CHAPTER 298: WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

Max walked away from the venue at a steady pace, keeping his expression neutral, his stride measured. He knew Aron and Joe wouldn’t be far behind him.

He also hoped they had the sense to wait.

Even a minute or two would help. If they followed him out immediately, Marvin might notice the pattern, and if Marvin started following them, things could spiral into an entirely different problem.

Marvin wasn’t the type to miss details. If his curiosity was piqued, he’d follow every thread until it either snapped or led to the truth. And right now, Max didn’t need that kind of heat.

If they’ve caught Marvin’s attention, Max thought, he might decide to tail them just to see what happens. Then we’d have a whole mess on our hands.

His mind flicked briefly to Aron’s capabilities. Aron had already managed to cover up a few incidents in this district, smoothing over problems before they escalated. That meant the Stern family’s money, or their influence, was enough to reach people with authority higher than Marvin’s rank.

But that was the problem.

This wasn’t just any detective. This was Marvin. If he got a solid hold on something, he wouldn’t let go, not for money, not for influence. If he needed to, he’d take it all the way up to the Prime Minister himself just to get the job done.

Max shook his head, jaw tightening. Is today still the right day to act? he asked himself. The risk was higher now with Marvin in the picture. The smart thing would be to push it back. Wait.

No.

It had to be today. He’d already decided. Plans were in motion, and shifting them now would only make things messier.

By the time he’d made up his mind, Max found himself standing in front of the original Bloodline Gym.

There were now several Bloodline Gyms scattered throughout Brinehurst, and Max already had plans to expand into other parts of Notting Hill City. The thought of it brought a faint smile to his face.

To most people, the Bloodline Group wasn’t a gang at all. Not yet. In their minds, it was a brand, something for kids. The gyms were just fitness centers. The jackets, hoodies, and other merch were just a fashion trend.

And Max knew exactly where the next gym should open. His merchandise sales told him which districts would respond best.

The only reason he hadn’t expanded yet was because of the capital it would require, and because of his Vow. To push forward, he’d have to spend enough to weaken himself temporarily, and timing was everything.

Business was good, though. Membership fees and merch sales were already fueling steady growth. The hype around his clothing in Brinehurst had reached its peak, and that wave had given him a significant boost in power.

But in his mind, this gym, the original one, would always be more than just a business.

This was where it all started.

No matter how big the Bloodline Group got, this would remain the heart of it.

If Max’s enemies ever discovered the connection between the gyms and the Bloodline Group, they’d almost certainly go for the largest, flashiest locations first. They’d assume the leaders would be stationed there.

And that was exactly why this place worked as a double bluff.

When Max reached the front door, he noticed the "Closed" sign hanging in the window. To anyone passing by, it was just another business taking a break. But if you knew where to look, there was a small, sharp detail that told a different story, the Bloodline Group’s logo etched discreetly just beneath the sign.

It was a code. An unspoken signal to anyone in the real Bloodline Group: the door was closed to outsiders, but members could still come in.

Pushing the door open, Max stepped inside.

No sounds of training greeted him. No rhythmic thuds of fists against heavy bags, no sharp cracks of pads being struck. The gym was silent, eerily so, save for the low hum of the fluorescent lights overhead.

Two figures stood in the middle of the floor, both wearing the Bloodline jacket. One was deep red, the other a gleaming gold.

Steven glanced up first. "Oh, I didn’t expect you this early. Where’s Aron and Joe?"

"We ran into a bit of a situation," Max replied, his voice calm but clipped. "It’s fine, they should be here any second."

His eyes shifted to the other figure. Wolf.

The bandages were gone now, but the memory of how badly he’d been injured was still fresh in Max’s mind. The man looked steadier than before, but Max doubted he was at full strength.

"You sure you’re healed enough for this?" Max asked, studying him carefully. "You don’t have to take part if you’re not at a hundred percent. What we’re about to do could be dangerous."

Wolf smirked. "Hey, did I ask you to worry about me? I put on this jacket to show I’m part of you lot. And I meant what I said before, Max."

He took a step forward, gold fabric shifting under the dim gym lights.

"I’m not doing this for a fee. I’m doing this to get those guys back. That’s why the Pit isn’t involved. I’m here as a golden member of the Bloodline group."

Max gave a short nod. Wolf’s words carried weight, and loyalty like that wasn’t easy to find.

A few moments later, the door opened again. Joe and Aron stepped inside. They had changed clothes since leaving the funeral, each now wearing a Bloodline jacket.

"I checked to see if anyone was following us," Aron said immediately, cutting off the question he knew Max was about to ask. "It appears not."

Max turned, scanning the four of them. "Right now, the core members of the Bloodline Group have gathered," he said, his voice echoing faintly in the empty gym. "There is one person who was meant to be with us today, our beloved Pink Ranger, but due to... circumstances related to what’s happening, he couldn’t make it."

He let the pause hang before speaking again.

"The Bloodline Group has been wronged," Max said, his tone sharp, his gaze hard. "And today is the day we show them exactly what that means."

Just then, the bell above the door jingled. More footsteps followed, and one by one, more people began to file into the gym.