Yes, I'm having the author's note up here for once. Why? Because this chapter is VERY important so I want your every thought on it. Don't hold back. A lot of things you may have suspected, and a lot you may have guessed. So if you were a silent reader, this is the best time to not be a silent reader anymore 😅

Why is this chapter important? Because it's the most information you will receive about the past until everything is explained in the last book. So enjoy.

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Saint Agnes Academy was only a skeleton of its former self. Many of the bricks have fallen in, leaving odd ones hanging like the decaying teeth of a giant, ancient monster.

As Maxi stepped into the taped off building, she couldn't help the dread sipping down her spine like the constant drip of an IV. The only lighting came through the fallen-in roof and the main hall of what once were the dorms was filled with scaffolds, but she could still visualize the way it looked twenty-five years ago when she'd stepped in for her senior year.

So long. It has been so long...

And yet, the past had never truly left her. Not since she met him and everything came crashing down.

A different image ruined the one of her last academic year. A large crowd right outside the huge doors, chanting, demanding change. That the Academy no longer accept people throwing fat checks at the faculty over the ones truly intellectually gifted. People like Nicholas Harkin.

And using the crowd, Snitch Gravel had made his grandest and final move. It had started with only a few well-placed people turning violent, shoving and swearing. It was amazing how so little managed to lead to a general riot, a stampede, looting, and finally and explosions that had rocked the school and left it the ruin it was today.

Maxi shut her eyes, trying to drive the images back, the feeling of agoraphobia as people pushed her from every side. The despair drowning her as she was almost trampled to death. Her and her unborn child. Kyle had been a magnet for danger even before he was born.

She bit her lip hard and forced herself back into the present. The scared little girl alone in the crowd was long gone.

After all the spilled blood and the damage, no one wanted to associate with the school anymore. No one would trust the faculty to keep their children safe.

And no one knew what happened to Snitch Gravel after that. Except for her.

His vengeful shadow followed her out, kidnapped her children and continued to make her life hell long after school was over. Long after she thought he was finally gone. As it turned out, he never left. And maybe within these walls was the perfect place to end him.

Maxi tightened her grip on the handle of the pistol she'd placed in the pocket of her trench coat. The chilly wind only intensified the freezing sensation brought by too many memories.

You can do this.

She should've done it a long time ago instead of hiding behind Freider, burying her past and hoping it would go away. It hadn't and it was time to own up and finish it. That is, if he even showed. What if he just wanted to kill her, make it look like an accident? It wasn't hard in this godforsaken place. All it took was for a brick or one of the scaffolds to fall at the right time.

The fear sent bile to her mouth and her fingers twitched. Had she fallen into a trap?

"Huh. Didn't think you'd actually show."

She jumped at the too familiar voice. A voice she hadn't heard in so many years, she'd almost forgotten how it sounded. Almost.

"I'm no coward." She glared in his direction and he finally bothered to come out into the open.

Fear and confusion battled inside her and she couldn't help but take a step back. She'd completely forgotten how tall he was, how broad. Except for the neatly trimmed beard, there was very little that had changed about him. Maybe his skin was a little more tanned, weather-worn... Maybe he was just a little more filled in, because, after all, he'd been nineteen the last time she'd seen him. Everything about the boy had gone, leaving behind the ruthless man.

But the eyes... The dark blue eyes filled with mild curiosity were the same.

Snitch Gravel was really there, wearing a black suit and scarlet shirt and tie. She knew she should try to gauge if he was armed, but she just couldn't look away from his face, drinking in every micro-emotion. There was nothing there. He'd always been a master at hiding his true feelings until he let them out in a hurricane of emotion. Now was no different.

He huffed. "Yes, sure, tell yourself that. You were always great at lying to yourself. Now, what do you want?"

The sound of his voice made her stomach churn, but the disdain in it broke her paralysis. "What do I want? I thought you were intelligent. I want you to stop hunting my children. I want you to leave us all alone!"

Her affirmation only drew a grin out of him. A cruel one filled with the glee of a monster who noticed weakness in his prey.

"Do tell now. Really?"

