Chapter 0:
A Bad…Start
PORSCHE
WHACK! THUD!
The sound of a hard object hitting flesh caught my attention. I was stuffing a large trash bag into a green bin near the nightclub where I worked part-time, a cigarette dangling from my lips. From the corner of my eye, I saw five or six thugs beating some stupid guy to the ground. I adjusted my backpack and casually took a drag from my cigarette, ignoring the havoc in front of me.
This was a common occurrence in this alley next to the nightclub. It was quite dark, and staff only came back here to throw out the trash or pick up deliveries.
“Shit! You won’t fucking give up!”
I couldn’t see clearly through the darkness, but I could faintly hear the cursing. I kept ignoring them, though, studiously locking the back door of the nightclub now that my shift was over.
I worked part-time here as a server after class. Usually, the place was close to empty at this hour—and just a few customers remained, either waiting to hail a taxi, looking to get laid, or picking a fight like the guys behind me… I didn’t want to be a heartless douchebag, but I also didn’t want to stick my nose into other people’s business. The guy must have insulted someone in that group to get beaten up this badly…
Fine—you can call me a jerk for ignoring a guy getting his ass kicked. But what did I know? He might have done something to deserve it. And not something trivial like stealing candy from a corner store…right?
“Get the fuck off of me!”
Damn, this dude is tough. I glanced behind me and saw him spring up and hit the thugs back.
I threw my cigarette to the ground and stubbed it out with my shoe, then stretched my stiff muscles before heading to my bike in the nearby parking lot. I was ready to head home and rest…and I would have, too, if the dumbass hadn’t hurled himself into my back.
I heard a faint, raspy voice.
“Help…”
I felt a tug on my university jacket. I looked behind to see a man’s bruised face, blood all over his nose and mouth. He looked surprisingly handsome for someone who was so banged up. I wondered what a posh-looking guy like him did to get his shit rocked this badly.
“Get back here, fucker!”
One of the goons stalked closer and violently yanked the guy by his shirt collar. I took another look at him—something crossed my mind and made me pull his arm before the big bully could drag him away.
“Chill out, dude,” I said calmly, assessing the thug’s face. He had a mustache and looked way too old for me to call “dude.” Why would these assholes bully a kid? The handsome guy, who I was still holding by the arm, looked about the same age as me. Judging from his clothes, he was some sort of rich kid. Were they trying to mug him or something? I pulled the guy back to shield him while staring at his attackers.
And I thought I’d just mind my own business…
“Stay the fuck out of this, I’m warning ya!”
That made me hesitate, but I was too curious. I had to ask. “What did he do?”
If this guy did something wrong, then I’d let him face his fate. But if not…I might try and be a good person for once.
“I told ya not to butt in!” the thug barked angrily before attempting to grab the handsome guy behind me. I hesitated again—this was really none of my goddamn business.
I had a little brother to take care of. Who was going to feed him if I got hurt and couldn’t work? Images of my burden of a little brother flashed in my head.
I really was a callous prick—when it came down to it, I didn’t want to take action without getting anything for my trouble. With that realization, I intended to move away and let the group of thugs do what they wanted with the good-looking guy…but he stopped me.
“If you help me, I’ll pay you a worthy reward,” he whispered.
He was trying to bribe me?! Fuck that! He really thought he could sway me with money?
…Yup! Damn straight. Money was always good motivation. “How much?” I asked.
“Fifty thousand.1 That enough?”
My lips curled into a satisfied smile at the offer. Fifty thousand would be enough to cover the tuition fees for my little brother, Chay. I used one arm to block the goons’ advance.
“If you bail, I will fucking kill you, understood?” I said. One of the thugs grabbed a two-by-four, and I immediately shoved the handsome kid out of the way to kick the thug’s hand, knocking him and the plank of wood to the ground before he could clobber me. I was determined not to let anyone get to that pretty man, so I called up all the martial arts skills I knew. I’d actually won a national championship title in martial arts back in high school.