"Hey, girl, made up your mind yet?" The thug blew out a puff of smoke, his oily grin spreading across his face.
Nadi clutched her mother's phone tightly, closed her eyes for a brief moment, then asked in a cool tone, "How can I trust you'll actually pay up?"
The thug chuckled, "We're street guys, but we've got our code. No lies, no tricks."
He licked his lips, tossed the cigarette butt into the trash, and took slow steps toward Nadi.
But just then, the wooden door creaked open. Leo stepped out, still dressed in his usual heavy gear.
He moved in front of Nadi and kicked the thug with one swift motion. The thug hit the ground with a groan, but his suffering was far from over. Like a predator lunging at its prey, Leo pounced on him, delivering punch after punch, each strike heavier than the last.
"Leo, please! I'm sorry! Let me go!" the thug begged loudly. "I won't do it again, I swear!"