Part 38

Eyes clashed. Liz trembled where she stood.. No. She couldn't believe it. Oh god no. Her breathing became fast and shallow as she tried to comprehend the fact that Max was here. Max. Here. When he shouldn't; be.

Liz didn't know whether to smile or cry. He came back. It was no illusion. He was standing before her now in all his glory, staring fathomlessly at her, his sword still clasped in his hand, the tip still touching Di Galvani's neck.

One single thought kept churning over and over again her mind, scattering over her heart, wrenching at her very being.as she stared at him, alive and vibrant. Ready for battle., his eyes blazing like fire.

He came back for her. He came back for me.

"Liz." A whisper in the air. Through her soul. A silent calling to bring her back to reality.

She blinked, and she broke out of her trance. Max turned away from her and glared at Sean. Sean's shocked eyes glazed over and turned angry suddenly. He attempted to move but the rapier nicked him.

The entire room gasped at the sight of red blood, as it trickled from a cut on his neck.

"Well well well. Look who we have here? I would I'm surprised to see you Maxwell...but..." He flicked a scornful glance in Liz's direction. " I can't say that i am."

"You shouldn't be," Max returned coolly. " You really didn't think i was going to give up that easily did you." The rapier dug a little deep, making Sean flinch backwards slightly. " After months of searching for you! I played it so many times in my head Di Galvani, the taste of justice was right at the tip of my tongue." he hissed.

Sean smirked, and cast another careful glance at Liz, who was standing transfixed. Watching. Listening. " So, you came back for the sake of revenge."

Liz's heart plummeted and she felt unbelievably crushed. What? Could it be? Was he really standing here because of a reason so petty? Or was she too conceited to imagine that he was here for her?

Tears inexplicably wobbled at the edge of her lids. The past horrors and endurances beginning to take their toll.

Max never took his eyes off Sean. " No Di Galvani. That wasn't why i came. On my return here i had already known i wasn't coming back to kill you." The steel blade moved dangerously across his skin, causing a scraping down.

Sean swallowed convulsively. " Then why did you come?"

A question that was all of a sudden churning in Liz's mind, as she listened numbly.

Max slowly removed the rapier from Sean's neck. " Because i was coming back for something infinitely more precious."

A dam of tears burst forth from Liz's eyes. Slowly they trickled down her cheeks as Max's eyes gazed meltingly into hers.

And she understood.

When Sean was done being astonished at such an answer he glared sneeringly at Max, then Liz, when he noticed them eyeing each other. " Why how utterly romantic. But i am afraid there is only one flaw in your plan for a happily ever after Evans."

And before anyone in the room could blink, Sean drew his sword and aimed it straight at Max's heart.

Liz screamed. Lady Parker fainted, and Lord Parker valiantly attempted to catch his wife as she fell.

Steel clashed with steel.

" Not quite fast enough Di Galvani" Max sneered as he met Sean's blow with the swift parry of his sword.

"What the hell is going on here?" Lord Parker suddenly burst out after he gently deposited his wife on the sofa to recover. He glared angrily from Sean to Max. " I demand an explanation."

Max looked at him. " Forgive me Lord Parker for ruining your daughter's wedding, but i couldn't allow it to happen."

Jeffery stared at him for a moment, then his eyes widened and he gasped. " It's you!"

Max gave a curt nod. " Yes." was all he said.

Jeffery was too lost for words. " But-but- you escaped-last night-you- you-"

"Father calm yourself!" Liz suddenly, ands swiftly intervened. Jeffery turned to her as she rushed to his side. She placed a comforting hand on his arm.

Jeffery immediately grabbed her and held her tightly to him. " Elizabeth! Don't worry my dear he won't harm you," he vowed whilst glaring at Max," I won't allow it."

Liz's breath rushed out of her a she was drawn to him. She almost smiled at the ridiculous words. Instead, she raised her head and shook him slightly. " Father," she said softly. When he didn't respond she shook harder. " Father!"

When he looked down at her she smiled slightly and cast a quick glance at Max. " He hasn't come to hurt me father."

Jeffery's brows furrowed. " And how would you know?" he demanded.

"Because i never would..." Max's voice was loud and clear. When looked at him questioningly he ended, "...hurt her.

