their mental state. As long as they’re emotionally stable, they can be discharged anytime.”
Jolie and Raelynn sat up straighter, responding, “Mr. Halford, we’re fine now.”
Raelynn added earnestly, “Without you, we would have been ruined.”
Last night, she had felt like dying was a luxury, so she was grateful to Darnell for giving her a second chance at life.
Darnell exhaled deeply, relieved. “That’s good to hear. If you’re fine, you can head home to rest soon.”
“Head home to rest?” Judith shot Darnell a look. “Are you aware that you’ve angered the Axe and crippled Peter’s crew? They absolutely loathe you.”
“They’ll retaliate without a second thought, not just against you but also against Jolie and Raelynn.”
“I’ll go have a serious talk with Samuel and give him a warning. It wouldn’t be wise for them to return home just yet.”
She was being very considerate. “If they leave the hospital now, they could easily fall into the Axe’s hands again, and what happened last night might happen again.”
Jolie and Raelynn nodded in agreement. “Thank you, Captain Meech.”
The mere thought of Peter and the Axe made them shudder, deeply fearing the repercussions.
After finishing his breakfast, Darnell said with a knowing smile, “I doubt you can warn him.”
“What do you mean?”
Judith scoffed, her pride evident. “Are you underestimating me or overestimating him? He may be an important figure in the Axe, but I’d shoot him on sight if he committed any crimes.”
“If it weren’t for the fact that he arrived afterward and we have no evidence to implicate him, I would have already had him arrested.”
“Even though I can’t pin him down right now, I’ve already sent people out to track him down.”
Judith’s resolve was unwavering. “The humiliation Jolie and Raelynn suffered must be avenged.”
Jolie and Raelynn looked at her with gratitude. “Thank you, Captain Meech.”
They were grateful to have escaped with their lives and never expected to seek revenge, wanting instead to avoid dragging Judith down with them.
“No need to thank me. It’s my duty to eradicate evil and punish crime.”
Judith looked at the two girls with compassion. “I would do the same for anyone else. Just focus on your recovery.”
“As soon as the investigating officers return from the hospital, I’ll confront Samuel with the evidence and ensure he can’t harm you again.”
She fixed her gaze on Darnell. “How dare you underestimate me! You’ll see how I’ll deal with him.”
Darnell chuckled. “Captain Meech, it’s not that I don’t think you can deal with him.”
Judith frowned slightly.
Just then, Judith’s phone rang. She stepped outside to answer it. The moment she heard the news, her expression changed dramatically.
“What? Samuel was killed? By Seven Wolves?”