From Bullets To Billions novel Chapter 33

Chapter 33 - The Bottom Of The Barrel

It was Friday evening, just before the students had headed home for the weekend, when Ko and his crew, Mo and Joe, got the message.

Another meeting at the cage.

They hated being summoned, especially now. The incident with Sam still hung heavy in the air. Even with the lawyers' smooth words and reassurances, none of them truly felt safe. The truth was still out there... and they knew it.

When they arrived, the setup was exactly like before. Dipter stood in the middle, calm and collected, with Jay and Snide flanking him like shadows.

Ko stepped forward, his nerves showing in the tightness of his voice. "Did something happen? Is there an update?"

Dipter didn't move. He just stared, a cigarette dangling from his lips, before speaking. "No update. Just instructions. A way to wrap up the mess you three managed to create."

Ko swallowed hard.

"Tomorrow's the funeral for the kid," Dipter continued. "You're going. All three of you."

"What?!" the three shouted at once, their voices cracking with disbelief.

They looked at each other, stunned. Everyone at school knew what they'd done, there were whispers in every hallway, eyes that lingered longer than they used to. The whole class had turned cold toward them, and they wouldn't be surprised if Sam's parents had heard rumors too.

The idea of walking into that funeral... facing Sam's grieving family... it felt impossible.

But Dipter's expression didn't change. He wasn't asking. He was ordering.

"I'm just repeating what the law firm told me," Dipter said, flicking ash from his cigarette. "They said you need to show remorse. In case this goes anywhere in the future. Things are fine for now, but who knows what someone might dig up later?"

He looked at each of them, holding their uneasy gazes.

"So to cover your backs, and everyone else's involved in this mess, you need to show up. Put on your best faces, look sad, act respectful. It's not a request."

Ko, Joe, and Mo exchanged nervous glances. Every part of them screamed that this was a terrible idea. Why were they listening to some lawyers. Just because they were well-dressed and threw around big words didn't mean they understood how things really worked.

At least, that's what Ko told himself.

"But... what if his parents hate us?" Ko muttered. "If we show up, they'll recognize us. They might throw us out. Shout at us. We were the last ones to see him... they'll know."

Dipter just laughed, cold and careless.

"They won't. Trust me. People like them? When they're grieving, they don't lash out. They cling to anything that looks like closure. You'll walk in, bow your heads, light the incense... and they'll probably thank you for being there. It's how these things go."

*****

With no room to argue and no options left, the trio had arrived at the service the next day. Dressed in black suits, stiff collars, and fake solemnity, they stepped through the doors.

Late.

They shifted uncomfortably as they entered, eyes darting around the quiet room, unsure where to go, unsure if they even belonged there.

Eventually, though, the trio made their way to the incense table. With trembling fingers, each one took a stick, lit it, and dropped to their knees in unison. They bowed their heads, pretending to pray, and then gently placed the incense into the holder beneath Sam's photo.

Rising from her position, Sam's mother turned, and her teary eyes locked onto them.

"Oh... it's you three," she said, her voice cracking as fresh tears welled up again. "Thank you... thank you so much for coming and being here for our boy."

"Yes," Sam's father added, stepping forward, his face drawn and weary. "Thank you. I know there was trouble before... but the fact that you still came today, it means the world. Thank you for being a part of his life, and for being here now."

Ko stood frozen. Speechless.

He couldn't believe it, what Dipter had said was actually true. There was no anger. No blame. Just gratitude. They didn't know. They had no idea what the three of them had done to their son.

They're groveling... being thanked by the very people they destroyed.

I don't think I've ever experienced something so twisted, not even during my time with the White Tiger.