"But-"

"Enough!" Sean bellowed. He turned to sneer at Jeffery. " You foolish man. How can you just stand there and ask useless questions when you should be summoning the constable!" he derided. When Jeffery simply stood there in shock he growled. " Well do it!" With a flicked glance at Max Jeffery made his way to the door intent on informing one of the servants that had fled to go.

Max twirled his sword and darted quickly over a sofa to land gracefully in Lord Parker's way. He stared grimly at him. " I'm sorry my lord, but i can't allow you to do that."

"I-" he began but Max interrupted him.

"I know you do not understand but i can't have you involving the law." Burning eyes clashed with Sean's. " This is a private war."

"You're right. I do not understand." Jeffery spoke up. " That is why you-" he turned and looked between them. " both of you, shall tell me. I have a right to know!"

Max stared grimly at him His eyes grew dark and deep, as if what he had to reveal was something he didn't even want to think about.

Liz held her breath. She had endured so much during her journey with him. Pain. Euphoria. Fear. And by the end of it all...love. All with only knowing the man he was now, not the man he surely was. She asked not for a motive. A reason. She thought a pirate was what he had been born into. But staring into his pained soul she couldn't help but wonder what secrets lay in hiding.

" Perhaps than i should explain. " He started. Sean made a move toward him and Max raised his rapier as a warning. Sean glared, a sword in his own hand, but stood his ground.

Max continued, " You know me as a pirate. I conquer, destroy, ravish...and kill." he paused as if to weigh his words. " You may be right. But what you do not know, is that i have a motive." His eyes burned brightly. " And he was about to marry your daughter."

Liz gasped. Jeffery blinked. " marry my-" he turned to look at Sean.

"Yes" Max bit out. " Di Galvani."

Sean smirked. " Well Evans you flatter me truly. But frankly," hr waved his hand in a dismissive manner. " i do not quite see the connection."

"Yes you do you sonofabitch-" Max took a deep breath to calm himself. But somehow he couldn't hold it all in. He angrily turned back to Jeffery. " That man you call a lord is not even worthy of his title. He is a lying, cheating, and murdering bastard." He raised his hand to silence an forthcoming words from Jeffery. " And i know that well my lord. I know because my family suffered because of him. I came for revenge."

Tears pooled in Liz's eyes as she listened. Why had she been so blind. Why had she not seen it? The inner rage. The bitter suffering that filled his heart. But what had happened? What could Di Galvani have done to inspire such...fury in Max?

Jeffery turned on Sean, eyes wide with surprise. " Is that true?"

Sean snorted. " Lies. Nothing but lies. That man here," he waved his sword at Max. " Is a man I've never met before in my life till now. It is quite apparent he is trying to make excuses for his actions...so that you may spare him his deserved sentence."

"NO!"

Heads swiveled around to stare at Liz. Nervously she blinked and swallowed, reprimanding herself for her outburst. Hastily she pleaded with her father. " Father you can't judge him on the basis of supposed lies." She pointed at Sean. " He could be lying too."

"Well isn't that sweet." Sean sneered. " Your daughter thinks she is inlove."

Liz blushed and couldn't help casting Max a brief glance.. She blushed even harder when she realized his heated look was on her. She missed the look the in his eyes that revealed itself for a split second.

" That is the most ridiculous claim i have ever heard you utter my lord. " Liz spoke as firmly as she could.

"Lizzie is it true?" Jeffery asked. Liz inwardly groaned. Damn Sean..

Resolutely she turned and looked her father in the eye. " No father. It is not true. I do not think i am inlove with Max."

With that over with he looked at Max. " I wish to know what you meant when you said you came here for revenge."

Max inclined his head ever so slightly. " Di Galvani was what i thought once a decent lord with prospects and the desire to marry. And he particularly had his sights se on my sister, Isabel. She fell inlove with him immediately and he wooed her. They became engaged. But i am a cautious brother, and i had him investigated." He paused to give Sean a cold look. " Needless to say, the information i received was not what i excepted. Infact, it turned out Lord Di Galvani himself is not who expected him to be."

