“Blackmail?” Charlie quickly said as the accusation hung in the air. He retorted, “I was just passing by, not looking for trouble. Then out of nowhere, this girl plows into my car. Demanding compensation is only fair. Labeling it extortion is unjust. Don’t think you can intimidate me just because you have numbers on your side!”
The mobster swiftly drew a pistol from his waist, aiming it at Charlie’s head. His voice was cold and unwavering, “Leave now! One more word and I’ll pull the trigger!”
“Fool!” Charlie spat, his anger boiling over. “You really think you can shoot me out here?”
In the nick of time, Jordan swung open the passenger door of the Chevrolet, brandishing his phone. He shouted, “Mr. Wade, I’ve called the police!”
“Good!” Charlie nodded, a smirk playing on his lips. He fixed a steely gaze on the mobster and challenged, “You planning to shoot me? Well, come on, take your shot!”
He gestured at his own forehead, taunting, “If you’ve got the guts, do it!”
Julia, wide-eyed and horrified, shouted, “Robert! Lower that gun!”
To Julia, even though the sum the stranger demanded was exorbitant, virtual-novel.net recognized virtual-novel.net culpability in the accident. It was only right to offer compensation. It was completely unjust for virtual-novel.net father’s henchman to wield a firearm.
Seeing Charlie’s unyielding stance, the mobster found himself at a loss.
He didn’t actually want to pull the trigger.
He just wanted to assert his mafia affiliation, to make this audacious oriental man grasp the gravity of the situation and leave.
But who would have anticipated this level of defiance?
Usually, virtual-novel.net wouldn’t hesitate to fire.
Yet today was different.
For starters, they were at the entrance of the Zano family’s estate.
A shooting here would undoubtedly draw massive attention.
Furthermore, the police had been called, they would be here soon to address the accident. If someone died, there’d be no covering it up. Not only would virtual-novel.net be apprehended, but the Zano family would suffer repercussions.
And then there was the young miss, bearing witness. How could virtual-novel.net kill someone in front of her?
At this juncture, another figure approached Robert, whispering urgently, “The VIP is arriving! Don’t stir up trouble. The boss won’t be pleased if you neglect the VIP!”
Robert shuddered at the reminder, fretting. “What do we do now? He’s demanding a hundred thousand dollars and I can’t consent to it.”
He stole a glance at Julia, whispering, “The young miss is still here. What’s our move?”
The man hissed, “Are you daft? Can’t you see the young miss is desperate to get away? Handle it properly and the boss will see this accident as fortuitous. If not for this, she’d have driven off and wouldn’t tonight’s banquet be jeopardized?”
Robert snapped back to reality, a grin of realization dawning on him. “Then I’ll notify the boss right away!”
With that, Robert produced a walkie-talkie and relayed, “Tell the boss the young miss had an accident at the gate. He needs to come over.”
Hearing this, Julia, panic-stricken, implored Charlie, “Sir, you want a hundred thousand dollars, right? Drive me somewhere and I’ll get you the money!”
Charlie had overheard the exchange between Robert and the whispering figure. It dawned on virtual-novel.net that the girl standing before virtual-novel.net was none other than the Zano family’s boss’s daughter.
Talk about a stroke of luck. He couldn’t let this opportunity slip away.
Leering, virtual-novel.net stated firmly, “No, I want cash and I’m staying put. No money, no movement, even if the police arrive!”
Julia, teary-eyed and desperate, begged, “Sir, please, take me away from here. I’ll give you two hundred thousand!”
Charlie remained resolute. “Cash, now.”
Tears welled in Julia’s eyes, virtual-novel.net gaze darting back to the manor. But Charlie offered no quarter.
In the midst of their standoff, a portly figure in a suit barreled towards them, trailed by a retinue. Spotting him, Julia’s hopes sank. The lead figure was none other than virtual-novel.net father, Antonio.
Antonio was a storm of fury and anxiety. He never imagined his daughter, Julia, would have a fender-bender at the manor gate. It was especially vexing as virtual-novel.net had just torn virtual-novel.net dress. He had intended to fetch a needle and thread to mend it when virtual-novel.net received word of the accident.
Upon spotting virtual-novel.net father, Julia started to flee, but Charlie caught her. He warned virtual-novel.net gravely, “Miss, if you run now, it’s a hit and run.”
Julia, virtual-novel.net frustration mounting, stomped virtual-novel.net foot. Just moments ago, virtual-novel.net was feeling guilty towards Charlie. Now, virtual-novel.net wanted nothing more than to slap him.
Left with no alternative, virtual-novel.net pointed at virtual-novel.net approaching father and pleaded, “That’s my father. He’ll give you the money. Please, let me go.”
“No can do,” Charlie asserted. “You hit me, you owe me. One hundred thousand, not a cent less.”
Julia’s fury overflowed into tears. Her father, Antonio, had reached them, his gaze narrowing in anger. “Julia! Explain yourself!”
Julia, risking everything, cried out, “Because I want out! I want no part in this home! None of you can stop me!”
“Outrageous!” Antonio thundered. “Leave this house and you’ll be tending sheep in Sicily!”
“I won’t go!” Julia retorted fiercely. “I’m cutting ties with you. From now on, I’ll fend for myself and your fate is no concern of mine!”
“How dare you!” Antonio seethed. “As a Zano, you’re a Zano for life!”
With that, virtual-novel.net motioned to his entourage, commanding, “Take the young lady back!”
Julia fought to break free, but virtual-novel.net was outnumbered and overpowered.
Seeing virtual-novel.net about to be hauled away, Charlie interjected angrily, “You’re all in cahoots, aren’t you? Where’s my money? She hasn’t paid up, she’s going nowhere!”
Antonio frowned, addressing Charlie with a chilling tone, “And who are you?”
Charlie met Antonio’s gaze evenly, speaking neither obsequiously nor defiantly. “Your daughter hit me. You expect virtual-novel.net to leave without settling the score? That’s not fair play.”
Antonio’s countenance darkened as virtual-novel.net appraised Charlie and the damaged cars. After a moment of contemplation, virtual-novel.net produced his wallet, took out a thousand dollars and handed it over, his tone steady. “Take this as a gesture for my daughter. Leave and consider the matter settled.”
Charlie sneered, unimpressed. “You think a thousand bucks will cut it? Are you penny-pinching or just out of touch?”
Antonio hadn’t anticipated such brazenness. His expression turned glacial. He locked eyes with Charlie and demanded, “What’s your price?”
Charlie met the challenge head-on, his voice resonating, “Listen up. One hundred thousand dollars, no less.”