"Don't patronize me!"

"I don't owe you any favors. And you're wasting my time."

Maxi dug her hands deeper into her pockets and grabbed the handle of the gun. She'd make him take her seriously if it was the last thing she did. "You listen to me and listen well. Stop this. Everything that you're doing."

"Or what? Wait, I have a better one. Why?"

"Why?"

"Yes, why. I know it's an old building, but that doesn't mean there needs to be an echo in here." He now sounded impatient as he took an extra step towards her. "It's a legitimate question since I pretty much made your boys the men they are today. Or what? Would you rather you and Freider take care of their education? Because you were so damn good at preparing them."

"If it weren't for you, they wouldn't have a reason to be prepared, you psychopath!"

He only grinned some more, his eyes twinkling with amusement. As much as he claimed that she was wasting his time, the bastard was enjoying it.

"You're getting a bit ahead of yourself there, darling. Once again making up a perfect life inside your head. It doesn't exist. It never did. Your choices made sure they needed to be prepared. And what did you and Freider do? Impose a bunch of stupid rules which had no real purpose and kept them in the dark. Even now, do they know?"

Maxi swallowed heavily, but she couldn't answer that question.

"Of course not," he continued, obviously not needing an answer. "Because that would mean admitting what you did. That you and Freider are a bunch of miserable backstabbers, people they were born to hate. It would mean telling the truth about yourself."

"Stop it," she said, but her words were so weak, they came out more like a whisper.

"You have always been a bunch of selfish bastards, choosing to hide your own flaws rather than prepare your children for what you knew was coming. Because this isn't even only about me, not even half of it is. You've done nothing to get them ready for--"

He stopped an narrowed his eyes. Without realizing it, she'd taken a step closer, eager to finally hear what her children were part of, what ensured they were always armed and ready. But he didn't continue.

"You don't know," he said instead. And then he started laughing.

She jumped back, her heart thumping, the sound so familiar and yet so disturbing.

"They never told you," he said between rounds of laughter. "They shut you out. I can't believe we're here, but I can safely say that I know a lot more about your boys than you do. Oh, you're such a failure."

"Stop it!" This time the words were strong, even if they carried a hint of despair. "You have absolutely no right to criticize my parenting. What do you even know about raising kids anyway?"

"Nothing. And that makes it even sadder for you." He stopped laughing, but the amused grin was still on his face. "You chose to coddle them, and then send them out to meet me as if it were so hard to anticipate I'd be back. I even gave Freider a written warning. You just shoved me in the back of the closet like some old coat. Instead, I made them men. Every attack is a chance for them to prove their skills, to upgrade their ingenuity..."

"To kill them! They have nothing to do with this!"

He squinted at her and it made shivers go down her spine. "Not with this." He waved his hand around the building. "And not at first. But now it's all about me and them. It's you and Freider who are obsolete. Do you think I don't know what he's doing? He's trying to overthrow me. Should've picked smarter men."

She didn't know what Freider was doing and right then she didn't care. Her heart ached with the truth of his words and all she wanted was for this to be over.

"We started this, and we're going to end it. Leave my kids alone."

He cocked an eyebrow. "Or what?"

With careful moves to make sure she didn't drop it, she took the gun out and pointed it at him. "Or I'll make you."

He just scoffed. "Oh, please, if you think for one moment that I feel threatened by--"

The shot she fired echoed through the hollow building. The recoil had her shoulder snapping back, but she held her ground. Bits of brick and plaster rained over them, particles of dust dancing in the light. The warning shot should be enough to let him know she was serious and the look on his face would prove it.

But once the dust settled, he was no longer there. Maxi's heart rammed against her rib cage as she realized he was right next to her. Before she could make a move, he rammed her shoulder back until she hit the nearest wall, his other hand disarming her with ease.

He stopped with his face mere inches from hers, rage burning in his eyes. It only made her pulse quicker, her vision hazy and her breathing labored.

"Don't play with weapons you can't control," he said between his teeth. "And don't ever shoot at someone unless you mean to kill them."

"It was a warning shot," she spat out.

"You don't use warning shots on me, darling. I find them displeasing."

