Chapter 136: You Didn’t Tell Me This!
"Okay, I see now," Wolf said, lacing his hands behind his head like this was just another walk in the park. He was kind of liking his school uniform look as well, and wondered how the others would react if they saw him in his current get up. "That’s pretty wild... but I’m guessing you’ve got your reasons."
He glanced over at Max.
"So the plan is: we’re joining another street crew. The same ones running those little wannabes we roughed up earlier. And now they’re asking you to join them , but they said to bring someone along. Since you couldn’t trust anyone else, you picked me. Sound about right?"
"Not quite," Max replied.
"I trust my people. But they’re not built for this kind of job, not yet. They don’t know the gang world, not the way you do. They don’t know what to do when things go sideways. You do. Plus out of the other options I had you had the most baby face look about you."
Wolf lifted his hands and stroked his bare chin. Although his hair was wild and long, the rest of his skin was pretty pale and hairless.
"And so do you , you also know how to handle yourself in front of gangs and groups right, just like you did with us?" Wolf said, narrowing his eyes, clearly fishing for more. "Right?"
The question hung in the air.
Wolf wasn’t the type to prod openly, but something about Max bothered him, in a good way. He was a puzzle. A guy who moved like someone way deeper in the game, but had nothing on record. Nothing the White Tiger’s network could dig up. If they just couldn’t find any information maybe he would have let it go, but to tell them to stop investigating or it would bring trouble.
Someone who knew about them , but stayed invisible?
It didn’t add up, and just made him more curious.
"If you can handle yourself," Wolf said, "then why bring me at all? You clearly have backup. So why me?"
Max gave a short, simple answer.
"Because you can pass as a high schooler."
That made Wolf grin. Fair enough.
The two of them had reached a beat-up bus stop on the edge of the city, the designated pickup point. They stood there, waiting, the buzz of traffic in the distance, the air charged with something unspoken.
Wolf figured this was the best chance he’d get.
Max needed him. That meant he could poke a little, push a few buttons, maybe crack the mystery open just a bit more.
Wolf knew how this worked, if two people were going to be deep in enemy territory together, they needed trust. Or at least, something close to it.
And if they didn’t get there, fast, he could easily blow the whole operation without even trying.
"So," Wolf started, leaning back on the bus bench like this was casual, "you got an end goal in all this? Or are you just planning to pay my day rate every time you want me around?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Because sometimes my crew keeps me busy. Can’t just drop everything for a side gig."
"The end goal," Max said, not missing a beat, "is to not get caught."
That made Wolf huff a short laugh.
"I won’t need you all the time," Max added. "But I don’t know how dangerous this group really is yet. Once I figure it out, I’ll move quick."
Truth was, Wolf didn’t really care why Max was doing it. As long as the money was flowing, it wasn’t his problem. He was a gang boss pretending to be a grunt, for a fat paycheck. Easy money.
"Alright," Wolf said, stretching his arms. "Since we’re working so close now, let me ask you something."
He shot Max a sidelong glance.
"All this cash you’re throwing around, where’s it coming from? You some kind of trust fund kid? Or the son of a mob boss?"
Max didn’t answer.
Wolf smirked. "You were looking into the White Tigers too, right? Don’t tell me, lemme guess. They killed your dad, left you the empire, and now you’re playing revenge with a golden credit card?"
It was one of the theories Wolf had cooked up. It didn’t explain how Max was a ghost on every background check, but it did explain the bodyguard, the cash, the strange pull he had.
Still, Max didn’t bite.
"You’ve been reading too many comics," Max replied coolly. "My money’s my business. I spend it how I want, and that’s all you need to know."
He glanced sideways. "And if you did try to kill me, you wouldn’t get a whiff of it. So don’t get any ideas."
Wolf let out a short, amused laugh. He hadn’t expected Max to spill anything, but it was worth the jab. The mystery only made him more curious.
Then, across the street, a sleek, jet-black S-Class Bezedez Benz rolled up to the curb.
It was the kind of car that screamed, you don’t belong here. Too polished for a neighborhood like this. And definitely not the ride of your average street thug.
Wolf tilted his head. "That your ride?"
When Max gave a slight nod, Wolf whistled low.
"Man, when you said ’street gang,’ I didn’t know you meant the luxury kind. Maybe I will figure out where that money’s coming from."
The passenger door popped open, and Dud leaned out, waving them over.
"Let’s go!" he shouted. "We ain’t got all day!"
Max and Wolf crossed the street toward the car. Max could already tell, this was no accident. Last time, the Rejected Corps sent a junker. Now they were rolling out the high-gloss welcome mat.
Trying to impress me already? Max thought. Looks like someone’s trying too hard to sell the perks. Childish move.
Just as Max reached for the handle, Wolf grabbed his shoulder.
"Whoa, hold up," he said. "You didn’t tell me we were dealing with them. "
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"If we’re walking into the Rejected Corps, Max... you better double my pay."