"What? What''s going on?" Frank turned to Hux, puzzled by his reaction.


    Hux leaned in to whisper under his breath, "That''s Ned Janko. He''s Pax Darman''s benefactor."


    Frank raised a brow. "Is the Janko family really that impressive?"


    Hux made a weary look at his question. "Well, Ned''s family is next to the Four Families of Morhen in


    importance, and Ned himself is second-in-line to inherit leadership of the family. Moreover, the Jankos


    have recently attempted to im the vacant seat among the Four Families, following the decline of the


    Lawrence family."


    "Oh, I see..." Frank rubbed his chin in realization.


    That was when Pax, catching both Frank and Hux off guard, hurried to Ned''s side with the Four Kings.


    Original from N?velDrama.Org.


    "Hoho..." He chuckled. "I''m awash with gratitude, Mr. Janko... To think that you''de personally!"


    As he spoke, Pax nced sideways at Hux and smiled smugly when he saw Hux''s face turn pale.


    After all, no one would ever dare tell Pax to step down when Ned was around!


    "Haha... I merely heard about it and decided toe check things out since I wasn''t busy," Ned said


    and turned to Hux in surprise. "Oh, so you''re so challenging Pax?"


    "Mr. Janko." Hux promptly bowed, not daring to be rude.


    "And you." Ned then turned to Frank, raising a brow in surprise.


    Somehow, his reaction left Frank ufortable, and he found the pretty boy valets hovering around


    Ned especially distasteful.


    Hux then introduced Frank. "This is Vicky Lawrence. He''s a martial elite whom I''ve recently recruited,


    Mr. Janko."


    "Vicky Lawrence?" Ned did a double take before leveling a meaningful smile at Frank. "Such a


    charming name."


    He then turned to Pax. "Try to have your boys be gentle. I like his face—I''d like to get to know him


    better after."


    "Who''s asking?" Frank bellowed, not holding back at all.


    He could get sick from the man''s exaggerated mboyance!


    "Insolence! Watch your manners—this is Mr. Janko you''re talking to!" Pax bellowed right then.


    "Oh, it''s nothing." Ned waved him off with a charming smile. "Kid, I must warn you—Mr. Barzini is more


    than what he seems. It''s fine if you want to test yourself, but you don''t have to go as far as to provoke


    the entire gang. Apologize, and I''m sure Mr. Barazini would find some goodness in his heart to forgive


    you."


    "Thanks for the tip," Frank growled coolly, not interested in wasting his breath. "But I''m here, and I


    signed the release of liability. I have no reason to back out now."


    "Oh, you have balls. I like that." Ned smiled. "Being confident is good, but you should know that there''s


    always a bigger fish—pride goes before the fall, y''know?"


    "Thanks for the advice," Frank replied, but he remained where he was and showed no hint of backing


    out.


    Ned sighed softly in turn. "Well, whatever. Since you''re so determined, I''m sure there''s no point in me


    saying more, so I won''t."


    "Oh, Mr. Janko, no words ever cure ignorance. You''d be wasting your breath with that insolent child."


    "Exactly. He''ll be sobbing when they beat him into a cripple."


    "As one would say... He doesn''t know when to give up."


    The pretty boy valets around Ned started to joke among themselves, convinced that Frank was a brute


    who did not stop to regret until he got hurt, though it would be toote for him at that point.