Malik's fingers hovered over the hologram, a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. "And what if I say no?"
Jax straightened up, adjusting his cuffs with a confident smirk. "Then I walk out that door, and you can try surviving the next month on your own."
He paused for effect, letting the weight of his words sink in. "But we both know how that story ends."
The atmosphere thickened, tension crackling like static electricity. Malik's enforcers shifted uneasily, casting glances at each other as if sensing the impending storm.
With a long, slow exhale, Malik finally tapped the hologram. "Tell your boss… he's got himself a deal."
Jax's smile was sharp enough to cut glass. "I thought he might."
As he turned to leave, Malik called after him. "One last question."
Jax glanced back over his shoulder, curiosity piqued.
"Why me?" Malik asked, genuine intrigue lacing his voice.
Jax's response was straightforward and cutting: "Because you're smart enough to know when to kneel."
