Summer arrived to work the next day with a note on her desk. It was from her editor's secretary telling her where she would be meeting Maddox this morning. Thankfully her editor hadn't asked her how it went yesterday or she would have had to lie to him. 

She peered out of the big tall building windows and thought about how seeing Maddox yesterday had really thrown her for a loop. Ten years ago, it was an emotional rollercoaster ride for her. She tried desperately to reach him. She even came by his house; the same one she was just at. A man was there. He claimed that he was Maddox's uncle, but Summer thought he looked more like a hitman. He told her Maddox had left for college. She knew it wasn't true and that he was right inside those doors, but she left the man with a sealed envelope for Maddox; its contents containing her love for him, but he never attempted to get in touch with her. So, she moved on or at least tried to...the best that she could. Seeing him again just threw her back on that ride and all she could do was hold on tight. 

Summer sighed and headed down to climb in a cab. She prayed she could keep it together this time. She had to.

Maddox entered the warehouse. It had been a decade since he had been there. It wasn't much more than a cold concrete box, but those cold walls held the ghosts that changed his life. If he was going to tell Summer his story, his true story, this was where it should be told. This was where it all began. Lighting up a smoke he took a long drag and waited.

Summer stepped out of the cab in front of the huge abandoned warehouse. This was not a place that she would ever want to be on any occasion. It felt like the place they go to in movies when they kidnap you and hold you for ransom. If it wasn't for the fact that she knew Maddox- even though he had changed- and was certain he wasn't about to hold her hostage, she would have negotiated another location. 

She walked through a big door at the front of the building to see Maddox standing there, having a cigarette. She slowly made her way to him, her four-inch black heels clacking against the cold cement and echoing throughout the building. She stopped only a few feet away from him. 

"When did you start smoking?"

Maddox looked at his cigarette disapprovingly before dropping it on the concrete floor and grinding it under his shoe. "A while ago. I had a certain image I had to create. But I am getting ahead of myself." 

He walked a circle around her, as though looking for something in the otherwise empty space. 

Summer watched him snuff out his cigarette and circle around him; her eyes studying his features closely. He seemed different, even more so than the day before. 

"Here," he said, pointing to the floor where a dark oil stain seemed to live on the concrete. "This is where my life changed. Are you sure you are ready for this? It's not to late to turn back." 

Maddox wasn't sure if he was warning Summer or begging her to run.

She glanced down at stained floor and back up to him. He wanted her to say no, but he should have known her better than that. She set down her bag and pulled out her notebook. Looking around the room, she saw a lone chair, forgotten in the corner. She walked over and dragged it to him, causing it to screech along the floor in an unpleasant manner. Then, she took a seat, crossing her legs; her short, black skirt rising halfway up her thigh revealing even more of herself to him. 

"Yes, Maddox. I'm ready to finally learn what you should have told me all those years ago." She took her pen and pressed it to the paper. "Let's start at the beginning, shall we?"

Maddox nodded. There was no turning back now. The thought of what she might think of him at the end of all this caused a tightness in his gut. 

"This is where they found him, my father, he was face down in a pool of blood, two gunshot wounds to his chest. Both of his bodyguards were dead. One must have been caught by surprise, his gun was still holstered and the high-caliber round had caught him in the back of the head. The other was able to fire back before they killed him; it was likely what stopped the attackers from making sure they had finished my dad off." 

Maddox paced in front of Summer as she took down his story. He couldn't help glancing at her thigh and the dip of her blouse as he spoke. She was as beautiful as he remembered, even more so. 

"I didn't see the bodies, someone walked me through the scene later. When Frank took me that day, my father was already in the hospital, dying. His injuries were too severe. Three days. That's how long it took him to die. Three days. That was how long it took to change my life...change me, forever." 

Summer watched him pace and listened to his story. There was no doubt it would be heart wrenching, but she kept her face calm and collected. As the words that day flowed from his mouth, her mind flashed back, but for a moment, seeing him dragged away and the pain she felt; how scared she was. Three days changed his life forever, but it only took one day to change hers forever too. 

Maddox stopped and looked at Summer, trying to gauge her reaction. "Any questions? Or shall I continue?"

She gave him a nod. "No questions at this time. Please, continue."

Maddox's face remained neutral. Summer wasn't going to make this easy on him. "Frank took me straight to the hospital that day. He didn't speak once after we got in the car. I didn't ask, I could feel my eye swelling and it was enough of a reminder that staying quiet was probably a good idea." 

Maddox touched the place Frank had struck him, it was hard to believe it had been 10 years. "When we got there, he took me up to the ICU. Dad had tubes and wires coming out of everywhere, but the stubborn bastard was awake." Maddox paused, for the first time emotion seemed to seep into his voice. "He was an evil, tyrant, but he was still my father and seeing him like that hit me hard." 

