Max & Kenny – Present

"Mommy!"

Oh, she thought, hearing Taylor banging on her locked door. "I can calm her down."

He shoved her back. "Stop with the excuses, Sweetheart."

"She's scared."

He pressed her against the wall. "Max, you need to learn your place."

Screw it, I can't just…he's going to kill me. I need to…incapacitate him. Get out with my kids and Tay has her tablet and… "You're hurting me."

"Good."

"The man I married wouldn't hurt a woman."

"You're not a woman. You're a whore."

"I'm not a whore! I screwed up and had an affair!" Max cried. "I didn't kill anyone you fucking lunatic!"

"Bitch!"

Grimacing, as his hands tightened on her she crashed her forehead into his nose and felt the sick sense of satisfaction as she heard a crack.

"You're going to regret that."


Kenny – 5 Years Ago

Kenny groaned as he woke up in the prison infirmary. I can't move…beaten…a cop…narc. Beaten like I beat Lucas Cooper to death. Left for dead.

"Welcome back."

And cuffed to the bed. Prison…not at home, in bed, with Max. Who would just roll over and smile at me. Her touch, smells…how she woke me up some mornings. And then…with him. She threw it away. "What…"

"You've been out for a long time."

"I want Max."

The nurse looked at him and shook her head. "You need to rest."


Kenny & Max – Present

No, she thought, wrapping the blanket around herself the best she could with her one cuffed hand. He…Taylor. Cooper. Kenny crashing around here. I can't…he hasn't yet. It's like he's teasing me with it. Is he…the man I knew would never…Take us away. And what? Force me to be his wife? Taylor his daughter? And Cooper…No.

"Max."

She glared at him with Cooper in his arms. My baby. Crying. "Is he hungry? Need a diaper change?"

"I changed his diaper. You need to feed this screaming brat."

"I need both arms for that."

He sat down next to her and hastily yanked her shirt up and undid her bra. "There. Take him."

She glared at him, his hand resting on her exposed stomach. Supporting Cooper the best she could, she felt the urge to kick him. "Eat up, Kiddo."

"You feel good."

"What do you want? If you want to be part of Taylor's life, you can. I'll talk to the lawyers, the judge, we can make this go away. We can stop this before it's too late."

"You sent me to prison for five years, Max. You lied to me about my daughter, didn't tell my family about her…you vanished. Changed your name. This hair…You're so lovely, Sweetheart."

She gulped, as his fingers explored her a bit more. "Are you going to rape me?"

He pressed his lips to hers. "You enjoyed it when he did."

"Lucas didn't," she started. No, don't fight with him… "I don't want to have sex."

"You're a whore, Sweetheart. It's all you enjoy."


Kenny - 5 years Ago

Max, he thought, you did this to me.

"You were a cop."

Kenny looked at the warden, his beaten body aching. "Was."

He nodded. "Who beat his wife's lover to death?"

"Bastard slept with my wife and got her pregnant."

He nodded. "We have a problem with gangs in here. You can help be out and I'll help you out."


Max & Kenny – Present

"If you want this to work," Max said softly. "I want to make it up to you…any way I can. Please don't force yourself on me."

"Marry me again."

"Okay."

"I have a home for us."

"I'm sure we'll love it there."

"Just us and our kids. Taylor and Joseph."

"After your father."

"Like we talked about."

She closed her eyes as he kissed her. Hmm…he was good at this. What am I thinking? He's out of his mind. Let him… "I think he's done…Oh, Kiddo."

Kenny pushed back as Cooper vomited all over Max and him. "What?"

She wiped his mouth with her sleeve and kissed his warm head. "You're okay. No tears…Oh…Kenny can you get me a towel?"


Kenny – 4 Years Ago

"Cop," Warren spat, as the kick a recently returned Kenny in the showers again. "We know you're with the warden."

Kenny rolled on his back, his still healing ribs rebreaking at their kicks. "I'm not. I told him no."

"You're going back to him. Tell him you're in to snitch…and then you're with us, Cop."

"I just want to serve it out."

"You're with us, or you're dead."


Max & Kenny – Present

"Mommy!"

Max wrapped her free arm around her the best she could. "Oh, Tay…Sweetheart. You're okay."

"I don't like the man."

Max looked at her five-year-old for a long time. She's free, mobile…Kenny is watching us. Listening, as I'm zip tied to this bed. Both arms now that I don't have to feed Cooper. Never Joseph. I should have made more friends and maybe someone would be looking for us. We're screwed…he's going to kill me. Taylor hugged her close and Max ached to hug her back. "He won't hurt you."

Taylor hugged her closer. "I want you and Baby Cooper, Mommy. Why are you tied up?"

"Your mom is a whore, Taylor. She isn't taking you away from me again."

Taylor clung to her. "No. I love Mommy and Cooper. Go away! Don't hurt my mommy or brother!"

"Tay," Max said calmly. "I need you to listen to me. You're safe. I love you so much. Kenny isn't going to hurt you. He loves you too…he's just new to our family. Can you show him what a smart and good girl you are? I'm right here."

"I want you to untie Mommy. Me and Cooper need her."

"Your mother is staying where she is until our trip."

"We aren't going with you," Taylor stated, glaring at him. "You're a jerk."

"That isn't nice, Kiddo," Max sighed. "We don't name call."

"Mommy," she sobbed, snuggling in closer to her and not letting go and she cut her zip ties with her safety scissors. "I don't like him."

Neither do I, she thought, and he was the man I thought I'd spend the rest of my life with. Oh, Tay with the scissors. Sliding her wrists out, she kept them behind her back. Until I broke him…destroyed us. But I don't deserve this. Taylor and Cooper don't… Oh, Tay… "He just wants to get to know you. Taylor?"

She slid off the bed and marched up to him. "Let my mommy go."

"Taylor!" Max cried as she punched her father square in the crotch and Kenny grabbed her and threw her to the ground. "Don't touch her!"

"I hate you!" Taylor screamed, kicking him again as Max jumped up and shoved him away from Taylor. "Mommy!"

"Run, Tay!" Max cried, as Kenny tackled her back to the bed. "Go!"

"You bitch!" Kenny yelled, slapping her hard across the face.

She spit on him, as he pinned her to the bed. "I hate you!"

"Filthy whore."

"Better a whore than a killer! You murdered Lucas!"

"He deserved it!"

"I loved him! I so wish he was Taylor's father and not you!"

"You love me, Sweetheart."

She glared at him, as she heard the kitchen door slam shut. Run, Tay, run. Get help… "I regret ever marrying you."

"You love me."

She gasped, as his fingers tightened around her neck. Run, Tay…save yourself. I can't breathe, she thought, this isn't the man I married. I don't want to die…I'm not going to die. I can't move…

He released her, pressing her into the mattress. "Death is too good for you."

She gasped for air. This isn't him… "What…what happened to you?"

"You."

"In prison!"

"I did what I needed to do. Cops don't last in prison, Sweetheart. The warden wanted me to snitch, the gangs know it…I fed them both what they wanted. You think you have money? You have no idea…You made me into a killer. Prison helped me refine it."

She felt her blood run cold at that. "You won't get away with it. You can kill me…the police know about you. Taylor saw you."

"Good-bye, Max."


Kenny – 4 Years Ago

With them, Kenny thought, a gang…looking at his prison tattoos…it's the only way. Snitch…Gang member.

"We can get to your family. Your friends," Warren stated. "You screw us, it won't just be you that pay."

Kenny nodded. "They hate my guts anyway."

"You work for us…we can take out your bitch of an ex."

Max, he thought, ignoring the pain that still caused. Probably out there with his baby, spinning it so she was the victim in this…all that money she refused to touch. To use to help us. Selfish bitch…she'd use it for him. "She's a mother now…to his bastard."

"I have six kids out there with bitches."

I could have made it work…Max wanted to make it work. She was sorry. She wouldn't have gone back to him if I didn't push her away. "I got none."

He nodded. "Let's go. We have to distribute."


Kenny & Max – Present

"Death is too good for you."

Max coughed and sputtered, as he threw her against the headboard. Gasping for air, she couldn't move, as he undid his belt. Run, Tay, run.

"You raised a monster."

She shuddered, as he bound her hands with his belt.

"My partner has Taylor if she left the house. He's not a good guy like me, Max."

She felt her heart stop. Taylor…

"I made a lot of friends in prison, Max."

Bad friends, she thought, oh god.

"You are staying here while I gather up our children. We're going on a little trip. Your survival, Wife, is dependent on your behavior and how well you get our daughter to accept our new life."

Max nodded, as he threw her back on the bed. "Okay."

