Chapter 2: I Don't Want to Kill Anyone Today

Words : 1697 Updated : Oct 23rd, 2025

On the second floor of the villa, in a spacious room, Nathan Santee reclined on the sofa. His hair had turned silver, his skin had gone sallow, and age clung to him. Yet his eyes still burned sharp and bright; the old fire had not gone out. Across from him stood several young men. The one in front wore arrogance like a coat, hands in his pockets, chin tilted, smirking as if the world owed him. "Brian Dalton, you've got some nerve." Nathan's voice was hard and cutting. "Back then, even your grandfather didn't dare talk to me like that. Who do you think you are?" "Heh, old man, still playing the former head of the Santee family?" Brian's sneer deepened. Years of wine and women had bleached his face to an unhealthy pallor, sharpening the treacherous look in his eyes. "Times have changed in Easton. Face it. The Santee family's Junos Group won't last long even if you don't sell. Why drag it out?" "I'm offering to buy it, which means I'm giving Junos Group a lifeline. You ought to be on your knees thanking me. Right?" He glanced over his shoulder. The bodyguards behind him burst into fawning laughter. "Exactly, Mr. Dalton is right!" "Old man, just say yes. When Mr. Dalton gives you a chance, you don't waste it." "If you don't know when you're being shown respect, you'll pay the price." Their snickers and threats kept coming, but Nathan's expression didn't twitch. If anything, his resolve hardened. The company wasn't for sale. It was not only the blood and sweat of generations in the Santee family-it would also be Diego Santee's foothold once he walked out of prison. With that kid's stubborn streak, five years in prison probably didn't change him much. Put a million dollars in his hands-how long before he burned through it? Keeping Junos Group preserved at least a sliver of hope. "My advice is, stop setting your sights on Junos Group." Nathan rubbed his hands together, as if remembering the Santee family's former strength. "I'm not selling these shares-not at any price." Brian's smile fell away, the mask cracking. "Have it your way. Old Mr. Santee, since I've come all the way here, do you really think it's still up to you to decide?" He gave his bodyguards a look. They pulled out a formal contract and handed it over deferentially. "One minute. Sign it." Brian slapped the contract on the table and leaned in, eyes fixed on Nathan. "I don't want to repeat myself." Their expressions hardened, ready to pounce if Nathan dared refuse. "You think a million dollars buys the Santee family's Junos Group? Brian Dalton, if you haven't woken up, go back to sleep." The voice cut in, cold as a blade. Everyone turned. Diego Santee strode in, dressed head to toe in black, severity in his bearing. Up close, he took in Nathan's wasted face and withered frame, and his throat tightened. Diego fell to his knees with a thud and choked out, "Your unworthy grandson is late-please forgive me, Grandpa." Thud, thud, thud! He touched his forehead to the floor three times before Nathan seemed to come back to himself. "Diego? Get up, get up…" Nathan rose, trembling, and pulled him to his feet, his thin hand clutching Diego's forearm. "It's good you're home. You've suffered these years, haven't you." "You've grown taller, and stronger…" Watching this, Persephone Shadboult's gaze softened, a trace of approval warming toward Diego. Brian started a slow, sarcastic clap. "Five years flew by fast. Long time no see-still standing, I see." Diego's eyes went cold. "I don't want to kill anyone today. Get out of the Santee family estate." Back in the day, as a scion of a storied house, Diego had crossed paths with Brian more than once. They were never close, but they knew each other. Not killing him was the biggest mercy he was willing to give. "Oh? Looks like prison didn't straighten you out. Five years inside and you still didn't learn." Brian laughed, letting his gaze skim Diego, dismissive. "I call you Mr. Santee and you think you're somebody? Wake up." "Your three brothers are gone, the company's collapsed, the Santee family has only a half-crippled old man left and an ex-convict. What gives you the right to strut in front of me?" "Sign the contract, take the money, get out. For old times' sake, I'll throw in another hundred thousand dollars." He tossed the contract at Diego's feet, still playing the big shot. Nathan's face darkened. He opened his mouth, but Diego moved first. Diego picked up the contract and skimmed it, with casual indifference. "That's more like it. If you want money, say so sooner." Brian beamed at Diego's apparent good sense. "A few hundred grand is pocket change to me. Tell you what, I'll add-" Rrrip. Diego tore the contract slowly. Paper confetti drifted to the floor. Brian's smile froze. "Don't know a good thing when you see it, do you?" He snorted, about to speak, when he saw Diego coming toward him, unhurried and sure. "Looks like you're very angry. You won't hit me, will you?" Brian's laugh turned mocking. He glanced back at his bodyguards and crowed, "This idiot didn't get enough prison slop. Hahaha." Hearing the insults, Persephone's heart lurched. Diego had just been released. If he laid hands on someone, it would be over for him. "Diego-" She tried to stop him, but it was too late. Diego stepped in, seized Brian by the collar, and drove a fist into his gut. Thud! A dull impact. Brian's eyes bulged. His grin froze, then he folded to the floor, clutching his stomach in agony. "You-you dare-" Smack! Diego's palm cracked across his face. "You know what's going to happen when I get back-" Smack! "I-" Smack! Three slaps landed in quick succession. Brian's mouth flew open and he spat a mouthful of blood, along with broken teeth. "You useless idiots, are you going to watch me get beaten?" Brian glared at his bodyguards, words slurred. They snapped out of their stupor and surged forward. At the edge of the crowd, Persephone cried out, panic rising. "Stop!" Nathan's face twisted with fury. Diego was the Santee family's last remaining heir. If something happened to him, the Santee family would be finished. But he was over sixty, and Persephone was no fighter. In a scene like this, what could they do? The next moment, both of them went wide-eyed and still. The big, trained bodyguards rushed in, but in front of Diego they might as well have been rag dolls. He shifted a fraction, slipping past every swing and grab. Then he exploded with a sudden, brutal burst of power, and the bodyguards seemed to fly backward at the same instant, crashing to the floor.

Chapter 2: I Don't Want to Kill Anyone Today

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