"That''s the guy who disrespected us!"


    Yellow Hair''s words hung in the air as his cousin stepped forward, surrounded by his entourage of thugs. The man was short but powerfully built, with a shaved head and a neck thick as a tree trunk. Snake tattoos coiled up both arms, disappearing beneath his tight ck t-shirt.


    "So you''re the one who thinks he can cause trouble in my establishment," he growled, cracking his knuckles. His eyes narrowed as he assessed me. "You''ve got some nerve, pretty boy."


    I remained seated, swirling the amber liquid in my ss. "And you are?"


    "Marcus Nn. I manage Midnight KTV for my cousin Caesar." He puffed up his chest. "That means I decide who lives and who gets carried out in pieces."


    Eamon tensed beside me, but I ced a steadying hand on his arm.


    "You hit my cousin," Marcus continued, gesturing toward Yellow Hair. "Nobody touches my family."


    I took a slow sip of my drink. "Your cousin grabbed a woman who didn''t want his attention. I simply reminded him about personal boundaries."


    Yellow Hair spat on the floor. "He''s lying! And he humiliated Ryan too!" He pointed to Ryan''s unconscious form sprawled across the couch.


    "I don''t care what happened," Marcus snarled. "This is my house, and you don''t make the rules here."


    I set my ss down and pulled out my phone. "Before we continue this fascinating conversation, I should make a call."


    Marcusughed, a harsh barking sound. "Call whoever you want. Police won''t get here in time to save you."


    "I''m not calling the police." I scrolled through my contacts, finding the number I needed. "I''m calling your boss."


    Yellow Hair snickered. "You think we''re stupid? You don''t know Caesar."


    "Don''t I?" I hit dial and put the phone on speaker.


    The line rang twice before a deep voice answered. "Liam? This is unexpected."


    "Caesar," I replied. "Sorry to bother you sote."


    Marcus''s face drained of color.


    "Not at all," Caesar responded. "What can I do for you?"


    "I''m at your Midnight KTV club. I''m having a disagreement with someone who ims to be your cousin. Marcus Nn."


    There was a pause. "Marcus is there? Put him on."


    I extended the phone toward Marcus, who now looked like he might be sick. With shaking hands, he took it.


    "C-Caesar, I—"


    "What the hell are you doing antagonizing Liam Knight?" Caesar''s voice boomed through the speaker, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Do you have any idea who he is?"


    "I... he hurt Jimmy and—"


    "I don''t give a damn about Jimmy! Mr. Knight is a personal friend and business associate. If he''s at my establishment, you treat him like royalty, you understand me?"


    Marcus swallowed hard. "Yes, Caesar. I didn''t know—"


    "That''s your problem! You never think! I''m on my way. Don''t touch a hair on his head or I''ll skin you alive."


    The call ended, and Marcus stared at the phone like it had transformed into a venomous snake. Slowly, he handed it back to me, his earlier bravadopletely evaporated.


    "Mr. Knight, I deeply apologize for the misunderstanding," he stammered, backing away. "Jimmy didn''t tell me who you were."


    Yellow Hair—Jimmy—looked between us in confusion. "Cousin, what''s going on? Who is this guy?"


    "Shut up," Marcus hissed. Then to me: "Please, sir, can I get you anything? Our best champagne? Private room?"


    I stood up, enjoying how the thugs instinctively stepped back. "No need. We were just leaving."


    "But Caesar ising—"


    "I''m aware. I''ll wait for him outside."


    Marcus nodded frantically. "Of course, whatever you prefer."


    Eamon and I walked toward the door, the path suddenly clear as Marcus''s men parted like the Red Sea. Jimmy grabbed his cousin''s arm.


    "You''re just letting them walk? After what they did to me?"


    Marcus shoved Jimmy roughly. "You idiot! Do you realize what you''ve done? That''s Liam Knight!"


    "So what? Who cares?"


    I paused at the door, curious to hear Marcus''s response.


    "He''s the man who single-handedly destroyed the Sterling family," Marcus whispered harshly. "He owns half of Veridia Pharmaceuticals. Caesar doesn''t just respect him—he fears him!"


    I smiled to myself as we stepped into the hallway. Eamon nced at me with raised eyebrows.


    "You enjoyed that, didn''t you?"


    "Maybe a little," I admitted.


    We had just reached the main entrance when a sleek ck Bentley pulled up. The driver rushed to open the rear door, and Caesar Nn emerged, nked by two bodyguards. Unlike his cousin, Caesar was tall and slim, dressed in an impable navy suit despite thete hour.


    "Liam!" he called out, striding toward me. "I came as soon as I could."


    "Caesar," I nodded. "You didn''t need to rush over."


    "Nonsense." He sped my hand in both of his. "I apologize for my cousin''s behavior. Family obligations, you understand. Not the brightest bulb."


    "It''s forgotten," I said. "Though your cousin might want to teach his staff better manners."