"I love you, Max."

She shivered, as he stripped her down. No…

"I love you," he repeated before spitting on her stomach. "Don't go anywhere, Sweetheart."


Kenny – 3 Years Ago

Kenny shoved the brick of cocaine at him. "Do it."

"It'll kill me!"

"You cheated us," Kenny said, shoving the block under his nose. "You stole from us."

"Please! I won't again!"

"Damn straight," Kenny growled, forcing him to snort.


Max & Kenny – Present

"Mommy!" Taylor cried, as Kenny shoved her in the van with them. "Mommy!"

Taylor and Cooper, she thought, they're both okay. Crying, but not hurt. "You're okay. No tears, Taylor. You're fine. I'm right here."

"Shut up," Kenny said, looking at the kids. "Don't make me gag them, Max."

She looked up at him, as he fastened her seatbelt and zip tied her feet together again. No… I just wanted them to have a good life. Not this… "Tay, I need you to be a big girl, okay? We're going to be fine. Kenny, I need my hands…Cooper needs me."

"Not a chance, Max," he spat, slamming the van door.

She shifted the best she could with her bound hands and feet. "Hey Cooper. I'm right here, Baby. Oh, Cooper"

Taylor wrapped her arms around her brother and hugged him in his car seat. "Mommy is hurt Baby Cooper. I'm here. I'll keep you safe."

I'll keep you both safe, Max thought, you're my world.


Kenny – 3 Years Ago

Running drugs, he thought, the bodies in the shower. "I'm out of the loop, Warden."

He looked at his snitch with the tattoos and shaved head. "That isn't the rumor, Lacos. You moved up."

Kenny shook his head. "Palo killed Bacon and he…he got a bad dose of coke after that. I don't know where the drugs are coming from yet."

The Warden watched him for a long time. "If you want continue this partnership, you need to find out."

Corruption, greed, murder…why shouldn't I? My life is over. I'm in this gang for life…when I get out… I can never get out.


1 Month Later


Max & Kenny

"How is my wife this morning?" Kenny said, wrapping her arms her from behind and kissing her cheek. "I hate waking up and not having you next to me."

Max let him squeeze her tightly and his hands roamed over her. "I wanted to cook you breakfast."

"It's criminal you look good."

Max bit her lip at that. Bastard. Cabin in the woods, no one is anywhere…it's just been the four of us for a month. I can't run…no place to go. He treats me like…like how we were. Like I'm his wife… dressing how he liked me. This girl next door…my hair back it's natural red. "Thanks."

"This smells almost as good as you look."

Sex, she thought, he's all over me. I can't even cry anymore when he…just go out of myself. "Do you want coffee?"

"I want you."

She closed her eyes. "The kids will be up soon."

"Turn around."

She turned to look at him, as he tugged down his pants. Oh…I just wanted to cook pancakes. Nope, I wanted to be living my life. Raising my kids…not this.

"On your knees."

She dropped down to her knees. I always hated this. Do not cry…Oh. "That's Cooper."

"No one here can hear him."

My baby, she thought, it hurts to hear him screaming. "He's wet and hungry. Just…later? When we have more time."

"Max," he said, pushing her back down as she tried to stand. "Do it now."

Cooper, she thought, hold on, Baby. Grimacing, she opened her mouth.


Kenny – 2 Years Ago

Another body, he thought, for control of this prison and drug trade.

"Warren Bishop is dead," Kenny stated. Slit the bastards throat. "It's mine now, Warden."

"Good work. It's ours now."

"Ours?"

"The profits," the warden smiled. "You're not getting out of here for a long time, Lacos. We have an empire to run."


Max – Present

I can't she thought, feeding dry and happy Cooper. Looking at her reflection, she sighed. Leggings, t-shirt, this red hair, my baby…my daughter not understanding any of it. "There you go."

"Mommy. I want to go home."

Me too, she thought, our nice little life. Instead we're being held here, forced to play family with Kenny. Taylor calling him Daddy…I hear it in her voice. She hates him. "Remember what we talked about?"

She nodded. "Be nice so he trusts us."

Not that there is anyplace to go. I don't know where he leaves the car. There aren't any roads. He always takes Cooper with him when he leaves…he knows I won't run without the kids. Nothing sharp. Nothing I can use as a weapon. He makes Taylor eat his food first. Think…even if I bit him while I…not enough time. "Right…Oh, Cooper."

