Chapter 24
The gym was quiet in a way that felt deliberate.
No one spoke at first.
Christian checked his screen again.
He had texted Minji again after leaving her apartment
No reply.
"She might be thinking," Junior offered.
"Or she already decided," Cassian said.
Christian didn't answer.
He typed once more—short, neutral—and set the phone down face-up on the bench.
Another dead end.
Cassian broke the silence.
"If talking doesn't work," he said, "we can force the situation."
Christian looked up.
Cassian continued, choosing his words carefully. "We pick a fight. Get hurt. Go in as patients." He gestured vaguely. "Hospitals push surgery. You call it out. You go viral again—this time with firsthand proof."
Junior straightened. "That would work."
Christian didn't raise his voice.
"No," he said.
Cassian frowned. "Why not?"
"Because that's not exposure," Christian replied. "That's gambling with your body." He paused. "And I won't be the reason you do that."
Cassian clenched his jaw. "So we just wait?"
"We don't manufacture victims," Christian said. "If this system is wrong, it'll surface on its own."
The room went quiet again.
Christian's phone buzzed.
He looked down.
Minji's name.
He opened the message.
" I'm sorry, there's another channel,
They're helping me with the loan.
I gave them my story."
Christian stared at the screen longer than necessary.
Cassian noticed. "She went with another"
Christian nodded once.
"I don't blame her," he said. And meant it.
—---------
Francis picked up immediately.
"You're thinking about doing something stupid," Francis said.
Cassian stiffened. "We haven't even said anything."
"I didn't say you had," Francis replied. "I'm saying don't."
Cassian glanced at Christian, then looked away. "You don't know what we're dealing with."
Francis was quiet for a beat.
"You don't either," he said. "Not all bikers are the same. Some of them are past the point where injuries are accidents."
Cassian swallowed.
"Whatever you're planning," Francis added, "make sure you're ready for who notices."