From Bullets To Billions Chapter 660: Head To Notting Hill

The night sky had fully claimed the horizon, and the stillness of the evening was shattered by the guttural, rhythmic roar of high-performance engines echoing through the city streets. One after another, citizens peered cautiously from behind their curtains to see a massive convoy of bikers cutting through the dark. They were a sight to behold, all of them draped in heavy, professional-grade overcoats, each featuring a meticulously embroidered rose, the mark of their allegiance, prominently on their backs.

There wasn’t a soul in the public sphere who didn’t recognize that symbol. This was the Fallen Rose, a syndicate-level biker gang whose infamy stretched far beyond the city limits and across the entire country. They were a tactical anomaly in the underworld; unlike other syndicates that entrenched themselves in a single territory to bleed it dry, the Fallen Rose was nomadic. They moved from area to area, location to location, taking on high-stakes contracts that required their specific brand of mobile, overwhelming force.

Currently, the convoy was snaking its way up a steep mountain pass. Eventually, the lead bikes slowed, signaling a break at a scenic lookout point. The riders stepped over the safety barriers and climbed a short distance up the rocky incline to a plateau, where they finally allowed themselves to unwind.

The atmosphere was a strange mix of relaxation and lethal readiness. In one area, bikers were cracking open drinks and sharing laughs; in another, a pair of riders were engaged in a friendly but intense sparring match to keep their reflexes sharp. However, slightly removed from the main group, three women sat on a picnic blanket, the weight of their conversation standing in stark contrast to the revelry around them.

"Another mission officially completed," Sarah said, leaning back and exhaling a breath of cold mountain air. "Now that we’ve had our short celebration, should we start the trek back to the dojo?"

From what Abby had gathered during her time in this body, the "dojo" was the syndicate’s primary base of operations, a massive facility that had originally belonged to Vera’s family. Vera, the woman whose body Abby now inhabited, came from a lineage that was no longer among the living. In fact, many members of the Fallen Rose shared a similar, tragic background. They were the lost and the abandoned, people with no families to rely on, or those who had been forced to break away from their past lives for one reason or another.

Abby still didn’t know the full story of Vera. She didn’t know the specific catalyst that had started the Fallen Rose or why such a diverse group of killers and outcasts had gathered so fanatically around her. All she knew was that every person on this mountain felt a deep, unpayable debt to the woman she was pretending to be. This realization only served to increase her anxiety; she constantly worried about what would happen if these loyal warriors discovered that a total stranger had taken up residence in their leader’s mind.

"I don’t think we should head back to the dojo just yet," Shoting interrupted, her expression uncharacteristically grave. "A new request came in through the encrypted channels. Someone is offering us a staggering amount of money for a hit."

Sarah raised an eyebrow, her interest piqued. The Fallen Rose were experts at disruption; fighting, dismantling businesses, and sabotaging construction sites were their bread and butter. In many ways, they operated like high-level street gangs, but they were the ones called in when the stakes were so high that failure wasn’t an option. Abby had been present for a few of these jobs, though she had managed to stay on the sidelines since the previous tasks hadn’t required her direct intervention.

"Go on then," Sarah prompted. "Is it someone we know? You look more than a little worried."

"Not exactly a name from the old guard," Shoting answered, looking down at her handheld device. "But they are a group that’s been making a tremendous amount of noise lately. They call themselves the Billion Bloodline group."

Abby felt her heart give a violent, heavy thump against her ribs. That name echoed through her mind like a thunderclap. When she had recently rescued her old friends, she had seen the Billion Bloodline in action and had learned why they had come to such a volatile place. From what she could piece together, the group was inextricably linked to Max. If he wasn’t the leader, he was certainly the heart of it.

’If the Fallen Rose decides to target them, they’ll be wiped off the map,’ Abby thought, her stomach twisting into a knot. ’Max and the others don’t stand a chance against a syndicate of this caliber.’

"Now this is interesting," Sarah commented, a frigid smile gracing her lips. "That new outfit, the one that’s suddenly shot through the ranks? They’re the topic of every hidden conversation in the criminal underworld. And wasn’t that the very district you visited recently, Vera? Did you happen to encounter them? I find myself wondering what could provoke a client to desire their elimination so intensely."

"I’m not precisely certain of the underlying reason," Shoting responded. "However, one fact stands out: the client is undeniably a significant force. This undertaking is immense. The Billion Bloodline is far from being a mere fledgling gang; they are being treated as a veritable syndicate, a status earned through their rapid ascent and formidable power. It's evident they have offended someone of considerable influence, as the remuneration offered is precisely calibrated to sanction a complete eradication."

"Which also implies a substantial risk should we accept this contract and it escalates into a protracted conflict," Sarah added pensively. "I’m not entirely convinced that undertaking this mission aligns with our long-term strategic interests."

"I concur, which is precisely why I’ve brought it to your attention," Shoting stated, shifting her gaze towards Abby. "Our current proximity to Notting Hill is notable. It might prove more advantageous to divert our course there, rather than returning all the way to the dojo. Ultimately, the final verdict rests with the boss."

Both Sarah and Shoting lapsed into silence, their eyes keenly fixed on Abby, anticipating the command that would seal the fate of the Billion Bloodline. Abby drew a slow, deliberate breath, striving to keep her voice steady.

"I propose we investigate the Billion Bloodline organization," she declared after a moment, her thoughts swiftly navigating avenues to ensure Max’s safety. "However, perhaps our initial approach shouldn't be one of confrontation. It’s possible they are individuals with whom we could forge an alliance."