He stopped again, fumbled in his pocket for the pack of smokes and a lighter. Tapping one out, he lit it and took a hard drag. It had been a long time since he took himself back there.

Summer watched Maddox curiously as his face showed a range of emotions. If she had been any other reporter, this would have been easier, but she wasn't just any other reporter. She knew Maddox and his family. She had met his father on many occasions. It was no secret that he was a disturbed man, but she knew it still had to be hard on him. She wanted to hug him, tell him she was sorry that he had to go through that alone, like she did when her mother died, but they weren't those high school sweethearts anymore. He no longer needed or wanted her comfort.

Maddox continued to pace, he looked at her periodically, but that was as hard for him as sharing the story. The cigarette waved in his hand as he continued. "He was in a lot of pain, but he had refused pain killers so he could talk to me. I knew my father's businesses were shady, but I never knew how shady. We have had ties to the mob for generations, and my father was near the top of the totem poll. His murderers thought if they could cut off the head of the snake, they could take over." 

He took another drag on the cigarette. "I told him maybe it would be better that way, we could all move on. Then, I discovered what that meant. My mom. Sophia. Francis. They'd kill them and me too. He needed me to take his place. There was no choice."

Summer stirred in her seat, refusing to look up at him. All she could do was keep writing. Kill him? She gulped as she pictured his body laying on the floor at her feet where his father's blood had been spilled. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

Taking her silence as a cue to continue, he crossed his arms and leaned against the cold, hard wall. "When he died, I decided to take over. What choice did I have? The day after, I was face to face with the men who had killed my father. They wanted to meet me, discuss terms of my surrender. Frank told me that any terms would result in the massacre of everyone I knew and loved." 

He crushed the cigarette against the wall and rubbed his hands through his hair. "So I killed them. Well one of them. The others Frank and Thomas killed, but I ordered them too. They weren't the last. I had to. To protect my family. I didn't come back because I wanted to protect you- from the life; from me."

It was the first time in his story, that he had referenced her- acknowledged that she had in fact been a part of his life. It was at this moment, that she looked up at him, her eyes curious as they bored into his. 

"So, what you're telling me is, that you just cut ties with me to protect me? Or was it because you didn't need anyone else to have to protect?" She didn't say it with anger, but there was a saltiness to her questions.

Maddox looked at her, his brow furrowed; the accusation stung. He approached Summer and crouched so they were at eye level. "To protect you from the man I had become. From those who would hurt you to get to me."

Summer looked at the man she had loved...still loved as he knelt before her. He was so close to her that she could smell him and his tantalizing scent was just as she remembered. It brought back so many memories with him. 

"You didn't think that maybe I could make up my own mind about that? That maybe since you were my boyfriend, that we should have talked it through? You didn't need to shut me out completely," her voice was much softer now as a lump formed in her throat.

Maddox touched her knee with his knuckle. He hadn't thought about doing it, it was as though his body had reacted on its own, yearning to touch her. "I knew you would want to stay. I was afraid; afraid you'd get hurt; afraid I would hurt you. This life turned my dad into an animal. He thought living in fear made us safer."

Summer felt him touch her knee, but she didn't dare look at it for fear he would move it and she didn't want him to stop. Her body had longed for his touch for the last 10 years. Instead, she remained focused on him, staring into his emerald eyes. 

"You were afraid you'd hurt me, yet you did anyway. I should have gotten a say. You took that away from me and turned me away when I came to see you," she said as her face fell in sadness.

Maddox leaned closer to her, his hand now resting on her knee. "I've killed people. People have tried to kill me. I had to do a lot of very bad things; illegal things. Would you really have wanted to be part of that?"

Summer swallowed hard as she continued to peer in his eyes, his touch was warm on her skin, sending a rush of longing to spread across her body. "I would have wanted to at least have a say. You chose our futures for us."

Maddox sighed. He was caught in her eyes now, lost in them. He saw a different life there. A life he had thrown away. "I thought it was best for everyone. Second guessing; for better or worse, stopped being an option for me."

"Maddox, I...," she shook her head, clearing the thoughts creeping to the surface. "Never mind." 

She looked away, breaking eye contact. She couldn't do it. She couldn't keep hoping he would change his mind. It was finally clear to her that he was satisfied with the choice that he had made for his family; satisfied with letting her go. She stood up then, his hand sliding across her skin as it fell from her knee, and grabbed her bag. 

"I think I have enough for now," she said looking at her watch. "I have somewhere I need to be soon. Let's just continue this later, shall we?"

He stood with her, surprised by the suddenness. "Summer, I am sorry I hurt you. Nothing turned out the way I hoped."

Summer looked back at him. She fought the urge to tell him her story and how their lives could've turned out so different had he just stayed with her, but it was his story they were working on, not hers. So, instead, she gave him a half-hearted smile. "For me either."

"I know. I know it's all my fault. I wish I could take it back but I can't." Maddox took a step toward her. "Seeing you again. Talking to you...I never stopped loving you."

