Frantic reports were flooding in. The phones simply wouldn't stop ringing. The panicked calls weren't just coming directly to Max, but to the other high-ranking members of the organization as well.
Stephan stood near the wall, staring down at his vibrating phone, his knuckles turning white. He was being relentlessly called by the managers and fighters stationed at their various gyms, their voices laced with fear as they begged him for immediate backup. He could hear the sounds of shattering glass and shouting in the background of every call.
He desperately wanted to rush out the door, to drive to where his people were and fight fiercely by their side. But he gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay put. It was the exact same agonizing test of loyalty and discipline for all the sub-leaders that Max had appointed.
