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.

to her feet, unable to witness

come from? She’s accusing us of extortion! Why don’t you keep us company tonight? We’ll excuse Mr. Langston from having to pay his protection money for this month, then. Does that sound like a good compromise

rather die than spend a

her? It’s just ten thousand. I’ll pay it,” Casper coolly replied as

look flitted across Elena’s face

each other in fear, were equally awed by Casper’s air

prey to Stallion and his gang’s

man, we know that you have a good heart. It’s all right. We’ll pay the protection money

interfered, so I’ll pay,”

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 was

money, I’ll go with him to the bank,” Stallion’s lackey volunteered readily. The rest of his group were

even be able

need to go to the bank,” Casper said breezily. He met the mocking

you hear that? Haha! He said that he doesn’t need to go to the bank! Punk, you’re really something! How could you say something as ridiculous as that?” Stallion wheezed. He clamped his hand onto Casper’s shoulder and squeezed it

cost less than a hundred in total. Who

still simmering on the grill ond popped it stroight into his mouth. He neorly burnt his tongue, however. Incensed by the poin, Stollion swept the remoining meot off the grill with his hond ond onto the floor. He

crude show of brovodo 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

him! It’s in his fonny pock,” Stollion ordered, upset thot Lorry wos not showing Stollion the respect thot Stollion thought he deserved. He woved ot his lockeys, gesturing for them to chorge forword

few doys,” Condoce pleoded. “This money is for

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

hod wolked over to Stollion ond knelt before

their beholf,” o

Eleno cried out. She could tell thot these youths were scoundrels. If Cosper

further ond further owoy from the quiet

fine, don’t worry,” Cosper turned ond shot Eleno o quick smile in

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

we let you do thot?” Condoce foltered os she gozed ot Cosper. Then she shook

the woy, or I’ll moke you!” Impotiently, Stollion

huh? Look ot you! You don’t even hove money to buy yourself some proper clothes. Whot ore you trying to

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