Mark, the Professional

Chapter 7 Sorting It Out

“Who the f**k are you?!” one of the men asked. “You’d better get out of our sight before it’s too late.”

Normally, they would have fought back, but today they came with a mission and they were only requested to give Kate Lawrence a fright this time. They didn’t want to mess up.

Mark took out the device from his pocket and threw it at the man’s head. It hit him hard and fell onto the floor. “What’s that?” He questioned and stepped in front of Kate, guarding her against the three invaders.

It was the detectaphone he found in Kate’s car.  

The three men saw the detectaphone and understood. They looked Mark up and down and noted that he wasn’t the masculine sort, but he was fit and tough. There was something about him that they found intimidating.

“I’ve warned you.” The man who seemed to be the leader of the three retorted and raised his arm up, intending to hit Mark.

“Why? So Tommy Smith wanted to do it the clever way and installed a detectaphone, but he isn’t that clever, is he? And now he has to be the badass again and sent you guys to threaten a lady and her family with violence? What a disgraceful cunt!” Mark attacked back verbally. He had revealed Tommy Smith’s secretive move and it angered his three loyal men.

The tattooed man threw his fist at Mark.

“Watch out!” Kate shouted out.

What happened next was too fast to understand. No one really saw how Mark had suddenly kicked at the man’s throat, but they saw the man holding his throat in agony and dropped down to the floor within seconds. He was moaning painfully. The other two men exchanged a look of shock and instantly both went at Mark. Mark grabbed the arm of one guy, lifted him up and smashed him onto the other guy. There came the sound of breaking bones. They were on the floor, one unconscious, the other hurt and terrified.

Mark patted his shirt and tidied the sleeves casually. Looking at the terrified man, he said with a smile, “Not a bad warm-up.” He acted as if the fight had just started and he was excited about more action.

The man begged in a trembling voice, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Please let me go...”

“Tell Tommy Smith that I will pay him a visit tomorrow.” Mark pointed at the door and said, “Now get the f**k out of here.”

The man helped the other two get up and half dragged them out of the house. As soon as they were gone, the housemaid shut the door.

“Please get the first-aid kit,” Mark said the housemaid politely. He bent over Judy, who was now lying on the sofa, her mouth bleeding and her cheek swollen. He seemed genuinely concerned, which impressed Kate and Mark.

After Mark treated the wound gently and assured them that it wasn’t anything serious, Matt took Judy into their room to rest. It had no doubt been a shock to them.

“Come with me,” Kate said to Mark and went to her bedroom. She opened the door. “Come in and closed the door.”

“I didn’t expect our relationship to develop so fast. We have just met today. Well, we are legally married...” Mark was surprised and said with a cheeky smile.

Kate gave him an icy look and asked, “What do you actually do?”

In a casual white dress, instead of her usual work outfit, Kate looked much less distant, even a bit playful. She leaned at the dressing table and watched Mark, awaiting his answer.

“I’ve told you I don’t’ have a job now.” Mark looked at Kate for a few seconds before he answered.

“Don’t you think I can find out?” Kate said confidently.

Mark didn’t answer.

“Thank you for your help just now.” Kate went on. “But how did you know about Tommy Smith?”

“Honey, there must be thousands of questions in your curious mind. All you need to know is that I’m your husband and I will protect you.” Mark grinned, and then added, “And you will need to keep me fed and sheltered. Ha.”

Kate watched Mark for a while and understood that there was no point in asking him any more questions as he would not give an honest answer anyway.

“By the way, don’t forget to give mum the bracelet.” Mark put the bracelet on the table and turned to leave.

“Where are you going?”

“Why? Should I stay here and sleep with you tonight then?” Mark grinned.

“Get out.”

“Alright. Sweet dreams, honey.” Mark exited the room and closed the door behind.

Kate picked up the bracelet and had another look. “Bastard!” She cursed as she noticed a mark on the inside ring of the bracelet. It was a counterfeit.

During the night, Judy had trouble falling asleep as she couldn’t help thinking about the bracelet that Mark bought.

“Judy, perhaps Mark Jackson isn’t such a bad guy...” Mark said tentatively. He noticed that his wife was still awake.

“Not bad?! Don’t you forget how he’s brought bad luck to the family? Those gangsters came in just after he arrived!” She said angrily and felt the wound tore. “Ouch.” She screamed in pain.

“But there’s nothing we can do. They are married.” As usual, Matt heaved a helpless sigh.

“I still think Tony Jones will be a good match for our Kate. Don’t you worry! I will get them divorced and have our daughter marry into the Jones.” Judy said ambitiously.

Matt wasn’t worried at all. He didn’t really care. He yearned a few times and soon he was sound asleep. Judy heard his snoring, heaved a sigh, rolled her eyes and thought about the jade bracelet.