Billionaire's Retribution

Chapter 5: The Gathering Storm

The clang of metal trays echoed in the mess hall. Grease-slick food, lukewarm water, the endless roar of men shouting over one another. But Richard wasn’t listening to the noise, he was watching.

Every conversation was a piece on the board. Every glance was a move. Malik slid onto the bench beside him, his voice low. “Three more want to talk. They saw what you did with Scar in the showers.”

Richard kept his eyes forward. “Names.”

“Devon. Short, quick hands. Used to run with gangs outside. Then there’s Lopez. Strong, but keeps his head down. And Kieran…” Malik hesitated. “…Kieran owes Serpent money.”

Richard smirked faintly. “Which means he’s desperate. Desperate men make useful allies.”

Malik swallowed. “You’re not afraid Serpent will find out?”

Richard picked up his spoon, stirring the sludge on his tray. “He already knows. Let him. That just means he’s watching the wrong hand while the other one makes the move.”

That night, under the flickering light of the laundry room, Richard sat with Devon, Lopez, and Kieran. Malik hovered close, nervous.

“You’ve all felt Serpent’s hand,” Richard began, voice calm. “His crew taxes you. Controls you. Owns you.”

Devon snorted. “That’s prison. Always has been. Always will be.”

Richard leaned forward, eyes sharp. “Wrong. That’s weakness. Serpent rules because no one thinks there’s another option. I’m offering one.”

Lopez crossed his arms. “And what makes you different?”

Richard’s lips curved faintly. “Brains. Patience. And money.” The men stilled.

“You don’t get it,” Richard said quietly. “I’m not broke. I never was. I have resources out there. And when I leave this place, those who stood with me won’t be forgotten.”

Kieran’s eyes widened. “You mean… you’d help us on the outside?”

Richard’s gaze locked on him. “I don’t make promises I can’t keep. But loyalty isn’t free. You stand with me, and I’ll stand with you. Here. And later.”

The silence was thick. Devon finally chuckled. “You’re crazy, billionaire. But maybe crazy’s what we need.”

One by one, the men nodded. Richard leaned back, satisfaction flickering in his eyes. The first pawns were on the board.

Across the prison, in the shadowed corner of the rec room, Serpent listened as his enforcer recounted the meeting.

“They’re flocking to him,” the scarred man hissed. “Even rats are leaving our scraps to hear him talk.”

Serpent’s expression didn’t change. His hands rested calmly on the table, fingers tapping a steady rhythm.

“Good,” Serpent murmured.

The enforcer blinked. “Good?”

“Let him gather,” Serpent said, his voice like ice. “The higher he builds his tower, the harder it will fall. And when he falls, every man who stood beside him will burn.”

The enforcer grinned. “So what’s the move?”

Serpent’s eyes glinted. “Court day is coming. That’s when he’ll be at his weakest. Alone. Unprotected. That’s when we end Richard Williams.”

The laundry room buzzed with machines, steam rising like fog. Richard stood with Devon, Lopez, Kieran, and Malik gathered around him.

“Loyalty,” Richard said evenly, “isn’t built on words. It’s built on actions.”

Devon raised a brow. “What kind of actions?”

Richard pointed toward a stack of crates by the far wall. “Serpent’s crew has been moving contraband through laundry for months. Weapons. Drugs. Bribes. If we cut that flow, he bleeds.”

Kieran paled. “That’s suicide. If he finds out”

“He will find out,” Richard cut in, voice firm. “But he won’t know who. That’s the test.”

Lopez crossed his arms. “And if we’re caught by the guards?”

Richard leaned closer, his bruised face carved in steel. “Then you learn what it means to choose. Stand with Serpent and stay his dog. Or stand with me, and earn freedom.”

The men exchanged glances. Devon smirked. “Fine. Let’s bleed him.”

That night, under cover of the noisy shift, Richard’s small crew worked quickly. Malik kept watch at the door while Devon pried open the crate.

Inside, packets of powder glimmered beneath the dim light. Lopez stuffed them into torn laundry bags, replacing them with rocks and shredded rags.

Kieran’s hands shook as he taped the bags shut. “If we’re caught”

“We won’t be,” Richard whispered. “Now move.”

Minutes later, the crates were sealed, the drugs hidden under a broken vent Richard had noticed weeks earlier. The operation was silent, clean. Efficient.

But as Richard wiped sweat from his brow, he caught Malik’s wide-eyed stare. “What is it?” Richard asked.

“Someone’s coming.”

The door creaked open. Stone stepped in, his gaze sweeping the room. For a tense moment, silence held. Then he smirked. “You’ve got bigger balls than I thought, Williams.”

Richard straightened, unflinching. “You going to stop us?”

Stone’s grin widened. “No. Just wanted to see if you’d actually do it. You’re playing a dangerous game. Don’t forget, danger cuts both ways.”

And with that, he walked out, leaving the tension thicker than steam. The next morning, chaos erupted.

Serpent’s enforcer stormed into the yard, fury etched into every scar. He threw a broken crate across the ground, powder spilling out like snow. “Somebody’s stealing from us!” he bellowed.

Eyes snapped toward Richard’s corner. Whispers surged like wildfire. Serpent himself stepped forward, calm but deadly. His gaze swept the yard, then landed on Richard.

“You’ve been busy, billionaire,” Serpent said softly.

Richard didn’t blink. “I told you before. If you want me dead, do it yourself.”

Serpent’s lips curved in a chilling smile. “Patience, Williams. You’ll get your moment.”

The enforcer snarled, but Serpent raised a hand, silencing him. His eyes never left Richard. “Court day’s coming. You’ll walk out of here with chains on your wrists, and I’ll be waiting. Inside or outside, doesn’t matter. The storm is coming.”

Richard’s jaw tightened. He leaned forward, voice cutting the air. “Then you’d better pray your storm is strong enough. Because when I walk free, Serpent… I’ll bring fire.”

The yard fell silent. Every man felt it, the war had begun.