North American Detective: I am Proficient in All Kinds of Gun Quick Draws-Chapter 588 - 332_3

"Although I sent most of my salary to Nia through the welfare agency, I always felt like a coward deep down, and I became increasingly irritable. It was only after I joined the Fourth Squadron and met Phoebe that things got a lot better."

This was the first time Lawrence had shared his story with an outsider. He felt much lighter after finishing; even the throbbing pain on his face seemed to diminish.

He gazed hopefully at Dean, wishing for some comforting words.

Dean, ever the good brother, shook his head and sighed, "Lawrence..."

"Yeah!"

Lawrence perked up his ears.

He really needed his brother's comfort right now!

"Read some books, will you? After rambling on for so long, you didn't even get to the point," Dean said disdainfully, looking at Lawrence. "So why did your ex-wife come looking for you with Nia, and what's the deal with the slap on your face?"

Lawrence: "..."

No consolation came, only more mocking.

This was his good brother Dean!

FK!

He gave Dean the middle finger.

"The reason is simple. My ex heard about my upcoming marriage to Phoebe and was pissed, so she came looking for trouble with Nia in tow. I only found out today. After I left, my ex used her connections to adopt Nia, who had no family left. All the money I sent went into her hands. My ex has been keeping an eye on me all this time! That lunatic made me her long-term observation project!"

"Get to the point!"

"She and Nia came knocking on the door of the apartment I share with Phoebe. While I was stunned, she said all sorts of nonsense to Phoebe. You know people who play mind games always fight dirty. Phoebe couldn't withstand the provocation and started to fight with them. I tried to break it up, but somehow it ended up with three women ganging up on me, and Phoebe was even ready to grab a gun..."

Lawrence was particularly aggrieved as he got to the emotional part.

Who had he angered to end up with such an ex-wife in his ignorant youth?

Dean consoled him insincerely, "At least there are only two slap marks on your face, not three. That means Nia still remembers your kindness and has forgiven you."

Upon hearing this, Lawrence felt anything but relieved and instinctively crossed his legs.

HISS.

Dean took a sharp intake of breath.

A fatal blow to the family jewels! No wonder Lawrence was limping when he came in; the truth was so cruel.

He asked with a semblance of sympathy, "So what are you planning to do now?"

"If I weren't suspended, I could hide out by solving cases. Now, I don't know what to do. Hey Dean, my brother, could I stay at your place for a few days?"

Lawrence looked expectantly at Dean.

He knew Dean was the kind of person who took loyalty to his brothers seriously. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Dean shook his head firmly. "Sorry, I sympathize with your situation, but I have a girlfriend now. We're in the middle of our cohabitation adjustment period, and it wouldn't be convenient for you to join us."

Lawrence was good at reading people. Indeed, Dean was a man of brotherly loyalty.

It was mainly because Niel was coming back soon. Dean was worried that if Lawrence moved in, he might not be able to sleep at night from hearing the sounds of him and Niel... *during their cohabitation adjustment*.

Insomnia is such a pain.

So it's better if he doesn't come.

"You could consider a park bench," Dean offered Lawrence some kind-hearted advice. "The environment there is nice, and the homeless people sleeping there are very friendly. As long as you keep your mouth shut when you're asleep, the worst that could happen is getting your Fasting touched."

Although Lawrence wasn't the best-looking, his physique was genuinely good, especially those prominent buttocks, said to be a trait from the strongmen of Texas. If he had a little more fat, it wouldn't be worse than those succubus-style, fatty rumps favored by some Commonwealth gay men.

Thinking of that scene made Lawrence shiver. "Forget it. I'll just go watch over Harry for a while. The food there is good, and there are plenty of pretty nurses."

In the midst of their conversation, an exhausted Old Hunter, with a stoic Carlo in tow, finally arrived at the quiet bar.

It had been a long time since their last encounter.

Old Hunter felt somewhat awkward facing Dean, this rising star. After all, he had previously said he was just keeping the seat warm for Dean. But according to what he heard from Monet, the plan now was to not even leave the Captain's position for Dean; instead, someone would be parachuted in to take it in a few days.

Embarrassed as he was, Old Hunter's thick skin had been well-honed from his years as a detective.

Clearing his throat, he gave Dean a smile. "Dean, when did you get back? Had I known, I would have called the guys over to catch up with you—we..."

Before he could finish, a figure rushed up from behind him, saying gravely, "Boss, long time no see!"

The person who squeezed Old Hunter aside was none other than Carlo, Robert's brother, a protégé previously taken under Dean's wing.