"I was trying to make a point." She struggled to break free, but his hold on her only tightened and his body came closer.

"I already know you're incompetent. You don't need to remind me that."

"Stop insulting me!"

"Or what? You'll call Freider to save you? Maybe one of your kids? They'd do a much better job."

She was sure any of them would. Tears of helplessness filled her eyes as she kept struggling against him. What had she been thinking, coming here alone, not telling anyone about it? Why did she think, in that tangled up mind of hers, that she'd convince him to give up his revenge, that she could reach him? There was nothing there, just a huge void pulling her in.

She gave up on the struggle and just let the tears flow. It wasn't like she could escape anyway.

"Really? That's it? I think I got too used to your kids' girlfriends. Even Christine had more spunk in her."

The name got to Maxi and she pulled her wrist free. "Don't talk to me about that bitch!"

He narrowed his eyes at her. "Now there's some interesting drama I had no hand in. But it apparently shook you up."

Shook her up? "It destroyed everything! Not just Sam. Everything fell apart, and no one wants to talk to me about it! It's like I'm nothing but a wall or a cook or some pet too dumb to understand."

Snitch Gravel didn't say anything, just kept studying her. Maybe she'd managed to surprise him with her outburst, but it was the first time in years she felt like someone was actually focusing on her, even if in a negative way.

"It's torture, you know. Seeing them falling apart and knowing there's nothing I can do about it. Knowing I have a hand in this, but I couldn't help it."

"What are you talking about?"

Her tears were back, but this time it was nothing but heartache fueling them. "I feel so alone. Ever since you came back, started hunting down my kids... You pulled them away from me."

"No. You and Freider pushed them away." And as if to make a point, he pulled away from her. "Being overbearing one minute and trying to act like the cool parents the next. They slipped away right under your noses until Paris. And even then, it took you an embarrassingly long time to figure it out. So it was your inability to own up to your mistakes that did it."

"It was twenty-five years ago!" She couldn't focus as her head started throbbing. "No one to talk to. Always hiding, always alone. And you..."

"What about me?"

His voice sounded weary and once she managed to focus on his face, all the malice was gone leaving behind bitterness and confusion.

"You were gone."

"I was never gone."

"Not Snitch Gravel. You."

Her words silenced him and he looked away from her. "There is no other me. It's just Snitch Gravel."

"That can't be true. If it were, you would've long killed my kids. Killed Freider. Killed me." The last words came out trembling because he almost had, just a few hours ago.

"It's not that simple."

"Of course it's not, especially when you're not a murderer."

He let out a bitter laugh. "You have no idea what I'm capable of. How much has changed."

"Please leave us alone."

"Don't beg."

"I will. Down on my knees if I have to, just so you'd promise me you'll leave them alone. They deserve normal lives, to be happy. They shouldn't pay for my mistakes. For Freider's."

"No, that's not how this works."

Maxi dropped to her knees, her eyes swimming with tears. It was degrading, but she'd had enough pain, enough fear and enough insecurity to last her a lifetime.

"Then kill me instead and be done with it."

"Get up." He walked to her, the disgust obvious on his face, and yanked her up by her elbow. "This isn't about killing you."

"Then what is it about?"

"Torture. I'm torturing you, just like you and Freider tortured me."

"I'm sorry--"

"Shut up!" He shook her for good measure. "I don't need your pitiful apologies and it won't change anything except maybe you get to humiliate yourself some more."

"And isn't that what you want?"

He hesitated, obviously caught off guard and she plunged on. Maybe it was crazy but she was so sick of this, she just wanted it to be over.

"Come one, make up your mind. What do you really want? No humiliation? No killing me? What made you change your mind since you were so close just two hours ago?"

He frowned. "What are you talking about?"

A hysterical laugh escaped her lips. "Your little stunt to blow up my house just so you could leave me the message to meet you here."

His grip on her tightened. "That wasn't me. And I got a note from you asking me to meet you here."

All traces of laughter died and Maxi steadied herself on her feet. Snitch Gravel kept a hold of her arm, taking in their surroundings. She took on step closer to him, their bodies almost touching, but she was suddenly scared.

