Jeff parked his car beside a cream-painted fence, his jaw tightening as he gripped the steering wheel. He stepped out, slammed the door shut, and flexed his fingers as he approached the house. His movements were deliberate, his gaze cold and focused.


    With a single knock on the door, a woman''s voice called out, “Who’s there?”


    The door swung open, revealing a young blonde woman in black pants and a bra. She gave him a curious smile.


    “Hi, who are you?”


    Jeff’s lip curled slightly, his eyes narrowing.


    “I’m here to see Wilson,” he said, his tone clipped.


    “Who’s that, babe?” a gruff voice barked from inside.


    “A guy’s here to see you,” she replied, stepping aside.


    “Let him in.”


    Jeff walked in, his eyes immediately locking on Wilson, who lounged on a sofa. A smirk played on Wilson’s face as he cradled a dark-haired woman in a towel on his lap.


    “Jeff,” Wilson drawled, leaning back lazily. “What brings you here? I don’t recall us having any—”Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.


    Wilson’s words were cut short by Jeff’s fist colliding with his nose. The crack echoed in the room as blood dripped onto Wilson’s lip. He touched his nose, then looked at the blood on his fingers, his smirk fading into a scowl.


    “You son of a—”


    Jeff didn’t wait. His booted foot connected sharply with Wilson’s groin, sending him doubling over with a groan. The women screamed, clutching each other as they backed away.


    Jeff grabbed Wilson by the collar and yanked him to his feet. With a swift motion, he slammed him against the wall. The plaster cracked under the impact. Jeff’s expression was ice, but his movements radiated barely restrained fury.


    “You think you can get away with this?” Jeff’s voice was low, vibrating with menace. He didn’t wait for an answer. Another punch landed on Wilson’s stomach, forcing a wheeze from his lips.


    Wilson stumbled, but Jeff hauled him up again, this time slamming him onto the coffee table. The wood creaked under Wilson’s weight as Jeff’s hands found his throat, his grip unyielding.


    Wilson’s eyes widened in panic as Jeff leaned in close, his voice a growl.


    “Do you feel it now? Do you understand what it means to cross me?”


    The women bolted from the room, their screams fading into the background as Jeff tightened his hold. Wilson clawed weakly at Jeff’s hands, his breaths coming in desperate, shallow gasps.


    Jeff’s lips curled into a dark smile, his eyes gleaming with a savage satisfaction. For a moment, it seemed like he might crush the life out of Wilson then and there.


    The door burst open, and uniformed policemen charged in, the blonde woman pointing frantically at Jeff. “That’s him! Stop him! He’ll kill him!”


    Jeff barely registered the chaos as the officers pulled him off Wilson. He struggled against their grip, his arms straining as he tried to lunge back toward Wilson, who lay gasping on the floor.


    “Get him out of here!” one of the officers ordered, shoving Jeff toward the door.


    Jeff was wrestled into the back of the police car, his chest heaving with fury as they drove him away, red and blue lights flashing in the distance.


    *************************************************************************************************************************************


    Jason’s phone buzzed, and he answered it quickly.


    “Hello?”


    “Jason, it’s Andrew,” came the steady voice on the other end. “Your brother, Jeff, is in custody. He’s at the station right now.”


    “Jeff?” Jason’s voice shot up in alarm.


    Mrs Anderson, sitting nearby, turned to him, her brows furrowing. “What’s wrong?”


    Jason quickly flashed his mom a forced smile. And without waiting for another word from her, he grabbed his keys and headed for the door.


    Mrs Anderson watched him leave, unease settling in her chest. Something wasn’t right, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was only the beginning.


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