From Bullets To Billions novel Chapter 120

Chapter 120: A Dangerous Play

Max had been wondering when the street gang would make their next move, where, and how.

Would they wait for the weekend? Show up at the gym again?

He figured they’d gotten a vague description from the students they’d attacked. Maybe even from Dipter himself. But it wouldn’t be from Juvie directly, not just anyone could visit someone locked up in there.

Which meant one thing:

The Rejected Corps still didn’t know who Max really was.

His real identity was still safe.

****

"That’s the guy?" Jay said, stepping forward, fire already burning behind his eyes. "He’s the one that did that to Joe? And he’s just standing there like nothing happened?"

Jay clenched his fists. "We need to teach him a lesson, right now."

Max didn’t move at first. He was still processing.

They showed up here... right in front of the school. Middle of the day. Students around. Witnesses everywhere. Either they don’t care about the consequences, or... they didn’t come to fight.

"Wait, Jay." Max reached out and stopped him with a hand on the shoulder, stepping in front.

"Let’s hear him out."

He turned to Dud, his voice steady.

"You came here to talk, right? To me?"

Dud grinned wide, his eyes scanning the students nearby like he was sizing up prey.

"I can feel it," he said. "The air around you guys, it’s different. Confident. I got fooled before, thought that other kid was the real deal, but now I get it."

He pointed at Max.

"It’s you. You’re the one who took down Dipter."

Max didn’t flinch.

"Just me," he said plainly. "The others came along for the ride."

Dud let out a snickering laugh through clenched teeth.

"You remind me of myself," he said. "And believe me, I’d love to test that mouth of yours."

His grin faded slightly, voice dropping lower.

"But since I’ve confirmed you’re the one the boss wants... I’ve got orders. I need to bring you in."

He tilted his head.

"Of course, I’m kinda hoping you say no."

He smiled again, dark and dangerous.

"Because then... I get to use more extreme methods."

Jay stepped forward, standing tall beside Max. He didn’t say anything at first, but his presence said enough.

This guy’s with me. If you try anything, you’re not walking away.

Even if Dud was from a street gang, even if he was an adult, did he seriously think he could take on a whole school’s worth of delinquents alone?

Max took a breath, then spoke.

"I’ll come with you," he said calmly, eyes locked on Dud. "To meet your boss."

Jay immediately moved, placing himself between them, almost instinctively, his body tense, ready.

"Max, are you sure about this?" he asked. "Right now, he’s alone. But if you go with him... that’s his territory. I should at least come with you."

Max shook his head.

The others wouldn’t handle it. Not yet.

Joe getting hurt had already ignited something dangerous in all of them. And Max knew, if a fight broke out now, they’d go too far. Or not far enough.

From experience, he knew: street gangs didn’t go to this much trouble just to beat someone senseless. They wanted something. And the best way to figure that out, was to go with them.

"If you don’t hear from me soon, call this person. Tell him everything. This guy’s height. His clothes. His voice. The car we leave in. Everything."

This wasn’t like last time. Back then, when the old Max got taken, he had no backup. No money. No access. But now? Aron had access to funds through Warma. Emergency tracking. Contingency plans. Max wasn’t walking into this blind. He was walking in prepared.