Chapter 173 Open Your Eyes!
<Chapter>Chapter 173 Open Your Eyes! </Chapter>
Blood trickled down Patrick’s forehead.
The pain was electric, shooting through his nerves.
He began to wail, clutching his head, rolling back and forth on the ground.
Those who witnessed the scene gasped in shock.
The local townsfolk never imagined the benign-looking young man would have such a vicious streak!
Even Josh felt a chill run down his spine.
He remembered his own encounter with Ryder's unexpected wrath and the beer bottle that had met his skull.
He understood Patrick’s pain all too well...
Ryder bent down and grabbed Patrick by the collar, his voice devoid of emotion. "I just gave you an apology. Do you forgive me?"
Patrick clutched his head, pain and fear written all over his face. He replied, "I...I forgive you!"
"Oh? Do you?" said Ryder, a cold smirk playing at the corner of his lips.
Suddenly, he slapped Patrick across the face!
The sound echoed sharply. The strike was so forceful it made his lips and nostrils bleed.
Ryder pressed on. "I'll apologize again. Forgive me, will you?"
Patrick felt a dull pain in his chest and gasped for breath.
The kid was doing this on purpose!
Patrick had realized it, and everyone else knew that Ryder was doing this intentionally.
But what could they do?
Even a notorious hustler from Houston like Josh was utterly respectful toward Ryder. Who would dare to speak out against him?
Patrick could only muster a pathetic look as he pleaded, "Mr. Clark, I'm sorry, please can you stop hitting me?"
The chill in Ryder's eyes didn't wane as he casually replied, "I already apologized to you. Why can't I hit you?"
Ryder's foot lashed out once more mid-sentence and struck Patrick squarely on the chin.
Patrick hit the dirt. His lower lip split, and blood smeared his face. His missing front tooth Made him a picture of utter disarray.
"I'll apologize to you again," Ryder said coldly.
With that, he shot a warning glance at a few of Patrick's close pals, who shook in terror, unable to even look back at him.
Despite their reputation for throwing their weight around the neighborhood, acting tough, and talking about brotherhood and loyalty, they were quick to cower and backstab when faced with a real threat.
Suddenly, a voice erupted from afar, "Who the hell laid hands on my son? Are you picking on us because you think we have no backup?"
Everyone turned to look.
Rushing towards them were a couple in their sixties – Patrick's parents and Thelma's former in-laws.
They looked like they came from the same stock as Patrick, their faces fleshy and angry.
Patrick's mother was brandishing a rolling pin, while his father had a massive hound by the leash, clearly ready for a brawl.
The onlookers at the corner store shifted uneasily. This couple was notorious. They were known for starting fights, stealing, and extorting, and were utterly shameless. No one in town dared cross them.
Patrick quickly cried out, "Mom! Dad! Save me! They're beating me to a pulp!"
Patrick's dad replied, "Don't worry, son. I’ve already called three of your cousins. They'll be here to deal with these jerks soon enough!"
Then he turned to Ryder and barked, "Get away from my son now, you little punk, or I'll set the dog on you!"
Ryder glanced at them, his brow furrowed slightly. "Weren't you two the ones who were always picking on Thelma Goldbranch? Is that how you treat a daughter-in-law?"
Patrick's mom sneered. "She was the daughter-in-law we paid for. We'll treat her however we like! What's it to you? And why should we be nice to someone who only brings bad luck and can't have any sons? She doesn't deserve it!"
In that instant, Ryder thought he saw a familiar figure in Patrick's mother – his own mother-in-law, Karen.
Maybe with a little more growth, Karen could one day become that type of person herself!
Ryder snorted in disdain. "Birds of a feather flock together, they say. That's common sense for people, but spare me the lecture for an animal!"
His words had barely trailed off when Ryder delivered another fierce kick to Patrick's midsection.
Patrick yelped in pain, which enraged his parents.
Patrick's folks had never laid a hand on him, no matter what trouble he caused.
How could they stand by and watch someone else strike their child before their very eyes?
"You little punk. I'll set my dog on you, and he'll tear you apart!" Patrick's dad shouted as he unleashed the hulking canine with a snap of the leash.
The onlookers in the crowd gasped in shock.
The village had grown to despise that beastly dog for its reign of terror. It was allowed to roam free and was notorious for preying on chickens and ducks. It frequently attacked livestock and had even injured several locals.
Just six months before, it had nearly mauled a ten-year-old to death, leaving the child with stitches a mile long.
And what did the couple say when they were confronted by the villagers?
"That's just how our dog is! It ain't nobody's fault but your own for looking bite-worthy! What? Medical bills? Go to hell! There’s money for you. Keep yakking, and I'll let the mutt take a chunk out of you too!"
They were bold-faced bullies, and no one could put them in their place. But back to the matter at hand...
Freed from its leash, the dog lunged at Ryder, baring its teeth.
Josh, seeing the chaos, panicked. George had made him swear to keep Ryder out of harm's way. The consequences would be dire otherwise!
With a swift motion, he signaled his gang forward. "Get the dog! Protect Ryder!"
The dog was large and fearsome, but it was no match for a mob of over forty men who were armed with clubs and baseball bats.
PThe ensuing melee was quick and brutal.
And in less than thirty seconds, the dog lay motionless in a pool of blood. It had been beaten to death.
The villagers exhaled a collective sigh of relief, their pulses racing with a twinge of grim satisfaction.
The menace that had terrorized their lives was finally gone.
Patrick's parents, however, watched in horror, their eyes bulging with disbelief.
Their pet of over five years was dead. This was unforgivable!
"Screw you, you bastards! I'll knock your damn heads off!" Patrick's mom screamed, charging with a rolling pin raised high, targeting Ryder.
But Josh stepped in her path, quick and unrelenting, and with a mighty kick, she was down on the ground.
Tossing away his cigarette butt, Josh rebuked her. "Lady, you might want to open your eyes and see things clearly. My buddy Ryder is disciplining your son, or did you not notice that?"
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