Chapter 5

Max

Seth.

That man was getting under his skin.

Max wasn't sure which part irritated him more: the fact that Seth thought he was foolish enough to fall for his performance… or the fact that Paige had played along so convincingly.

Stupid father and daughter!

Three more days and everything would end.

He lifted the glass and took another sip. The alcohol burned down his throat and a cough escaped him.

Some of the scotch spilled over the edge of the glass and landed on the back of his hand, directly over an old scar.

His eyes lowered. He stared, for a moment.

Then absentmindedly, he wiped the liquid away with his thumb, once, and again.

Then, his hand slowed until the wiping turned into tracing, and finally into caressing.

His expression softened and his thoughts darkened…

Then, there was light…

**

Bright sunlight reflected across the crystal-blue water.

"Three! Two! One!” Pearl screamed, "Go!"

Both of them dove into the swimming pool at the same time.

Water exploded around them.

Max pushed himself forward, cutting through the water with strong strokes while Pearl kicked furiously beside him.

He could hear the muffled sounds of splashing and movement beneath the water.

They reached one end, flipped, and shot back.

Pearl pushed harder.

Max glanced toward her underwater. Then a tiny smile tugged at his lips.

He deliberately slowed.

Seconds later, Pearl slapped her hand against the pool wall and burst from the water with a squeal.

"Whoooooo! I won!"

Max surfaced beside her, pushing wet hair from his face.

"I won Max!"

Her smile was huge, completely victorious and happy.

And Max found himself smiling too. He liked seeing her happy.

"Congratulations," he said seriously.

Pearl narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "For what?"

Max leaned back against the pool edge, "You've officially qualified for the Olympics."

Pearl stared, then burst into laughter, "I wish."

They both moved toward the edge and sat there, dipping their legs into the cool water. Droplets slid down their faces and shoulders.

Pearl swung her feet lazily beneath the surface.

"I've been practicing for the school competition," she admitted, "I want to win."

Max looked at her, "I can train you."

Pearl turned so quickly water splashed, "You can?"

"I'm the best swimmer in my school."

Her eyes widened, "No way."

Max lifted an eyebrow, "You don't believe me?"

She laughed, "I do."

Then she rested back on her hands.

"Just let me catch my breath first," she grinned, "And then we'll go again."

Two guards stood around the perimeter of the garden, watching silently from a distance.

Everything felt peaceful and safe.

Pearl stared down into the water and giggled at the ripples their feet were making.

Then suddenly she frowned when her eyes moved toward his hand resting against the pool edge.

"Max?"

He looked at her.

"What happened there?"

He followed her gaze to the scar on his hand.

"Oh," he shrugged, "I was messing with my father's gun..."

Pearl's jaw dropped, "He lets you touch his gun?!"

Max immediately grinned, "No."

Her eyes narrowed.

"It wasn't loaded," Max said defensively, “And he didn’t know what I was doing at that moment.”

Pearl stared.

"I didn't know what kind it was," he looked down at the scar, "So when I pulled the trigger, something snapped back and cut me."

Pearl winced, "Ouch."

"It was deep too."

She looked horrified, "Really?"

Max nodded, "Bled a lot."

"What did your dad do?"

His expression softened immediately, "He wasn't angry."

Pearl blinked, "He wasn't?"

Max shook his head.

"He cleaned it up," then he smiled faintly, "And explained how the gun worked."

Pearl looked thoughtful, "Your father is kind."

Without thinking, she reached over and lightly touched the scar, "Does it still hurt?"

Max looked down at her fingers, then at her, "No."

Pearl suddenly smiled, "I have one too."

Max's eyes widened. "You do?"

She nodded, "On my scalp."

His eyebrows lifted, "From a gun too?"

"Not exactly," she brushed wet hair over one shoulder, "There was an accident, a gun accident," her expression dimmed slightly, "A piece of broken glass cut me."

Max stared, "It was really bad?"

Pearl nodded, "I was taken to the hospital for suture."

Then she grinned suddenly, "But I didn't lose my brain."

Max laughed, "You barely use it anyway."

Pearl gasped dramatically, "Rude boy."

He laughed harder. Pearl smiled too.

"Can I see it?" He asked, just curious.

Pearl hesitated, then leaned closer.

She moved her hair aside and pointed, "Here."

Max leaned in, and froze.

The scar looked strangely like his: a curved line.

"Crazy," he whispered.

Pearl looked at him, "What?"

Max glanced between her scar and his hand, "They look alike."

Pearl blinked, and looked down at his hand, "Oh."

Slowly, she smiled, "We match."

For some reason, something twisted inside his chest, warm and strange.

Without thinking, he lifted his fingers and gently brushed the scar.

Pearl didn't move away.

Then suddenly, voices erupted somewhere nearby. The two guards instantly became alert. The peaceful atmosphere vanished.

Then, they heard gunshots and flinched.

The two guards ran towards them immediately.

“We gotta move now, princess,” one of them said, already helping her to her feet. No time to reach for the towel.

Voices echoed, doors opened, men moved around them.

Max followed close behind them, looking around for his father.

Then, inside the mansion, he heard voice shouting order to some men.

Max turned. And so did Pearl.

Pearl understood that Max’s father was her father’s most trusted lieutenant. So she was comfortable enough to ask him, “Ned, where is my dad?”

“He will be here soon,” he replied, “Come on, you gotta get to safety.”

They hurried as more gunshots sounded.

By the time they were inside the safe room, tears were rolling down her face.

She kept whispering "Daddy..."

Max stood frozen nearby as the reinforced door locked, his father and the men returning to the fight. Fear had gripped him.

He was worried about his father...his safety…their safety…

Then, he heard Pearl’s quiet sob and looked over.

He stared for a few seconds, then ignored the fear inside him.

He walked over quietly and sat beside her.