Hidden Blade

Chapter 12:Unleashing Fury

Bodies pressed tightly together, Olivia Harper's rapid breaths tickled Rex Carlson's chest. The soft, warm air from her small nose caressed his skin, leaving a faint sensation of heat and tingling.

Rex's own breath brushed against Olivia’s flushed cheeks, causing her heart to race uncontrollably. It pounded so loudly she was sure he could hear it.

She was still dressed in the semi-sheer purple lace nightgown, her graceful figure faintly visible beneath the fabric. Her curves were perfectly accentuated, each detail enough to send any man’s blood rushing.

Seconds passed in silence, thick with unspoken tension. Suddenly, Olivia furrowed her brows and glanced downward.

Rex, sensing her gaze, quickly turned his head to the side, raising both hands in a gesture of mock innocence.

“Hey, I’m just a young guy, you know…” he stammered, his cheeks tinged with embarrassment.

“Shameless!” Olivia spat, her voice sharp, though her face burned bright red.

The moment of awkwardness shattered as hurried, chaotic footsteps echoed from downstairs.

They were heavy and disorganized—not the quiet, purposeful strides of trained killers.

Rex’s sharp instincts kicked in. He shifted immediately, placing himself protectively in front of Olivia.

“Stay here. " Don’t move,” he ordered, his voice low but commanding.

Olivia nodded, her lips pressing together as she watched him disappear down the stairs.

The Encounter

Rex Carlson descended the staircase with slow, deliberate steps, his body tense but his expression calm. As he reached the bottom, the sound of loud chatter and cocky laughter grew louder. A group of thuggish young men lounged near the entryway, their swagger radiating trouble.

At the center of the group stood a burly man with a jagged scar running down his face.

A thick gold chain hung heavily around his neck, gleaming under the dim light. His posture exuded arrogance, and the smug sneer curling his lips only added to his menacing aura.

“Boss,”

Drawled one of the thugs, a wiry man with a garish hairstyle and an ice cream stick lazily dangling from his mouth,

“Isn’t this guy just a cab driver? What’s he doing here?”

The scar-faced leader, Derek Cole, scanned the room with sharp eyes, his gaze locking onto Rex. A mocking smile tugged at his lips as he gestured lazily toward him.

“Probably here to steal something,” Derek said, his voice low and dripping with disdain.

Rex stopped at the final step, his expression unreadable. His calm demeanor seemed to unsettle the group as they fell silent, their gazes fixed on him.

Sliding his gun into the waistband of his pants, Rex’s tone was steady but cold. “Gentlemen, is there something I can help you with?”

Derek chuckled darkly, rubbing the back of his head.

“Kid, we’re here on behalf of Ethan Hansen. You know why we’re here, don’t you?”

“Hansen?” Rex tilted his head slightly, feigning confusion.

“Which Hansen?”

The wiry thug, Milo Kane, swaggered forward, twirling the ice cream stick between his fingers like a prize.

“Ethan Hansen, you i***t!” he snapped, his tone dripping with derision.

Rex’s eyes narrowed briefly, though his expression remained composed. So Ethan had sent his lackeys to make trouble. Predictable.

“What does he want with me?” Rex asked casually, his voice deliberately light.

Derek smirked, the scar on his face stretching grotesquely as he crossed his arms.

“Sophia belongs to Hansen, and you dared to mess with her. " Do you have any idea how badly you’ve pissed him off?”

The Ambush

Big Head shoved Rex Carlson with an arrogant grin, as if he had already won. His overconfidence radiated in his swaggering stance, and his narrowed eyes gleamed with disdain.

Scarface, the gang’s leader, ran his tongue over his teeth, flashing a sinister smile.

“Still playing tough, kid? Break this punk’s legs! Drag him to Hansen—Hansen wants him kneeling while we deal with Olivia!”

With that, Scarface motioned forward, and the gang surged toward Rex, their weapons glinting under the dim light.

Rex exhaled slowly, lowering himself into a ready stance. His arms coiled like springs, muscles rippling beneath his shirt. The calm in his eyes contrasted sharply with the storm about to erupt.

In a blur of motion, Rex struck. His hand lashed out like a whip, tearing through the first thug’s shirt and the flesh beneath it. Blood splattered across the floor as the man staggered backward, clutching his chest with a guttural scream.

The remaining gang members froze, their bravado crumbling in the face of Rex’s ruthless precision. They exchanged hesitant glances, their earlier confidence giving way to fear.

Scarface’s smirk faded into a scowl. “So, you’re a fighter, huh? Big Head, take him out!”

