Chapter 481
“Mr. Dunphy, don’t you think you’re out of line?” Liam’s hands curled tight at his sides, and his fingers twitched with barely restrained anger.
Fire roared under his ribs, although he forced himself to stay composed. He couldn’t afford to provoke the man confronting him.
Shirley watched with stiff shoulders and tense eyes. Disgust flashed across her face, although fear kept her quiet.
The Stanton Academy students clustered behind Linton and strutted around like they owned the place. Their looks toward Liam dripped with mockery. In their eyes, Liam wasn’t a rival-he was background noise trying to stand center stage.
“You think I’m crossing a line?” Linton lifted a brow and released a low, dismissive laugh. His chin tilted up as if Liam wasn’t worth a full glance.
Liam’s voice caught in his throat, leaving him frozen.
Leander leaned back comfortably, one arm stretched over the couch. He looked ready to speak until something outside the window caught his attention.
“Huh?” His gaze sharpened on a narrow alley far down the street. A small grin tugged at his mouth.
Linton kept pressing his advantage. “Liam, I brought you into the Highcliffe scene because you were new and respectful. You spend a few months here and suddenly think you’re somebody? Don’t tell me you forgot how you begged to follow me around just to get your foot in the door p>
A sting shot across Liam’s face. Every word was a reminder of how powerless he felt. He couldn’t even sit and share drinks with Leander without someone stepping on him.
He glanced toward Leander and noticed him still staring out the balcony window, completely unfazed. That silence hit harder than Linton’s insults.
He thought back on everything since they reunited. Whenever chaos erupted, Leander handled it. Whenever Leander stayed seated, Liam discovered he was powerless.
More footsteps echoed from the stairs. A woman in a long velvet dress walked toward them, hips swaying in a practiced rhythm.
“Mr. Dunphy, everyone’s on their feet. Doesn’t that kill the party p>
Her voice melted into the room like warm caramel. Half the men within earshot leaned forward. Her smile alone felt dangerous.
She was the kind of beauty that derailed common sense.
“Rubyanne!” Linton’s eyes lit with hunger before he forced the reaction down and flashed an easy grin.
Rubyanne approached with steps that looked choreographed. One look at the tension in the room told her everything she needed to know.
She smiled at Linton, warm enough to soften steel. “Mr. Dunphy, every guest here is welcome. This table belongs to Mr. Preston and his friends. Please take the second- floor lounge for me, alright? All drinks for your group are on the house tonight p>
Her voice, posture, and curves worked together like a trained weapon. Several guys around the floor stared openly. Even Liam sneaked a quick look.
Linton’s expression shifted.
“Since Rubyanne asked, fine. I’ll give her that respect p>
He shot Liam a cold glance.
“You got lucky. Don’t forget who stands above you p>
Then he wrapped an arm around Rubyanne’s waist.
“Let’s go, Rubyanne. You owe me a few rounds p>
Rubyanne returned a polished smile, keeping her body just far enough from his to stay in control. As she moved toward the stairs with the group she glanced over her
shoulder. Her gaze ingere
Leander, who still hadn’t shown a hint of interest.
Her beauty was lethal. She owned a stake in the bar and stood as its crown jewel. She turned her
appearance into a weapon,
effortlessly building connections and resources Even someone like
Linton, backed by real power, ended up wrapped around her finger.
Most men present were captivated by her. Nearly every gaze tracked her silhouette. Leander remained unaffected by her allure, the only man in the entire venue who did not react.
“Looks like he’s the one worth catching tonight p>
A spark lit up in her eyes as she ran her tongue over her lips before she drifted toward the stairs with Linton’s group.
“Hoof!” Liam collapsed onto the couch the moment they disappeared.
Leander turned from the window and lifted his drink. “You’re scared stiff of that guy, huh p>
Liam didn’t deny it. “Leander, you run Jeff Enterprises. I’m nowhere near that. Highcliffe has its own rules, and I have to survive here p>
He went on, “That guy’s name is Linton Dunphy. His dad’s loaded in Seagate and stays connected with the Morgan-Royce family. The Morgen-Royces operate alongside the Wave family in this city. Linton’s tight with Rodrick Wave, the man in charge of the Wave Alliance p>
“When I first came here, I wanted to connect with people so life wouldn’t crush me
and Shirley. Linton’s the one who opened the door p>
His voice cracked with exhaustion.
He knew exactly who Leander was and what he ran at Jeff Enterprises, although he couldn’t go around flaunting that connection. Even if he held it up like a golden badge and told everyone, nobody would buy the story.
It felt like a freshman bragging about playing poker with billionaires. People would laugh in his face. So he built his own path, hoping it would make things easier for him in Highcliffe.
However, he never expected that once he stepped into that world, nearly everyone would see him as a joke. He lacked status, presence, and anything that would make others take him seriously.
“Got it.” Leander drank without emotion.
To him, Liam was family. Clearing problems for him took no effort, though growth came only from stumbling through the fire. Leander wouldn’t take that from him.
“Linton Dunphy, huh p>
Leander never stepped in for small annoyances. That didn’t mean he dismissed the name. Something far more dangerous waited tonight.
A thousand yards out, a man cloaked in black took position on a pavilion roof that overlooked the bar street. A Barrett rifle rested on a tripod in front of him.
He stretched his arms as if warming up. Murder gleamed in his eyes.
He lifted a custom-made round. The bullet was thicker than standard, coated with a faint green shimmer-poison.
“Jeff, you’re the strongest Martial Practitioner walking this era. Tell me something. What do you know about killers?
“This bullet was crafted for your chest. This rifle exists for this moment alone. Plus,
I’m ‘Deadshot.’ Missing isn’t in my blood. One shot cuts through armor.
“Your martial barrier won’t save you. This two billion is mine p>
He locked the round into place. Through the scope, the crosshairs centered on Leander’s chest.