"It's a trap," he growled.

His words were met with slow clapping coming from somewhere above. Maxi looked up only to see Freider leaning on the makeshift banister of a scaffold two stories up. The grin on his face had something savage in it. Snitch Gravel looked up too and pushed her behind him.

"Bravo," Freider said, ending his clap. "Took you long enough. Though I must say I was rather enjoying your conversation." He shook his head in mock pity. "Falling on your knees like that, honey? Though I'm pretty sure you're used to kneeling in front of him."

All the strength that had left her during her desperate conversation with Snitch Gravel resurfaced and she gritted her teeth.

"What do you think you're doing, Freider?"

"It's pathetic, really," he continued, ignoring her, "how fast you both came running when you thought the other called."

"Don't flatter yourself for pulling off some brilliant scheme," Snitch Gravel said. "I would've come if you called as well. Was getting bored and needed a bit of fun."

"Did you now?" Freider took out a pistol and pointed it at him. "Drop your gun."

"What makes you think I'm even armed?"

"I know you're not an idiot."

To Maxi's shock, Snitch Gravel shrugged and pulled a pistol out from the holster under his suit jacket.

"What do you want, Freider?" he asked, sounding bored.

Freider didn't answer, just made his way down an improvised ladder, all the while pointing his gun at both of them. Maxi couldn't believe her own husband was threatening her with a gun. They were supposed to be a team against Snitch Gravel.

"I want to enjoy this." Freider reached the ground floor and collected the two pistols lying on the ground. "Your conversation was so heartfelt."

Even if every possible red flag was going up, Maxi decided to trust her husband, the father of her children, so she stepped next to him, facing Snitch Gravel. Maybe it was for the better. Maybe they'd finally get their peace.

Snitch Gravel's eyes followed her as she once again chose her side, and he didn't seem surprised. The realization hurt for some unfathomable reason, but she stood her ground. This was a choice she'd made twenty-five years ago.

"It's never going to end, is it?" Snitch Gravel said, sounding tired for once. "The rivalry, the hatred, the madness. Not even now. Not even after so many years."

"End?" Freider let out a laugh. "How is it supposed to end when I'm just getting started. When you still act like stupid, love-struck teenagers. I'm a little disappointed you didn't get to the part where we're divorcing. I would've loved to see your raw reaction to that."

"You're divorcing?" Snitch Gravel turned to her for an answer, truly surprised for once.

"Oh, yes," Freider said.

The cold steel of the gun's barrel dug into her back and the blood froze in her veins. With a nudge, her husband pushed her towards the man who was supposed to be their mutual enemy.

"She's citing irreconcilable differences. I'm going more along the lines of unfaithful, backstabbing whore."

Maxi whipped around to face him, the panic inside her molding into rage. "I never cheated on you, Freider. And I never betrayed you."

"Really now? Then what's this?"

"She was begging me not to kill your kids, you paranoid asshole," Snitch Gravel said, once again sounding bored. "Didn't you say you were listening?"

"And while we're at it, how's about this for real reasons to divorce? Domestic violence, marital rape, abandonment," Maxi spat out, every word coated in the venom she'd been gathering inside her heart for so long.

There was a long pause after her words, as if both men waited for them to change their meaning in midair. They didn't and Maxi suddenly regretted letting them out. They didn't fix anything, only fueled the flames of hatred that had poisoned her entire life.

Then Snitch Gravel suddenly shot forward. Freider raised his gun, but didn't get to pull the trigger before Snitch Gravel's fist sunk into his stomach. With a wheeze, Freider stumbled backward and fell over a pile of bricks. Snitch Gravel charged after him.

"No, stop!" Maxi charged after them, though she had no plan and had no idea who she wanted to win.

Another gunshot echoed through the building and Snitch Gravel pulled back, sucking air through his teeth, his hand pressed over his shoulder.

"You always were a terrible shot," he mumbled.

"Step back!" Freider limped towards them, the gun safely back in his hands. "Thank you for confirming my suspicions. I guess now I know how this should end." He changed his aim from him to Maxi. "With you. You started it, so it's only fair that you should take the burnt."

