Chapter 6: The Looske Family's Day of Reckoning

Words : 1981 Updated : Aug 14th, 2025

"Elijah Quinny, here's a word of advice. Don't provoke people you don't understand, or you'll pay a price you can't afford." Elliot Looske said coldly, contempt glinting in his eyes. He was sure a few vicious words would be enough to make Elijah bow and scrape. Smack! His answer came as a ringing slap. Elijah's hand cracked across his face without warning. "You hit me?" Elliot's head rang, half his face aflame. He stood there, stunned. Elijah's gaze stayed cold. "You show up to pick a fight and still strut around like a rooster. You Looskes have really outdone yourselves. In all of Riveria, who else would dare to act this brazen in front of me?" Elliot clenched his jaw, pride curdling into rage. He let out a laugh that sounded brittle. "Fine. You've got guts. What are you all waiting for? Get him. Teach this fool a lesson." Two hired goons lunged at Elijah. Raven stood to the side, a smile playing at her lips. She started forward, but Elliot cut her off, chin lifted, voice dripping disdain. "Miss, keep out of this. Otherwise, don't blame my guys if they get rough. You don't want to get hurt, do you?" Raven nearly laughed outright. The man looked every inch a two-bit clown. Elijah shot her a look. His body blurred, and he slipped out of their pincer attack as if it were nothing. Seizing the moment, Elliot sidled up to Raven with what he imagined was a dashing grin. "Hey, gorgeous, why stick with Elijah Quinny? He's not walking out of here alive. Work with me and maybe I let him go." Raven's smile cooled. "I think the one out of luck today is you." Right then, the two who had rushed in first came flying back out, flung as if by a storm. Thud, thud. They slammed into the wall, blood trickling from the corners of their mouths, and collapsed unconscious. Elliot stared, eyes saucer-wide. Elijah strolled out of the room unhurried, clothes neat, expression calm. The air shifted. "Everyone, get him!" Elliot finally snapped out of it. He retreated a few steps and barked the order through clenched teeth. The remaining enforcers surged toward Elijah. He did not so much as twitch an eyebrow. The pressure rolling off him seemed to thicken the room. Straight punches, sharp elbows, clean hip throws-each movement was crisp and economical, a silent ballet of violence. Before the men could react, he dropped them one after another. They hit the floor and writhed, groaning. For a heartbeat, the room itself seemed to hold its breath. Panic finally broke loose in Elliot's chest. He fumbled out his phone and jabbed at Grant Spears's number. "Grant, save me! Elijah Quinny's a madman, he's going to beat us to death. Bring your men, now!" Off to the side, Felix Looske puffed himself up, bluster masking fear. He shouted hoarsely, "Elijah Quinny, lay another finger on my uncle Elliot again and I'll make sure your whole family never knows peace!" Elijah let out a thin laugh, then clamped a hand around Felix's throat. His voice was icy. "Feel free to try. But before that, I want to see if the Looske family can make it to tomorrow." Hearing Grant promise to come, Elliot found his nerve again and forced a show of calm. "Don't think you're all that. Director Spears at the Peacekeeping Bureau is a friend of mine. He's on his way. If you know what's good for you, get on your knees and apologize. Have your woman spend the night with me, and maybe I let you live." "Courting death." Elijah's kick took him off his feet and planted him on the floor. His tone was ice on bone. "Wasn't the Looske family just begging to die? I'll oblige." Meanwhile, when Grant Spears took the call, his gut turned to water. After last night's phone conversation, he had felt a prickle of doom. Had Elliot just crashed headlong into the King of Northville? Too late to stall, he rushed to the Goldia Hotel with his team. At the entrance his heart pounded, his expression shifting. He steeled himself and went upstairs. The moment he stepped in, he took in the sight of Elliot and Felix, battered beyond recognition. Before he could even order an arrest, his eyes found Elijah Quinny and Raven by the doorway. His face went white as a sheet, and he broke out in a cold sweat. Seeing Grant, Elliot clawed himself upright like a drowning man clutching at a straw and staggered over, wailing, "Grant, you gotta help me! We were following your plan, and this punk not only refused to cooperate, he beat us up with zero respect for you!" He piled it on, already picturing Elijah brought to heel. Grant's face, however, froze over. He kicked Elliot aside and snapped, "Who are you calling 'brother'? The Peacekeeping Bureau is on a case. All unauthorized personnel, out." The kick caught Elliot off guard. It took him a long beat to register the pain, confusion clouding his features. "Grant, they hit us first. Look at us. You have to give us justice!" Felix yelled, unwilling to give up. Raven stepped forward then, voice soft, every word honed. "Director Spears, these men forced their way into our room, tried to drag Mr. Quinny off, and said I should sleep with them tonight. Tell me, whose fault is that?" Grant's expression flipped at once. He hurried to paste on a smile. "Ms. Raven, please don't misunderstand. These fools clearly came to make trouble for Elijah Quinny. Good thing I got here in time. If anything had happened, I'd be in serious trouble." Raven's tone stayed airy as she added fuel. "They were shouting just now about ruining Elijah's family. The Looske family must wield quite a bit of clout in Riveria. Director Spears, I suspect organized-crime ties. This calls for a serious investigation." Only then did Elliot sense something was very wrong. Grant's behavior echoed the panic he'd shown last night. After that call, Grant had gone skittish, and now he was downright cowed before Elijah. In all of Riveria, who could make a man like Grant Spears tread so carefully, if not the legendary King of Northville? At that thought, Elliot's head lifted by inches toward Elijah Quinny. One look and it felt like he'd been doused with ice water. His face drained of color. Despair and terror washed over him. Who the hell had the Looske family just messed with?

Chapter 6: The Looske Family's Day of Reckoning

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