Chapter 66 Don’t Let Them Die
He released Marc, letting his men hold him securely, then strode quickly to the car and opened the door.
"Caroline, it's okay now, don't be scared."
James reached out, helping Caroline out of the car and holding her tightly.
Caroline wrapped her arms tightly around James's waist, burying her face in his warm chest.
"James, thank god you're okay."
Her voice was choked with tears, her small body trembling slightly.
James's heart tightened. He raised his hand and gently stroked her long hair, saying softly,
"Don't be scared anymore, it's all over."
He lowered his head and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead.
Then, his gaze swept over the mess on the ground and the moaning assassins, and the coldness that had just faded from his eyes returned like a thin layer of ice.
"Take all these people back, guard them closely, I'll question them myself."
"Yes, Mr. Anderson!"
The Specter Syndicate members responded in unison, efficiently taking everyone away.
The car drove smoothly away from the hospital, heading straight back to the Anderson Manor.
As soon as they entered, the servants immediately came forward but didn't dare speak loudly, just waiting respectfully to the side.
James ignored everyone else and carried Caroline straight upstairs to the bedroom.
He gently placed her on the soft bed, then bent down to take off her shoes and covered her with a light blanket.
"Rest here for a bit. I'll go downstairs to handle some things and come back to keep you company soon."
Caroline reached out and grabbed his wrist, her eyes still a bit red.
Having just been frightened, her voice was soft and dependent.
"James, come back quickly. I'm a bit scared being alone."
"Okay."
James lowered his head and kissed her forehead, his movement so gentle as if afraid of breaking her.
"No one will dare disturb you. The whole building is full of my people, don't worry."
He turned and quietly closed the door. As soon as he left the bedroom, the tenderness on his face vanished completely.
His eyes turned cold as ice.
In the hallway, Kevin and Iron Wolf were already waiting there, both looking very serious.
"Mr. Anderson."
Both men lowered their heads simultaneously.
James didn't waste words, his voice low and carrying bone-chilling coldness,
"Everyone's been taken to the basement?"
"All taken down. Marc and those remaining from Ironclad Weapons Corp we investigated, not one escaped. They're all locked in the innermost torture room."
Iron Wolf immediately replied.
James acknowledged and headed straight for the stairs, his leather shoes making dull, oppressive sounds on the marble floor.
"I'll question Marc myself. Watch all the Ironclad Weapons Corp people closely, don't let any of them kill themselves."
"Understood!"
The basement was gloomy and cold, with a faint smell of blood mixed with mustiness. The deeper they went, the more they could hear intermittent wailing.
Marc was chained to a torture rack, his clothes torn and tattered from beatings, several bloody marks on his body. The arrogance he had at the hospital entrance was long gone, replaced only by fear and resentment on his face.
Hearing footsteps, he suddenly looked up. Seeing James, his eyes instantly reddened, and he cursed,
"James! You bastard! The Reed family will never let this go!"
James sneered, slowly walking up to him. He picked up a blood-stained whip from nearby, his fingertips lightly tapping the whip, his tone frighteningly calm.
"Never let this go? Marc, you can't even stand up now. What are you going to fight me with?"
James's eyes turned cold, and he lashed the whip directly across Marc's body. The sound of skin splitting made people's teeth ache.
Marc screamed, his whole body convulsing, his forehead covered in cold sweat.
"Quinton repeatedly provoked Caroline. Crippling him was getting off easy."
James bent down, his eyes locked on Marc,
"You teamed up with Ironclad Weapons Corp people to ambush me. Did you really think I wouldn't dare uproot the Reed family completely?"
"I didn't!"
Marc was still holding out, gritting his teeth,
"Those were all decisions made by the Ironclad Weapons Corp people themselves. It has nothing to do with me!"
Iron Wolf couldn't stand watching from the side and stepped forward to act, but James raised his hand to stop him.
He knew this type of person best—they wouldn't give up until they were completely defeated.
