Chapter 186 Three-Day Appointment
Chapter 186 Three-Day Appointment
Sweat dripped down Kaelen's forehead.
His hand gripped the holster so hard his knuckles went white.
Behind him, dozens of soldiers raised their rifles.
But he knew damn well—if they opened fire, he'd probably be the first to die.
James could snap a porcelain shard across thirty feet and kill a man with it.
At this distance, before the bullets even left the chamber, that blade would slit his throat.
Cedric sent him here to stop someone, not to get himself killed.
But if he backed down now, with all his men watching?
No one would listen to him after this.
James stood his ground, not pressing forward.
He could see Kaelen hesitating.
No point pushing him into a corner.
If the entire city guard swarmed in, that'd be a headache for him too.
James spoke, his voice level.
"I'll give you this much respect—I'll take Kyle. Keep him three days."
"After three days, I'll deliver him to Cedric's doorstep with all the evidence of his crimes."
"Then you handle it by your royal rules. I won't interfere."
Kaelen's eyes flickered.
This was way better than he'd expected.
He could report back without having to fight for his life right here.
Before he could respond, Eldon jumped in.
"I'll vouch for this."
"Three days pass and Mr. Anderson doesn't deliver, we'll come apologize in person."
"Kaelen, no need to make this hard on yourself. Everyone takes a step back—better for all of us."
Kyle, sprawled on the ground, panicked when he heard this.
"No! You can't trust him! He'll kill me!"
"Kaelen, take me with you! I need to see Cedric!"
He crawled toward Kaelen's feet, begging.
Kaelen, disgusted, kicked him back.
"Shut up. Since when do you get a say?"
Kaelen had already made up his mind.
With Marius guaranteeing it, if something went wrong, it wouldn't be on him.
A real fight? He'd be the one dead. Not worth it.
He stepped back half a pace and waved his hand.
"Everyone lower your weapons. Form ranks and clear a path."
The soldiers moved in unison, slinging their rifles behind their backs.
They parted to both sides, opening a corridor.
Kaelen looked at James, his voice firm.
"Three days. Ten a.m. three days from now, you hand Kyle over to me alive."
"One hair out of place, I can't explain it, and Prince Cedric won't let it go."
"I keep my word."
James nodded.
Kaelen said nothing more, turning to lead his men out.
As he passed Kyle, he didn't even glance at him.
Kyle watched the guards leave, his face drained of color.
He collapsed on the ground, trembling all over.
Iron Wolf stepped forward, bent down, and grabbed Kyle by the back of his collar.
He hoisted him up like a sack of potatoes.
Kyle's feet left the ground, kicking and flailing, begging nonstop.
"Mr. Anderson, I was wrong! I was really wrong!"
"Let me go, and the Tovar family fortune is yours! I'll never do it again!"
James ignored him, turning to Kevin instead.
"Everyone in this compound—check their backgrounds."
"Anyone without blood on their hands, break one leg, throw them outside the city, and they're never allowed back in Pinecrest City."
"Anyone with cases on them, tie them up and lock them with Kyle."
"Got it."
Kevin acknowledged.
Eldon stood nearby, smiling as he spoke.
"Mr. Anderson, need me to leave a few men to help?"
"No need. Just tell Tobias I said thanks."
"Don't mention it. I'll head back then. Call if anything comes up."
Eldon left with his people.
The courtyard was left with moaning bodies scattered across the ground.
Plus a few Fuller family security guys who'd come to help.
Kevin directed people to sort through the mess.
Iron Wolf dragged Kyle toward the car first.
James took one last look at the Tovar Villa, then turned and got into the car too.
---
In the back seat, Kyle was pressed face-down on the floor mat, his cheek against the carpet.
Still muttering pleas for mercy nonstop.
Iron Wolf got annoyed, raised his hand, and chopped the back of Kyle's neck.
Kyle's eyes rolled back, and he passed out cold.
Finally, some peace and quiet.
James leaned back in his seat, eyes closed, resting.
The Tovar family matter was temporarily settled.
But the trouble wasn't over.
Cedric had taken a hit like this—no way he'd just let it go.
Theodore hadn't made a move yet either. Another loose end.
He ran through the next steps in his head.
The car slowly pulled into the villa compound.
---
Inside the villa, Iron Wolf dragged Kyle straight down to the basement.
The basement was on the lower level, enclosed on all sides by thick steel plates.
Soundproof? No. Escape-proof? Definitely.
At the far end was a large iron cage, welded solid, with straw scattered on the floor.
The smell wasn't great.
Iron Wolf opened the cage door, tossed Kyle inside, and locked it.
He pulled over a stool, sat outside the cage, and lit a cigarette.
Waiting for Kyle to wake up.
After about ten minutes, Kyle groaned and came to.
He opened his eyes, saw the iron cage, then Iron Wolf sitting outside.
He scrambled into the corner, terrified.
"What are you going to do to me?"
Iron Wolf took a drag, blew a smoke ring.
"Gonna ask you some things. Answer honestly, suffer less."
"I don't know anything! I'm useless—my dad handled everything in the family!"
Kyle immediately shouted.
Iron Wolf smiled, stubbed out his cigarette on the floor.
"Alright, so you wanna be tough."
He reached into the cage and grabbed Kyle's left hand in one swift motion.
Kyle struggled desperately, but Iron Wolf's grip was like a vise—impossible to break free.
"Let go of me! If you touch me, Cedric won't let you get away with this!"
"Cedric?"
Iron Wolf scoffed.
"He can't even save himself. You think he'll save you?"
Crack.
A sharp snap.
Kyle's finger bent backward and broke clean.
---
The scream echoed off the basement walls, making your scalp crawl.
Kyle convulsed from the pain, tears and snot streaming down his face.
"You gonna talk or not?"
Iron Wolf asked.
"I don't know, I really don't—"
Crack.
Another snap.
The second finger broke.
Kyle nearly blacked out from the pain, shaking violently all over.
"I'll talk! I'll tell you everything! Don't break any more! Please!"
He sobbed, his voice cracking.
Iron Wolf released his hand and leaned back in his chair.
"Start from the beginning. How much dirty work has the Tovar family done for Cedric all these years?"
Kyle gasped for air, sweat pouring down his forehead, not daring to hold back anymore.
He started with money laundering.
Said the Tovar family had set up over a dozen shell companies outside the city, specifically to launder money for Cedric.
Every year, smuggling profits from the border ran through Tovar family accounts first.
Then split into multiple transfers to different offshore accounts.
How much they skimmed per transaction, how much Cedric took, how much the Tovar family kept—he laid it all out clearly.
Iron Wolf pressed him for specific account numbers and company names.
Kyle didn't dare hide a thing. He confessed everything.
Even gave up the safe combination without hesitation.
After money laundering, he talked about hiring thugs to hurt people.
A few businessmen who'd crossed Cedric before, and some disobedient small families.
Terry had arranged all of it.
Some got their legs broken, others got stuffed in sacks and dumped across the border.
Three years ago, there was a businessman named John who reported Cedric for illegally seizing a construction site.