{Max}

Wuh-Pssh!

Ting! Ting! Ting!

Wuh-Pssh! Thwap! Wuh-Pssh!

"I'm sorry! I swear it wasn't me! Please! I have a family!

"How many times have I heard that same line over and over? Don't answer. I'll tell you. One hundred and forty times. Forty-one with you.

Ting!

Chh-Chh-Chh

"You have to believe me, Nico! I'm not the rat! I would never sell the Delacroix out!"

"Again. I hear that all the time."

"Please! I swear! I'll do anything to prove my loyalty!"

The sounds of a grown man sobbing and begging were usually something Max took satisfaction in but today he wasn't interested. The cries just seemed to annoy Max more than usual. Nico's phone in his hands kept ringing from Mikhail constantly texting his number. It wasn't helping that Sera was filing her nails right next to Max.

Chh-Chh-Chh-

Ting!

"Can you stop that?" He asked glaring at Sera.

Sera stopped momentarily and rose her eyebrows curiously at Max, "What crawled up your ass and died this morning? You're in a worse mood than usual."

"None of your business." He answered back rudely. He didn't think that she needed to know what was irritating him. He hardly trusted her to be alone with Nico. He wouldn't just go ahead and spill his thoughts to her like a friend would. She rolled her eyes and went back to filing her nails.

Nico was currently inside the room taking care of a recent rat that had, reportedly, been selling Delacroix information to outsiders. If Max recalled correctly, the man was a mid-forties information broker that Victor had brought into the family around three years ago. Max never talked to the guy but he doubted that he really had a family waiting for him at home. The guy had broken teeth and was already losing his hair. He also had bad breath and a beer gut growing. Max wouldn't sleep with that guy even if he offered three million dollars. No matter how badly he needed the money.

"I'm sick of your sorry ass excuses." Max heard Nico's voice on the other side.

"No! No! Don't! I'm begging you!"

Max wished he could run away before Nico pulled he trigger. Even from the other side of the door he disliked hearing the moment the bullet was shot out of the gun and into the persons skull. He hated hearing the sound of the body falling on the ground lifeless. It brought back memories he worked so hard to get rid of.

Bang! Thud!

Silence.

The sound of the door knob moving got Max and Sera off of the wall. They waited patiently as Nico stepped out and threw his gloves inside the room. Max could see blood on his gloves and inside the room on the floor. The room was dark except a single lightbulb hanging from the ceiling. He saw the dark red liquid stain the ground in the form of a large flowing puddle.

"Clean everything up and dispose of the body." Nico demanded as the workers quickly went inside with masks and latex gloves. He had a grim expression on his face. Max was aware that Nico despised killing without proper proof of their betrayal, but Victor had ordered for the broker's death immediately. Max handed Nico's phone back to him. As soon as Nico had his phone back in his hands, his face lit up. He was amazed that a simple text from Mikhail was all Nico needed to be okay.

It had been that way ever since the night he found the dead body in the alley way. Apparently Mikhail had given him his number and they've been texting and calling each other non-stop. It was both sickening and kind of nice. He appreciated that Nico had a sort of escape from his cruel reality. Nico and Mikhail both lived completely different lives. Max had half the mind to slap some sense into Nico. He wanted to tell him that his relationship with Mikhail would be a dead end for the both of them but he had no right. If his best friend was happy with Mikhail then he wouldn't interfere much.

"He wouldn't admit?" Sera asked curiously. "You think he really did it then?"

Nico looked up from his phone and stared stone hard at her, "Obviously. I wouldn't have killed the man otherwise."

Max sighed softly seeing as Nico was in a bad mood again. He always got that way after having to kill someone. Nico didn't like to kill but he knew where his responsibilities lied and would do what had to be done. Max felt like maybe Nico had become accustomed to seeing so many dead bodies but there was no way anybody could. It was a haunting image to stare at a lifeless body in the eyes. The guilt eventually ate up people, or so he thought. Nico only ever got a little irritated after a killing and then he seemed to get over it. Max figured it was his way of coping.

"You sure got a lot of texts. Is it Mikhail?" Max said changing the topic of conversation as they walked away from the room where countless people have lost their lives. They headed to the kitchen so Nico could have breakfast. Max and Sera already ate when Nico was preoccupied so they just kept him company.

"Yeah. His birthday is tomorrow and I'm not sure what I should get him. I was thinking maybe a new phone?" He said as he leaned on the countertop. "He still has a very outdated flip phone you know?" He laughed softly to himself and shook his head, "I know he won't accept it though. Maybe just a nice dinner with only us two?"

Sera scoffed and said, "On a holiday? Everything's going to be closed and won't Mikhail want to spend Christmas-Eve with this father?"

"His father is a good-for-nothing. He'd be better off spending time with me."

"A bit selfish, don't you think?" Max asked cautiously keeping his distance. "I don't think he'd appreciate you saying that about his father... Just saying."

Nico clicked his tongue and shot Max a look that said his input wasn't welcomed, "What's the matter with wanting him to myself?" He asked.

