From Bullets To Billions novel Chapter 286

Chapter 286: Learning the Truth (Part 1)

Wolf didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he turned his head away from Max, his gaze falling to the side. It wasn’t the type of reaction Max had expected. Still, it wasn’t exactly telling either. If anything, it made Max think that maybe Wolf was just embarrassed, ashamed, even, about the condition he was in.

After all, a person like Wolf, the leader of the Pit, a man who had built his name and reputation through blood and fists, ending up in such a beaten and bruised state... it had to mean he’d run into someone seriously strong. Someone who could even push him to his limit.

"You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to," Max said, his voice calm as he leaned back and settled deeper into his hospital bed. "But you did a lot to help me out, and you took on more damage than you ever should have. If it was because of me... then I owe you. I should compensate you fairly."

"It’s not that..." Wolf replied quietly, his voice tense as he clenched his hand into a fist.

Then, slowly, his eyes rose, not toward Max, but toward Aron. Something about the look he gave him felt loaded. Max noticed it too. The way Wolf hesitated, the way he seemed uncertain, it wasn’t like him at all. Max had known Wolf long enough to understand that this wasn’t just physical pain talking.

No. This was something else.

And in that moment, it all clicked for Max. Based on the way Wolf was acting, and more importantly, the way he kept avoiding the truth... it was obvious now. Aron hadn’t told him. Not everything. Even after everything Max had been through, Aron had chosen to keep something hidden.

And that’s when he saw it. Aron gave Wolf a slight nod. It was small, but clear, a silent signal. Permission.

Wolf took a breath and finally turned back toward Max.

"Max..." Wolf started, his voice rough around the edges. "There’s something I wanted to tell you. I’ve been holding it in, but it needs to come from me. I needed to say it face to face."

Max narrowed his eyes, listening intently as the tension in the room seemed to wrap around them like a tightening rope.

"It’s about these wounds," Wolf continued. "How I got them. I really tried, Max. I gave it everything I had. I fought like hell."

There was a tremble in his voice now, not from fear, but from frustration. Regret. His teeth were clenched so tight that the muscle along his jawline was bulging. The pain in his eyes ran deeper than just a physical injury. Something about him looked broken.

"The Rejected Corps," he finally blurted out, spitting the name like it left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Max’s thoughts raced.

I should’ve figured.

The Rejected Corps... they’d been a thorn in his side for a long time. Ever since everything had started falling apart. With Dud still alive and out there, it made sense that they’d be active again. But to think they had actually gone after Wolf?

It had to be Na, Max thought. He’s the only one who could’ve done something like this to him. But the fact that Wolf is still here, still breathing, means something. It means he survived him.

"They kept reaching out," Wolf explained, his voice low but steady. "The Rejected Corps. They couldn’t get in touch with you, so they kept trying to contact me instead. Said they needed to talk to you. It felt like déjà vu, the same thing as last time, like history repeating itself."

Max remained quiet, letting him speak.

"They said they wanted to resolve things with the Chalkline boys," Wolf continued, his words coming out a little faster now. "They wanted to make sure you were involved, to ensure you were part of it. And more importantly... that this time, you would actually pick up when they called."

Max felt the pressure behind his eyes building. This wasn’t just about some old score. This was a message.

"But you were in the hospital," Wolf said. "That’s why they contacted me. I was planning to ignore them... like I did every other time. But..."

Wolf’s voice dropped to a whisper.

"There was just one issue."

Before Wolf could get another word out, it was Aron who stepped forward.

Without hesitation, he lowered his head in a deep bow, ninety degrees, right beside Max’s bed. His shoulders were stiff, his eyes hidden by the fringe of his hair, but there was no mistaking the shame in his voice.

"I’m sorry, Max," Aron said, his voice trembling. "Everything that happened... it was my misstep. All of it. It’s my fault."

Max’s eyes narrowed, and his body instinctively tensed. There was something about the way Aron said those words, like he was trying to prepare him for something worse. Much worse.

"Alright," Max said slowly. "Can you guys just... say what happened? You’re starting to seriously worry me here."

This isn’t right. This can’t be happening.

How did they even get to Abby?

Why would the Rejected Corps target her of all people?

Chad knew about the old Max’s weakness, Abby, but how had the rest of them found out?

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify