From Nothing to Norton

Chapter 7 Belson Lee

Mr. Norton wasted no time and asked with concern, "Son, what did that person do to you? Are you injured?"

Newton assessed his condition and assured him, "I'm unharmed."

Taking a breath, Mr. Norton inquired, "How did you end up involved with the Lees?"

Newton explained, "Two days ago, I got into a fight with Jeremiah Lee in class. I had no idea his father was the mob-affiliated Mr. Lee you mentioned. He instigated the fight."

Mr. Norton chuckled and commended Newton, "You handled it well, son. A man should never back down from a fight. Always be prepared. You truly embody your father's spirit. By standing up to that worthless Lee, you showed him why we are the top dogs in this town."

Just as Newton's father received a phone call, Grinch's voice came through the line, saying, "...Hello...Boss, we are ready."

Without uttering a word, Mr. Norton shifted his attention to Newton and declared, "It's time."

"Today, you will accompany them, my son. Learn from Grinch and the others about how we operate in our world."

Filled with anticipation, Newton retrieved his weapons from his room and joined the assembled group.

Two sleek cars with dark tinted windows, manufactured by SID Automobile, awaited them outside.

As Newton stepped out, the men erupted in praise, creating an electrifying atmosphere.

"With the boss on our side today, nothing can go wrong," they expressed their joy in having Newton on the mission.

Taking a seat beside Drax in the back of the second car, Newton observed as the massive gate slid open, granting the cars passage out of the compound and onto the streets.

After an hour of driving, they arrived at an unfamiliar area.

Curious, Newton asked Drax, "Where are we?"

"This is the sewer side of Bayfield, controlled by the Beanies. We've let them have this place, and as you can see, it's a dump," Drax replied.

In the distance, they spotted a group of men smoking weed.

Grinch's voice came over the car's radio, commanding, "...Stay alert, boys."

Instantly, everyone in the car armed themselves.

Drax gripped an Uzi, while Newton tightly held his two pistols.

As their car passed by the group of men, Newton glanced through the rear window and noticed their stares, with one of them engaged in a phone conversation.

An uneasy feeling settled in Newton, causing him to feel nervous and suspicious.

However, Drax and the others seemed unfazed, dismissing the local mob in the area as mere wannabe gangsters.

Without turning his head, Drax asked Newton, "Do you know where we're headed?"

"Um...not sure. Where are we going?" Newton responded.

Drax smirked and replied, "We're going fishing, my friend. Time to catch some trout, ain't it, boys?"

"Yes, that's right," the men echoed, their laughter filling the air.

Newton couldn't comprehend Drax's reference to fishing. Lost in his thoughts, the car abruptly halted, prompting all the Nort members, except Newton, to rush out.

Gunshots pierced the air, and Newton instinctively ducked his head under the car door, unable to see what was unfolding.

As the gunfire subsided, he cautiously lifted his head and peered through the window, witnessing his comrades advancing towards an unfenced building.

Two lifeless bodies in red jackets lay on the ground, while the remaining group members stealthily moved forward, keeping low to the ground.

Two men followed closely behind, while the rest stayed near the vehicle.

Soon, they emerged with a hooded middle-aged man, his face concealed to maintain anonymity.

Newton marveled at the speed and coordination displayed by these men, their efficiency and seamless teamwork leaving him in awe of their extensive experience and countless missions.

While Newton had been lost in his thoughts earlier, these men had remained vigilant, swiftly neutralizing the Lee mob guards and extracting their target within minutes.

Their confidence was well-deserved, Newton concluded.

"Do you know who I am?" the captive Lee man shouted repeatedly.

"You fools have no idea who Mr. Lee is. Say your prayers because he will come for each and every one of you!" he taunted persistently.

A Nort member approached with a cloth and raised the hood to gag the man's mouth.

"Kill me now... I'm not afraid of you!" the muffled noises continued.

"Shut up, you Lee mutt!" Drax snapped at the captive.

They all piled into the car, and before the last person had even settled in, the vehicle sped away, the door still ajar.

Newton marveled at how the entire operation to capture the man had taken less than two minutes.

"How do you like the trout we caught?" Drax asked Newton, who remained mesmerized by the speed and efficiency of his fellow mob members.

Now, Newton finally understood the true meaning behind their reference to "fishing."

They had successfully apprehended a key figure in the Lee mob.

The captive Lee man in the trunk now fell silent, exhausted from his futile threats and attempts to break free.

"Yeah, he's okay," Newton replied, unsure of what else to say.

"'Okay'? Nah, brother. He's a big fish. He ain't okay," Drax corrected him. "There won't be any Lee business in this territory for a while. We've done the Beanies a favor."

"Think of it like this, brother. The big guy helps the little weak guy defeat a bully who's stronger than the little guy but weaker than the big guy... Got it?" Drax chuckled, illustrating the power dynamics.

The remainder of the journey buzzed with lively conversation as they took turns sharing stories about their first experiences with firearms.

Newton cherished the camaraderie and felt he had gained valuable insights from witnessing the swift and efficient extraction of the Lee mob boss from his heavily fortified residence.

The gate to the Norton mansion gracefully slid open, welcoming the cars onto the prestigious estate.

As the vehicles came to a stop, the car doors swung open in unison, and the men hurriedly disembarked. Three individuals swiftly lifted Lee out of the trunk, handling him roughly before dragging him into the basement of the mansion.

"You'll regret this, I promise..." Newton heard the muffled threats from the captive Lee man. However, the men paid him no mind, undeterred by his futile words.

With the task accomplished, the group dispersed, and Grinch, Drax, and Newton made their way into the mansion to inform Mr. Norton of the successful extraction of Mr. Belson from his heavily fortified residence deep within Beanie-controlled territory.