From Bullets To Billions novel Chapter 231

Chapter 231: A Rotten Choice

As soon as Vivian left the room, Max felt his blood boiling. Rage, disbelief, and frustration twisted together into something hot and uncontrollable. There were too many emotions to unpack, all surging through him at once.

Strangely, Chad remained quiet. Completely silent. Not a single word from the usually smug and smooth-talking cousin.

One hundred and three million dollars? Max’s thoughts screamed. This idiot started with a billion, just like me, and now he’s over a hundred million in debt? What the hell did he even do?

No matter how much Max hated Chad, for the way he’d always looked down on him, for being behind Dipter and the bullying, and ultimately being part of the reason Sam had taken his own life, there was still a small part of him, deep down, that considered paying the debt.

If it had just been a few million, Max reasoned, I could’ve taken the hit. Just to keep the Black Hounds off my back, especially with everything else already going on.

But this wasn’t a few million.

It was a hundred million. That kind of payment would take a serious toll on his vow. It wouldn’t just weaken him, it would leave him vulnerable. He’d be risking everything, including his ability to stand against the Chalkline Boys or the Rejected Corps if something broke out.

"Well, what can we do?" Chad finally spoke, breaking the tense silence. "The situation is what it is. We’re just going to have to give them the money."

Max turned sharply, his voice rising with pure fury.

"What the f did you just say?" he snapped. "We’re going to give them the money? Why are you acting like it’s yours?!"

He jumped to his feet, putting distance between himself and Chad. His fists clenched so tightly his nails dug into his palms. He wanted to hit him, badly. To punch him square in the face for everything. For Sam. For the pain. For dragging him into this.

But Max stopped himself. He knew that if he started, he might not stop. He might hit Chad so hard he wouldn’t get back up. And that wouldn’t help anything.

"I’m not giving them a single damn penny," Max shouted. "And it’s not your money to hand over either! You don’t get to throw me into this mess like it’s nothing!"

Under normal circumstances, Chad would’ve thrown back some smug remark, maybe tossed a drink in Max’s face just to rile him up. But now? The Chad in front of him was different. Beaten. Cornered.

Still, that didn’t stop his mouth from running.

"Aren’t you being a little foolish, Max?" Chad said calmly. "I know your situation. You have the money. One hundred million, it’s a lot, sure. But you can afford it. You’d be completely fine."

Max’s nostrils flared as he tried to breathe slowly, deliberately. He was trying to calm the storm inside.

"You really don’t get it," Max said through gritted teeth. "You’re right about one thing. If I could use that money to bring someone back, someone I cared about, I’d spend it in a heartbeat."

He took a step forward, his eyes burning with emotion.

"But this? This is to save you. And that is why it’s a big deal."

"You think I don’t know what you’ve done? You ordered Dipter and the others to torment me. Because of you, another student died for no reason!"

"You used Abby to try and manipulate me. You’re the one who blocked my access to my own funds. I know everything now. And out of every person in this world, you’re the last one I would ever help."

"But here’s what you still don’t get," Chad continued. "The reason I don’t care whether you help me or not is simple: you’re already in it. They know you can pay. They’ll come after both of us now."

He was trying to force Chad into another path, to make him rethink. Why Max? Why drag him into this mess, of all people?

"You think our grandfather doesn’t already know?" Chad replied. "He sticks his nose into everything. He knows. And he’s decided to do nothing."

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