“Why thank you, dear Eric.” Came Ryan’s response as he straightened himself a little. He was in pain, but he’d manage. It wasn’t like he was dead. Compared to other things he has faced, this wasn’t anything too serious.<br/><br/>When he looked to Eric, there was a devious look on his face, quickly wiped away when he gave a wink and looked at Adam’s corpse. This moment was pretty special to him for several reasons. One, he was glad that Eric was alright. He didn’t doubt his skills, but the streets could be very unpredictable from time to time. A man could have all the experience in the world and still be killed. While Eric has never struck him as someone who would be struck down so easily, he was concerned. He was reckless; recklessness was not something that he admired that much. If it were any other person coming to get him, he’d have scolded such recklessness. Instead, he said nothing. He actually appreciated him coming out here like this. If he didn’t, he’d be a goner, which leads him to his second reason why this moment was special.<br/><br/>Adam was gone. He was actually shocked that Eric had decided to kill him. One part of him felt that had been too easy, but maybe Eric really was interested in helping the gang out and ditching his military work. The moment his old gang had fallen apart, and he had to rebuild, after Adam expressed his distain towards Ryan, he has wanted to take him out. Adam had been a powerful foe, despite not being the most suitable leader. Now that he was gone his territory was up for grabs. Ryan was going to make sure that he took this opportunity. Military work could wait, when it came down to it, this was his life. He needed to take charge before someone else came in. Especially the military, there was no way he was going to let them come in here and take this. It did not belong to them.<br/><br/>So, with all that being said, Ryan did not follow Eric when he started to flee the area.<br/><br/>“Alright, listen up.” His voice boomed out with confidence. What remained of Adam’s men looked like they were going to pounce on him. He was sure that they would, especially because of what he had to say next. However, nothing happened, and it was then and there that he knew it was their fear of Eric keeping them in check. “You’re all with me now. Anyone who protests, will be lined up and brutally killed in ‘the square’, am I clear?” To make an example, he pulled his pistol out and shot someone that started laughing. There was a very different side to Ryan just then. Not just his gang side, but his darker side, something he didn’t show every often. It was the very reason that so many people were afraid of him. He knew how to strike fear into someone, though he was sure that his military mindset moments ago had a hand in that, too.<br/><br/>Looking at Eric, he added, “I’m sorry. I can only follow your lead for so long.”