Lawless

Downton gave her a hard smack, and the woman's body suddenly tensed.

"What do you mean, 'dream on'?"

Whether it was the weed she had smoked earlier finally kicking in, Downton's harsh scolding getting to her, or his hand on her thigh making her floaty enough to think he could no longer hold a knife—

The woman, who had been somewhat uneasy before, actually dared to get angry now!

She even glared furiously at Downton!

"Explain what you mean by 'dream on'!

What's wrong with me spending money on him? He might spend my money, but at least he's willing to put in the work!

Even if I kept a dairy cow, it could produce enough milk!

And you? Why should I give you money? Can you produce milk? You won't even spend one night with—"

Bang!

The sudden gunshot silenced the car again.

Downton turned back with a cold sneer, glanced at the woman as she froze once more, then stomped on the brakes.

Screeeech!!!

After the violent screech of brakes, Downton shoved the woman down against the passenger seat.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

After several more shots, Downton tore apart the punctured seat belt and tightly bound the woman with it.

Simple restraints did not seem enough, so after giving it some thought, Downton rummaged through the car again.

In less than half a minute, he found a pair of stockings and tightly tied up the woman's mouth as well.

After finishing all that, Downton let out a comfortable breath and leaned back into the driver's seat, feeling utterly refreshed.

"Go on, keep talking. Why'd you stop? You're being picky with a kidnapper? Who spoiled you like that, your congressman daddy?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Downton flicked his hand, and the woman was immediately slapped sideways.

Too lazy to deal with a woman who had no sense of her situation, Downton unlocked her phone, opened the navigation app, and searched for shopping.

Before long, he had mapped out a route to the Burnley District Fashion Shopping Promenade.

Perhaps Downton had delayed for too long, because six cars had piled up behind him. Horns began blaring, accompanied by increasingly furious cursing.

So Downton rolled down the window, fired several shots into the sky, and then set off again amid extraordinary silence.

Without the woman's yammering, the trip was exceptionally peaceful. Only after he entered Burnley District was that peace interrupted by police cars catching up to him.

Seeing the siren-wailing police cars closing in urgently, Downton rolled down the woman's window. He held the steering wheel with his left hand while pressing the gun barrel against the woman's head with his right.

He figured a congressman's daughter ought to be useful for something, and reality proved him right. The police cars continued following him, but they pulled back slightly and no longer tried to force him to stop.

More than ten minutes later, Downton, still unfamiliar with the roads, finally came to a halting stop near the shopping promenade.

He first leaned over and opened the woman's door, then hauled her out of the car.

Facing the police officers hurriedly setting up their positions, Downton gave them an enthusiastic wave.

"Meeting again, guys. Any of you recognize me?

I'm that Asian idiot who keeps popping up everywhere, hahaha!"

Laughing as he spoke, Downton swept his gaze around and found Deputy Commissioner Gordon among the police officers, dressed in plain clothes.

Seeing Gordon put Downton in an even better mood, so he carried the woman straight toward him.

Gordon had just stepped out of a police car when he saw Downton approaching with the bound congressman's daughter. His mood immediately soured.

"Downton, let Miss Lawrence go!"

"So this chick's name is Lawrence? That's her surname, right?

As for letting her go, don't be ridiculous, Gordon. You know she's my only hostage, right?"

As Downton spoke, he dragged Lawrence into the police formation. His approach left an entire group of officers at a complete loss.

Two officers who recognized Downton trembled as if they were having seizures, pointing at him as though they wanted to say something but were too nervous to get the words out.

Downton ignored the ordinary officers. He grabbed Lawrence by the hair, pressed the gun barrel beneath her jaw, and said to Gordon,

"Relax, Gordon. I'm a simple, straightforward person. I won't hurt my hostage lightly.

But the premise for me not doing anything is that my hostage has to at least be useful as a hostage.

You know my situation, right? If I remember correctly, Wayne's butler called you too.

Since you know I'm not that easy to deal with, try another way of talking to me. Maybe if our chat goes well, I'll be willing to let this chick go and accompany you back to the station for some training!"

As he spoke, Downton smashed Lawrence over the head with the pistol grip, hitting her until her makeup ran with tears.

Watching the congressman's daughter cry, Gordon drew a deep breath and raised both hands.

"I'm unarmed, buddy. Don't make the decision to shoot so easily.

You know you kidnapped a congressman's daughter, so there are many things we can discuss. If you have demands, you can make them now!"

"Demands?"

Hearing Gordon's words, Downton nodded lightly.

"I only have one demand: all you cops need to stay farther away from me and stop ruining my mood for shopping."

"Farther away, right? No problem. I'll take your feelings into consideration. Please do not harm the hostage!"

Gordon immediately picked up his radio.

"Everyone, keep your distance from Downton!"

The surrounding officers had been waiting a long time for that order. The moment Gordon finished speaking, they scattered like birds and beasts, each moving forty or fifty meters away from Downton.

With the obstacles blocking his path gone, Downton nodded in satisfaction and pulled the stocking from Lawrence's mouth.

Regaining her ability to speak, Lawrence took two sharp breaths and immediately shouted at the people around her.

"Don't provoke him, he... he's just... he's just..."

"Just what!"

Downton pressed the gun at Lawrence's throat a little harder, instantly choking off her words.

Seeing Lawrence fall silent again, Downton smiled in satisfaction.

"That's more like it. Being a mute bride is fucking wonderful. Come shopping with me for a while, and help me pick out some clothes."

"O-Okay!"

Lawrence nodded frantically and followed Downton into the shopping promenade.

This place was just a pedestrian street with more upscale brands. Downton found a phone store, robbed himself a phone, and began looking for clothes.

At first, Lawrence had been incredibly nervous. But as they shopped longer and longer, she eventually relaxed and even began chatting casually with Downton.

"What do you think of Dior? My father likes that brand. You're pretty tall and have a good build, so you definitely can't go wrong with a coat."

"Oh, recommending your dad's favorite brand to me? Well, I suppose that works. Call me Daddy first!"

"Daddy!"

"Fucking obedient. Fine, we'll listen to you and check out Dior."

"Great! Last winter, when I watched a runway show, I saw one of Dior's spring coats for this year. The cut would absolutely suit you!"

"Not bad, Lawrence. I'll have you pick one for me later."

"I'm Heino Lawrence. I prefer it when you call me Heino!"

"Heino my ass. Help me make a Twitter account. I don't have ID, so it's a pain in the ass to set one up."

Downton casually undid the seat belt around Heino and handed her the newly robbed phone.

Not only did Heino show no awareness that she had regained her freedom, she eagerly began creating an account for Downton.

"I'll download two games for you too. They're both ones I play often. We can play together when we have time!

Oh, and I saved myself in your phone. I'm your only contact so far!"

"Do whatever you want. My contacts will grow anyway. I don't believe someone like me will stay unknown."

"Of course not. Someone like you is definitely going to become famous. Shopping with you feels like walking with a Hollywood star. There are cameras everywhere!"

As she spoke, Heino pointed at the cameras and TV crews around them.

Downton had been holding Congressman Lawrence's daughter hostage for nearly an hour. Reporters had already descended like wild dogs, crammed among the police following Downton and filming nonstop.

As for Congressman Lawrence at that moment...

Watching the live broadcast on television, he helplessly covered his forehead.

When he had first learned that his daughter had been taken hostage, he had nearly gone insane with worry. But now, he no longer believed the hostage story at all!

The two of them were practically embracing, and you called that taking a hostage? This was fucking kidnapping?

She had simply found herself a new lawless Asian boyfriend!

This was truly lawless!