Summer tried to blink back the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes. She tried to bite back her words, but they spilled out of her anyway. "I just want to know why you couldn't have at least told me it was 'for my own good' or whatever, especially after I left that envelope for you."

"Because, I wouldn't have been able to. I would have caved. I didn't trust myself to make the decision," Maddox paused. That was the second time she had said something about trying to see him. "Wait. What envelope?"

Summer's face fell. It must have been that unmemorable to him for him to forget. She shook her head in disbelief. "Never mind. It doesn't matter anymore. I really have to go." 

She quickly hurried out the door, without so much as a goodbye or looking back, and started running up the alley to the nearest street to hail a cab. She knew she should have given the story to someone else. It was too painful for her to relive it again.

Maddox followed her to the street and grabbed her wrist, gently. "What envelope?" he repeated.

Summer didn't expect after yesterday's debacle that Maddox would actually follow her. She felt him grab her wrist and stopped, turning back around to look at him and sighed. "Do you really not remember?"

"I never received an envelope from you, I swear."

Summer shook her head. "I knew he was shady. He said he was your uncle and that he would give it to you, but I'm guessing he never did?"

"I don't have an uncle. Two aunts." He shook his head. "He never gave it to me."

Summer sighed. She should have demanded to give it to him herself. She looked at her watch again. "Look, Maddox. I really need to go for now or I'm going to be late. Can we meet up later? I'll tell you then."

Letting go of her wrist, he nodded. "Call and let me know where to meet you, I will be there." 

He was racking his brain trying to figure out why the envelope was hidden from him. One of his men would have just delivered it.

Summer hurried to try and hail a cab, which sometimes proved difficult. She was fully aware that Maddox was still standing behind her. "Are you just going to stand there and look at my ass all day or are you gonna help me hail a cab?" She asked him with a smirk as she tried to wave down taxis.

Maddox shook his head. "I can do both." 

He quickly put his fingers to his mouth and whistled, before she could react to the flirtation. A moment later a black limo pulled up. 

"This is easier," he said opening the door for her.

Summer hesitated, looking between Maddox and the limo. "No, no. A cab is fine. Really." She stepped away to try and continue hailing a cab. "Thank you though."

"Summer. Look around. Is this the part of town you want a cab to pick you up in?" Maddox put a hand on the small of her back. "Please?"

Summer's pulse quickened at his touch. She didn't want to get in the limo, but he was right. "Ok," she caved and climbed in, sliding over for him.

Maddox slid in beside Summer, he was close enough to feel the heat off her body and it was making his heart race. "Where to?"

Summer scribbled out an address on a piece of her notebook paper that she tore off. "This is the address, if you'll hand it to your driver please?" She asked, handing the folded piece of paper to Maddox.

Maddox took the slip and gave her a confused look. "Sure." 

He handed the paper to the driver. "You heard her."

As she sat there, she had flashes of their Prom night. "You remember the last time we were in a limo together?" She asked, giving him a half-smile.

He nodded. "I do. We're in the same one."

Her smile faded slightly at that thought and she looked out the window at the busy streets going by. "Yeah, unfortunately, there's no need to celebrate this time."

Maddox watched Summer as she stared out the window. Sitting there, where they once sipped champagne, during what remains the greatest night of his life, made him wish they could go back to that night; wish he could have foreseen the future and ran away with her. Nothing he did seemed worth it anymore. 

He touched her hand to get her attention. "We have time. What was in the envelope?"

Summer sighed and turned to him, her hand unmoving. "Why didn't you ever return my calls? And don't tell me it was for my protection. I left several messages. I know you could hear me crying as I begged you to call me back, Maddox. Tell me; did it not affect you?"

Again, Maddox cast her a confused look. "I didn't get any messages. I thought you were so hurt that you forgot about me. Or. That's what I wanted to believe."

Summer shook her head. "So, everyone was trying to keep us apart then?" It was a rhetorical question that needed no answer. 

Just then, the limo came to a stop. "It is disheartening really," she said as she got out of the limo, leaving the door open figuring he would most likely follow her. Some old habits die hard.

Maddox took the cue and followed her. "I might know who." He looked around at the people walking down the busy street. "Where are we?"

"You might know who, what?" She asked him confused by his statement. "Clearly it was everyone. Mystery solved." 

There was a herd of kids coming down the sidewalk and Summer stopped, waiting for them to move before she proceeded on with Maddox on her heel. 

"If only you would have gotten that envelope or my messages; maybe things would've turned out differently." Suddenly, she stopped and turned around. She didn't realize how close she was to him, but it made her heart speed up again. "I really wish things would have been different." She looked him in the eyes, flashing down at his lips and back to his eyes. God, how she wanted to kiss him. "This is not how I wanted this to turn out." 

Right at that moment, came a voice from behind them. "Mommy, who's your friend?"