Chapter 2369
“Look, our lives are in your hands. How could I not be scared of you?” Balfour’s voice was calm, so devoid of emotion that it seemed like a dare to the thugs holding them captive.
Were they being played?
His words spoke of fear, but his face didn’t show a hint of it!
“Heh, I underestimated you. Even in this mess, you’re plotting to whisk away your little girlfriend? Do you think we’re some run-of-the-mill kidnappers? Let me tell you, each of my brothers here has blood on their hands.”
The boss didn’t finish his sentence before Victoria started to sob, fear washing over her face, making Balfour stare in her direction.
“Ah, so there is something you fear, eh? You really care about your girl, don’t you? I can’t blame you. If I had a beauty like her, I wouldn’t want her in the hands of rough men like us either, right?”
Balfour’s face finally changed at the mention of Victoria. “You promised us before, no harm would come our way. We need to be safe for you to get the rest of the money.”
But Balfour’s words seemed to provoke the man, who, quick as a flash, swung a heavy blow with a baseball bat onto Balfour’s back.
“Argh!”
Balfour fell to the ground, and before he could get up, the bat came down on him again and again. Another guy took this opportunity to remove Victoria’s blindfold, forcing her to see what Balfour was enduring, a stark warning against any thoughts of escape.
“Stop, stop it! You haven’t got the ransom yet. Do you want to kill him?” Victoria shouted.
Balfour’s lips were bloody as he lay on the ground, his gaze struggling to find Victoria.
Tears streamed down Victoria’s face, her mind racing with the terror of the situation. She should be at home, resting with her family, not here in this nightmare.
“Please, no more,” she gasped between sobs.
The boss seemed satisfied with his work, tossing the bloodied bat aside. He squatted in front of Balfour, yanking his head up without mercy.
“Kid, you think you’re tough? Still wanna challenge me? Remember, this is just a small lesson. If you get any more escape ideas, it won’t be you who suffers next time. Your girl doesn’t look as sturdy as you. I wonder if she can take a beating… or maybe my boys will take care of her, save her from physical harm, you know?”
“Absolutely not! You can’t do that!”
1/2
08:08
Balfour tried to struggle but was firmly held down.
Victoria shivered in silence, terrified she might end up as the thugs had threatened.
“How could you not keep your promises? I take it you’re a man of principle, big guy!”
Hearing Balfour’s comment, a sardonic smile spread across the boss’s face.
“You’ve got some sense, kid. Alright, until I say otherwise, your girl is safe. But don’t you two try any funny business, got it? You survived my first round of roughing you up, but you might not be so lucky next time. If you don’t want to end up crippled, stay put.”
With his warning issued, he discarded Balfour on the floor like trash, signaling his men to leave without looking back. One of the men cleaned up the mess, disposing of the bloodied baseball bat.
Only when the door slammed shut did Victoria dare to move, crawling over to Balfour, tears mixing with dust on her cheeks.
212