Sera looked at Max with a small smirk. He returned it with a small shrug. Nico was already investing his time in money on Mikhail so he figured Nico was already in too deep. He just wished it would work out between them two. A worker brought out Nico's food and he ate without taking a seat. "You in a hurry to go somewhere?" Max questioned.

"Mmhmm." He said with his mouth full. "Some meetings about the dead body in the alleyway. The autopsy is almost done so hopefully we get some information about the death. We're going to see if we can link John Doe with another family."

Max nodded in understanding. Sera nor him were allowed to go with him because a lot of higher ups were going to be there and they could potentially anger the wrong person if they said or did anything. Not that he particularly wanted to go but he did think Nico would be safer if he went. For being sixteen, Max was among the best fighters. Though, he was looked down upon for being a 'Street Rat'. There were a few people among the family that didn't trust him because he was front the streets. He didn't have a record of birth to their knowledge. They didn't even know that he had an uncle and a sister. Hell, not even Nico knew that much.

He constantly told himself that he wasn't lying to Nico. He was protecting him. His uncle wasn't someone max wanted to introduce Nico to. If possible, he wanted to erase all contact with his uncle before his past came to light but that was currently impossible with his sister still in his uncle's hands. It was a very complicated past that he wanted gone.

The constant beatings, the blood, the dead bodies he used as camouflage. The smell of their rotting flesh filled his nose as he started to recall the reasons he made a selfish call to runaway without his sister.

"So, we get a free day?" Sera asked bring back max from his thoughts.

"Well, Max does. Haven't you had enough free days, Sera?" Nico asked putting his fork down, "You always seem to disappear. Where the hell do you go?"

"This again?" Sera asked.

"You do understand why I'm skeptical to believe you, right? Whenever I seem to need you around, you disappear into thin air. It can't be a coincidence, can it?"

Max watched carefully. Sera didn't look visibly shaken by Nico's skeptical looks. Then again, he knew she wouldn't. She lied easily which was another reason why he couldn't trust her or think of her as a friend.

Sera sighed impatiently and said, "I was out buying you a Christmas present, jack-ass."

"A present? Why didn't you let me know before hand?"

"Kind of takes away the surprise element of a present, doesn't it? I understand why you questions my allegiance to you but, Nico, I've stayed by your side all these years. Think about it. I've had countless opportunities to turn against you and go to your brother's side. I haven't. I'm still here."

Nico didn't look convinced but he seemed to let it go. Max, however, was not going to do that. "Unless you're waiting for the perfect time to stab us in the back."

Sera looked over at max and squinted her eyes, "Why would I do that?"

"You've always seemed more fond of Elisha. You always step down immediately when he says so. It's like you're afraid of him."

"I'm not afraid of anyone." Sera said standing her ground.

Max laughed softly and said, "Right. Is that why you always put your tail between your legs when you see Elisha? I swear, if you back stab up, I will kill you myself." He said seriously. He wouldn't just sit around and allow Sera to pull Nico down.

"Woah, down boy." Nico called out as he tried to ease the tension in the room.

"Nico, sir. Your father is waiting for you."

Nico sighed and stood up, "Behave. Both of you. You're both my dear friends. I don't like fighting between us." He said turning his back as he demonstrated that he wasn't afraid of leaving his back to Sera and Max. Max was just unsure if he was leaving Max in charge of fully protecting him or whether or not Nico actually trusted Sera. He put his coat on and put his hand up without looking back, "I'll catch you two later.

Max watched as soon Nico was no longer in sight. He heard him faintly talking to his father before the front door shut. It took a while for max to realize he was alone with sera but when he turned to where she was supposed to be, she was gone again.

He shook his head in disapproval as he got a sudden text. He checked it as he figured it was going to be his uncle, but it wasn't. It was some guy checking in for a booty call. He let out a soft sigh and looked around. The house was quiet and he had nothing better to do. He agreed to meet at a hotel the guy chose and set out with a jacket and a bag.

The cold air smacked him awake as he walked down the sidewalk. Everything outside reminded him of his sister. Kids laughing at the park, the squirrels running up the tree, even the flowers covered in the white snow. She was four years younger than him and he constantly wondered if she still remembered him. She was only three or four when his uncle took them in.

When he went back to his uncle's home the day everybody was at the mall, his uncle only beat him to remind Max to return the money his parents stole. Max had very few memories of his parents but what he did remember was how horrible they were. They were useless parents who got high all day. They were drug addicts. Max never understood why they even had children to start with if they weren't going to care for his sister and him. The last vivid memory he had of them was when they left them for dead in a burning building and ran off with a lot of money. He didn't recall how he got out of the burning building but when he woke up, he was in his uncle's mansion.

His uncle refused to let him see Rachel until he got his money. Max would do whatever it took to see his sister again.

Before he knew it, he was already in front of the hotel. It didn't look too high class and neither did it look broken down. It just looked like a regular hotel. He shivered slightly but he didn't know if it was self disgust or because he was cold. He took in a piercing breath as he held his ribs. They were still slightly bruised from his uncle's foot. He reminded himself that this was all for his sister and took a step inside the hotel and headed for the room number his client had sent him.

