The Change|| BxB

12. In The Heart Of The Beast

They both woke up bright and early the next day. Valentino had been called into work; something about a problem with a fellow member in the back. Max had to bluntly remind himself to go to work, too. He hadn't been in quite a while since moving in with Valentino. Val, on the other hand, could take days off whenever he wanted, a luxury of his position. But today was different. Today, they both needed to be there.

They took a shower, quickly dressed, had a quick breakfast, and hurried out the door. Valentino's chauffeur drove them to the restaurant, which served as a front for their more clandestine operations. When they finally arrived and stepped inside, the place was a disaster. "I'm glad they kept it closed with this mess," Valentino thought, surveying the chaos. Everything was strewn everywhere, quite literally.

Valentino walked to the back, holding Max's hand tightly to keep him from running off to investigate by himself. In the back kitchen, they found Kyle, Valentino's right-hand man, tied to a chair with duct tape over his mouth. Surrounding him were tall men in black suits, their guns clearly visible.

"What's wrong here, boys?" Valentino sneered, pushing Max behind him protectively. Max was grateful for that, deciding it was best to stay behind this giant, imposing figure of a man.

"Well, well, well... You upset our boss, and we want payback," said the first man to the left of Valentino. He had short, light brown hair and a nasty scar running through his right eyebrow. It looked fresh and painful. He was about 6'2", not short but not as towering as Valentino. He didn't flinch, but Max was terrified.

Valentino took a step forward, his grip on Max's hand tightening. "You think you can come into my place and make demands?" he said, his voice low and menacing.

The man with the scar smirked. "You know how it works, 'Boss' You mess with us, we mess with you."

Valentino glanced at Kyle, assessing the situation. Kyle was a loyal man, someone who had been through thick and thin with him. Max could see the conflict in Valentino's eyes—he didn't want Kyle to get hurt, but he also couldn't show weakness.

Max, despite his fear, felt a surge of determination. He had to do something. He couldn't just stand there and let Kyle suffer. "What do you want?" he blurted out, stepping out from behind Valentino.

The men in black suits turned their attention to Max, their expressions hardening. "Who's the kid?" one of them asked.

"None of your business," Valentino snapped. "Answer the question. What do you want?"

The man with the scar laughed. "We want compensation. Your little stunt cost us a lot. We need to make up for our losses."

The tall males  eyes narrowed. "How much?"

"A million," the man replied without hesitation.

Max's eyes widened. A million dollars was a lot of money, even for them. But Valentino  didn't flinch. "Fine," he said. "But you release Kyle first."

The man with the scar shook his head. "We need collateral. You give us the money, we let him go."

Valentino considered his options. He couldn't let Kyle stay in their hands, but he also couldn't trust them to keep their word. He needed a plan, and he needed it fast.

Max, seeing the hesitation in Val's eyes, stepped forward again. "What if I stay?" he suggested, his voice trembling but determined. "You let Kyle go, and I'll stay until Valentino gets you the money."

Valentino turned to Max, his eyes wide with shock. "No, Max," he said firmly. "You're not getting involved in this."

But Max shook his head. "I can handle it, sir. We can't let Kyle suffer because of us."

The man with the scar looked intrigued. "Interesting offer. We'll take it. The kid stays, Kyle goes."

Valentino clenched his jaw, but he knew there was no other way. He nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But if you harm him, there won't be a place on this earth where you can hide."

The men in black suits untied Kyle, shoving him towards Valentino. Max watched as Kyle stumbled forward, relief washing over his face. "Thank you," Kyle whispered to Max as he passed by.

Max took a deep breath, stepping forward to take Kyle's place. He felt Valentinos hand on his shoulder, squeezing reassuringly. "I'll get you out of this," he murmured. "I promise."

As the men in black suits led Max away, he felt a strange sense of calm. He was scared, but he also knew he was doing the right thing. He was stepping up, taking responsibility, and showing Valentino that he could be trusted.

Over the next few hours, Max was kept in a small, dimly lit room. The men didn't harm him, but their presence was intimidating enough. He thought about Valentino , hoping he was working on a plan to get him out.

Meanwhile, The tall male was in a frenzy, making calls and pulling every string he had to gather the money. He couldn't let Max stay in their hands for long. He felt a deep sense of guilt for involving Max in this mess, but he also felt a strange pride. Max had shown courage and loyalty, qualities that Valentino valued above all else.

By the end of the day, Valentino  had gathered the money. He arranged a meeting with the men in black suits, demanding Max's release. They met in a secluded warehouse, tension thick in the air.

Valentino handed over the money, his eyes never leaving Max. The man with the scar counted the bills, nodding in satisfaction. "Alright, a deal's a deal," he said, pushing Max towards Valentino.

Max ran into his arms unexpectedly , relief washing over him. Valentino held him tightly, whispering, "I told you I'd get you out."

As they walked out of the warehouse, Max felt a new sense of confidence. He had faced his fears, stood up for what was right, and earned Val's respect in a way he never thought possible.

In the hours  that followed, things slowly returned to normal. Max and Val continued working at the restaurant, their bond stronger than ever. Max had learned a valuable lesson about courage, loyalty, and the harsh realities of their world.
And though he knew the dangers were far from over, he also knew he had Valentino by his side. Together, they could face anything.

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