Chapter 354

"Get back!"

Ethan's voice cut through the chaos from the sidelines.

This wasn't their territory to control.

Nathan's reckless actions were drawing too much attention, putting them all in jeopardy.

"So you brought backup!"

The man spotted Ethan and immediately barked orders to his security team.

"Take him down! Shoot on sight!"

"How dare you?"

Nathan, who had remained composed until now, snapped. He carefully set Vivian down before turning with icy fury.

"You can insult me, but threatening Ethan Blackwood? That's a death wish."

The man blinked in disbelief. He'd encountered bold men before, but none this suicidal.

Nathan was literally playing with fire.

What gave him the audacity? Without warning, Nathan delivered a brutal kick to the man's gut.

"On your knees! Apologize to Mr. Blackwood!"

Ethan sighed internally.

'An apology won't fix this mess.'

He kept the thought to himself. Though just an observer, Nathan had dragged him into the center of this storm. Bullets would fly because of his friend's temper.

Grateful wasn't the word.

Security guards now had weapons trained on both men, yet hesitated under their intimidating presence.

No one wanted to pull the trigger first.

"Release them and fetch your manager. I'll handle the consequences."

Ethan kept his hands in his pockets, staring down at the groaning man.

"Ethan, take Vivian and go. I specialize in situations like this," Nathan said.

Nearly ninety percent of Newport City's entertainment empire belonged to the Prescott family - most operating in legal gray zones.

This was Nathan's playground.

"Do I look dead to you?"

Nathan ground his heel into the man's skull, face twisted with rage.

"Shoot already, you cowards! Think this is funny?"

The guards finally stirred, fingers tightening on triggers.

Just as violence erupted, a new voice shouted.

"Stand down! All of you!"

The man started to protest until he saw who'd spoken. His face drained of color.

Simultaneously, every armed guard lowered their weapons in fear.

"V-Victor!"

Their manager had arrived.

Victor Holloway looked every inch the refined businessman in his forties. He pushed through the crowd directly toward Ethan and Nathan.

"Mr. Prescott, my deepest apologies. Had I known you were visiting with Mr. Blackwood... My men's ignorance is unforgivable..."

He punctuated this by kicking his subordinate repeatedly, then pressed a gun to the man's head.

"Worthless trash! Do you know this casino exists only because the Prescott family allowed it? You bite the hand that feeds you. I should execute you now!"

Nathan raised an eyebrow as the gun cocked.

"Enough. Ethan dislikes bloodshed. We're done here. But remember this lesson."