James straightened up and ordered the subordinate beside him,
"Give him some extra treatment. Don't kill him, leave him breathing so we can question him slowly."
Electric batons and cold water took turns. Marc was tough at first, but within ten minutes he couldn't hold on anymore. His whole body convulsed as he shouted,
"I'll talk! I'll talk! I'll tell you everything!"
James signaled his subordinates to stop. Marc collapsed on the torture rack, gasping for breath, his lips trembling, finally giving in,
"I was the one who colluded with Ironclad Weapons Corp. We've had arms deals going on privately. I provided them with domestic channels, they gave me money and weapons."
James's eyes darkened,
"Ten years ago, when my parents had their accident, was the Reed family involved?"
This question was like a knife stabbing Marc's heart. His face instantly turned pale, his eyes evasive, not daring to look directly at James.
This reaction already said everything.
James's heart clenched violently. Ten years of hatred surged up instantly, his fingers clenched tightly into fists.
He took a deep breath, suppressing the urge to kill Marc on the spot, his voice cold as ice.
"Speak! Were you involved or not!"
"A little bit." Marc's voice trembled with fear.
"Back then I just got a small share of the benefits. I didn't kill anyone myself! The Four Families threatened me, I didn't dare refuse. Ironclad Weapons Corp also got involved. I was just a messenger!"
"The Four Families!"
James's eyes blazed with fury. Even though he already knew this truth, the hatred was killing him.
"Evidence."
James spat out one word.
"Do you have any evidence?"
Marc was stunned,
"What evidence?"
"Evidence of when you divided up the Anderson family assets and dealt with Ironclad Weapons Corp."
James's eyes were vicious,
"Don't tell me you didn't keep any. Someone like you, to save your own skin, would definitely hold onto leverage to prevent being silenced."
Marc's face turned completely ashen. He had indeed kept evidence, precisely because he feared that one day The Four Families would dispose of him after using him. He kept it for self-protection, never expecting to lose everything today.
"In the safe in my home basement. There are account books, transaction records, and signed documents from when the assets were divided."
After hearing this, James said coldly to Kevin,
"Immediately take people to the Reed Villa. Seal off all exits. Shut down all their arms channels, companies, properties, accounts. Don't let any core members go. Bring everything from the basement safe here, not a single item can be missed."
"Yes!"
Kevin didn't dare delay and immediately turned to rush out with his men.
Iron Wolf looked at Marc with a vicious expression.
"Mr. Anderson, what should we do with this guy?"
"Lock him up for now. I'll decide after I see the evidence. I'm keeping his life to settle accounts slowly."
James took one last look at Marc, that look like he was viewing a corpse, scaring Marc so much he wet his pants.
James didn't look at him again and turned to walk out of the basement.
As soon as he came up, he saw a servant standing to the side with lowered head, saying respectfully,
"Mr. Anderson, Ms. Collins is awake and has been looking for you."
The coldness on James's face immediately dissipated by more than half. He even lightened his footsteps and walked quickly toward the bedroom.
Pushing open the door, Caroline was sitting on the bed, hugging her knees, looking a bit anxious. When she saw him come in, her eyes lit up immediately.
"James!"
James walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, reaching out to pull her into his arms, his tone softening,
"Still scared?"
"No, I just missed you."
Caroline buried her head in his chest. Listening to his steady heartbeat, she finally felt at ease.
"Are all those bad people taken care of?"
"All taken care of. No one will dare hurt you again."
James gently patted her back, the violent energy in his heart gradually suppressed by the faint warmth from her body.
He didn't tell her about The Four Families' involvement back then, afraid she would worry. Right now, he could shoulder these dirty matters alone.
"Are you hungry? I had the kitchen make your favorite dishes."
James touched her hair.
Caroline nodded, saying softly,
"A little hungry."
James pressed the call button. A servant soon brought in warm oatmeal porridge and several light side dishes, respectfully placing them on the bedside table, then quietly withdrew.