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.]