Big Head spat out his ice cream stick, cracking his neck as he stepped forward. “You’re dead, pal.”

With a shout, Big Head launched a high roundhouse kick. But Rex countered with brutal efficiency, meeting the attack with a powerful axe kick that smashed into Big Head’s shin.

“Argh!” Big Head collapsed to the ground, clutching his leg and writhing in agony.

Scarface shoved past the others, his temper boiling over. “Pathetic! I’ll handle this myself!”

He charged at Rex, his knee driving toward Rex’s midsection like a battering ram. Rex shifted, catching the knee mid-strike with one hand and delivering a devastating elbow to Scarface’s chest.

Scarface flew backward, crashing against the wall with a thud. His breath came in gasps as he struggled to recover.

Chaos Erupts

Scarface gritted his teeth, pulling a knife from his pocket. The blade gleamed menacingly as he stepped forward again. “You’re dead, Carlson.”

Before he could strike, a piercing scream echoed from upstairs.

Rex’s expression hardened instantly. Without a word, he turned and sprinted toward the stairs.

“Running scared?” Scarface sneered, mistaking Rex’s urgency. “Get him! Don’t let him escape!”

The remaining gang members hesitated before following their steps unsure as they chased after Rex.

A Deadly Standoff

Rex burst into the bedroom to find Olivia Harper being held hostage.

A towering man with dark skin and a hulking frame had her in a vice-like grip, his thick arm wrapped around her neck. A pistol was pressed firmly into her temple, and her wide, terrified eyes darted towards Rex.

“Rex, run!”

Olivia screamed, her voice cracking with panic.

The man didn’t hesitate. He fired at Rex, the bullet narrowly missing as Rex dove to the side. In one fluid motion, Rex rolled, drew his own gun, and fired back.

The room erupted into chaos as bullets flew, shredding walls, furniture, and decorations. Glass shattered, and wood splintered as both men moved with deadly intent.

Scarface reached the top of the stairs just in time to witness the chaos. He froze, his confidence shattering as he stumbled and fell to the ground.

Rex and the hulking man continued their deadly exchange, both emptying their magazines. The man used Olivia as a human shield, making it impossible for Rex to land a clean shot.

When the hulking man reached for another magazine, Rex seized his chance. He hurled his empty gun, the weapon striking Olivia and causing her to flinch.

She ducked instinctively, leaving the man’s neck exposed.

In a blur, Rex grabbed a shard of glass from the shattered vase at his feet. With unerring precision, he flung it.

The shard sliced through the air, embedding itself in the man’s carotid artery. Blood sprayed as his eyes widened in shock.

His grip on Olivia slackened, and he collapsed to the floor with a heavy thud.

Rex rushed to Olivia, catching her as she stumbled. Her trembling body pressed against his as she buried her face in his chest, sobbing uncontrollably.

“You’re okay now,”

Rex said softly, his voice steady. He gently patted her back, his tone soothing despite the chaos surrounding them.

Olivia clung to him, her breathing shaky but gradually slowing. She looked up at him, her tear-streaked face filled with gratitude.

“Thank you…”

Rex nodded, his expression calm yet distant. He helped her sit on the bed before reloading his weapon and turning toward the door.

Scarface was crawling backward, his bravado completely shattered. He froze as Rex appeared at the top of the stairs, the cold barrel of his gun aimed squarely at Scarface’s forehead.

“Please, don’t! " Let’s talk!” Scarface begged, his voice trembling.

Rex lit a cigarette, his movements unhurried. “Three seconds. Make it count.”

“Wait, I—” Scarface stammered, sweat pouring down his face. “I’m with the Black Dragon Gang!”

“Two,” Rex said, his tone flat and unyielding.

“Don’t do this! " You’re better than this!” Scarface shouted, desperation creeping into his voice.

“One.”

“Wait! Hansen! He’s gone after Olivia’s friend! If you don’t go now—”

Bang!

The shot rang out, shattering Scarface’s kneecap. He collapsed, writhing in agony, his screams echoing through the house.

“Thanks for the tip,” Rex said coolly, stepping over him without a second glance.

“Where are you going?”

Olivia called out, her voice trembling.

“To handle Hansen,” Rex replied without looking back.

Olivia bit her lip, hesitating before whispering, “Be careful.”

Rex disappeared into the night, his silhouette swallowed by darkness.

Olivia clutched her phone tightly, her hands shaking as she dialed.

“Grandpa… I was attacked. Please, send someone.”