บท 3: Chapter 3: Woman, Don't Make Me Get Rough
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"Stop!"
"Don't run!"
In the evening, it started to rain lightly, drenching the streets.
In the filthy and chaotic 34th Street, a group of people were engaged in a fierce chase through the alleyways, with occasional gunshots ringing out.
Richard and the chubby Anthony were running, gasping for breath.
"Anthony, you go first. I'll draw them away," Richard said, stopping at a corner.
"Richard, it's my fault. I was too careless," Anthony panted.
"Let's not talk about that now. Just go!" Richard urged.
"Alright, you take care!" Anthony replied before running off.
After Anthony left, Richard wiped the rain off his face and dashed out of the street.
"He's over there!"
"Stop!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
â€"â€"
"Have you caught him?" Andy was pacing anxiously in the private room.
"Boss, no news yet," someone responded from outside.
"Useless, all of you are useless! So many of you can't even catch a man with both arms crippled. Tell Bob to take everyone and search the whole city. I don't believe he can fly away," Andy barked.
"Yes, boss!" the person outside replied.
Andy made a few more calls after pacing around for a while.
"Tony, get your people to help me catch Richard. I'll give you two thousand... five thousand after the job. No more than that. Alive or dead, I want him."
"Hey, Mexican, how are you? I need your help to find someone. Haha, of course, there's something in it for you."
Knock, knock, knock.
There was a knock on the door.
"What is it?" Andy asked, covering the phone.
"Boss, we caught Richard."
"Oh, that fast?"
"Yes, he's at the door. Do you want to see him?"
"Alright!"
Andy hung up the phone and opened the door, only to find a gun pointed at his head. His two men lay on the ground, unconscious or dead.
"It's you!"
"Yes, it's me. Hello, Mr. Andy," Richard said politely, adjusting his hat.
"Your arms are fine? Oh, I get it. The dislocated arms were fake. You've been acting all along. You're very cunning," Andy remarked.
Richard chuckled. "Would you believe me if I said I learned some bone-setting techniques? I often break and reset my own arms for fun. Want to try? Break them and reset themâ€"it's very exciting."
Richard took Andy's gun.
Andy twitched. "No, I don't have the habit of playing with my own bones."
"Haha, that's too bad."
Richard poured two glasses of whiskey.
"Let's have a drink to calm our nerves."
"Hmph!"
Andy took the glass, glaring coldly at Richard. "Richard, you're not running away now and dare to come here. Are you seeking death?"
"Wrong. The most dangerous place is the safest. Is there a quieter place than here in the Bronx right now?" Richard replied, swirling his drink.
"So, what do you want to do? Kill me?" Andy asked coldly.
"No, you know I don't kill. Now, I want you to call off your men and your allies. Do it quickly!" Richard ordered, pointing the gun at Andy.
"Alright."
Andy picked up the phone and gave some instructions.
"Let me say a few words."
Richard grabbed the phone. "Hey, this is Richard. Andy is in my hands. Anyone who wants to take his place can stay out."
Andy twitched. "You're too cunning."
"Right back at you!"
Richard hung up, smiling.
"Richard, if you need money, you could have asked me. There's no need for this," Andy said.
"No, your money is tainted with blood. Once you touch it, you can never wash it clean," Richard said calmly.
"Hmph, aren't you afraid of my revenge?" Andy asked coldly.
"No. Your territory is being eaten away by the Mexican and Vietnamese gangs, yet you're here causing trouble for me. Don't you know I don't throw fights? I hate being forced to do things I don't like," Richard replied.
"Hmph!"
Andy's face turned grim.
After a while, there was a flurry of footsteps outside.
"Alright, it's time for us to go."
Richard stood up, pointing the gun at Andy. "Mr. Big Shot, can you see me off?"
"Do I have a choice?"
"Haha, refusal is futile!"
Richard laughed, pushing Andy out of the room.
"Boss!"
Over twenty men crowded the hallway, pointing dozens of guns at them. The tension was palpable.
"Everyone, if you want to be the boss, just kill Andy!" Richard shouted, pressing the gun against Andy's back.
"Put down your guns!" Andy ordered, his face dark.
"Yes!"
The men lowered their guns.
"That's better."
Richard smirked, pushing Andy step by step out of the bar.
Bang!
Suddenly, a gunshot rang out in the twilight.
Clink!
The bullet missed, hitting the glass door, shattering it.
Bang!
Before anyone could react, another shot rang out.
"Get down!"
Richard shouted, pushing Andy aside and ducking behind a pillar.
"Haha, Andy, it seems many people want you dead. Take care of yourself."
Richard laughed, jumping over the railing and disappearing into the dark street.
"Don't run!"
Andy's men quickly gave chase.
"Stop! Let him go for now!" Andy climbed up from the ground, his face dark.
"Go check who tried to kill me!"
"Yes, boss!"
â€"â€"
Huffing and puffing, Richard stumbled down the rain-soaked street, clutching his shoulder. Rainwater streamed down his clothes, leaving a trail of bloody footprints on the wet pavement.
As he left the bar earlier, Richard had noticed someone in the distance aiming a gun, likely targeting Andy.
If he didn't save Andy, Andy would die.
And he would become a murderer, hunted by both the law and the underworld.
In the nick of time, he pushed Andy aside, but couldn't dodge completely, taking a bullet to the shoulder.
Hearing no pursuit behind him, Richard breathed a sigh of relief. A gunshot wound wasn't the worst outcome.
The rain intensified, and the blood flowed more freely.
Richard's face grew paler. He reached out to hail a cab, but seeing his state, the passing cars sped up instead.
Just as Richard was about to give up, a white Chevrolet pulled over, honking continuously. It screeched to a halt in front of him.
"Thank you, please take me to the hospital."
Richard opened the door and got in.
"Um, sir, could you please get out?"
The female driver asked nervously.
"Get out? Didn't you stop and tell me to get in?"
"I didn't. I accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake."
The driver said with a mournful face.
"Heh, I'm not getting out after finally getting a ride. Drive, don't make me force you."
Richard placed his gun on the seat.
"."
(End of Chapter)
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