Following the orders of Elias, the Southern Star Syndicate members, whose hands had been in their pockets thus far, pulled out
expandable batons. "D-Don't you dare!"
Aaron's voice turned high-pitched from fright. "Don't you know where our family stands in Hatchbay? The Thompsons might be
the top family, but we aren't far behind them. You're barking up the wrong tree." "Haha, even a child knows that the Thompsons
are the wealthiest family around, but I have never heard of your family."
Elias cracked his neck to loosen his muscles before sneering. "But I guess you are what people call a runner-up. Still, you don't
place anywhere outside Hatchbay. Hahaha!"
Elias' chuckles triggered laughter from his crew and Axel.
Even Declan, who was not one to laugh, curled his lips.
"Y-You!" Aaron stumbled for words.
Alvin glared at his son, finding him an embarrassment to himself and the family.
"Mr. Larson, it's not too late for you to drop this whole thing and leave."
Axel tried diplomacy before violence. "Things can get heated up if we get into a fight. You're not getting any younger. You're
looking at weeks, if not months, of hospitalization by choosing violence."
"Get them!" Alvin went ballistic. He could put up with a lot of things, but the Thompson children just insulted him. "Arnold is
coming with us, no matter what."
"Fuck! I've never met someone so stubborn. Get him, brothers."
The members of the Southern Star Syndicate charged ahead of Elias' orders.
The hired protection in black and the men in floral shirts were at each other's throats in the parking lot.
The bodyguards shielded the Larsons from harm, but they were still pushed, shoved around, and grabbed by the hair.
Aaron had it worse. To play the good son, Aaron became his old man's human shield, but he cried in pain being kicked in the
butt, slapped in the face, and hit by batons. His suit was tattered, and his ego was bruised.
Axel watched the fight on the sidelines when a Larson henchman approached him and swung his fist.
Before Axel knew it, he heard a scream.
Quick on his feet, Declan swooped in and dislocated the bodyguard's arm before stomping on him.
It was a sleek move.
"No wonder you're a colonel."
Axel's jaw dropped as he clapped enthusiastically. "I think only Justin can stand a fight against you."
"Can Jerkface fight?" Declan narrowed his eyes.
Axel cleared his throat awkwardly. He gave the nickname to Justin, but it did not sound right anymore. Don't forget that he used
to serve in the military."
He expected Declan to have a problem with Justin.
However, Declan simply fell into silence, then murmured to himself, "He's not a total lost cause, I suppose."
"Axel! Declan!"
The brothers looked back when they heard Bella.
Justin and Bella, together with Arnold, darted toward them.