Underworld Ties

Say Cheese

The fluorescent lights of the hospital flickered above, casting harsh shadows across Mia's pale face. Bobby paced the waiting room, his mind racing. Anger coursed through him like a live wire. Jason had crossed a line, and Bobby couldn't shake the image of his daughter's bruised cheek from his mind.

He felt a surge of protectiveness mixed with a primal rage. As he paced, his thoughts turned dark, envisioning what he would do to Jason when he found him.

### The Plan

Bobby's phone buzzed in his pocket, pulling him from his thoughts. It was a text from Mia.

**Mia:** *Please don't do anything stupid!*

His heart sank. She knew him too well. He typed back quickly.

**Bobby:** *I'm just making sure he doesn't do this again.*

He could almost hear her sigh through the screen.

**Mia:** *Just talk to the police. They can help.*

But Bobby's mind was made up. The system had failed him before; he couldn't trust it to protect Mia now.

### The Search

After leaving the hospital, Bobby drove through the city, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. He needed to find Jason. Bobby had connections; he knew where to look. He wasn't about to let Jason slip away again.

He parked outside a dingy bar known for attracting troublemakers. The neon lights flickered erratically, casting an eerie glow on the sidewalk. Bobby stepped inside, scanning the room for familiar faces. The smell of stale beer and smoke hung heavily in the air.

"Bobby! You look like hell, man," a voice called from the back. It was Tony, an old friend and a reliable source of information.

"Where's Jason?" Bobby asked, cutting straight to the point.

Tony raised an eyebrow. "What's going on?"

"Just tell me where I can find him," Bobby insisted, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Last I heard, he was hanging out with some guys over at the warehouse down by the docks," Tony said, a hint of concern in his voice. "You sure you wanna do this?"

Bobby nodded, his resolve hardening. "Yeah. I'm sure."

### The Confrontation

The warehouse loomed ahead, its windows dark and foreboding. Bobby parked his car and approached the entrance, his heart pounding. He could hear laughter and shouting from inside. It sounded like a party, but he knew better.

He pushed through the heavy doors, stepping into the dimly lit space. A group of guys were gathered around a table, and at the center was Jason, laughing and bragging with his friends. The sight ignited Bobby's anger, and he stepped forward, his voice cutting through the noise.

"Jason!"

Jason turned, his laughter dying as he saw Bobby's furious expression. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Time to pay for what you did to Mia," Bobby said, his voice low and dangerous.

### The Fight

Without waiting for a response, Bobby lunged forward, tackling Jason to the ground. The other guys jumped back, surprised by the sudden violence.

"Get off me, man!" Jason shouted, struggling beneath Bobby's weight.

Bobby pinned him down, his fists clenched. "You think you can lay your hands on my daughter and walk away? Not a chance!"

Jason managed to throw Bobby off him, scrambling to his feet. "You're crazy, man!"

Bobby charged again, landing a solid punch to Jason's jaw. The sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed in the warehouse, and Jason staggered back, shock written across his face.

"You wanted to be tough?" Bobby growled, advancing on him. "Let's see how tough you really are!"

### The Brutality

The fight quickly escalated. Bobby was relentless, throwing punches with precision and fury. Jason tried to fight back, landing a few weak hits, but Bobby was fueled by rage and adrenaline. Each blow felt justified, a way to avenge his daughter's pain.

"You think this makes you a man?" Bobby spat, grabbing Jason by the collar and slamming him against a wall. "Hitting girls? That's what you call strength?"

Jason struggled to break free, but Bobby held him firm, his eyes blazing. "You've messed with the wrong family."

With a final, powerful punch, Bobby sent Jason crashing to the ground. He stood over him, breathing heavily, his fists still clenched.

### The Aftermath

As Jason lay there, dazed and beaten, Bobby felt a mix of satisfaction and dread. He knew this wouldn't solve everything, but it had to be done. He turned to leave, but not before glancing back at Jason, who was trying to regain his composure.

"Stay away from Mia," Bobby warned, his voice low and menacing. "Or next time, it won't just be a beating."

As Bobby walked away, he felt a weight lift off his shoulders, but he also knew that this wouldn't be the end. The scars of this night would linger, and he hoped Mia would understand—sometimes, you had to fight for those you love.

### Conclusion

Driving home, Bobby reflected on the chaos of the night. He had acted out of love, but he couldn't shake the feeling that violence was a slippery slope. He hoped Mia would forgive him, but deep down, he knew he had crossed a line. The world was a harsh place, and sometimes, you had to get your hands dirty to protect what mattered most.

As he pulled into the driveway, he steeled himself for the conversation ahead. He couldn't change what had happened, but he could promise to do better. For Mia, and for himself.