Hidden Motives

His Tsunami

Soon I was discharged from the hospital. Max insisted on taking me home and in the car he said "Don't freak out, but I have to tell you something"

I looked at him confused and said "What? What's wrong Max?" Something definitely felt off.

He sighed and said "Yesterday I also brought Maddox to the hospital along with you. We couldn't call the ambulance because there were already dead guards in the building. They took him in and we said that he got into a bad fight. Not much more was asked, but his ribs are broken, he has internal bleeding and is going to need surgery on his right arm as well. Zara whoever you and Adyline were talking about beat him up badly. Your dad Dave was also shot during 'cleanup'. The shot was at me and he took it for me. I tried to save him I really did. I don't know if he is going to make it. He's in the FBI's hospital wing since his injury happened on a mission while Maddox technically got injured off the job. It's back in the training building for emergency purposes. Zara what's going on. You can tell me. Something's very wrong."

Max was obviously upset and I knew he felt horrible, but what he just told me almost made me lose my mind. Maddox was badly injured by MY father, Max thinks Dave is my dad and Dave might've gotten killed, I passed out, and now Max was asking about my secrets indirectly. I had to tell him. This was already a mess and he deserves to know. Maybe not the full story just yet, but some of it. Especially if we want a chance.

"Max we need to talk. I'm not who you think I am. I've got secrets and a really messed-up life. Ugh, I'm going to get killed for telling you this, but I have to" I sighed.

"I'm listening" Max whispered. "And don't worry, nothing can be as bad as when I found Adyline's secret. I already know that you are associated with the FBI"

I looked at him and saw that he was frowning. He was in such hurt and vulnerable state. "Max I...I am actually not from here. I'm from America and Dave and Mary aren't my parents. There my host family for Oxford as well as the agents on my protection case. Same with Adyline. My real father is a messed-up man. When I was younger my parents never cared about me. Especially my mother. My hatred for her grew and grew and when she disappeared it exploded. I hated her so much. When I..I turned 17 I got a letter from her. My mother was actually a really loving and caring person who my father had forced to be horrible. My father was never around and I liked to party which tells you that I wasn't really the most understanding person. I thought everything was made for me and me only since I had such a fucked up childhood. You caught on to my accent the day I met you and from that day on you remain the only person who realized. That's impressive. I've felt something for you from the start and it wasn't always good, but now I'm here with you. You are very observant and I love that about you."

Max was silent for a moment and then he parked the car on the side of the road.

"Max what are you doing?" I began to tear up. I had never told anyone this story fully and he didn't even acknowledge it.

He looked at me and said "Thank you for telling me that. It means a lot that you were able to open up to me. I can't imagine what you've had to go through and I definitely didn't imagine you having a past like that when I first saw you. I knew you had a complicated past with secrets, but I definitely expect that." He then pulled me into his embrace. Just a hug. This hug was all I needed though. I melted into his arms as weak and vulnerable as possible. He wiped the tears from my cheek and said "You are amazing and perfect in every way."

I looked up at him and smiled. "Max there's more" I sat up properly and watched as he listened attentively. "My father is looking for me. He wants what my mother left me. Which is apparently a lot. She left me all she had and I'm not even sure what that consists of. I can't touch it till I'm 18. All I know is that it's enough that my own father would kill me for it. He's after me and the day that you saved me I witness my father kill my mother on video. It was the worst pain I had ever felt." I began sobbing as tears fell uncontrollably.

I saw anger flash through Max's eyes. An anger I had never ever seen. He was furious. Then he saw my tears and his expression softened as he pulled me into a deep hug. I sat there weeping in his arms for quite a bit of time. When I calmed down a bit Max said "I'm so sorry Zara. I..I also lost my mother. My father killed her. She had been my best friend since I was a child and boom she was gone. I didn't see it happen though. That must've been horrible. You are the strongest woman I know. I am so proud of you and you have been through so much. Your 17 and have witnessed so much hardship."

I looked at him and smiled. "Thank you for being here for me"

He looked back at me and said "Always and forever for you tsunami"

I laughed a little and said "Tsunami?"

"Yes. You crashed into my life and changed my world. You flooded my thoughts and knocked down my walls. You impacted me in a way no other ever has. There's the good, there's the bad, and there's definitely your attitude. But you'll always be my tsunami. The one who changed my world. Always and forever." he whispered as I pressed my head to his chest.