Never Judge

Inside Ray's car Cedric lifted his leg to let it rest. It still hurt a lot despite the first aid treatment he had received. 

"Are you injured?" Cedric asked Ian.

"No. You should think of yourself first Cedric." Ian said, pointing out the wound on his leg.

"It's nothing. At least we got out of there alive." Cedric said with a sigh. "We'll need to move up our plans for the takedown. Make sure that everything is ready by tomorrow. Inform the siblings that the announcement must take place this week."

"You should call your wife." Ray told Cedric.

"As for Nicole, she already knows that we're on our way. Miguel is already at the ER waiting for us." Ray told Ian.

"You know, we don't have to rush to the ER. I'm fine, you guys are exaggerating." Cedric said, rolling his eyes at his friends.

"Hmmm. . . this is interesting." Ian said as he scrolled through his phone. 

"What is it?' Ray asked, curious as to what Ian was referring to.

"News of what happened at Hype spread quite fast." Ian said as he showed Ray and Cedric his phone. "As soon as the bullies were escorted out of the bar photos and testimonies of what happened began to spread online. We didn't even have to do anything to push it into viral status."

"Oh look, this one guy almost got it completely right!" Ray exclaimed as he looked through social media on his own phone. "I'll read it out loud. I was at Hype bar earlier today after getting out of work early. My friends and I managed to get a table, but we quickly noticed a group of unruly and disgusting men harassing some women. We were afraid to approach them since they looked like thrugs. The women they were with seemed to be drugged and drunk, as more people arrived people continued to avoid them. Eventually a girl strayed too close and was harassed by one of the men. I was shocked to see a brave soul come up and try to save the girl. We thought she managed to escape them when a gun shot rang out in the bar. We saw someone tackle the man with the gun as we panicked and ran out. According to those that stayed, the bullet hit it's target. I feel bad for the brave hero. Wow Cedric, they're calling you a hero!" Ray exclaimed as he waved his phone at Cedric's face.

"Wow, the comments are really flattering." Ian said as he continued to look through what the public was saying. "They are praising you and cursing the bullies, hey I was there too but there doesn't seem to be any mention of me." Ian said with a pout.

"They haven't discovered who the assailants were?" Cedric asked.

"Give it a few minutes. They'll realize before we arrive at Saints." Ray said with a laugh.

"I'm sure Damien will have a press conference once those five have been charged." Ian explained.

"Speaking of Capt. Damien, do you know where he came from before going to Hype?" Ray asked with a mischievous grin.

"No. I was actually surprised that they arrived so fast." Ian told Ray.

"He was trying to hunt down the King of the Underworld." Ray said with a grin.

"Clearly he failed." Cedric said, rolling his eyes.

"I don't understand why they won't just give up. They should actually thank me, because of me there are no gang wars and everyone sticks to their place." Ray said with a shrug.

"That's not how it works." Cedric groaned. 

"Well I do a better job than the police." Ray said with a laugh. "It's quite funny that I was right in front of him earlier and he didn't have a clue that I am the person they keep searching for." Ray added.

"Hmmm, it seems that the news really is spreading fast. People on social media have discovered that they are the five men whose scandals have erupted over the week." Ian said as he refreshed the comments section. 

Cedric eventually took out his phone and read through the comments and posts as well.

'Those men are disgusting! They should go to jail, if they don't I swear they have a backer.'

'I agree with their dads disinheriting them, this is proof of how rotten they are. I hope their families don't come and save them. They don't deserve it.'

'Justice for the man they shot, justice for the hero!' 

Cedric grinned at the last comment, he wasn't after recognition, he just wanted to save the girl. He thought of his wife and sister, who, if it weren't for their own backgrounds would have suffered the same fate as her. 

"It seems that you have fans as both Cedric Reyes and the Reyes Group CEO." Ray teased his brother-in-law.

"I'm just happy that the world will see them for the scum they really are." Cedric said as he continued to read on his phone.

"Sir. We're here." The driver called out as they stopped in front of the emergency room driveway of Saints Hospital. 

Cedric could see Miguel and his team rushing up to the car. Cedric obliged and stepped out, he needed help walking and moving due to his injury. It was actually beginning to hurt a lot but Cedric didn't want to bother his friends about it. 

As he was being wheeled away he stopped Miguel.

"The girl in the other car, she's traumatized." Cedric told Miguel. "Make sure her team is all female and send a psychologist. I'll pay for everything." Cedric instructed in a low voice so that he wouldn't be heard by other people.

Miguel nodded and whispered Cedric's instructions to Jo, his head nurse. 

Jo quickly did as Cedric and Miguel asked and organized a team to look after the girl. 

Cedric was brought to a secluded ward in the emergency room, Miguel inspected his wound and gave him some medicine for the pain. He also ran some tests on Cedric before finally transferring Cedric to the VIP ward at the top floor.

"It's a good thing Ray and Ian decided to bring you here." Miguel said as he looked at the results of all the tests they had run on Cedric. "Sometimes, even the best first aid responders can miss things out or do things wrong. Your wound almost got infected Cedric. I don't think I need to explain how serious that would have become."

Cedric could do nothing but no in reply.

"Plus you kept walking on your injured side, don't you care for your wellbeing at all?" Miguel scolded him. 

"I'll be careful Doc." Cedric teased.

Miguel was about to retaliate when a weak knock came from the door.

"Come in." Cedric called out.

It was Ciara, she looked much better and had already changed her clothes.

"Doctor Chan lent me some clothes and looked after me." Ciara said as she walked in.

"Doctor Nicole Chan?" Ian asked.

"Yes, the nice pregnant lady." Ciara said with a nod.

Ian shook his head as he left the room.

"How are you feeling Ciara?" Cedric asked.

"Sir, I should be the one asking you that. You saved me and now you're injured." Ciara cried out. She looked at Ray and Miguel, clearly uncomfortable due to their presence.

"Do you think you can give us a moment?" Cedric asked Miguel and Ray.

His friends nodded and left the room.