Chapter 192 Forced to Back Down

Chapter 192 Forced to Back Down

James's arm tensed slightly.

He lifted Julian clean off the ground.

Julian's feet dangled in the air.

His hands clawed desperately at James's forearm, trying to pry it loose.

But James's grip was like cast iron—it didn't budge an inch.

His face turned a mottled purple-red.

His mouth gaped open, trying to scream for help, but only strangled sounds came out.

His legs kicked wildly, each kick weaker than the last.

His eyes began to roll back.

The Royal Guard standing around them froze in shock.

Julian was being held in midair by a single hand around his throat.

How the hell were they supposed to fight now?

Someone cracked first, dropping his gun to the ground.

He crouched down, hands clasped behind his head.

Where there was one, there was a second.

More and more men dropped their weapons and crouched on the ground.

The Royal Guard—two thousand strong—surrendered in droves within minutes.

The rest who were still hesitating lost their will to fight entirely.

Just then.

The convoy on the perimeter opened a gap.

Eldon charged in with his men.

Three thousand security personnel moved in perfect formation, quickly taking control of the scene.

They surrounded the guards who hadn't surrendered yet and confiscated their weapons.

No one resisted.

Eldon walked up to James's side and glanced at Julian dangling from his hand.

"Mr. Anderson, you all right?"

James shook his head.

He loosened his grip slightly.

Julian collapsed to the ground, clutching his throat and coughing violently.

He coughed so hard tears streamed down his face.

"Keep an eye on all of them."

James said.

"Don't worry, not one's getting away."

Eldon said with a grin.

Outside the courtyard, several more black sedans pulled up.

The lead car bore royal family plates.

The car stopped, and Cedric stepped out.

His expression was grim.

He'd been waiting at the estate for news when his subordinates reported that The Royal Guard had been surrounded and Julian captured.

He had no choice but to come himself.

Cedric walked into the courtyard, sweeping his gaze over the disarmed guards littering the ground.

Then he looked at Julian, still coughing on the ground.

He was silent for a long time.

The area around them was dead quiet. No one spoke.

Everyone watched him.

After what felt like forever, Cedric finally spoke.

His voice was heavy, laced with suppressed fury.

"James, let my son go.

I concede defeat."

"Tomorrow I'll take all my direct forces and leave Azure Bay. All of Azure Bay's holdings go to Marius."

Speaking those words seemed to drain every ounce of strength from his body.

James looked at him.

"You mean it?"

"My word is iron."

James lifted his foot and nudged Julian on the ground.

"Get lost."

Julian scrambled to his feet and ducked behind Cedric.

He stared at James with venomous hatred but didn't dare say a word.

Cedric said nothing more. He turned with Julian and headed toward the cars.

The surrendered Royal Guard climbed to their feet one by one and followed behind.

Every single one of them looked utterly defeated.

They'd arrived in force—now they were leaving in disgrace.

Two thousand men came intact, left intact, but their dignity was shredded.

They left every weapon behind. Not a single one taken.

Once everyone had cleared out, the courtyard finally fell quiet.

Shell casings and bloodstains covered the ground.

Eldon had people clean up the scene and treat the wounded.

He walked over to James with a smile.

"Mr. Anderson, today was all thanks to you.

With this loss, Cedric won't be able to recover anytime soon.

Marius is going to be thrilled when he hears."

James's expression didn't change.

"You handle the rest.

The Tovar family remnants and the Hensley family follow-up—hand it all over to Tobias."

"Sure thing, no problem."

Eldon agreed readily.

James said nothing more and turned toward the villa.

A bullet had grazed his shoulder, breaking the skin. Blood seeped through.

He didn't think much of it.

The moment he stepped into the living room, he saw Caroline standing at the foot of the stairs.

She'd waited until the noise outside stopped before daring to come out.

When she saw the blood on James's shoulder, her face went pale.

"You're hurt!"

She rushed over, reaching out but afraid to touch him.

"It's nothing, just a graze."

James said dismissively.

"What do you mean 'just a graze'? You're bleeding."

Caroline's eyes reddened. She pulled him to sit on the couch.

"Sit down. I'll bandage it."

James did as she asked.

Caroline rummaged through the first aid kit and carefully disinfected the wound before wrapping it with gauze.

Her movements were gentle, afraid of hurting him.

James watched her bent head, feeling a warmth spread through his chest.

This little injury was nothing to him.

But having someone care about it? That felt pretty good.

By the time she finished treating the wound, it was nearly four in the morning.

Eldon was still outside cleaning up.

Iron Wolf and Kevin walked in, both looking satisfied.

"Mr. Anderson, everything's been accounted for.

We seized a lot of weapons. Everyone's fine—just a few minor injuries, nothing serious."

"Good."

James nodded.

"Where's Kyle?"

"Still locked in the basement.

When the shooting started, he curled up like a ball."

Iron Wolf snorted.

"Drag him up here."

"Got it."

Iron Wolf headed to the basement.

Within two minutes, he was dragging Kyle upstairs.

Kyle's hair was a mess, his face covered in grime, his legs too weak to support him.

During all that gunfire outside, he'd been convinced he was a dead man.

Iron Wolf hauled him in front of James and kicked the back of his knee.

Kyle dropped to the floor.

James looked down at him.

"The Tovar family—how many people are still hiding out there, and how many secret accounts are left."

Kyle's eyes flickered.

He thought to himself: if he told them everything, he'd be useless. They might just kill him right then and there.

Hold something back, and he might live a little longer.

He hesitated for two seconds before speaking.

"There's nothing left.

Really, nothing.

Everyone's dead, and you've already found all the accounts."

James said nothing.

He glanced at Iron Wolf.

Iron Wolf understood.

He stepped forward, grabbed Kyle's left hand, and pinned it to the floor.

The knife sliced across.

Kyle's pinkie finger was severed clean off.

Blood gushed out.

Kyle let out a bloodcurdling scream.

His whole body convulsed violently as tears and snot mixed with blood and streamed down his face.

"Remembered anything yet?"

James asked.

"I remember! I remember!"

Kyle sobbed and shouted.

"There are three more hideouts! Twenty-six people total! They're all enforcers my dad used to keep!"

"And five Phoenix National Bank accounts! The passwords are stored on an encrypted hard drive in my dad's study desk drawer! I'll tell you everything! Everything! Just don't cut off any more fingers!"

He spilled everything in one breath, terrified that hesitating would cost him another finger.

James looked at Kevin.

"Take people and check it out."

"On it."

Kevin immediately grabbed a dozen men and headed out with the addresses.

By the time dawn was breaking, Kevin returned.

"Mr. Anderson, everything's cleared.

All the people at the three hideouts have been arrested—no one slipped through.

We found the accounts too, and transferred all the money out.

The Tovar family's got nothing left."

James nodded.

"Lock him back in the iron cage.