From Bullets To Billions novel Chapter 49

Chapter 49: I’M Not Max

The answer had finally been revealed to Max, they had been keeping his money hostage.

With the threat to someone he cared about looming over his head, depending on how much the original Max truly cared for this person, it was no wonder he never touched the money.

After all, this was a kid who had no one, who had already lost his entire family. Maximus knew exactly what that felt like, he had gone through the same thing.

The White Tiger Gang and the people around him had been the light he built for himself. Maybe, for the original Max, this Abby girl had been his light.

And more than that, Max knew the answer to Sheri’s question better than she might have known herself.

"How easy is it to get rid of someone with the kind of wealth the Stern family has?" The answer: very easy.

The White Tiger Gang never took hit jobs. Sure, they handled intimidation, broken bones, or did what needed to be done when necessary. But assassinations, killing someone just because a client asked, was a messy business that brought too much heat. Still, Max knew of special groups out there, ones who would take that kind of job without a second thought.

And with the kind of wealth the Stern family possessed, eliminating someone wouldn’t even register as a noticeable expense.

"From what you told me," Sheri continued, "they were the ones who forced you to come to this school. Apparently, you knew Abby from some online game the two of you used to play.

"They found out, and they wanted you to witness firsthand the kind of mess this school was. To see what could happen to her if you ever tried to use the money. You were forced to live this life because of that threat."

There was now a clear question at the forefront of Max’s mind, one he needed an answer to.

"Who was it?" Max asked. "Who told me not to use the money? It’s obvious it was one of the others... one of my family members."

"They’re the only ones who know I have access to those funds. And they’re the only ones who wouldn’t want me to use them, because using that money would take me out of this ridiculous race. So which one of them was it?"

But there were still more questions swirling around in Max’s mind. Why did they see him as a threat? Maybe it wasn’t even personal, maybe someone simply wanted to increase their odds. In a competition like this, taking out just one person could shift the balance. And this? This was the quickest way to do it.

But they had even gone as far as making sure he ended up in the hospital, possibly even wanting him dead.

"I don’t know..." Sheri answered, her head lowered. "You would never tell me, no matter how many times I asked. But it’s clear... it’s someone else from your family."

This damned kid! Max thought angrily. He’s not making it easy to figure out who I should avoid and who I shouldn’t, but thanks to Sheri, I’m getting a clearer picture.

Max had been unable to use the money because the threat was coming from his own family, a member who had access to the same resources and power he did.

If he had hired security or personnel to protect Abby, they could have just hired someone else to attack her. Even with the trick he had pulled with the principal, it was something another family member could have easily done too.

Alone in that situation, it would have been far too much for any kid to shoulder. That’s likely why the real Max had decided it was better not to use the money at all.

Dipter... he’s the one everything is funneling toward. If I can get to him, I’ll finally get my answers.

Because of the way I’ve used the money, I doubt the family even knows I’ve touched it, which is good... but confirming that someone from my own family is after my life, that’s not exactly a comforting thought.

"Thank you for telling me everything," Max said as he headed toward the door. "It’s been bothering me for a long time, and I think I’ve finally cleared my head."

"WHAT?!" Sheri shouted, stunned. "We’re talking about Abby! You constantly talked about her! She was the reason why I... the reason why I called off our engagement!"

"I know you care about that girl. I know you’d do anything for her."