    Caesar''s smile remained fixed, but his eyes hardened. "Oh, I intend to personally oversee his education." He nced toward the entrance where Marcus now stood, visibly trembling. "Marcus! Get over here!"


    Marcus approached with the caution of a man walking toward his execution.


    "Mr. Knight, please ept my deepest apologies," he said, bowing his head.


    "Mr. Knight has graciously decided to forgive the incident," Caesar said, his tone deceptively light. "I, however, have not."


    Marcus paled further.


    "Where''s the other one? Jimmy?" Caesar demanded.


    "Inside," Marcus mumbled.


    "Bring him."


    While Marcus scurried off, Caesar turned back to me. "I hope this unfortunate event hasn''t soured our rtionship, Liam. The pharmaceutical deal we discussed—"


    "Is still on track," I assured him. "Business and pleasure are separate matters."


    Relief washed over his face. "Excellent! I knew you were a reasonable man."


    Marcus returned, dragging a protesting Jimmy by the cor. "Let go of me! What the hell—"


    "Kneel," Caesarmanded. First published on *.</abbr>


    Jimmy froze. "What?"


    "You heard me. Kneel and apologize to Mr. Knight."


    Jimmy looked at me with hatred in his eyes. "I''m not kneeling to this—"


    Caesar''s hand shot out, catching Jimmy across the face with a resounding p that echoed through the parking lot.


    "Kneel," he repeated, "or I''ll break both your legs and you''ll spend the rest of your life kneeling."


    Slowly, Jimmy sank to his knees, blood trickling from his split lip.


    "Now apologize."


    "I''m sorry," Jimmy muttered, staring at the ground.


    "Louder," Caesar demanded.


    "I''m sorry!" Jimmy shouted, his face contorted with humiliation.


    I looked down at him, feeling no satisfaction from his degradation. "Apology epted. Now leave the women in your clubs alone unless they want your attention."


    Caesar smiled coldly. "Oh, he won''t be in any clubs for a very long time. Will you, Jimmy?"


    Jimmy remained silent, which earned him another p.


    "No, Caesar," he whispered.


    I''d seen enough. "I need to get my friends home."


    "Of course." Caesar stepped aside. "Please, use my car. I''ll have my driver take you wherever you need to go."


    "That won''t be necessary. My friend Eamon can drive."


    Caesar nodded. "Very well. I''ll call you tomorrow about our business."


    As we walked away, I heard Caesar begin berating both men in hushed, menacing tones. I didn''t need to look back to know that Jimmy and Marcus were in for a long, painful night.


    We found Selina waiting anxiously by my car, Violet passed out in the back seat.


    "What happened?" she asked. "We saw Caesar Nn arrive!"


    "It''s handled," I replied simply. "Let''s get Violet home."


    ---


    Meanwhile, across town at the Lane Family Vi, ze Lane paced the luxurious study, his face tight with controlled fury.


    "So the Ashworths won''t interfere?" he confirmed, looking at his assistant.


    "No, sir. They''ve made it clear this is a personal matter between you and Knight. They''ll remain neutral."


    ze smiled thinly. "Perfect. Without Ashworth protection, Knight is vulnerable."


    A knock at the door interrupted their conversation. His bodyguard entered, followed by a tall, wiry man with a gaunt face and calcting eyes.


    "Mr. Lane, Ellis Mitchell is here to see you."


    ze frowned. "Mitchell? Caesar Nn''s right-hand man? What are you doing here?"


    Ellis bowed slightly. "Former right-hand man. Let''s just say Caesar and I had a... difference of opinion."


    "About what?"


    "About Liam Knight." Ellis''s lips curled into a sneer. "Caesar thinks the sun shines out of his ass. I disagree."


    ze studied him carefully. "So you''ve left Nn''s organization? And now you''re here because...?"


    "I have information. About Knight''s movements, his business dealings, his weaknesses." Ellis spread his hands. "I thought it might be useful to someone who has reason to... dislike him."


    "Why should I trust you?"


    Ellis smiled, a cold, reptilian expression. "Because I hate him more than you do. I''ve spent months watching him climb, gaining influence, stealing what should have been mine."


    "And what do you want in return?"


    "A ce in your organization. Protection from Caesar''s inevitable retaliation. And a front-row seat to Knight''s downfall."


    ze considered this for a long moment. "What kind of information do you have?"


    "Knight is currently at Midnight KTV. Caesar just rushed over to personally kiss his ass after a confrontation with Caesar''s cousin." Ellis''s eyes glittered with malice. "I know his schedule, his contacts, the people he cares about. Everything you need to destroy him."


    "And why this sudden betrayal of Caesar? Money? Power?"


    Ellis shrugged. "Does it matter? We both want the same thing—Knight''s destruction."


    ze walked to the window, staring out at the city lights. Finally, he turned back. "Very well. You''re in. But if I smell betrayal, you''ll beg for death before I''m done with you."


    Ellis nodded, unperturbed by the threat. "To be honest, I also dislike him and have decided to take up the cause of justice and help the Lane Family regain face!"