From Bullets To Billions novel Chapter 59

Chapter 59: The Day Max Died

It didn’t take long for Aron to notice Max as he approached, and not just notice him, but notice the bruises swelling across Max’s face.

Part of his cheek was puffed up badly from the number of hits he’d taken, and even now, Max wasn’t walking properly, limping slightly from the blows to the back of his leg and other places.

"Young Master, are you okay?!" Aron called out, rushing toward him.

Max kept his head low, his body swaying slightly where he stood.

"Do you always ask such obvious questions?" Max replied, his voice dry and flat. "You can see what state I’m in."

Thankfully, he’d changed shirts at the small clinic, otherwise, Aron might’ve completely lost it at the sight of all the blood.

"I got your message, but you didn’t send anything back. I searched everywhere for you," Aron said, speaking fast. "I had the whole security team combing the school, but they couldn’t find a single trace of you!"

Aron looked genuinely frantic as he continued, "While they were looking, I decided to head back to the apartment, hoping maybe you would return. I called you, constantly, but there was no answer at all.

"Young Master... I have no idea what happened. Do we need to go to the hospital? Do you need treatment? Please, just tell me what I can do."

Max let Aron spill out all his worries without interrupting, quietly listening, trying to pick apart his voice, searching for anything, anything at all, that would hint if this worry was real or just a well-rehearsed act.

Was it genuine? Was this just part of the job? Or worse, another setup?

But no matter how hard Max tried, he couldn’t tell. Aron sounded real. It felt real.

Then again... so had the people in the White Tiger Gang once upon a time.

There was always a chance Aron could be just like them.

"How long have you been standing outside?" Max asked, his voice low.

Aron pulled out his phone to check.

"Three hours and forty-three minutes," he replied without hesitation.

Max turned toward the apartment, saying just a few simple words.

"Then come in and sit down. If you really mean what you’re saying... I’m going to need you to answer some questions. And I expect you to answer them honestly."

Aron gave a small nod and followed closely behind. Together, they climbed the worn metal staircase leading up to Max’s apartment on the second floor.

That’s when Aron noticed it, the faint smear of blood on the back of Max’s once-white shirt.

It must’ve happened when Max was testing just how bad his shoulder injury really was.

As they continued to climb the stairs, Max caught the faint sound of Aron grinding his teeth.

Once inside the apartment, Max made a slow, heavy move toward the bed. Aron rushed to help, but Max stiffened and shoved him away with a weak hand, making it clear, don’t touch me.