Chapter 19 — Bullet Dodged
The back of Dex's limo was dark, silent.
Leather seats. Soft jazz. The faint stench of betrayal.
I sat across from him — calm, arms stretched along the seat.
Dex leaned forward, thick fingers tapping his knee.
"You pulled off the impossible, kid."
I gave a slow smile.
"And you're about to try and kill me for it."
Dex froze — the fake smile cracking on his face.
"…Say what now?"
I leaned in — voice flat, cold.
"Don't play stupid. You were gonna sell me out to Arasaka… plug a bullet in my head first chance you got."
Dex blinked — sweat beading at his brow.
"Who… who told you that?"
I smirked.
"Let's just say I've seen this scene before."
---
[System Notice: Fatebreaker Active — Betrayal Path Nullified]
---
Dex reached for something — maybe a gun, maybe a comm.
I was faster.
I drew — clean, precise.
The muzzle pressed against his forehead.
His eyes went wide.
"Whoa, whoa… chill, choom—"
I leaned closer — voice a low growl.
"I'm done playing nice.
Here's how this goes…
You walk away from this,
You leave Night City for good,
And you never so much as think about crossing me again."
Dex swallowed hard.
"…Or what?"
I cocked the gun — soft click in the quiet.
"Or I repaint your limo with your brain."
---
Silence stretched.
Finally…
Dex let out a shaky breath.
"Damn… you serious."
I smiled.
"Dead serious."
---
[System Notice: Dominance Check Passed — Dex Fears You]
---
Dex nodded slowly — hands raised.
"A'ight… I'm out. You got it.
No beef.
You're off my list, Alaric."
I pulled back — sliding the gun away with a casual flick.
"Smart move."
---
He dropped me off at the Afterlife — tail between his legs.
No bullet.
No betrayal.
No relic flatline.
Just a fixer who finally realized who was holding the cards.
---
As I stepped out, my system pinged again.
---
[System Notice: Betrayal Event Neutralized — Timeline Control Achieved]
[New Reputation Gained — Street King: +50 Respect Among Fixers]
---
I lit a smoke — watching the city burn neon around me.
This was my game now.
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Romance & Loyalty Recap After Chapter 19:
Evelyn Parker — Interest: +195 — Bonded
Judy Alvarez — Interest: +60 — Tease Pending
Jackie Welles — Loyalty: +70 — Ride or Die
Dexter DeShawn — Feared — Betrayal Avoided