"Where did he go?" Vernon looked around in confusion. Carlos was no longer at the spot where they last fought, on the sidewalk.
He decided to check the narrow alley, only wide enough for one car, since Kelvin and Carlos had come from there earlier.
However, the alley was eerily quiet, with no sign of life or any passersby. There were only trash bins along the walls, stray cats, and rats scurrying around.
"Who are you looking for, Dude?"
Vernon glanced over his shoulder when he heard that familiar voice. He didn't turn around right away, disgusted by that revolting face.
"We're not done," Vernon replied coldly. "Let's finish this now."
"Sorry, but we are done."
"What do you mean—" Vernon spun around and his eyes widened in shock when he saw an old woman and a child, limp on Carlos's shoulders.
"Naomi?! Kelvin?!" Vernon felt like lightning had struck him, seeing that Carlos had captured Kelvin and Naomi.
'How did Carlos find them?' Vernon thought, his mind racing in shock and panic. 'Did Carlos secretly tailed me?'
Vernon's head started spinning, and his chest tightened with guilt that suddenly hit him.
"YOU BASTARD! What did you do to them, huh?! How dare you hurt them!" Vernon's roar echoed through the alley like a lion's.
"Give them back, or I'll kill you!"
"Never!" Carlos laughed evilly. "You're facing the consequences for sticking your nose in my business!"
"You f***ing—" Enraged, Vernon charged at Carlos without thinking.
But his steps halted immediately when a gang of people suddenly appeared behind Carlos.
'Who are they? Carlos's men?'
Vernon scanned their angry faces one by one.
'Sh*t! When did they get here?' He studied them cautiously, anticipating a sudden attack.
He counted about 30 of them. There was no way he could take them all at once.
Without realizing it, Vernon took a step back to avoid them. Some were armed, while others were just using their fists.
Still, if they attacked together, he was dead.
'Damn it! This is bad! I didn't expect that bastard to set up a trap this fast!'
He had no other choice but to think of a way to escape with Naomi and Kelvin.
"Your legs are shaking. Are you scared?" Carlos laughed wickedly, satisfied seeing Vernon appear helpless.
Vernon gritted his teeth in anger, but his mouth froze, unable to respond.
'Stay calm, Vernon!' He tried to control his breathing, calming his mind and body. Showing fear would only give the enemy an opening.
"Is this all the men you've got?" Vernon taunted.
"I'll add more if you manage to beat them. If you can, that is." Carlos mocked.
"Get him!"
They rushed at Vernon, but he bolted deeper into the alley. The further he went, the narrower it became. It was a tight space between two apartment buildings.
'Oh, f***!' Vernon had no choice but to stop when he hit a dead end.
"Hahaha!" Carlos's men's cruel laughter rang out loudly.
"Nowhere left to run, loser!" Gabriel, a lanky man with long hair, sneered. He was carrying a metal rod on his shoulder, showing it off like a deadly weapon.
"You're gonna die today! Got any last words for your family?" Ronald, the burliest man, asked sarcastically, a cigarette hanging from the corner of his mouth.
Vernon guessed he was the leader of the thugs. Even though he was cornered, Vernon tried to stay calm.
"Too bad, I don't have a family."
"That's good! So we don't have to hear their crying when we chop you to pieces!"
"Attack him!"
Vernon quickly raised his fists as the order came. Luckily, only three men could come at him at once since the alley was so narrow.
In a flash, Vernon unleashed a barrage of punches and kicks, aiming for their necks, jaws, and chests, knocking them out cold.
His rock-hard punches hit their vital points, leaving them unconscious.
"Who's next?"
Carlos's men froze, shocked. They hadn't expected Vernon to pack such a powerful punch behind his skinny frame.
"What are you standing around for?! ATTACK!" Ronald yelled, furious.
"G-go get him!" Three more men rushed forward, hesitantly. They had whips with spikes.
They swung them wildly, but ended up hitting their own guys behind them.
Loud groans filled the air like a bomb going off.
"Idiots!" Ronald punched the three men, sending them sprawling.
"S-sorry, boss."
"I didn't think Carlos's guys could be this dumb in a fight!" Vernon smirked sarcastically.
"Shut up, you bastard!" Ronald stormed forward, pushing to the front. "Fight me so I can shut that filthy mouth of yours!"
Vernon felt a terrifying aura from the muscular, tan-skinned man. He could tell Ronald was on a different level than the others.
The man's massive, solid muscles bulged on his arms, stomach, and legs, like an impenetrable fortress. He must have built those muscles through brutal training.
With his tall frame, he looked like a human tank.
"I'll finish you off in five minutes using just one hand!" Ronald grinned, bloodthirsty.
***
Meanwhile, Carlos was watching Vernon and Ronald's fight from his apartment balcony, smoking a cigarette while on the phone.
"Have you handled it, Carlos?" a deep voice came through the phone at his ear.
Carlos laughed evilly. "Of course, boss. In five minutes, he'll be dead, and I'll send his body parts to the address you gave me."
"You'd better not fail this time."
Carlos frowned. "Are you doubting me?" he sounded offended. "You've used my services to kill so many people and it's always worked. How could you still doubt me?"
"You might not believe this... but..." The man paused, making Carlos's heart race with curiosity.
"He's not just any boxer," the man added. "You may have underestimated that kid because he's skinny, but you'll regret your decision."
"Regret?" Carlos laughed out loud. "I don't even need to touch him to kill him."
"Don't you want to know why I hired you to kill an amateur boxer like him?"
Carlos blew smoke into the air. The sun was blazing, making the air feel hot. His boss's words made his chest tighten with a sense of caution.
He glanced at Naomi, tied to a chair with Kelvin beside her, making sure they were still unconscious from the poison powder.
He stayed silent, waiting for his boss to continue.
"Because he has incredible boxing strength that he keeps hidden. If you fight him, he'll pretend to lose to fool you, then beat you down with full power." His boss explained in detail.
"You'll get it once you face him." He added.
"Bullsh*t!" Carlos cursed, not accepting his boss's claim that Vernon was stronger than him. "He ran away with his tail between his legs when I fought him!"
"And do you know why he came back?" his boss challenged.
Carlos stiffened, realizing he hadn't considered that.
"Because he plans to kill you after getting Kelvin to safety."
"It seems you know a lot about him." Carlos sneered. "Do you know him personally or have you fought him?" he asked, curious.
Carlos had always been intrigued by this man who kept paying him. He had used him many times, but the man never met him face to face.
He had tried to investigate his boss's identity but always failed. He was sure the boss wasn't just anyone.
"Who are you really? Why are you hiding your identity?" Carlos pressed, but the mysterious man stayed silent.
"Why aren't you answering, boss?"
"No. I don't know him. I just want to test his boxing talent and uncover the mystery of his strength. Because he's like a monster.
"So, I hired you to find out his limits."