"What exactly do you intend to gain from speaking all this hmmm Evans?" Sean cut in. " There is nothing you can do. Lord Parker won't believe you. I will call it all lies. You are a criminal. Perhaps you can calculate the result?" he smirked.

"I am telling, because the hunt is over." His eyes glittered dangerously. " I intend to end it here and now." Then he turned back to Jeffery. " I shan't bore you with the long details of the past. Suffice it to say, my man of affairs discovered that Lord Sean Di Glavani is in actuality a smuggler and frequenter of the black markets. He lives in a dark world, a place i never wanted my sister to be touched with. But i was too late..." he paused and swallowed.

Liz's heart ached for him as she finally realized the woman he had been calling for in his fevered sleep had been his sister. Her name full of pain and guilt.

" She was so infatuated she actually disobeyed customs and decided to surprise him with a visit to his town house." He whirled around to glare menacingly at Sean. " She caught in bed with another woman," he hissed, " more exactly...my fiance." His sword shook in his hand. " She was devastated," he whispered," so much that she didn't feel she could live another day.. And she didn't.. You goddamned bastard. You felt nothing for her. NOTHING!" He shouted. " All you wanted was the money to finance your smuggling." He began to move threateningly towards him. " And when you found out, you fled for a new place. A new prey."

His rapier aimed before him, sharp and glinting. " But i was right behind you Galvani. And now it all ends here." He raised his arm to strike, but it never reached its target. A pistol cocked by his head and he glanced toward the sound. Jeffery stood there determinedly aiming it at him.

"Drop the sword." he ordered.

"Father!"

Max's jaw twitched. " I can't do that my lord.. You will have to shoot me to stop me."

Sean laughed where he stood. " I can rightly say it will be a pleasure...ahh but allow me," he reached for the gun. " Let me handle this Jeffery." Wether he wanted to relinquish his hold on it or not, with Sean's superior strength he had no choice. The pistol slipped from his fingers.

"You are a brave man my dear lord Parker, but i am afraid you underestimate my criminal capabilities. And while i am thankful for that...I am afraid you know too much for your own good. You might be tempted to tell."

And with that spoken he aimed and fired. Liz screamed. " Father!"

Quickly she ran to him as he fell to the ground. She was on her knees by his side, cradling his head with her hands. " Father! Oh god are you alright? Tell me you are alright." Tears streamed down her face as she saw blood begin to pool out of his wound and soak his shirt. Shaking hands moved to cover it, hoping to stop the flow.. " Oh god" she sobbed. " Don't die please. Don't die. Oh i am so sorry daddy. So sorry" she whispered.

Max stared at them his entire being boiling with suppressed rage. He turned and lunged at Sean when he least expected it. " You bastard!" He landed on top and began pummeling him with his fists. The pistol and sword skidded across the floor as they scruffled.

Sean marginally recovered and managed to land a fist in his stomach. Max lurched above him, his abdomen still tender from his previous bruises. With a mighty heave Sean pushed Max off him and threw him on his back. Then immediately searched for a weapon. When he spotted the pistol he made his way toward it. Max rolled to his feet and tackled him from behind. They both fell with a resounding thud to the floor.

Fists flew and legs kicked painfully. Blood spewed onto the plush carpet. It wasn't until Sean managed to smack Max in the stomach repetitively and send him careening onto his back, groaning, that Liz realized they were fighting and looked up, horrified to see Max laying there, blood and bruises covering him. Sean staggered onto his feet above him and looked down on him.

Then he turned and stumbled to where the pistol was. Slowly picking it up he turned back to Max. He stared at him through swollen eyes. " You are a fighter, i must concede." he said, and pointed it at him. " But i-shall remain victorious..." he cocked the gun.

"Max!" Liz screamed out. The gun fell and so did Sean as Max rolled over like lightening and delivered a swift kick to the backs of his legs. Liz managed to breathe easier.

"Not this time" Max replied as he struggled to his feet to his sword. Sean reached for his. They came up, swords clashing. Up, down, sideways, the blows were swift and deadly, but all expertly parried.

Sean attacked. Max ducked and quickly slashed at him. Sean winced and blood seeped from a cut at his stomach. He soon repaid Max by giving him a deep cut at the arm, and another in the leg.

