Chapter 44: The Deal

Max sat on the beach, his eyes closed and his mind wandering.

He was lost in thought, his thoughts drifting from one thing to the next.

But then, his phone rang, and he saw that it was Nichole. He answered the call, his voice brimming with anger.

"What do you want?" he snapped. "I told you I don't want to talk to you right now."

"Max, please," Nichole said, her voice sounding desperate. "Your father wants to see you. It's important."

Max gritted his teeth, his frustration growing.

"What is it?" he demanded. "Tell me what it's about!"

Nichole paused, and Max could hear her taking a deep breath.

"I can't tell you," she said. "But you need to come back. Your father is waiting for you."

Max let out a roar of anger and threw the phone to the ground, stomping on it until it was nothing but pieces of plastic and metal.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, but he could feel his rage boiling over.

Max sped down the road, his grip on the steering wheel tight and his foot heavy on