"She started it?" Snitch Gravel let out a humorless laugh. "Oh no. It's been about you and me long before we even met her."

Freider's eyes narrowed as he seemed to ponder on the issue. "You know what? You're right. She's nothing but a pawn in our game. Just like my kids. It's always been about you and me. And for once, I came on top."

Snitch Gravel grinned. "You self centered bastard. Life is beautiful when it isn't all about you."

"What would you know about that?" Freider spat. "I made something of myself. I have a family, children, someone to carry on my legacy!"

"So it must hurt like a bitch that they're carrying on mine."

Freider snarled, the hatred in his eyes chilling, bringing Maxi to a time and place she never wanted to return. To the beginning of their marriage when she thought it would be over before it even started. Snitch Gravel was right. Her denial was so strong, she failed to see Freider had never changed.

It only proved her right when he stepped closer to her, gun still pointed. "I have a feeling splattering her brains in this godforsaken place will make you sing a different tune."

Snitch Gravel scoffed. "Please. What makes you think I give a damn about her?"

Freider grinned, looking like a cat who had caught its mouse. "Even you're not that good of an actor. At least not when you're alone with her."

But he was a good actor. Without a muscle moving on his impassive face, he turned, picked up a fallen brick and threw it straight at Freider's head.

"Run!" he called.

Maxi didn't need to be told twice. Taking advantage that Freider was momentarily distracted dodging bricks, she charged up the nearest scaffold. Heading for the door would've just given her husband the chance to shoot her retreating back. She couldn't believe it had come to this. As she climbed, her ears strained to pick up on what was going on. There were sounds of a struggle, but no gunshots.

Her muscles ached and her heart ran a marathon as she moved from one scaffold to the next, reaching a third story level. She hurried along it, chancing a glance below. Both Snitch Gravel and Freider were gone. She stopped and focused on the floor, the other scaffolds, anything to give her a clue what had happened.

Someone grabbed her arm and she jumped a mile. Freider had caught up with her, the gun still in his hand, madness in his eyes. And yet, he didn't scare her.

"Are you going to really shoot your wife?" she asked. "I've been by your side for twenty-five years."

"Shut up," he snarled. "You were never really there. And I'm not going to shoot you. Not when he's not watching."

"So all this is for show? Freider, this is ridiculous."

"I agree. My entire life is ridiculous. Because of you and because of him." He tightened his hold on her and looked around. "Where are you, you coward?"

"That's a bit rich coming from you."

Snitch Gravel stood on the platform above them, resting his forearms on the banister. He didn't seem impressed, even as blood flowed down his sleeve, from his right shoulder.

Freider lifted his gun. Maxi rammed her shoulder into his chest, throwing him off balance. There was no way in hell she was letting him get away with this. The entire scaffold shook.

"At least fight fair," she said between her teeth.

Freider chose to shove her into the wall instead. Her shoulder cracked on impact and the scaffold shook and swayed, but she wasn't sure it wasn't just her mind reeling.

"Freider, stop moving!" Snitch Gravel said.

"Really now?" He glanced up at his enemy and kicked Maxi in the stomach.

The impact knocked the air out of her and sent vomit into her mouth. Her back pressed harder against the wall and her feet fought to catch something to push against for support. The pain made it hard to focus. Something creaked loudly and her head swam. She was getting seasick, there was no other explanation why everything swayed.

Then her body just fell. Her eyes shot opened and her hands opened and closed desperately until she found a piece of wood. It stopped her fall, but it was only temporary. The scaffold had pushed off the wall, leaving her and Freider clutching precariously on an edge, while the structure inched towards the ground. The only reason it was still vertical was the opposite scaffold which was now shaking under their combined weight.

Snitch Gravel hovered a foot above them on a different platform, cold calculation on his face, his gaze moving from her to Freider beside her. And just like that, he reached out and grabbed her hand.

Desperate, she wrapped both hands around his forearm and pulled herself as high as possible. The moment her weight left the scaffold, the structure crumbled and fell, taking Freider along with it.