From Bullets To Billions novel Chapter 232

Chapter 232: Shadowed Ties

Max had left Chad behind at the KTV parlour without a second thought.

Once, Chad had been one of the biggest thorns in his side, an ever-present threat looming over him. But now? Now he had fallen. Hard. And while there was some satisfaction in seeing someone like Chad lose everything... Max knew better than to feel too comfortable.

Dangerous people didn’t stop being dangerous just because they hit rock bottom.

If anything, they became more unpredictable. And this time, Chad hadn’t just fallen alone, he’d dragged Max down with him.

You could choose your friends. You could cut ties, walk away, start fresh. But family? That was a different story. You didn’t get to choose your blood.

The situation was what it was.

As he left the parlour and headed home, the first thing Max did was text Joe, letting him know he was safe.

He didn’t want him worrying.

Surprisingly, Joe messaged back almost immediately. The reply, however, felt... odd.

[It’s good to hear that, boss.]

[Btw, I just wanted to say... I’m sorry for everything when we first met.]

[You’re a really cool guy. I see us as great friends.]

Joe had never been the overly sentimental type, and while he’d said things like this before, this message felt different. It wasn’t prompted by anything, just dropped in out of nowhere.

Maybe it’s everything with Jay, Max thought, staring at the screen. It’s made him more open. More honest about how he feels.

Still, the message did its job.

Even if just a little, it lifted the weight in Max’s chest. His mood had been soured by everything that happened, but reading Joe’s words helped.

Eventually, Max arrived back at his room and collapsed onto his bed. The day had been long, and sleep tugged at him. But peace didn’t last long.

His thoughts wouldn’t rest.

When I woke up in this body and realized I was part of the Stern family, he thought, I saw it as a shortcut. A way to rebuild my empire faster than before. To make it stronger. Better. Using wealth I didn’t earn to navigate the world.

But that money, it had been just as much a curse as a blessing.

It opened doors, yes. But it also drew attention. Enemies. And now it had thrown him straight into the crosshairs of a deadly gang.

The Black Hounds would be back. He had two days. That much was certain.

And while things were still messy with the Rejected Corps, he was technically still a member. He had a feeling that eventually, they’d come looking for him again.

Two disasters.

He wondered if he could use one to escape the other, play both sides, maybe. But the moment either group found out about the other, he’d lose all leverage. They’d back him into a corner and squeeze until there was nothing left.

No, he had to keep them separate.

As far as the Black Hounds were concerned, he was Max Stern, just a high schooler with a powerful name and access to money. Not Maximus. Not the former White Tiger boss. Not the new leader of Billion Bloodline.

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