CHAPTER 5 HURT MY FAMILY

James Donovan’s anger surged like a tidal wave as he stared down at the man who had brought so much pain and humiliation into his life. His fists clenched tightly, the veins on his arms bulging as he fought to keep his composure.

 But the thought of his daughter—his precious little girl—being held by these monsters was more than he could bear.

Without another word, James lashed out, his fist connecting with the man’s face with a sickening crunch. 

 “What the hell—” he started, but James didn’t let him finish.

“You think you can hurt my family and get away with it?” James growled, his voice low and dangerous. He delivered another punch, harder this time.

The man tried to shield himself, but James was relentless. “Stop! Please!” the man begged, his voice shaking with fear.

“Not until you pay for what you’ve done!” James roared, his fists connecting with the man’s body again and again, each blow fueled by the fire of his rage.

“James, stop!” Emily’s voice rang out, filled with desperation. She rushed forward, grabbing his arm, trying to pull him away from the man who was now groaning on the floor.

 “You can’t do this! You don’t know who he is! We can’t afford to cross his family!”

James turned to her, his eyes blazing with a fury she had never seen before. “I don’t care who he is, Emily. He took our daughter! He humiliated you! And he’s going to pay for every single second of pain he’s caused.”

But even as he spoke, James knew that Emily was right. The man on the floor wasn’t just some normal man—he was connected to one of the most powerful families in the city, a family with the resources and influence to crush anyone who dared oppose them. 

“Please, James,” Emily pleaded, tears streaming down her face. “If you hurt him, they’ll come after us. They’ll destroy us.”

James looked at her, his heart aching at the sight of her fear and desperation. He knew he couldn’t let his anger control him—not when their daughter’s life was on the line. He would destroy the world if anyone touch his family.

“They have called a death for themselves.” he snorted in anger.

Taking a deep breath, James made a decision. He turned to Emily, his expression softening as he placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. 

“Emily, I need you to trust me,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “I’m going to protect you. But I can’t do that if you’re in danger.”

Before she could respond, James swiftly moved behind her and delivered a precise blow to the back of her neck. 

“James—” Emily’s eyes widened in shock before she crumpled into his arms, unconscious. He caught her gently, lowering her to the floor with care.

“Kyle!” James called out, his voice echoing through the room. His most trusted underling, who had been standing guard outside the door, immediately entered, his expression serious and alert.

“Take care of her,” James ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument. “Make sure she’s safe. Don’t let her out of your sight.”

“Don’t worry, Master,” Kyle nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. 

He quickly scooped Emily up into his arms and carried her out of the room, leaving James alone with the man who had dared to threaten everything he held dear.

The man on the floor groaned, trying to push himself up, but James was on him in an instant. He grabbed the man by the collar, hauling him up and slamming him against the wall. 

“You’re going to tell me where my daughter is,” James growled, his voice low and dangerous. “And if you don’t, I’m going to make sure you regret ever crossing me.”

The man sneered, his arrogance still intact despite the beating he had received. “You think you can intimidate me? You have no idea who you’re dealing with, Donovan. My family will make you—”

James didn’t let him finish. He delivered a brutal punch to the man’s stomach, knocking the wind out of him. “I’m done listening to your threats,” James said coldly. “You’re going to talk, or you’re going to suffer. Your choice.”

The man wheezed, struggling to catch his breath, but he still managed to glare defiantly at James. “I’m not telling you anything,” he spat. “You’re nothing but a washed-up soldier. You don’t have the guts to do what’s necessary.”

James’s eyes narrowed, the cold fury within him intensifying. “You’re wrong about that,” he said softly, his voice chilling in its calmness. “I’ll do whatever it takes to get my daughter back. And if that means breaking you, then so be it.”

With that, James began to systematically break the man down. He started with calculated blows, targeting pressure points, inflicting just enough pain to make the man understand that he was serious. The man gritted his teeth, trying to hold out, but James could see the fear creeping into his eyes.

“Where is she?” James demanded, his voice sharp and unyielding.

The man shook his head, refusing to answer, and James responded with another punishing blow. “Where is my daughter?” James repeated, his patience wearing thin.

The man’s resolve began to crumble under the relentless assault. Sweat poured down his face, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

 “You’ll never find her…” he gasped, trying to hold on to some semblance of control.

James didn’t waver. He knew the man was close to breaking. He tightened his grip on the man’s collar, lifting him slightly off the ground.

 “This is your last chance,” James warned, his voice deadly calm. “Tell me where she is, or I’ll make sure you wish you had.”

The man’s bravado finally shattered. He looked into James’s eyes and saw something there that terrified him—a cold, unrelenting determination that promised only pain if he didn’t comply. 

“She’s… she’s at the docks,” he stammered, the words spilling out in a desperate rush. “Pier 13… in a warehouse. That’s where they’re holding her…”

Before James could react, the door to the room burst open, and another man stepped inside—a man who bore a striking resemblance to the one James had just tortured. This was the brother, the one who had promised to make James pay.

“Well, well,” the brother said, his voice smooth and menacing. “Looks like you’ve been having some fun with my little brother. But playtime’s over, Donovan. Now you’re going to see what happens when you mess with the Tarlose family.”