Page 39

Max

Iwas pacing around my apartment, nerves knotted tightly in my stomach.

Lara was on her way over, and it felt like I hadn’t seen her in months, even thought it had only been days.

I knew today would be hard, emotional, and full of truths that I wasn’t sure I was ready to reveal.

But Lara deserved them, she deserved everything.

The knocking on the door sliced through the silence making me jump slightly.

Connor gave my hand a gentle squeeze before opening it to reveal Lara, who looked remarkably brighter than the last time I had seen her.

She had a small smile on her lips at seeing Connor.

“Hey, Lara,”

Connor greeted softly, stepping back to let her inside.

She glanced between Connor and me, eyebrows raised, a flicker of surprise crossing her face.

“Hey stalker, totally didn’t expect to see you here.”

She replied, voice dripping with sarcasm.

He chuckled softly, giving her a hug and a kiss to the top of her head.

“Ah, there she is, the sarcastic asshole I’ve grown to tolerate.”

I huffed a laugh as he moved back to my side and gently wrapped an arm around my waist.

“Well, I’m sure you girls have a lot to talk about, so I’ll give you some space.”

He leaned down, placing a soft kiss against my lips.

“Call me when you’re done?”

“Of course,”

I whispered, looking up at him, warmth spreading through me.

“I love you,”

he murmured softly, brushing my hair back gently.

“I love you too,”

I replied.

The words easy, genuine, and more powerful each time we exchanged them.

Lara gasped audibly, eyes wide, her jaw dropping dramatically.

“Wait—what the actual fuck? When did that happen?”

Connor laughed, giving her an amused look.

“Yeah, you two really have a lot of catching up to do.”

With another soft smile my way, he headed out, gently closing the door behind him.

I watched him go, a soft smile lingering on my lips before I finally turned to face Lara, who was standing there with her hands on her hips, eyes sparkling with a curious blend of amusement and disbelief.

“Okay, first—WHAT?!”

She burst out, quickly crossing the space between us, gripping my shoulders dramatically.

“I leave you alone for like five seconds and suddenly you’re saying I love you to each other?”

I laughed softly, despite the tension in my chest.

“Yeah, it’s kind of...

a lot.

And it’s definitely more than a five-second story.”

“Clearly,”

Lara huffed, but her face softened into a genuine smile.

“But seriously, I’m happy for you, Max.

He’s a good one, I can tell.”

My throat tightened with emotion.

“Yeah, he really is.”

Lara released me and moved toward the sofa, plopping down and immediately curling her feet beneath her.

“I actually have some news myself,”

she said, a tentative smile growing wider.

“I decided something, after everything happened.”

My heart skipped a beat with curiosity.

“What is it?”

She inhaled deeply, eyes brightening.

“I applied for that fashion internship in Paris, and I got in.

I’m going to Paris, Max. “

“Paris?”

I gasped, eyes widening with surprise.

Excitement mingled with sudden sadness at the thought of her leaving.

“That’s incredible! But are you sure? I mean—”

“Max, I’m positive.

After everything,”

she paused, eyes briefly shadowed by pain, “I realised I couldn’t keep living how I was.

Partying, meaningless hookups, avoiding dealing with things.

I need a fresh start—somewhere far away, where I can finally become the person I want to be.”

My heart swelled with pride, despite the ache forming in my chest.

“Lara, I am so fucking proud of you.”

She grinned, genuine joy brightening her features.

“I leave in a few weeks.

I wanted you to be the first to know.

You’ve always been there, Max, even at my worst.

You have supported me through everything, I’ll never forget that.”

“You deserve this more than anyone,”

I said, reaching out to squeeze her hand tightly.

“I’m really gonna miss you, though.”

she sniffled softly, laughing through watery eyes.

“You’ll visit, right?”

I nodded, feeling my own tears threatening to spill.

“Of course.

No way you’re escaping me that easily.”

We laughed softly together, the heaviness temporarily lifting.

But as our laughter faded, I took a deep breath, gathering my courage.

Lara had shared her truth; it was time for me to share mine.

The fear clung to me heart as I prepared myself to potentially lose the most incredible friend.

Telling her my secrets could make her look at me in a way that would destroy me, but she deserved the truth.

“Lara, I have something to tell you, too.”

Her eyes flickered with concern, her grip on my hand tightening.

“Oh my god, are you pregnant?”

I barked a laugh, “Jesus Christ, fuck no! I’m not pregnant. It’s—”

I paused, inhaling shakily.

Lara looked at me, her brow furrowing.

“You can tell me anything, Max.

Nothing will change how much I love you. Ever.”

I swallowed hard, exhaling slowly as my heart began to pound painfully.

