Chapter 7 Ronald's Apology

"Are you alright, Cindy? Does it still hurt?" Elijah was holding a hot towel against Cindy's cheek. He was concerned about her.

Cindy could almost smell the manly scent coming from him, and her heart started to race. "I-I'm okay, Elijah. You should check on Ms. Summer."

Alicia's face was swollen, and she scraped herself while she tumbled down the stairs. She was in a worse state than Cindy.

"I don't really care about strangers. She got off easy considering she hit you." Elijah didn't even look at the idiot at the door.

Cindy was a little panicky, but she stayed silent all the same. The Summers were cruel to Elijah, and he deserved to vent. Not to mention he saved her life, and he only hit Alicia for her. If she wanted revenge, Cindy thought she would face it with Elijah.

Alicia had just gotten to the entrance, and she heard what Elijah said about her. She almost exploded with rage. 'You're nothing but a stray who leeched off my family for ten years, and now you're turning your back on us? You ungrateful bastard! Trying to play the hero for your lover? I'll show you what happens to people who hit me!'

Alicia roared in her heart and quickly moved from the gates to the house's entrance.

"Samuel, Enforcers, you're with me. Everyone else stays put," said Ronald. He gestured at Alicia. "Ladies first."

Alicia nodded and marched inside haughtily. Liam noticed the big group, and he went pale. Despair took over his eyes. "The Bloodstrides' leader? And he brought an army?" He added, "Mr. Mitchell, I'm the one who made the loan. I'm the guy who got on Ms. Alicia's bad side. Please, spare Mr. Elijah.

"Take me. Don't hurt anyone else."

Alicia sneered. "I can't believe you're lying through your teeth, Hudson. You're trying to help him when you might be getting yourself killed? Your life is worth nothing. And you, Elijah. Now do you see what happens when you cross me? This family's getting it too, you know that?"

Alicia gave Elijah a dark look. She ordered Ronald, "Tell your men to get him. Cut off that piece of shit's hands!"

She turned around and noticed Ronald looking a little white. He then gave her a look of surprise. "Pardon my question, Ms. Alicia, but did something happen between you and Mr. Elijah?"

Back then, he wanted Natalie, and he made a public demand that she sleep with him. He thought his infamy would spook Natalie into action and give herself to him, but less than an hour later, Elijah barged into his headquarters all alone and struck down all four division heads. Ronald himself was too scared to move.

He couldn't believe Alicia would take that attitude with Elijah. He was her brother-in-law. To cut off his hands? That was unthinkable. He mused, 'This fight is beyond me. What are you two getting at?'

"Why the respect, Ronald?" Alicia sneered, her face a mask of disdain and disgust. "He used to be our pet, but we kicked him out of the house. He has nothing to do with the Summers anymore."

Ronald and his men jumped away from her like she had just announced she was the plague itself. He quickly held Liam up and explained himself in fear, "Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Hudson, I'd like to apologize for my men's actions. I cannot believe they would extort you time and time again. As their leader, the blame is mine."

He stuffed a card into Liam's hand. "This is the principal and the interest you paid. You might find an extra three hundred grand in there. It's a little gift from me. Take it, please."

He turned to the Enforcers coldly. "Don't just stand there. We need to show Mr. Hudson we're actually apologetic. Break Samuel's hands and legs. And his lackeys' too."

The burly enforcers pinned down Samuel and his lackeys and smashed their limbs with metal pipes. Bones crunched and cracked like a beast was munching on them. Screams of agony filled the air, and Liam was paler than ever.

Jessica and Cindy screamed as they held each other tightly. Elijah frowned.

"Get their asses out of here. You're scaring the family."

"Yes, of course, how wrong of me," apologized Ronald quickly, and he swung his hands at his men. "You heard the man! Get your asses out of here, right now!"

'Did he just apologize, pay for the damages, and break his own men?' Everyone but Elijah was shocked.

Ronald was an infamous man in Riverbay. He was known for his cruelty, greed, and lust. Now, however, he gave Liam back his money and interest and tossed in an extra three hundred grand. This was unbelievable.

A shocked and furious Alicia screeched, "Are you mad, Hangleton? I didn't call you here just to watch you apologize! Did you hit your head or something?"

"Don't buddy up with me, lady. And you didn't call me here." Ronald quickly distanced himself further from Alicia and tried his best to cut ties with her. He looked at the woman like she was the world's biggest buffoon.

'Does that woman have nothing but a pile of shit in her head? She has no idea what she just did. She had the chance to actually rule Riverbay's underworld, and she refused the chance and spat in its hand. Is this what her family's like? A big circus filled with clowns and stooges? Good thing I cut ties with her. Her idiocy is going to kill me otherwise.'

Alicia's face fell. "You insolent bastard. What's that look in your eyes?"

"You're the insolent one here, brat!" Ronald looked at her fiercely, and the bloodlust coming from him was enough to freeze anyone's blood. "Team Luna might be strong, but you're not this city's king of the underworld. I am a fellow gang lord, and you think you can lord me around like you're my master?"

The Summers had kicked out the most powerful man they could depend on. A woman with shit for brains wasn't going to scare him. He was only worried about the possibility of Elijah saving her for old times' sake.

Otherwise, Ronald would've dragged this bitch to a remote mountain and buried her alive.

Alicia froze, her face filled with disbelief. 'This bastard kneeled before our family's house for three days just for forgiveness, but now he's insulting me?'

"Hangleton, you bastard! You're dead, you hear me?" Alicia's chest heaved, and the air shook with her furious shout.

An icy glint filled Ronald's eyes. He raised his hand, and a short knife slid out of his sleeve. He held the knife's edge against Alicia's throat. One little slip, and Alicia's throat would be cut wide open.