From Nothing to Norton

Chapter 10 One Good Turn

Newton and his father hurried down to the lobby, where they were taken aback by the sight of the alleged traitor in their midst. The young boy standing before them appeared incredibly innocent and much younger than Newton himself. The boy's tearful eyes reflected pure terror as soon as Mr. Norton descended the stairs.

"Please... I swear I had nothing to do with this. Believe me, boss," the boy pleaded, his voice trembling with fear.

Newton couldn't help but feel sorry for him, witnessing the sheer fright in his eyes. The boy seemed genuinely terrified.

Approaching the young man, Mr. Norton gripped his hair and lifted his face. "So, you're the young rat?" he questioned sternly.

Sobbing uncontrollably, the boy managed to respond between his tears. "I swear, boss. I've always been loyal to you... Remember when I took a bullet for you last year?"

His eyes weighed heavy with emotion as he continued to weep.

"Shut your ass, punk! We'd all take a bullet for the boss," Drax snapped at the boy, who remained kneeling in front of Mr. Norton. Meanwhile, the Grinch pressed a gun against the boy's temple.

Mr. Norton vividly recalled that pivotal day in his memory. He had been returning from a board meeting without his security detail when his car came under ambush by the Lees. They intended to assassinate him during the vulnerable moment.

Bullets had rained upon his vehicle, and as he believed his end had come, he witnessed an unexpected turn of events. The car door swung open, and instead of meeting his demise, Mr. Norton saw his attacker drop lifeless to the ground. Two more gunshots echoed, silencing the chaos.

Soon after, a young boy, roughly 19 years old, approached him. "It's safe now, you can come out," the boy had reassured, extending his hand to Mr. Norton, who had been crouching beneath his car seat.

Grateful for his savior, Mr. Norton emerged from hiding and expressed his gratitude. However, when one of the wounded assailants aimed a gun at him, the young boy courageously stepped in and took a bullet in the shoulder.

Since that fateful day, Mr. Norton had taken the boy under his wing, providing him with care and protection. Yet now, a year later, the same boy stood at his mercy. How could he allow the Grinch to execute him?

Addressing Grinch, Mr. Norton asked, "Are you certain it was him?"

"Yes, boss. It was him. Everyone confirms that he was the only one who didn't take the scheduled one-hour break at 1 p.m. yesterday," Grinch replied.

"Boss, I swear it wasn't me. I skipped the break because I was waiting for the courier to deliver the wristwatch I had ordered. I swear it," the boy pleaded desperately.

Grinch responded by slapping the boy across the face, while Drax delivered a brutal punch to his stomach. "Stop lying, you filthy rat!" Drax yelled in anger.

"How much were you paid to betray your own family?" Mr. Norton questioned, searching for answers.

"Believe me, boss. I only have my mama at home. I would never do anything to put her in danger. I swear I didn't do it. Please, believe me," the boy sobbed, blood trickling from his mouth.

"Lock him up!" Mr. Norton ordered Grinch firmly.

"Boss, perhaps we should eliminate the rat immediately," Drax suggested.

"No. Keep him locked up," Mr. Norton decided.

Relief washed over Newton as he held onto his belief in the boy's innocence. Despite the accusations and the compelling evidence presented, something inside him refused to accept the idea that the young boy had betrayed them.

With heavy hearts, Newton and his father retreated to the sanctuary of their private living room, seeking solace amidst the turmoil. Meanwhile, the boy was forcefully taken away by their men, his fate uncertain.

"I don't believe he did it," Newton voiced his conviction, his voice filled with a mix of empathy and doubt.

"Neither do I, but it's important not to let emotions dictate our actions. While he may endure some suffering, I can't intervene," Mr. Norton responded.

"Son, no matter how virtuous and righteous you are, it's inevitable that people will suffer," he continued, imparting his wisdom.

Newton nodded in understanding.

"We haven't apprehended the traitor among us yet, but for now, he will be kept in confinement," Mr. Norton stated.

