Melissa didn't flinch as Max stepped inside, soaking wet and bleeding. The door slammed shut behind him with the kind of finality that sounded like war drums.
"You're late," she said coolly, lighting a second candle like a queen preparing for judgment.
Max scanned the room, took in the files on the floor, the revolver on the table, and the raw edge in her voice. "You broke into my past."
"I tore through your secrets," she corrected, eyes burning. "And what I found? It stinks, Max. Your family is filth. And you"
"I'm not my father," he snapped. "I'm not your enemy."
"But you're not innocent either."
She crossed the room in two steps, fire in her spine, and jabbed a finger into his chest. "You knew what they were doing to Naledi. You knew about Project I.A.R.A. You played house while your family hunted my soul like I was a damned lab rat!"
Max's jaw clenched. "I didn't know you were her. Not until the dreams started. Not until I started feeling her voice in you."
"You expect me to believe that?"
"No," he said, stepping closer. "But I'm going to prove it."
In one motion, he dropped to his knees in front of her, head bowed, hands behind his back.
Melissa's breath caught.
"Are you surrendering?" she asked, voice low.
"No," he said, eyes flashing. "I'm reminding you who I am when I'm not chained to legacy or blood money."
"Pathetic," she hissed. "And yet… still kind of hot."
A grin tugged at his lip, dangerous and slow. "You always liked bad decisions."
She bent slightly, just enough for him to feel her breath on his cheek. "Correction: I am the bad decision."
Melissa suddenly kicked the safehouse door open then bolted into the night, feet slapping through muddy puddles, heart thundering!
Max simply watched her go!
Her vision blurred.Not with tears but with the pain and a promise to totally shatter Max.
And somewhere deep in the Earth's memory, a door creaked open.
The past was not done!
Not yet.!