“Hmm, don’t say that just yet, you don’t know what I’m about to say.”

I huffed out a dry, humourless laugh.

“But you deserve the truth, especially after what happened to you.

I need you to know...

everything.”

She nodded silently, patiently waiting for me to continue.

I took a deep breath, praying that this confession didn’t cost me me everything.

“It started with my dad,”

I whispered, the words feeling heavy on my tongue.

“He wasn’t just the amazing father you knew—he was a serial killer, Lar.

But he was killing men who deserved it.

Men who hurt women, just like the guy who hurt you.”

Lara’s eyes widened, her breath hitching in shock.

But she didn’t interrupt, allowing me to continue.

I took another shaky breath, “When he died, I found out.

I discovered his past, what he had done.

And I was devastated, even a little horrified at first—but then something happened.

Something snapped in me, Lara.

I felt this responsibility, this...

obligation to carry on what he had started because he died for me Lar, he died chasing down my abuser.”

Her brows burrowed in confusion, “Abuser?”

I nodded, “Shane.

He was abusing me.

Hurting me, he was the reason I had a broken wrist.

I didn’t fall down the stairs like I told you.”

“Oh”, she responded, the sadness in her eyes showing through the shock.

“I started targeting the men who escaped punishment, the ones who abused and violated women without consequence.”

Her lips parted slightly, the colour draining from her face. “Max...”

“I know,”

I said, my voice barely a whisper with tears streaming down my face.

“I’m sorry, I never wanted to lie to you.

But I couldn’t risk it.

I couldn’t let anyone find out because they would look at my father differently, tarnish his memory.

He was still the man I loved, the father who gave me everything.

The man who gave up his life trying to protect me.”

Lara exhaled shakily, her eyes filling with tears, but she still squeezed my hand reassuringly “Keep going.

Tell me everything.”

Taking another deep breath, I continued, spilling every secret, every kill, every hidden truth.

I told her the reason I had hidden Shane’s abuse from her, because I felt ashamed and weak.

And then, I finally told her about Connor.

How he started as a stalker, much more dangerous than the version I had told her prior.

But that somehow, I had fallen deeply in love with him.

How he knew everything, helped me through everything.

“And the night of your birthday,”

I finished, voice trembling, “Joe—the cop—he kidnapped me.

Connor saved me, and Tony helped Connor clean it up.

I was tied down in that basement, and I thought I was going to die.

I almost lost everything, Lara.”

She moved closer, tears freely streaming down her beautiful face as she pulled me into a fierce, protective hug “Oh, Max.

I’m so fucking sorry.

God, you’ve carried all of this alone?”

“Until Connor, yes,”

I mumbled, holding her tightly, finally letting out the sob I’d been holding back for months, years even.

“There’s one more thing.

Jake, the guy who hurt you.”

She nodded, the wince at his name not going unnoticed.

“I killed him.

Connor and Tony helped me.

I took him to that basement and tortured him for what he did to you, Lara.

It was the most difficult kill I have ever done, but he’s dead.”

I looked at her, with tears streaming down my face as the memory of destroying Jake threatened to make me break again.

She blinked, shock crossing her features.

“You killed him. For me?”

“I had to.

He deserved it, but I had to do it for me to.

The guilt Lara, it was killing me.

I needed to make it up to you, but now, you know everything.

I don’t want secrets between us anymore.”

She pulled back slightly, cupping my tear-streaked face gently.

“Max, I need you to hear me.

I don’t care what you did or why you did it.

I love you.

Nothing, absolutely nothing, will ever change that.

You protected women who couldn’t protect themselves—including me.

And you have nothing to feel guilty about Max.

Wether or not you stayed, I would have left with him eventually.

It would have happened either way, it is not your fault, just like it isn’t my fault.”

Her words healed something inside of me, a wound I had carried in silence for so long I didn’t realise how badly it started to fester inside of me.

“I love you too, Lar. Always.”

She smiled softly; eyes bright despite her tears.

“What happens now?”

I sighed deeply, feeling lighter than i had in years.

“I don’t know yet.

But i think...

maybe it’s time for me to move on too.

Time to let go.”

She nodded understandingly.

“Maybe it’s time you started finally living your own life.

You’ve earned it, Max.

Your father would be so proud of you, carrying on his legacy or not.”

My heart squeezed at hearing that.

Never did I let myself possibly believe my dad would be proud of me.

But of course he would, because he would be proud of me no matter what.

I was too blinded by grief, by old wounds, to understand that.

But now I did.

“Maybe you’re right.”

For the first time in years, the future didn’t feel dark or uncertain.

It felt hopeful, bright, and finally—mine.