A Man with Nerves of Steel (Joseph Hart) novel Chapter 359

Chapter 359

Joseph asked, “And what exactly would I lose? I started with nothing, and I’ve never had anything to my name. Since I don’t have anything to lose, why wouldn’t I be able to walk away? Besides, there’s always one path left open for me. I can just go join a monastery.”

Cora said immediately, “You’re being incredibly irresponsible!”

Joseph shot back, “Irresponsible to whom? To you? Or to someone else’s children? For all these years, I’ve done everything I could for you and those girls. I don’t owe any of you anything. Instead, you’re the one who has mistreated me.”

Cora insisted, “I love you, Joseph. I’ve never treated you unfairly.”

Joseph suddenly lost all desire to continue the conversation. He waved a hand dismissively, signaling for Cora to leave.

Instead of leaving, Cora gave a sharp nod, and her bodyguards immediately stepped forward to force Joseph out. He tried to resist, but these men were professionally trained. Though he was stronger than the average person, he stood no chance against three of them at once.

Just as they were escorting him downstairs, the door burst open. Several burly men with unmistakable Venleyan accents charged inside. Without a word, they threw themselves at Cora’s security detail. Within seconds, Cora’s three bodyguards were beaten to the floor.

The newcomers didn’t linger. The moment the job was done, they vanished as swiftly as they had arrived.

Cora stood frozen in disbelief. Staring at her bodyguards groaning on the floor, anger welled up inside her. She whipped around to face Joseph. “See? Those were Peyton’s people! I told you she was bad news!”

Joseph calmly straightened his clothes. “You want to know what I saw? If they hadn’t shown up, your men would’ve dragged me away. Cora, I hope this is the last time you try to force me to do anything. If you ever do it again, don’t regret it if I start using force against you.”

He walked out to his car parked in the compound, retrieved his pouch of silver needles, and returned. Ignoring everyone’s stares, he crouched beside one of the bodyguards and inserted several needles into his neck. Moments later, the man’s groans ceased as he slipped into unconsciousness.

Cora rushed forward to stop Joseph. “What are you doing?”

Joseph shoved her aside, sending her stumbling backward.

He stared down at the bodyguards. “For the next two years, none of them will be able to fight. That’s the price for laying their hands on me. If you feel sorry for them, give them a generous severance package.”

Joseph turned his gaze squarely onto Cora and added, “Remember what happened to Ella? I did that to her too.”

“How can you do something like this?” Cora frowned. For the first time, she realized Joseph was incredibly dangerous.

Joseph snarled. “What else was I supposed to do? I tried reasoning with you, but did you ever listen? People like you always rely on power and status to bully everyone else. You think the entire world should revolve around your whims. My life, my dignity-they don’t matter to you. They can just be sacrificed for your convenience.

“That’s why I need you to know that I’m not some useless coward you can push around. I have my own ways of dealing with enemies. And if you corner me, even a rabbit will bite.”

1/2

15

+15 Bonus

Joseph glared at Cora with a volatile rage, his hand twitching as if he wanted nothing more than to slap her.

Instead, he drew a cigarette and lit it. Since the bodyguards were completely blacked out and no one else was around to overhear, he said, “Let me tell you one more thing. Warren got lucky. Dying out of town was the best thing that could’ve happened to him. Because if he had ever shown his face back in Jenton, I would have killed him myself.”

Cora’s scalp tingled, a cold dread washing over her. She asked, horrified, “Did you have something to do with Warren’s death?”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify