Kate remained unfazed as she watched them come closer. They all had their faces covered with masks, except for their leader, who disguised his face with a scary tattoo.
They were all holding all sorts of deadly weapons and looked ready to attack.
"How dare you cross my path?" Kate's voice had already turned cold.
The tattooed guy smirked and replied, "Miss Bolton, this is Glacia City, not River's, where you have so many bodyguards to protect you."
Even though he had a valid point, Kate was never backing down.
"If that's your thought, then you failed." Kate was about to dial a number on her phone when the tattooed guy mocked, "Don't tell me you want to make a call. Haha! Have you forgotten how long it would take them to get to Lily Garden?"
Kate's teeth gritted. "What exactly do you want?" she asked, her eyes turning red with anger.
"My boss wants to have a few minutes' discussion with you. Just follow us to our car, and let's go see him," the tattooed guy simply stated, pointing at an SUV in the corner.
A dry smile appeared on Kate's face. "Your boss must have some guts. Tell whoever it is to come to me on their knees, crawling."
All the thugs exchanged glances and burst into loud laughter. "We will soon find out who will end up crawling."
"I had planned to usher a gorgeous woman like you into the car with honor, but you rejected the offer. Do not blame me for being impolite now."
The tattooed guy said and ordered his men, "Boys! Get her into the car!"
Kate was about to protest when the black Mercedes Benz door opened. "Consider yourself dead if you dare lay a hand on Miss Bolton," Roderick said as he stepped out.
"Haha! Who's this kid? Do you know what I do to whoever disturbs me at my place of work? I bury them alive," the tattooed guy let out a wicked laugh as he threatened.
He turned to look at his boys and flicked his fingers. "Teach him a lesson."
"No! Don't you dare touch Mr. Holmes!" Kate was dumbstruck in the middle of her protest as she watched Roderick break the arms of the thugs like toothpicks as they charged toward him.
He sent a punch to the stomach of the last thug before him and then twisted his neck until it made a cracking sound.
The thug let out an ear-piercing scream as his body hit the floor with a thud.
Kate was extremely stunned by Roderick's fighting skills. With how calm and gentle he looked, who would have known he would be such a beast in a fight?
'Undoubtedly, this dude is a rare gem,' Kate was extremely impressed.
Roderick was walking closer to the tattooed guy as he asked, "Who did you say is your boss?"
Meanwhile, the tattooed guy had already peed on himself as he stammered, "Uhn? My... boss?"
He hurriedly stepped backward, his mind filled with fear. Before Roderick got to him, he dashed into the SUV and sped away as fast as he could. He was scared to death.
"What a coward," Roderick muttered and walked to one of the defeated thugs on the floor.
He lifted him with one hand and took off his mask. "Did you ever expect your boss to set you all up in a death trap and flee?"
Tears began to run down the thug's face as Roderick looked terrifying to him. He was still feeling the pain of his broken arm.
"Tell me who sent you, so they can share in this pain too," Roderick asked.
"We don't know him or anyone who was behind this. He only paid us to help him execute his plan," the thug replied, his voice laced with fear.
Roderick stared into his eyes for a while and then let him go, as he sensed innocence in his voice.
Instantly, all the thugs struggled to their feet and fled for their lives.
This time, Christina hurriedly stepped out of the car. "Miss Bolton, I already called for backup! They will be here in a moment."
"It's not necessary anymore. Mr. Holmes already saved our lives," Kate said gratefully.
She couldn't take her eyes off the young and capable man. How he perfectly handled the situation melted her heart.
Roderick cleared the road, and they all got back into the car and drove off.
Then, Kate pulled out a sleek black card with an edge lined in golden yellow. "Mr. Holmes, we just met today, and I already owe you so much. Please accept this token as a form of appreciation."
Christina's face frowned as she watched the duo through the rearview mirror. She wondered how Kate could be so generous as to give Roderick a card loaded with multimillion dollars.
However, Roderick smiled slightly. "I appreciate your kind heart, Miss Bolton. But I do not need financial help."
The ladies were shocked. A guy who dressed so ordinarily said he didn't need financial help. Isn't that a joke?
Kate was taken aback. "Mr. Holmes, this has nothing to do with our initial agreement; it's just a token of appreciation. Please accept it."
Roderick was amused. He thought that Kate wouldn't have been bothered if she knew how much he was worth.
"Once again, I appreciate the kind gesture, but my words remain the same."
Kate was surprised, but she couldn't just let that be. Then, she flashed a flirtatious smile at Roderick. "Mr. Holmes, how about if I repay you with my body?"