The black Lamborghini sped up toward Jay and Lokesh before swiftly making a turn and drifting around them, coming to a halt between them and the goons. The screeching tires echoed through the garage, creating a momentary silence among the chaos.
The next moment, two armored cars quickly parked out in the open, and more than ten security members with heavily equipped weapons got off them. The sight of the heavily armed guards sent a clear message that the situation had dramatically changed.
One of the security guards hurried toward the Lamborghini and opened its passenger door. A bespectacled youth wearing an oversized anime T-shirt stepped through it, annoyance etched across his face. Ignoring the tension and the stares from the goons, he yelled at the security guard, "I can open my damn door. I was just waiting a bit longer to look cool when I slowly did it. Now you spoiled it for me."
He then turned his head back and bent as he addressed someone inside, "Mr. Noel, come on, do your thing."
The driver's side door opened as a man in his mid-thirties stepped out with grace and incredulity. As soon as he emerged, the youth cheered over him like a fanboy. The lean man in a grey suit exuded confidence and sophistication.
"That was amazing as always, Mr. Noel. Please teach me how to do that."
The man smiled awkwardly at the youth. His features were distinctly Irish—fair skin, sharp blue eyes, and sandy blonde hair neatly combed back. Freckles dotted his nose and cheeks, adding a youthful contrast to his otherwise sophisticated appearance.
Jay, despite his battered state, watched the scene unfold with a mix of relief and confusion. The unexpected arrival had clearly turned the tide in their favor. He exchanged a glance with Lokesh, who nodded, both understanding that this was their best chance to escape the dire situation.
Noel, now fully out of the car, took in the scene with a calm, assessing gaze. The armed guards stood ready, their presence a clear deterrent to any further aggression from the goons.
Udhay, the bespectacled youth, looked over the crowd of goons and spotted a familiar face hiding behind one of the bodyguards. He chuckled to himself and called out, "You there! Quadnite boy! Step out. Let me take a look at your messed-up face."
When there was no immediate response, Udhay waved his arm dismissively. Frustrated by the lack of action, he turned and yelled at the security guards, "For God's sake, do I have to spell it out for you? Round them all up and bring me the one in the flashy clown costume. Understand?"
The guards moved with military precision, pointing their semi-automatic weapons at the group of goons. The two bodyguards, recognizing the futility of resistance, threw their handguns to the floor and kicked them aside, raising their hands in surrender along with the other goons.
Rohan, his face contorted with a mix of anger and fear, stepped out from behind his bodyguards. His expression turned even uglier as Udhay began to laugh, holding his stomach in amusement.
Rohan cursed his luck under his breath. Of the few people he wanted to avoid, Udhay was at the top of the list. Their encounters at social gatherings had always ended with Rohan being humiliated in front of their peers, as if it were Udhay's personal mission to embarrass him.
After a good long laugh, Udhay finally composed himself and walked closer to Rohan. "You really have a good sense of style. That bloody nose perfectly complements your outfit. It makes you look even stupider than you already are," Udhay mocked, inspecting Rohan from head to toe.
Rohan's face twisted with barely contained rage, but he knew better than to retaliate against the son of the state's Chief Minister. He loathed Udhay even more than Jay but could only swallow his pride in the face of someone with a more powerful background.
Turning to Noel, Udhay said, "Mr. Noel, this guy is quite the comedian. He never fails to entertain me."
Noel chuckled lightly and replied, "Let's go up. I have a meeting scheduled with the hospital chief, and I don't want to keep him waiting."
Udhay nodded, a bit impatient himself. "Of course, of course. Let's end this charade." He waved at Rohan playfully. "I'll play with you some other time. By the way, red looks really good on you, especially now that your face matches your nose. See ya."
With that, Udhay signaled his security personnel to fall back. He approached the injured Jay and Lokesh, who were still catching their breath. "You both should be thanking Mr. Noel. If it weren't for him, I wouldn't have bothered saving your sorry asses."
Lokesh, sensing the opportunity to get out of this situation, was the first to express his gratitude. He nudged Jay, who managed to muster a weak "Thank you" despite his pain.
Udhay raised an eyebrow, looking at their awkward attempts at gratitude. "Don't tell me you haven't recognized him?" he asked, genuine surprise in his voice.
Jay's confusion was evident, but Lokesh quickly hid his uncertainty and decided to play along. "Of course, who doesn't know the top F1 racer, Noel?"
Lokesh's vague but accurate response seemed to satisfy Udhay. "Good thing you recognized the legendary F1 racer, Noel Hekkinen, or else I'd have thrown you to those wolves," Udhay replied, a smirk playing on his lips.
Lokesh felt a wave of relief as his guess hit the mark. He wiped the sweat from his face and followed Noel and Udhay, with Jay limping beside him. The goons and Rohan glared at them with angry eyes, but none dared to challenge Udhay's authority.
Noel glanced back at Jay and Lokesh, his expression softening slightly. "Keep close, and don't worry. You're safe with us."
Jay, despite the pain coursing through his body, felt a glimmer of hope. He was still wary, unsure of what to expect next, but Noel's presence provided a sense of security.
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Author Note:
I'm thrilled to share that I'm taking a big leap forward! Alongside Earth's Alpha Prime, I've launched the first sub-book for EAP.
ALTER REALITY: Online
The book is now available, and I'll be releasing new chapters at a rate of 3 per week (Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday). Do check it out!
Chapter Release Rate: 3 Chs/Week.
<<<< Tue, Thu, Sun >>>>
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The first ten to comment for new chapter releases will get '1 ADVANCED CHAPTER' for free on Earth Alpha Prime's Discord server.
In the discord server, I opened a private channel for those Top 10 candidates, where I posted the respective Advanced Chapter.
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Discord Link for 'Earth's Alpha Prime' :
https://discord.gg/maQC7xDBYZ
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