Stallion sauntered before the front counter as boldly as if he was the owner of the restaurant. He picked up a piece of meat that was still simmering on the grill and popped it straight into his mouth. He nearly burnt his tongue, however. Incensed by the pain, Stallion swept the remaining meat off the grill with his hand and onto the floor. He then stomped on them furiously, leaving bits of smashed meat littered over the floor.

Larry watched Stallion’s crude show of bravado helplessly. His mind was desperately thinking of the money he carried in his fanny pack. It was money Larry had set aside to pay for Candace’s medical bills, along with the household’s daily expenses. Larry could not bear to deliver his money into the hands of these ruffians.

“You clearly have money! You’re just unwilling to hand it over! All of you, take it from him! It’s in his fanny pack,” Stallion ordered, upset that Larry was not showing Stallion the respect that Stallion thought he deserved. He waved at his lackeys, gesturing for them to charge forward and snatch Larry’s pack.

“Have mercy on me, please! Give me another few days,” Candace pleaded. “This money is for my children’s school fees and for our daily necessities. I’m begging you!”

Alarmed by Stallion’s threats, Candace, who had been standing by Larry’s side, stepped forward, tears streaming down her wan face as she implored the youths pitifully.

As she spoke, Candace had walked over to Stallion and knelt before him in her desperation.

“I’ll pay the money on their behalf,” a clear voice rang out.

“Mr. Simpson!” Elena cried out. She could tell that these youths were scoundrels. If Casper intervened, there was no way Elena could vouch for his safety.

The night was briskly spiraling further and further away from the quiet supper that Elena had intended.

“It’s fine, don’t worry,” Casper turned and shot Elena a quick smile in reassurance.

“Candace, don’t bow down to these people. You’ve worked hard to earn your money, and you should keep it. However much protection money they’re demanding, let me pay it on your behalf,” Casper declared as he strode across the room and gently helped Candace up.

“How… How can we let you do that?” Candace faltered as she gazed at Casper. Then she shook her head firmly.

“Why not? Will you pay me then, old woman? Move out of the way, or I’ll make you!” Impatiently, Stallion shoved Candace aside. She reeled, then fell onto the floor with a thud.

Stallion then stomped up to Casper. “So you’ll pay, huh? Look at you! You don’t even have money to buy yourself some proper clothes. What are you trying to play the hero for?” He said, sneering.

“That’s right! Haha, look at you! Don’t think you can fool our Stallion here!” The youth who had spoken up earlier now piped up again. He pushed his gold-rimmed spectacles up his nose and looked eagerly towards Stallion for approval.

“Well, I was going to accept five thousand from these old folk. Since you’re helping them, I’ll be generous. It’s going to be ten thousand now. Are you sure you still want to interfere, punk?” Stallion announced haughtily. He glared at Casper, confident that his announcement would defeat Casper.

The Langstons were honest folk who had poured all of their money into their home. The Langstons might have grudgingly considered letting Casper fight these rascals on the Langstons’ behalf. For him to offer them money, however, was an entirely different matter.

shouted as she sprang to her feet, unable to witness

Why don’t you keep us company tonight? We’ll excuse Mr. Langston from having to pay his protection money

burst out, quivering with rage. I’d rather die

How can I let you have her? It’s just ten thousand. I’ll pay it,” Casper

across Elena’s face as she gaped

who had been clutching each other in fear, were equally awed

fall prey to Stallion and his gang’s demands. Ten thousand was still a

It’s all right. We’ll pay the protection money ourselves,” Candace

pay,”

money? Do you need me to send someone with you to the bank to get it?” Stallion taunted. He threw his head back and laughed raucously at his joke, confident that Casper

go with him to the bank,” Stallion’s lackey volunteered readily. The rest

outfit, Stallion and his gang had decided that Casper would not even be able to pay

don’t even need to go to the bank,” Casper said breezily. He met

he doesn’t need to go to the bank! Punk, you’re really something! How could you say something as ridiculous as that?” Stallion

have cost less than a hundred in total. Who would possibly believe that he’d have ten thousand to spare in

piece of meot thot wos still simmering on the grill ond popped it stroight into his mouth. He neorly burnt his

helplessly. His mind wos desperotely thinking of the money he corried in his fonny pock. It wos money Lorry hod set oside to poy for Condoce’s medicol bills, olong with the household’s doily expenses. Lorry could not beor to deliver his money into the honds of

pock,” Stollion ordered, upset thot Lorry

money is for my children’s school fees

who hod been stonding by Lorry’s side, stepped forword, teors streoming down her won foce os she

spoke, Condoce hod wolked over to Stollion ond knelt before

their beholf,”

scoundrels. If Cosper intervened, there wos no woy Eleno could vouch

briskly spiroling further ond further owoy from

Cosper turned ond

worked hord to eorn your money, ond you should keep it. However much protection money they’re demonding, let me poy it on your beholf,” Cosper declored os he strode ocross the

Condoce foltered os she gozed ot Cosper. Then she

the woy, or I’ll moke you!” Impotiently, Stollion shoved Condoce oside. She reeled, then fell

“So you’ll poy, huh? Look ot you! You don’t even hove money to buy yourself some proper clothes. Whot ore you trying to ploy the hero for?”

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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