Free Web NovelChapter 26: Facing the Feared
Derek Cross was the kind of man whose name carried weight in Riverton’s underworld.
People spoke it in lowered voices, caught somewhere between fear and reluctant admiration.
Standing six-foot-four with the broad shoulders of a former linebacker, he looked like someone who had spent his entire life settling arguments with his fists.
His blond hair was always slicked back, and beneath the city’s dim streetlights, his cold blue eyes gave him the look of a predator sizing up its next target.
Around the streets, people had given him a nickname.
The Blond Beast.
It wasn’t a title he had chosen. It was one he had earned.
Derek grew up on Riverton’s neglected south side, where abandoned buildings outnumbered opportunities and survival came before everything else.
His father spent more time at the bottom of a whiskey bottle than at home. Most nights ended the same way shouted arguments,
By the time Derek turned fourteen, he had already learned one lesson the hard way.
The world didn’t hand out respect.You took it.
His first real fight happened after a group of older teenagers cornered him behind a convenience store, demanding his lunch money.
Instead of backing down, Derek grabbed a broken bottle from the alley and fought back with terrifying determination.
When the police arrived, the gang leader was lying on the pavement with deep cuts across his face while the rest of the group had already fled.
The incident earned Derek a juvenile record.
It also earned him a reputation.Before long, local gangs began taking notice.
By sixteen, Derek had become a familiar face in Riverton’s criminal circles. He wasn’t the loudest or the most reckless, but he was dependable. Debt collection, intimidation, protecting territory if someone needed a difficult job done, Derek usually got the call.
He was a carefree guy and always gets what he wanted
To him, she was simply another woman crossing his path.Another easy target.
He had no idea that this time would be different
And before the night was over, Derek would learn that even predators could become prey.
"Get lost."
Liam Sterling stepped out of the shadows, his expression calm. He had been passing through the area when he spotted the confrontation.
Derek Cross was feared for a reason bigger, heavier, and experienced in violence. A flicker of real fear tightened Liam’s chest. One wrong move and this could end badly.
But the Ultimate Rebate System had changed everything. Hours of relentless training, enhanced reflexes, and combat instincts flowed through his body.
He was no longer the same person. He had no choice but to act.
Derek turned, sizing Liam up with a sneer.
"The fuck is this? Some punk kid trying to play hero? Get lost before I break you in half, boy." Liam’s mind raced, cold and calculative.
He’s stronger and more experienced on the street. But I have the edge in speed and precision now. Stay focused. End it fast and clean. Despite the fear gnawing at him, his body moved with confidence.
Victoria’s eyes widened in shock and relief. "Liam..."
"Victoria, stay behind me," Liam said quietly, his voice steady.
Derek laughed darkly. "You’ve got balls, kid. I’ll give you that. But you just signed up for a beating."
Without warning, Derek charged like an angry bull, throwing a heavy haymaker that could have knocked out a horse.
Liam slipped inside the wild swing at the last second. Fear fueled his focus. He drove a sharp elbow into Derek’s ribs with brutal force, then followed with a punishing knee to the midsection.
The big guy grunted, air exploding from his lungs. Liam didn’t give him time to recover.
He clinched tight and unleashed a rapid barrage of short, vicious punches to the body, ribs, stomach each strike landing with system-enhanced power.
Derek roared in pain and rage, wrapping his thick arms around Liam in a crushing bear hug, trying to squeeze the life out of him. "I’m gonna fucking kill you!"
Liam’s ribs creaked under the pressure. Pain flared, but he stayed calm. He slammed his forehead hard into Derek’s face, splitting the man’s brow open.
Blood sprayed. Derek loosened his grip with a howl. Liam broke free and immediately followed up with heavy hooks, his fists cracking against Derek’s jaw and cheek.
The feared thug staggered, but he was tough. He swung again, grazing Liam’s shoulder and sending a jolt of pain down his arm.
Liam circled, breathing controlled. He’s slowing down. Press the advantage.
Derek lunged again, swinging wildly. Liam ducked under the punch and drove an uppercut straight into the bigger man’s chin.
Derek’s head snapped back. Liam followed with a devastating combination hook to the body, hook to the head, then a final straight right that connected perfectly.
Derek, dropped hard to the ground. He groaned, blood dripping from his split lip and broken brow, barely conscious.
The fight had been short but savage. Liam stood over him for a moment, knuckles bruised and breathing heavy, but his posture remained composed.
The fear he had felt earlier faded into cold satisfaction. He had calculated the risk and won.
"Liam..." Victoria whispered, still in shock. She had never seen anything like it.
"Enough," Liam said quietly. Let’s go before his friends show up.
He took her hand firmly and led her away from the street.
Victoria was still trembling, the adrenaline and fear refusing to leave her body.
She stopped and turned to him, eyes scanning his face and body with deep worry.
"Liam, are you hurt? Let me see," she said, her voice shaky.
She cupped his face gently, then ran her hands over his arms, shoulders, and stomach, checking for injuries. Her touch was warm and filled with concern.
"I’m okay, Victoria," he replied, his tone calm and reassuring despite the bruises forming on his knuckles. "Just a few scratches. Nothing serious."
After making sure he was truly fine, Victoria suddenly pulled him into a tight embrace. Her soft, full figure pressed firmly against him as she held on, still shaken from the close call.
"That really scared me to death..." she whispered, voice muffled against his chest. "If you hadn’t shown up.
Liam wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close with quiet possessiveness. Moments like this were valuable. He would savor every second.
