Dumped My Cheating Ex. Now I'm Sleeping Next to a Billionaire CEO novel Chapter 1241

The thug curled up on the ground, groaning and clutching his side, but he still refused to give in. With shaking hands, he fished out his phone, its screen a web of cracks, and started punching in a number. “You think you’re tough? Don’t even think about running,” he spat out, voice trembling with pain. “I’m calling backup. This is our turf. You’re done for.”

John was hiding in the shadows at the end of the alley. Hearing that, his face went even paler. A few minutes ago, adrenaline had pushed him into action. Now that it was draining away, cold sweat ran down his back. If the thugs actually called for reinforcements, things would spiral out of control.

He hurried over to James, panic rising in his voice. “Mr. Nelson, these guys aren’t just troublemakers. They’re connected to the mob. We need to get out of here. If their people show up, we’ll be trapped.”

James barely reacted. He waited until the call connected, then slammed his foot right into the thug’s chest.

A raw scream tore through the narrow alley, echoing off the walls. James bent down and snatched the phone from the thug’s hand. The screen glowed, call still in progress. James glanced down, his eyes cold and threatening. “Great. I wanted to know who sent you anyway,” he said, voice low and dangerous. “Tell me who it was, or I’ll finish you right now.”

He pressed down harder with his foot. The thug gasped, face twisted in agony, his chest heaving as he struggled to breathe.

At that moment, someone answered the call. A growling male voice came through the speaker. “Hello? What’s going on?”

James didn’t answer. He let his shoe grind into a pressure point on the man’s chest again.

“Please! Boss, help me! Get me out of here!” the thug shrieked, half out of his mind with terror. “Just tell him! Tell him who paid us! I’m begging you, I’ll die if you don’t!”

On the other end, whoever had answered went silent for a few seconds, stunned by the chaos. Then a hesitant voice filtered through. “I think it was someone named John. He said to teach a lesson to an Asian guy in a black suit.”

James heard every word, even though the voice was faint. He slowly turned to look at John, his eyes black and unreadable, his face totally blank.

John’s head dropped, guilt and fear all over his face. He couldn’t even meet James’s eyes.

James let go, taking his foot off the thug’s chest. He tossed the battered phone aside, and it landed on the concrete with a sharp crack, the screen finally going dark for good. Without a word, he turned and strode toward the mouth of the alley.

Harlene was still a little jittery after watching James take down the thug, but curiosity and excitement were quickly taking over. No way was she going to let a guy this handsome and tough get left behind.

Emmy heard her and let out a sigh, the kind that said she knew she was beat, but she still stayed silent.

James, seeing she hadn’t straight up said no, relaxed a little, the tightness in his eyes fading. “Alright, I’ll grab my stuff,” he said, turning toward the hotel.

He found Keaton by a parked sedan, muttered a few quick instructions, then grabbed his suitcase and headed straight for the van.

Emmy stood by the vehicle, watching him get closer. She hadn’t totally let go of her frustration, but the idea of leaving him alone in New York made her hesitate. She just couldn’t bring herself to do it.

When he came up to the car, she finally pulled the door open and climbed in with Harlene, her silent way of saying she wasn’t leaving him behind.