As the figure stepped out of the car, William couldn't help but move his head upwards slightly to look at the face of the man who had emerged. The man stood at what could be roughly estimated as 6 feet 7 inches tall. His imposing frame cast a shadow over William, accentuating his solid, muscular build.

He was dressed impeccably in a three-piece suit that hugged his broad shoulders and tapered down to his narrow waist. The dark fabric of the suit was immaculate, with not a single wrinkle in sight, suggesting meticulous attention to detail.

His black leather shoes, polished to a mirror-like shine, made a distinctive clicking sound as they made contact with the ground, a sharp contrast to the soft murmur of the evening air. Each step he took exuded an air of authority and purpose.

The man's face, now fully visible to William, was chiselled and stern, with a strong jawline and piercing eyes that seemed to assess everything in their vicinity with a quick, calculating glance. A scar stretched across his face, starting from his lower left cheekbone and reaching to the top centre of his forehead. His hair, neatly styled and slightly greying at the temples, added an element of distinguished elegance to his formidable presence.

"The name's Vincent Thornton. Can I confirm you are the young man who beat these men outside of a shop a month or so ago?"

As Vincent said this, the three men from that night stepped out from behind the cars.

"Yeah, that's him. That's the man who attacked us for no reason."

William, hearing this, started to yell, "For no reason! You bumped into me after leaving that shop, and before I knew it, you were hitting me and kicking me." William's fists started to clench. "And then you started to hit the woman who came to stop you and threatened her." He deliberately avoided mentioning Ruth by name, not wanting to drag her further into this mess.

The men looked at each other, and then Vincent turned to them. "Are you going to keep up the charade of who started the incident?" His eyes fixed onto one of the men in particular.

The man making eye contact with Vincent looked away. "Fine, but it doesn’t matter who did what. He deserves to pay for what he did to us, Uncle."

"I do apologize for what my nephew and his friends did to cause the commotion. However..." Vincent started to make his way forward towards William. "In this situation, you need to make amends for what you did."

William stood his ground, despite Vincent's towering presence right in his face. "Make amends? You want me to apologize for defending myself? That doesn’t seem right."

Vincent raised an eyebrow. "Yes you were Defending yourself, as you say. But I have a reputation to uphold and right now that reputation is being challenged by you defending yourself." He snapped his fingers, and his nephew and two friends moved forward, circling William.

William's heart raced, but he kept himself composed as to not show any emotion on his face. "What do you plan to do? Intimidate me into submission?"

Vincent smirked. "Not quite. I want to offer you a deal. You see, my nephew and his friends here are known troublemakers, but they are family. I can't have them running around starting fights. So, you and I will settle this like gentlemen. A fight, just between the two of us. If you win, you walk away, no more trouble. If I win, well let’s just say you won’t need to worry about anything after that."

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William narrowed his eyes. "And if I refuse?"

Vincent's expression darkened. "If you refuse, I can't guarantee the safety of... what was her name? Ruth? Yes, Ruth. I can't guarantee her safety next time my nephews run into her."

A cold rage filled William at the mention of Ruth. He clenched his fists, his voice steady but filled with anger he couldn’t stop his eyes from glaring daggers at Vincent and jaw clenching up. William loosened his jaw just enough to utter "Leave her out of this. This doesn’t concern her."

Vincent smiled, a predatory glint in his eyes. "Then you have no choice. We will settle this, get your affairs in order and meet at the old warehouse by the docks. Be there at midnight this Friday."

With that, Vincent and his crew turned, entered their cars, and left, leaving William standing alone outside the ice cream shop. As the sound of their engines faded into the distance, a wave of panic began to wash over him. The streetlights cast long shadows, and the once-familiar surroundings felt suddenly threatening. William’s mind raced, replaying the events of the past month and the confrontation that had just occurred.

He had thought he had worked himself past the trauma of that night, believed he had moved on. But now, with Vincent’s threat hanging over him, the old fears surged back with a vengeance. His breaths came in shallow gasps as he struggled to regain control. Images of the fight flashed through his mind, the helpless feeling as he was overwhelmed, and the sight of Ruth stepping in to try to protect him.

William clenched his fists, trying to steady himself. He couldn't let the fear consume him. Not now. He looked around, the quiet street a stark contrast to the turmoil inside him. As he started to spiral the scream started to get louder and louder. He knew he had no choice. This wasn't just about him anymore. It was about Ruth. Vincent's threat against her was something he couldn’t ignore. The thought of her being dragged into this mess, being hurt because of him, fueled his determination.

He had to win this fight, not just for himself, but to protect Ruth. He owed her that much. She had stood by him, believed in him when he doubted himself. Now it was his turn to stand up and fight for her safety.

Ruth ran out of the shop her hand clutched to her black bag. As she looked around for the person who took William outside she was only met with William standing in the street alone.

“ What happened? Are you OK ? Where did they go ?” she started asking as she ran toward him checking him over to make sure he wasn’t hurt.

William took a deep breath, his resolve hardening like steel as he pushed down the rising scream of fear and uncertainty. He met Ruth's worried gaze with a smile that felt forced, its edges not quite reaching his eyes, but he hoped it conveyed reassurance nonetheless. Her arms enveloped him in a tight embrace, seeking solace in his presence.

"Please tell me, William," Ruth pleaded, her voice tinged with concern.

"Everything is going to be okay. I promise," William replied gently, his words carrying conviction despite the turmoil within him. He offered to walk her home, a gesture to provide a sense of normalcy amidst the impending storm.

Turning together, they moved down the dimly lit street. Each step resonated with William's growing determination, a silent resolve building with every stride. He knew what lay ahead—a confrontation at the old warehouse, a place fraught with memories both bitter and sweet.

As they walked, William's mind raced through plans, contingencies, and the stark realities of what awaited him. The old warehouse loomed ahead, its shadow stretching across the pavement like a portent of the coming struggle.

But for now, with Ruth by his side, he focused on the present moment, drawing strength from her unwavering trust. He squeezed her hand gently, silently thanking her for grounding him in a world that seemed poised on the edge of chaos.

Inside, he prepared himself for what lay ahead—the battle that would test not just his courage, but his very principles. With Ruth's faith as his anchor, William steeled himself for the challenges that awaited, determined to face them head-on and emerge victorious, in his mind he vowed that he would do whatever it took to ensure Ruth's safety and end this nightmare once and for all.