Chapter one hundred and ten
Bianca
For a second my brain refused to accept what my eyes were showing me. Standing in the doorway, hands tucked into his pockets like he owned the place, was Max.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, my voice coming out sharper than I intended, the bag I had been packing forgotten in my hands.
He smiled, that same slow smile I used to think was charming before I found out exactly what it hid. “I went to the old house,” he said, stepping further into the room without waiting for permission. “I didn’t see you there. Did you move out?”
“That’s none of your business,” I said immediately, my grip tightening around the strap of the bag. My mind was already racing, trying to figure out how he even knew I was here in the first place. “How did you even know I was here?”
“You blocked my number,” he said, ignoring my question completely, his eyes moving around the room like he was inspecting it. “When did you grow the balls to be able to do that?”
I felt my whole body go stiff, I turned quickly to look at Emma, who had gone quiet the moment Max walked in, her hands still holding the sweater she had been folding seconds ago. I tried to signal her with my eyes, a small tilt of my head toward the door, hoping she would understand and just step outside for a moment. But she shook her head firmly, moving instead to stand a little closer to me.
“I’m not going to let you stay alone with someone like this,” she said, her voice low but steady, her eyes fixed on Max the entire time. “He looks dangerous.”
Max’s head turned toward her slowly, like he was only just noticing she existed. “Who is this brat?” he asked, already taking a step in her direction.
“Leave my sister alone, Max, and face me,” I said loudly, stepping slightly in front of Emma without even thinking about it.
“Oh, your sister?” he said, stopping mid step, his eyebrows raising like he had just found something missing. “The same sick one that made you almost lose your life because you were trying to save her? Wow, nice meeting you, brat.” He turned fully to face her, standing right in front of her now, close enough that I could see her flinch slightly. “But next time you should know how to keep quiet when adults are talking, and…”
“Shut up, Max, and get out of here before I call security on you,” I said, my voice shaking a little now, more from anger than fear.
He laughed, an ugly short laugh that made annoyed. “You know the last time, one man saved you. But now?” He glanced around the room slowly, “You are alone and you must listen to me first, without a choice.” He turned his eyes back to Emma, “or I punch your sister in one of her still healing areas. You know I know every detail of it, remember?” he added, tapping the side of his head like it was some kind of joke.
“You are not going to do anything like that, Max,” I said, trying to keep my voice firm even though everything in me was shaking.
“Raising your voice?” he said, tilting his head, clearly enjoying this. “You are in a private area, remember? The wards are soundproof unless someone comes in. So you can shout all you want and let me know when you are ready to listen to me.”

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