Stolen Life

rough the air, aime

s honed in South Africa took over. He didn't step back, he stepped in, ducking un

crack. The baton cla

. He drove his shoulder into the man' s chest, sending him stumbling backward

nge took less th

ound, then at Ethan. Their expressions were a mixture of shock an

, and their reaction was pure, un

ed, rushing to the fallen guard's si

id, his voice flat. He did

embling finger at Ethan. "You come to this house, you terrorize this family, and

ile standing over the man who had just tried to bash his head in. The f

he blood on his knuckles where he'd scraped them. There was no concern in her eyes. Only a f

what is wrong with you?" she pleaded, her voice shrill. "Just say

ed him to apologize

"I'm not apologizing. I'm pressing cha

them into a

l snarled, helping his whi

r eyes welling up with tears. "Ethan, stop this. Please. You're not yourself. This...

It was such a transparent, pathetic performanc

h disgust. "The weak heart act is getting old. And

from Daniel's fa

es. The fraudulent bank loans. The money laundering. You think a little assault charge is your

h opening and closing, but no

"That's it. I'm calling my boys," he grunted, his face pale with p

cried out, but

hem what they want! Sign whatever they want! Just make th

together like scared rats, conc

Just a group of rough-looking men, piling out with baseball bats and tire i

od hand at Ethan. "

way, spreading out to surround him. Hi

atched them come. He had fac

ough the tension. The deep, pow

officials or mafia bosses, turned the corner and glided

opened i

lined efficiency that made the local thugs look like clumsy children. They wer

ir cheap bravado van

ctly tailored Italian suit, his silver hair neatly combed. He looked around at the suburban sc

ugs as if they weren't even t

raped knuckles and then

le trouble," Thompson said

ldn't handle,"

s gaze toward Daniel and Olivia, who were staring at him, and his men, in utter disbelief. "Now," Boss Thomp

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