Aron had been guiding Sheri carefully through the maze of containers, and as the two of them took a particular path out of the way, Sheri began to notice something strange. The large number of men scattered across the ground, rolling around, groaning in pain, were all beaten so badly that it would take them a while to stand again, if they could at all.
Sheri’s steps slowed. The sight of so many unconscious and injured men gave her chills. She knew Aron was Max’s bodyguard, one assigned to him through the Stern family, but even so, he was just one man.
Are all the Stern family guards this strong? she wondered, staring at Aron’s steady back. Did he really do all of this by himself? Why does Max have someone like him by his side?
She thought about what she’d seen of the Black Hounds earlier. They weren’t ordinary thugs. These men were trained, hardened. I saw how strong they were. The Fortis Group trains every day for situations like this, and even they couldn’t stop these people, they ended up losing, and that’s how I was taken away.
Her mind began to turn rapidly as she followed Aron up the narrow path between the steel containers. It couldn’t have just been him, right? Wasn’t Max also the head of some gang back in high school? Maybe he used them too... and since Abby is gone, maybe he has access to his money again.
But that thought only led to more questions. Even if that’s true, he always has to be careful. Because of his parents’ deaths, his family would definitely target him again if he draws too much attention. Did Max really come here himself, risking all of that, just to save me?
Sheri was confused by countless thoughts swirling through her head. Before she knew it, Aron had led her out of the sea of containers and up onto the upper level of the docks, where the wide, open loading bay stretched beneath the night sky. The moonlight glinted across the metallic surfaces, and not far away, a large vehicle was parked in the shadows.
Aron opened the door and guided her inside, checking that the area around them was clear. Then he handed her a bottle of water and spoke in his usual calm, commanding voice.
"I would drive you out of this area myself," he said, his tone steady but serious, "but honestly, I don’t think any of their men will come up here. They’ll be focused on what’s going on down there. I’ll lock the car from the outside. You should keep your head down and stay quiet, make sure no one sees that you’re inside. Understand?"
Sheri nodded quickly. Her heart was still racing, but she could tell Aron knew what he was doing. And even though Max might have been against it, she understood why Aron had to leave her. He needed to be at Max’s side. Out of all the people involved in this chaos, there was still that dangerous man, Jett, who remained free.
"I’m still at a loss," Sheri murmured, almost to herself. "How did Max know I was in trouble? I guess it was because of the Bloodline Group... and it seemed that Anton had called him here too. It makes me worried. Is he going to be okay?"
Aron was about to leave, but he hesitated. He could see the worry and fear written clearly across her face. He knew that until she was somewhat reassured, he couldn’t just walk away. So, he spoke softly, his tone different this time, more personal.
"Max is the reason why all of us are safe," Aron said. "And that includes me. His family... they have something incredibly strong and special about them. And I’m not talking about the Stern family."
Sheri’s eyes widened slightly at his words.
"Lately," Aron continued, "there have been a lot of changes surrounding Max. And I feel like, if it’s him, then he can do it. He can make the impossible possible, no matter how tall the task he has to climb. He’s the reason you’re safe right now, Sheri. All of this, every part of it, is because of his actions. He’s truly an amazing person, and I know he’ll be fine."
Sheri listened quietly. His words made her chest tighten. When Aron finished, she nodded again and, with a small gesture of her hand, signaled for him to go. She didn’t want to waste any more of his time.
Aron gave a brief nod, then stepped away from the vehicle, disappearing back into the maze of containers. Sheri was left alone with her thoughts, the sound of the waves faintly echoing in the distance.
Max has changed, she thought, resting her hands on her lap. He really has changed a lot. I can’t believe I’m starting to rely on him again... and I’m starting to wish that we never broke our engagement off.
The thought lingered like a whisper in the back of her mind as she leaned back in the seat, clutching the bottle of water against her chest.
Meanwhile, at the first crossing point where the containers formed their intersections, where Jett had met with the other Rangers, Darno, and Na, an intense battle was raging on.
The fight had stretched on for some time. The air was thick with the metallic tang of blood and the sound of fists striking flesh. The Rangers had fought off nearly all of the Black Hound members that were present, though it had taken everything they had.
One person in particular, Joe, had been running through the container paths, his body slick with sweat, his breath harsh but steady. He had deliberately drawn several of the Black Hound members away from the others, using his agility and stamina to split their attention. His plan was simple: isolate the smaller groups, take them out, and keep them away from the main fight.
I know I’m the weakest of the group, Joe thought, ducking as a pipe narrowly missed his head. So it’s best for me to just skedaddle out of the way while they handle the big guy. With all of them together, they should be fine.
He swung around and kicked one of the men in the side, sending him crashing into a container wall. The man collapsed with a groan. Joe exhaled deeply, his chest burning. After taking down three more, he finally stopped to catch his breath. Even with his incredible stamina, exhaustion was setting in.
Still, he smiled weakly to himself. They’ve got this. They have to.
Just in case, he decided to head back toward the others, to make sure no more Black Hound members were approaching. His footsteps echoed on the metal ground as he ran. But when he finally reached the intersection, his body froze.
He stopped dead in his tracks. The air seemed to grow heavier, and for a brief second, Joe forgot how to breathe.
Jett was standing there, tall and unshaken, a faint smirk curling at the edge of his lips. His knuckles were cracked and bloody, but his stance was steady.
"Oh?" Jett said, his deep voice echoing through the open space. "You’ve come just in time."
Joe’s eyes widened in horror. All around Jett, the rest of the group, Na, Darno, Stephen, and Wolf, were sprawled across the ground. Their bodies twitched with pain. They were rolling, groaning, trying to get up but unable to.
"What... what happened?" Joe whispered, his heart pounding.
Wolf, barely conscious, lifted his head. His face was bruised, his expression strained, but he still managed a weak, grim smile.
"This guy..." Wolf muttered, his voice hoarse. "I was wrong... he’s not an S-rank..." He coughed, his body trembling. "He’s an SS-rank."
Joe’s stomach dropped as the reality sank in. Jett wasn’t just powerful, he was a monster.