Chapter 263
Mike regarded John with an expression of defeat.
"John, do you really have to go against your uncle and grandpa?" Mike's voice was heavy with resignation.
"Don't even bring them up. They're the ones against me, not the other way around!" John snapped, shoving the contract into his bag with finality.
"Man, I just don't get how you folks from these big families think." Mike shrugged, walked over to the counter, and pulled out a bottle of wine.
"With the boss gone, I guess the drinks are on the house. Just what I need to nurse my wounded soul." Mike didn't bother pouring a glass for John; he just twisted off the cap and took a big swig.
John checked his watch. He had promised Jasper he'd delay Mike for twenty minutes, and he intended to keep that promise.
Mike's eyes wandered to some papers under the counter. With a playful grin, he grabbed them and borrowed Jasper's pen to start doodling.
He drew three circles on the paper, one big one and two smaller ones, making it look like Mickey Mouse's head.
"This is an ancient, forbidden, magical teleportation circle-designed to summon the world's most formidable team of lawyers," Mike joked, a mischievous glint in his eye.
John glanced at the drawing with disdain and stayed silent, his lips curling into a sneer.
"Alright, what should I draw next? How about SpongeBob?" Mike sketched a square with a bunch of little holes on the paper.
John snorted. "You've got a weird sense of humor."
Mike shrugged. "Mr. Williams, seems like you don't have one at all."
John glanced at his watch. Ten minutes had passed.
Just then, the bar door swung open, and several bloodied people stumbled in. "Mr. Williams, run! The Brown Family's gone nuts!"
The two bodyguards, though strong, were visibly exhausted. Meanwhile, Mike's men were yelling and charging forward to keep fighting.
The sudden chaos disrupted the lively atmosphere of the bar, causing everyone to stop.
John's face twisted in annoyance, while Mike watched with curiosity.
"Mr. Williams, are these your guys?" Mike asked, intrigued.
John ignored him and strode over to the bloodied people. "Why are there so few of you? Where's everyone else?"
One of them stepped forward, his voice heavy with bitterness. "The Brown Family sent a ton of people this time. We couldn't hold them off. Lots of our guys got hurt, some even got shot. We had no choice but to fall back."
John's expression darkened even more. Suddenly, the screeching of brakes and gunshots echoed from outside the bar.
Mike's face changed, and he vaulted over the counter.
"Alright, you two, head to the back door and go after Jasper. The rest of you, stay here and protect Mr. Williams!" Mike's voice was firm, his expression resolute. He pointed at two men, then moved closer to John.
"Mr. Williams, I know you've got issues with your uncle and grandpa, but you're still the heir. We're family, so we gotta stick together. The Brown Family? They don't play fair, and they sure won't go easy on you." Mike grabbed his gun from the table, clicked off the safety, and kept a sharp eye on the door.
John appreciated Mike's support. As the heir, he knew they had to stand united against any outside threats.
He turned to his bodyguards and said, "Get your weapons ready. We're in for a fight."
The bodyguards nodded, raising their guns in readiness.
Just then, the bar door burst open. Everyone inside started shooting, but instead of a person, a car came barreling through.
A bulletproof car, engine roaring, smashed through the door, sending people flying and scattering tables and chairs.
The sheer force of the car made everyone scramble to get out of its path, shattering Mike and John's formation.
The car screeched to a halt, the doors flew open, and armed men jumped out, firing at everyone inside.
The bar exploded into chaos, with gunshots and shouts echoing everywhere. People scrambled for cover, returning fire as best they could.
Mike, always alert, pulled John behind a sturdy pillar.
The pillar was solid enough to shield them from several bullets.
"John, this place is a death trap. I gotta get you outta here," Mike said, firing two precise shots from behind the pillar, taking down two of the Brown Family's men.
John nodded grimly, his jaw tight with determination. With a sudden, forceful movement, Mike pulled him toward the back door.
The bodyguards, scattered by the mayhem, tried to regroup but were pinned down by relentless gunfire, their only option to shoot back futilely.
Mike shielded John, firing his gun as they dashed towards the back door.
The passage behind the back door was narrow, dark, and reeked of mold and rust. Clearly, Jasper hadn't bothered to clean it.
Finally, they reached the back door, only to find it blocked by a garbage bin.
"Jasper's a real piece of work, hiding the door behind a trash bin!" Mike muttered, helping John navigate through the stinking mess.
They managed to avoid the worst of the garbage, but the Brown Family's men had tracked them down.
Two of the Brown Family's goons started shooting at them, and Mike quickly shoved John aside, taking a bullet in his arm.
"Shit, my arm!" Mike groaned, clutching his wounded arm.
John, eyes narrowed with determination, grabbed Mike's weapon and took out their attackers with swift precision.
"Hey, you okay? Can you still walk?" John asked, rushing over to check on Mike.
Mike, clutching his wounded arm, shook his head. "John, don't worry about me. The gunfire's gonna draw more of them. You need to get out of here!"