But on a Septemer morning, the peace of Riverstone was shattered by the arrival of the Shadow Vipers, a motorcycle gang led by the hulking and scarred Marcus Havoc Reynolds. Havoc’s gang had systematically begun pressuring local businesses for protection money, focusing particularly on veteran-owned establishments.

As Peggy and Max made their weekly trip to Mike’s gas and go to buy her comic book, they found themselves surrounded by the Shadow Vipers. Havoc, recognizing Max’s military training, confronted Peggy, gripping her small arm with bruising force. But Peggy didn’t scream or struggle. Instead, she made a subtle gesture with her free hand—three fingers extended, then curled inward—a signal she and Max had practiced for situations of extreme danger.

Max’s reaction was immediate and terrifying. The German Shepherd didn’t lunge or attack; instead, he went completely still, his eyes locked on Havoc with a predatory focus that seemed impossible for an animal. Havoc’s bravado faltered, and Peggy reached for her phone, calling for help from her father, Colonel Jack “Iron Jack” Morrison, and the veterans guard, a motorcycle club comprised entirely of combat veterans.

Iron Jack and the veterans guard arrived with military precision, their motorcycles forming a perfect perimeter around the gas station. Havoc, outnumbered and outmaneuvered, retreated with his gang, but not before promising that this wasn’t over.

As the confrontation escalated, it became clear that Havoc had a personal vendetta against Iron Jack and the veterans. His younger brother, Samuel, had returned from war paralyzed from the waist down, and Havoc blamed the military for his brother’s condition. This vendetta made the conflict personal, and the Shadow Vipers began targeting Peggy and Max directly.