"Baby Cooper."

Max smiled at that, as she burped him. He is the best baby…Taylor cried, was up every hour, and was so fussy…she is growing into such a smart and wonderful kid. Cooper, sleeps through the night, is all smiles and cuddles. I love them both. We have to get out of here. People in the woods…his people. Do I believe it? I think he got into something in prison…those are gang tattoos on his arms. Still? "He's lucky to have you, Tay."

"Max."

She looked up from them. "We were just finishing up."

He nodded. "We're going to town. Get Cooper ready."

She hugged her baby tighter. "We?"

"You and Taylor are staying here."

She nodded. "Okay."

"I love you, Max."

She gulped at that, standing with Cooper. "I love you too, Kenny."

He smiled at Taylor. "And I love you, Taylor."

She looked at her mom for a long moment. "I love you, Daddy."


Kenny – 2 Years Ago

"You did this."

Kenny looked up from his cell, at the guards. "Did what?"

The wrenched the door open and dragged him to his feet. "The warden is dead. It's on you. You're not getting out of here."

Kenny smiled at that. "I don't want to get out. You think I killed him?"

"We know you were playing both sides."

"So, what? You want in?"


Max – Present

"I hate him."

Max hugged Taylor tightly. "So, do I."

Two hours, she thought, that's all I have. He beat me the first three times I fought to get away and…then I settled into this. His perfect wife. Our perfect life. Making Kenny happy…he has my son. How am I going to do this? Short of killing him…he'll never stop.

"Don't cry, Mommy."

Max wiped her tears. I need to get out of here. He keeps the keys outside. By the van? What happens when it gets cold? He walks a different way every time…there has to be a path. Think, Max, think. You have one shot at this. "I'm not crying."

"Is he going to hurt you again?"

She shook her head. "No. He wants us to be a family, Taylor."

"But we're not."

Max hugged her tighter. We would have been…he's out of his mind. My plan. Vague and…I need to knock him out. Tie him up. Get my kids out…find the van. Drive. There has to be…One thing at a time. "Come on. Let's get lunch ready."


Kenny – Present

Baby Cooper, he thought, that's what Taylor calls him. He is adorable. Max and I will have more…we'll raise our kids here. She won't leave me again.

"Come on, Son," he said. He is better than Taylor…Taylor is way too much like Max. Max is learning her place, even if it is just to protect her kids.


Max – Present

She looked at Taylor happy with her video. If not happy, at least distracted. Get it together, Max. Save yourself…Looking at the belt and cast-iron pan, she grimaced a bit. One chance, Max, just one.


Kenny & Max – Present

He leaned in and kissed her deeply on the mouth. "Our kids are asleep."

Max smiled at that. "They had a busy day."

"Undress for me."

I hurt, she thought, from all of this. Just let him do what he wants to me. A plan…it's a bad plan. I could stay…be the person he wants. Taylor would come around, Cooper wouldn't know better. We could be the family we were supposed to be…No. He's a murderer. He killed Lucas. He pulled a gun on me in front of my kid. I won't do this to them. "In the kitchen?"

"I love you like this."

Girl next door, she thought, in white lacey underwear, it's how he has always liked me. Simple, easy, clean cut…he hated when I went sexy. When I went against his image of me. When I wasn't his Max. She fiddled with her hair a bit and smiled at him. "On the counter?"

"You know the drill."

I hate myself, she thought, tossing her hair back and smiling at him. "Aren't you getting bored with the same thing? I was always good at surprising you in there."

"Did you surprise him in bed too?"

She held his gaze at that. "This is our fresh start. Just us and our kids."

He looked at her for a long time, as she unhooked her bra. "Max…"

"I'm right here. I'm yours."

"My wife."

She nodded, swallowing back her bile. "I've always been yours. I love you, I've always loved you."

He pushed her back against the counter and he pressed against her. "Come here."

She closed her eyes as he shed his clothes. One chance, only one chance…Save my kids. "I love you. Let me show you how much I love you."

"Max…"

She ran her fingers down his chest until she got to where he wanted her most. I'm going home. I'm getting my kids out of here. One chance, Max. Watching him close his eyes in pleasure at her touch, she grabbed the pan from under the stacks of non-perishable food her brought back to get them through the next few months here. No more. Smacking him on the head, she screamed as he went down.