Chapter 394
The Hamlet Estate.
Anthony’s arrival sent a ripple through the crowd at the manor gates. The bodyguards snapped to attention and parted, forming a neat path for him. They bowed their heads with a reverence that filled the air.
“God!”
In the middle of all the hushed greetings, Anthony carried Charlotte in his arms, wrapped up tight and safe. He walked inside, steady and calm.
The grand hall was tense and silent. Dozens of servants huddled together in a corner, hands over their heads, shaking with fear. In the center of the room, a middle-aged man in a black shirt stood at gunpoint, surrounded by guards.
“God? So it’s you!” Barnes’s face twisted the moment he saw Anthony. He raised his voice, trying to sound tough. “This is the Hamlet family estate. What do you think you’re doing here?”
Anthony didn’t bother to argue. He just gave Barnes a cold look, then slipped off his suit jacket and draped it over the sofa. He turned to Charlotte and helped her settle into the seat, treating her with such care that it softened the room for a moment.
“Sit here for me, okay? I’ll just be a minute.”
Charlotte nodded, her eyes wide and trusting. “Okay.”
Those bright, honest eyes did something to Anthony. He reached out and gently pinched her cheek. “Good girl.”
Then he straightened up, and just like that, the warmth vanished from his face. He turned back to Barnes, his eyes dark and cold.
“Barnes, you know exactly why I’m here.”
Barnes froze, fighting the panic rising inside him. He tried to sound brave. “My son was beaten to death at the Netherworld Casino. If I don’t get a real explanation, I’m not letting this go. The X Organization will pay.”
He’d already joined forces with several organizations on Apex, hoping to challenge the X Organization’s hold on power.
“An explanation?” Anthony almost
smiled, but there was nothing kind in
“I I it. “I don’t start trouble, but I don’t let anyone walk you over me either
know what your son was like, Barnes. Probably better than anyone.”
“He crossed the line on my turf. The only reason his body was left intact was out of respect for the Hamlet family.”
Barnes’s face flushed with anger. He glared at Anthony, refusing to back down.
Anthony stepped closer until he was
looking down at Barnes, his
presence heavy and dangerous. “I’m
here about the car crash from a few hours ago. Time to
Score.”
tha
Barnes bared his teeth in a snarl. “Yeah, I sent people after you. So what? You think you can just break Apex’s rules and come for me?”
Even a king needs people behind him. Without the other organizations’ support, Anthony’s power would be on shaky ground.
“Oh, is that right?” Anthony’s voice was low and cold. He checked his pistol, then walked back to Charlotte and stood by her side. “Let’s see what happens.”
Suddenly, gunshots rang out. Before Charlotte could react, Anthony’s hand covered her eyes, shielding her from the violence. The scent of tobacco drifted around her.
She barely had time to blink before Anthony leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. “There’s one more shot. Don’t worry.”
Another shot echoed through the hall.
When Charlotte looked again, she saw Barnes kneeling on the floor, blood streaming from his legs. He was screaming in pain. His knees were shattered.
“The rules on Apex are simple. The winner decides everything. And today, you scared Lottie.” Anthony
walked over, knelt in front of Barnes, and used the barrel of his gun to tip his chin up. His voice was icy From now on, the Hamlet family is finished on Apex.”