A Man with Nerves of Steel (Joseph Hart) novel Chapter 419

Chapter 419

Joseph instructed the men to proceed with caution and arranged for additional personnel to meet them along the

way.

As for Lacey, she deserved the lion’s share of the credit for locating Marla.

Joseph did not treat her poorly. He offered her a substantial sum of money, but she refused it, saying she would do anything for him. In the end, he arranged for Lacey to go to Croma and assist in investigating Grace’s death.

That afternoon, Lexi brought in two more injured men. Just like the previous cases, both of them had been struck on the head with a blunt object and knocked unconscious on the spot. After examining them, Joseph found that they had only suffered concussions, with no signs of intracranial bleeding.

It was nothing serious.

Once the treatment was complete, Joseph noticed that Lexi seemed unusually downcast. He asked, “What’s wrong? If you’re scared, then stop staying in Jenton and go home.”

Lexi glared at him. “Spare me the reverse psychology.”

She rolled her eyes. “I’m trying to figure out how to deal with the Zahn family. They’ve got someone incredibly skilled who none of my people are a match for.”

This was the other trump card the Zahn family possessed, a razor-sharp weapon hidden in the shadows.

Joseph walked over to the freezer and took out several vials. After mixing them into a syringe, he handed it to Lexi.

He said, “If your men can’t beat him in close combat, attack from a distance. This is an anesthetic round. As long as it hits him, he’ll be barely conscious within ten seconds. By then, even your useless bunch should be able to beat him. It’s not exactly honorable, but it’ll get us results.”

Lexi pocketed the anesthetic without hesitation. “Ten seconds? That’s more than enough.”

This only strengthened a private thought she had been harboring. When the time came for her to leave Jenton, if Joseph refused to come with her, she could always use the same method. Drugging him and taking him away by force was always an option.

Joseph walked her out and remained standing by the roadside long after her car had disappeared.

Katie approached her and teased, “Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for her, Joseph. You seem completely enthralled by her.”

Though Katie had considered the possibility of becoming involved with Joseph herself, she had never dared to say anything. Their relationship simply wasn’t at that point yet. Besides, as long as Joseph remained married, he would never accept another woman.

More importantly, she knew she couldn’t compare to Cora or the women around him. At the very least, she couldn’t compare to them physically.

Take Lexi, for example. Even as a woman, Katie couldn’t help but envy her figure.

Joseph was a middle-aged man who seemed to prefer one of two extremes. He either liked women who were barely into adulthood or women with mature, voluptuous figures. His preferences were between youth and maturity.

Yet, Katie found herself stuck somewhere in between. She was past her phase of youthful innocence, but didn’t

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yet possess the allure of a mature woman. In Joseph’s eyes, she suspected she would always remain someone who simply didn’t match up to the others.

Joseph replied casually, “Do you really think she’s that attractive? In my opinion, she’s not even as obedient as you are. She’s only a temporary ally, while you people are my friends.

“I was actually thinking about how to intensify the conflict between her family and the Zahn family. The harder they fight, the faster I’ll find the people I’m looking for.”

Joseph had already stirred up trouble elsewhere, so he had no qualms about doing the same here.

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