The following day, Monday, Newton found himself in class.

"Newton, you're looking good today. What's your secret?" Robert inquired, displaying his curiosity.

Robert was Newton's friend and was genuinely interested in knowing the reason behind his improved appearance.

"I heard the guy who can't afford much gets free food from the cafeteria," a girl from the back of the class chimed in, injecting her unsolicited comment.

Robert shot her an angry glare, disapproving of her remark.

"That's just a rumor. How else do you think he manages?" Robert defended Newton.

The class commenced and concluded two hours later.

Newton was eager to return home. He had developed an attachment to his new secret life and his clandestine family.

He longed for his father's company, Drax's amusing accent, and the camaraderie within his gang.

Suddenly, Jeremiah Lee purposefully bumped into Newton.

"You should be dead, you worthless worm. How the hell did you end up here?" Jeremiah spat, full of disdain.

Newton remained silent, meeting Jeremiah's gaze head-on.

Newton, standing at six feet tall, and Jeremiah, slightly shorter at five feet, were the tallest students in the class.

"The battle of Goliath is about to reignite," a girl announced from the doorway, piquing the interest of others.

The classroom quickly filled as students who had left hastily returned, anticipating a confrontation.

Their excitement waned when they witnessed Newton walking away from Jeremiah, choosing not to engage.

Their anticipation resurfaced when Jeremiah grabbed Newton by the collar, yanking him back forcefully.

"That's right, let's see what you've got," Jeremiah taunted, knowing the students relished witnessing fights.

Observing Jeremiah's behavior, Newton deduced that Jeremiah's father had neglected to warn him about Newton's true identity as a Norton.

"I don't know what stroke of luck allowed you to escape, but I swear it won't happen again. Watch your back, you penniless fool," Jeremiah yelled at Newton, who managed to break free from his grip and continued walking away.

"Are you too scared to fight?" Jeremiah taunted when he realized Newton wasn't reciprocating his public display of aggression.

The assembled students began dispersing disappointedly.

"Broke Boy doesn't feel like entertaining us today," they murmured, their enthusiasm deflated.

"I think you should leave, for your own good," Newton shouted back at Jeremiah, concerned for his well-being.

Jeremiah was taken aback by Newton's words, caught off guard by his unexpected response.

In an instant, Jeremiah lunged at Newton, aiming a punch at his neck.

With the agility of a cat, Newton swiftly ducked, evading the attack without even turning to face his aggressor.

Jeremiah's fist missed its target.

Newton's calm demeanor and nonchalant response further infuriated Jeremiah.

"You won't live to see another day, I promise you," Jeremiah seethed, his anger palpable as Newton walked away.

Unbeknownst to Jeremiah, Newton overheard his conversation on the phone.

"Intercept that punk when he crosses the street. I want to personally take care of him," Jeremiah ordered, revealing his sinister intentions.

A smile crept across Newton's face as he continued walking.

Jeremiah had no inkling of Newton's true identity or the depths of his capabilities.

As Newton arrived at the street Jeremiah had mentioned, he recalled the call Jeremiah had made earlier.

His gaze fell upon a parked SUV across the street.

Newton recognized its occupants as the Lee boys, aware that they were awaiting confirmation that he was their intended target.

However, displaying boldness, Newton confidently crossed the street, disregarding the potential danger.

He observed the Lee boys conversing on the phone, most likely confirming his presence.

Newton positioned himself a few feet away from their vehicle, patiently waiting for a taxi.

One of the Lee boys approached Newton, wordlessly extending his hand for a handshake.

Newton locked eyes with the Lee boy, his gaze piercing through the dark glasses he wore.

After a moment's hesitation, Newton reciprocated the gesture, shaking the Lee boy's hand.

The Lee boy nodded, acknowledging the unspoken understanding, and departed.

Newton watched as the Lee boy entered the black SUV, which then drove off, leaving him standing there, unaffected by their presence.