The cut was too deep, and seemed to be taking away his strength as he valiantly fought. He tried but he could not hold out any longer. Sean's sword clashed with his and it practically flew from his hand to clatter and clang on the hard wood floor.

Sean laughed and pointed his sword at his neck. " It is a shame that you could not leave things back in England where they belong Max. Now you must die." And without a second thought, aimed his final blow straight at Max's heart.

A pistol exploded.

And Sean was lying dead infront of him before he could blink. Max stared at him for a moment before slowly looking up to meet the eyes of the shooter. Dark brown pools stared right back.

Liz trembled violently as she looked at what she had done. The gun still pointed at air where a man once stood. She looked at Max as she slowly, approached her. When he was right in front of her, he dropped to both his knees. The gun was now pointed at him and Liz dropped her hand, the gun hanging limply from her fingers.

They stared at each other for long a moment. Tears pooled from her eyes to slowly make their way down her already soaked cheeks. Her eyes moved over him. " You're hurt" she whispered.

Max didn't reply. He only raised his hands and tenderly cupped her face. Callused fingers wiped away her tear drops." You saved my life." he said softly.

She almost laughed at the ridiculous statement. "Ofcourse i did." she sniffed, " I wasn't going to let you die now was i."

Pained eyes stared back at her. " You shouldn't have" He dove his hands into her hair and tumbled it down. " Christ Liz. You killed a man!" he told her fiercely.

She shook her head and raised a hand to slowly trail it down his bruised cheek. " I let a man live." she corrected him. " The one who deserved to."

"Liz" he groaned and without warning, crushed her to him, burying his face in her hair. " Oh Liz.-" and then he suddenly pulled away from her to look at the man on the floor beside her. " Your father" he whispered. " Is he-"

"No." and then she crying again. " Oh Max please. He needs a doctor, or he won't make it."

Nodding he struggled to his feet. " Where are you going?" she asked worriedly.

"To get someone to get a doctor." He opened the door to the hall and yelled. " Someone get here quickly. Now!" When a servant appeared he ordered, " Get a doctor here now! Your lord has been shot and he needs attention immediately!"

He shut the door and turned back to where Liz was and froze. They both did as they heard voices outside, and horses. Fearfully she whirled to look at him. " Guards" she whispered, " Someone sent for them. They've come for you."

"Christ!" he swore and made his way to the window. What he saw made him turn around and walked over to her. He grabbed her arm as he knelt by her side again. " Listen to me Liz. I-"

"You have to go." she said for him softly. He didn't say anything, only tenderly brushed her cheek and leaned in to kiss her forehead. Liz ached inside.

"Why did you come back Max?" she asked on a whisper.

He stared at her before finally answering. " Because from the moment you left my sight last night, i decided i didn't want to face another daylight without you." he said simply.

Max-"

Loud knocking sounded on the door. Liz started. " The guards. You have to go" she urged him quickly, " before they catch you."

"And what if i don't want to run anymore? What if i want to stay here with you and face the consequences?" he asked.

Liz stared at him for a moment. " You can't. Because if you do then you will be convicted for something you are not guilty of. I understood so many things now about you. I know-"

"No you don't know. There are many things you don't know. Things I've yet to explain." he cut in fiercely.

The door was heard to be opened and booted feet barge in. She looked desperately at him. " I do not care right now. All i care is that you live, and you cannot do that if you stay here. You must go!" she almost shouted.

But he would not go yet. " What you said to me in prison that night. Did you truly mean it?" he asked.

Liz didn't know why he was asking such questions now but she answered him anyway, if only to get him out of the house faster. " Yes. With my whole heart."

Before she knew what was happening he was kissing her, deeply, lovingly. " I do not know how it is possible but somehow you have captured my heart and would not let go. I would do anything for you."

"If you feel anything for me you stubborn pirate you will leave now and come back for me when it is safer or i will never ever forgive you!" she clutched him by the lapels of his shirt and gazed determinedly into his eyes.

When the royal guards finally burst into the room armed and dangerous, Liz was still trying to stem the flow of blood from her unconscious father. The doctor came in after them and Liz called him over quickly. " Doctor here please! Hurry!"

They all saw the dead man on the floor, the wounded man and his daughter. There was no sign of the pirate. The broken window explained why.