* * *

"I'll call you out again sometime. Keep your phone on."

Max scowled at the guy as the guy started started putting on his boxers. "Don't order me around.

The guy laughed and stood up so he could put on his pants. "My friend told me that we're the same age." He said, "There's no need to be so rude. We both get what we want at the end of the day. It all works out. I get to relieve my stress and you get your money. I've got the money to spend just like you've got your time to spend."

Max flipped over on his side so he wouldn't have to look at him. The way he said it made him upset. Relieve his stress. He wondered if that was all he was going to be good for. A punching bag when his uncle ordered and a sex toy when ever anyone called. Max pulled the blanket over his head and stared at the wall intensely. "Leave." He said simply wanting the arrogant rich kid to leave. This reason exactly was why Max hated dealing with rich assholes.

"Tch." The rich guy clicked his tongue. Max heard keys jingling and cloth rustling. "I'll leave your money on the bed for you." He said dropping it on the bed and walking away, "Let's do this again sometime." He called out and walked out, shutting the door gently behind him.

It was over.

He stared blankly at the roof for a good thirty minutes without moving. His whole body felt sore as the guy left his money on the edge of the bed. This time it was some rich teenager looking for easy sex. He looked like some pretty boy with silky black hair and blue eyes. He seemed to be one of those types that was used to getting everything he asked for. When Max had said that he didn't kiss, the guy started pouting and kept trying to get a kiss. Every time Max would turn his head or threaten to call it all off and go home. He acted like a spoiled brat. He didn't get his name, he didn't want it. Apparently he had gotten Max's number from a friend.

He sat up gently and reached for the stack of money held inside an envelope. He took it out and started counting. There was three hundred dollars there and a note that said, 'With a little tip so you'll remember me :3'. He crumpled up the note and threw it aside. He laughed softly as he couldn't believe the guy actually paid him three hundred for one hour. He got off the bed and stuffed the money neatly into the bag he brought with him. He walked over to the door and locked it and headed to the shower. He made sure to scrub his body hard to get any proof of the guy off of him.

He wanted to leave as quickly as possible so he put on his hood on even though his hair was still wet. He placed his bag on and walked out of the door. He was going down the hallway when he heard his name behind him. Instinctively, he looked back and stopped with a shocked expression as he saw Dylan walking towards him.

"What are you doing here?" He asked as he stopped right in front of him, "I wasn't sure if it was you at first." He said with a cheeky smile. Max found it hard to find his voice for a few seconds. In the time that he hesitated, Dylan spoke, "Were you in there with someone?" He asked with wide eyes.

Something about the way Dylan looked at him made him feel guilty. He turned away and looked at the wall in the cramped hallway, "What does it matter if I was?" He asked.

"Max, I thought we went over this-"

"What?" Max asked looking back at Dylan with his face scrunched up, "When did we? I remember you bitching at me. That's about it." He said annoyed that some stranger was going to tell him what to do with his own body. "What are you doing here? Stalking me?!"

"No!" Dylan said quickly, "I'm helping out my grandparents run their hotel. It's a part-time job."  He stopped and then said, "Do you come here often?" He looked worried. "It's my first time seeing you here."

Max did his best to shrug off his worries and said, "Occasionally," he lied. He had never been to this hotel but Dylan didn't need to know that. "I go where they want to meet. Usually crappy motels so this was an upgrade." Technically, he wasn't lying that time. Even the guy seemed like an upgrade from his usual.

The air around them seemed to get awkward as they stood in silence. He didn't understand why he suddenly cared what Dylan thought about him. He wished that Dylan never would have found out what he does for money. He suddenly felt ashamed and disgusted with himself. Though, he couldn't afford to. His sister depended on him.

Max turned around about to leave when Dylan reached out for his arm to stop him, "Wait! Why- why do you do this? I don't understand. What can I do to help?"

Max yanked his arm quickly out of Dylan's reach and glared at him angrily. He flinched slightly as moving quickly still hurt, "A privileged guy like you wouldn't understand! Don't ever touch me so casually unless you plan on buying me for the night! Do not speak as if you know what I've been through."

Dylan put his hand up in the air, "look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean-"

"Sorry doesn't fix everything. Idiot." Max spoke out of anger, Dylan carelessly reached a hand out to Max's cheek. Max quickly slapped at his hand and stepped back, "Quit touching me!" He yelled, sounding a little panicked. He didn't want to admit it but when Dylan touched his cheek he felt a small spark. He could feel his face grow red so he covered his mouth with his hand. Dylan retracted his hand and looked at a loss for words. It reminded him of when his parents were still loving parents and would always pat his head or wipe his tears away. It was a time when he had someone who would always be at his side. His own flesh and blood.

Max took out the room key from his pocket and threw it at Dylan. Dylan didn't move so it fell to the floor after smacking his chest. He turned around without a word and ran as quickly as he could out of the hotel.

He hated being reminded of his parents. He hated people like Dylan. He didn't know where he was running to. He just knew he had to get out of there fast.