“Let’s see how fast those fancy reflexes are,” Razor sneered.He gestured toward a corridor lined with swinging blades, boiling pits, and moving spikes.“Get through that, and maybe we’ll start taking you seriously.”Max surveyed the gauntlet, his expression unchanged.“What is this? A budget version of a theme park ride?”“Keep laughing,” Razor growled. “You won’t be smiling for long.”Max cracked his knuckles.“Watch and learn.”He stepped into the gauntlet, dodging the first set of blades with ease.The crowd murmured in surprise as he slipped past the traps with an almost lazy grace, as if the danger was beneath his notice.When he reached the end, untouched, he turned to Razor and gave a mock bow.“Was that it? I thought this was supposed to be challenging.”Razor, his face dark with irritation, signaled again.A massive cage was wheeled into the arena, its contents obscured by a heavy tarp.With a dramatic flourish, Razor ripped it off, revealing a snarling, monstrous tiger-like

Gunfire erupted, and screams filled the darkness. Red Fang’s reinforcements stormed the room, their weapons blazing.In the confusion, Max moved like a shadow, his strikes precise and brutal as he took down Kurt’s men one by one.Molly crouched low, shielding herself as bullets flew overhead.She could barely make out Max’s figure in the dim light, but his movements were swift and confident, a stark contrast to the panicked scrambling of Kurt’s men.“Find him!” Kurt’s voice rang out. “Don’t let him get to me!”Max’s voice cut through the chaos, sharp and mocking.“Looking for me, Kurt?”Before Kurt could respond, Max emerged from the shadows, his fist connecting with Kurt’s jaw in a thunderous crack.Kurt stumbled back, clutching his face, but he quickly recovered, grabbing Molly and dragging her toward the exit.“You’re not walking away from this, Max!” Kurt shouted, his desperation showing.Max followed, his expression cold and determined.“Let her go, Kurt. This ends now.”Kurt ba

The voice on the line was cold and emotionless.“Not anymore. Max Montgomery made sure of that. Your investors are pulling out, your assets are frozen, and your reputation is in ruins. There’s nothing left.”Kurt’s hand dropped, the phone clattering to the floor.His head sank into his hands as the weight of his defeat crushed him.Tears streaked his face as he muttered, “Please… I’ll do anything. Just… don’t take everything.”Max approached, his steps measured and deliberate.Kurt looked up, his eyes wide and pleading.“Max, please! I didn’t mean for things to go this far.I’ll disappear. You’ll never see me again. Just… spare me.”Max stared down at him, his expression unreadable.“You thought you could use Molly against me, threaten her life, and walk away unscathed? Actions have consequences, Kurt.”“Please,” Kurt begged, his voice cracking.“I’ll do anything. I’ll leave the country. I’ll—”“Enough,” Max interrupted. He turned to Red Fang.“Make sure Kurt and Razor disappear. Perma

Max drove through the towering gates of the Montgomery family estate, his mind racing with the weight of the cryptic message and Elliot’s ominous warnings.As he parked and stepped out of his car, the family’s butler, Mr. Winston, greeted him with a solemn bow.“Sir,” Winston began, his voice steady but tinged with urgency.“we’ve confirmed a breach in the family’s security. Mr. Hargrove, one of your grandfather’s most trusted advisors, has gone missing.”Max frowned. “Hargrove? What else?”Winston handed him a tablet displaying a series of encrypted documents.“These were found in his study. It appears he was working on uncovering a mole within the family, but the encryption is advanced. We’ve only managed to decode fragments.”Max scanned the screen, his sharp eyes narrowing as keywords jumped out: Elliot Stoke, sabotage, internal ally. His jaw tightened.“Elliot’s influence runs deeper than we thought.”“Indeed,” Winston said.“The timing of this disappearance is no coincidence. Yo

The tension in the Montgomery estate was palpable as family members gathered to discuss Elliot’s threat.Theodore Montgomery, the patriarch, stood at the head of the table, his commanding presence silencing any whispers of dissent.“Max,” Theodore said firmly, his sharp gaze locking onto his grandson.“You’ll oversee the family’s security operations. From this moment on, the protection of the Montgomery name rests on your shoulders.”The room erupted in murmurs. Gerald, seated at the far end, leaned forward, his face flushed with indignation.“Father, this is outrageous! Max is too young and inexperienced to handle such a critical role. He doesn’t even fully understand our operations!”Max, seated beside Theodore, met Gerald’s glare with a calm, unflinching gaze.“If you have a better suggestion, Uncle Gerald, I’m all ears.”Gerald scoffed.“Yes, I suggest someone with actual experience take charge. Someone who’s been part of this family’s decision-making for years.”Theodore’s voice