Why was Jason here? Estre had just sent out a notification to everyone but him, and yet he showed


    up so swiftly.


    The ringleader cornering Estre spat on the ground with a vicious look and, gripping a metal pipe in


    hand, started towards the neer. As the ringleader got close to Jason, he brandished the pipe and


    sneered, “Who the hell are you? I’d advise you to mind your


    own-”


    Before the man could finish his sentence, Jason raised the baseball bat in his hand and violently


    smashed it down towards the man’s head. Blood trickled from a gash on the man’s forehead the next


    second. His cronies were stunned, turning to stare at Jason with bewildered expressions.


    The leader, brow furrowed and wiping the blood from his head, roared at his men, “What are you


    morons staring at? Get him!”


    The remaining thugs, riled up by their leader’smand, charged at Jason with their own weapons


    raised.


    Inside Estre’s SUV, Keegan noticed their attackers had shifted focus and turned to Estre, “Ms.


    Estre, that guy looks like Mr. Jason.”


    Estre’s gaze was fixed ahead, “It’s him.”


    With that confirmation, Keegan quickly unlocked the door, “I need to go help Mr. Jason.”


    Estre grabbed Keegan’s arm. Just as Keegan was about to protest, she handed tire iron from beside


    her seat. “Take this.” Ever since Jesse had been cornered by three years ago, they always kept some


    kind of weapon in their cars.


    Seeing that Estre was also preparing to exit the vehicle, Keegan held her back, “Ms Estre, your


    leg’s still healing. I can handle this. Just keep the doors locked.”


    They were up against a group of men, and if things went south, Estre’s safety could bpromised.


    Keegan’s priority was to ensure her protection, even as fear shook him from head to toe.


    Summoning his courage, Keegan flung open the door and stepped out. Before closing the door, he


    reminded Estre to lock it and not to leave the car under any circumstances.


    Estre heeded his advice, locking the door after Keegan left.


    Then, Keegan charged towards the group attacking Jason, swinging the tire iron. But he wasn’t cut out


    for fighting; instead of aiming for heads, he struck backs and arms.


    From the passenger seat, Estre watched anxiously.


    At first, Jason held his own, but after a couple of knife shes, his defense weakened,


    08.33


    and he was pushed back towards Estre’s SUV. Keegan was also taking a brutal beating. “Son of a


    bitch, you want to split my head open? I’m gonna finish you off today,” the leader cursed, shing his


    knife at Jason.


    As Jason raised his bat to defend himself, his left arm got shed by someone on the side. Gritting his


    teeth in pain, he leaned against the hood of Estre’s white car. Estre’s car was white, and when


    Jason leaned against it, she clearly saw blood on the vehicle.


    Her heart skipped a beat. Ovee with worry and an urge to help, she reached for the


    door handle.


    Noticing Estre opening the door, Jason’s expression changed. He quickly shut it, ordering her sternly,


    “Lock the door. Don’t get out.”


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    For a brief moment, Estre was transported back to their school days when Jason would fearlessly


    protect her. It was as if all the grudges and grievances were just a bad dream.


    The door mmed shut, and as the assants closed in with knives and clubs, Jason’s fierce eyes


    commanded, “Lock it.”


    Estre felt a lump in her throat, but sheplied, locking the door. If her leg had been healed, she


    would have been out there fighting alongside Jason, but now, she feared she’d only be a hindrance.


    Watching Jason get hit on the head and Keegan curled up on the ground taking punches, Estre’s


    heart ached, and tears welled up in her eyes. It was the feeling of being powerless that stung the most.


    As the assants’ bravado escted, Estre’s resolve to expose those behind the


    solidified.


    Just when Jason seemed on the brink of copse, headlights shed in the distanc followed by the wail


    of police sirens. The gang nced back and, hearing the approaching sirens, scattered up the


    mountainous path with their weapons in tow.


    As soon as they fled, Estre hurried out of the car to find Jason slumped against the front tire. Limping


    over to him, she knelt down and asked with concern, “Are you okay?”


    Jason, wincing, held his arm and insisted, “I’m fine.”


    Estre gripped his arm and looked over to Keegan, shouting, “Keegan, how are you?”


    Keegan slowly got to his feet, “Ms. Estre, I’m alright.”


    When Jason and Keegan emerged from surgery, it was past two in the morning.


    Keegan had three broken ribs and several other injuries. Jason’s face had been cut, his left arm and


    right bicep shed, with six stab wounds overall and a moderate


    213


    0833


    Chapter 233.


    Concussion from the blow to his head.


    “Estre, it’s under control now. I’ll take you home to rest. You have a kid to worry about,” Thomas said


    to Estre as Jason was wheeled back to his room. Thomas had


    encountered Jason and the police on the way back.


    Estre nced towards the hospital room and then back at Thomas, “I’ll go back in a bit.”