"No, if you're family to Erik then it is your business because..." He lifts his hand to the back of his neck to worry at that old scar. "Fuck, I've never had to be on this side of the explaining before. Listen... some of the new people here don't like him--won't ever like him--because of what he did... to me."

Deep breath in, Max, you can do this.

"When I said servant, what I meant was... slave." He swallows hard and then rushes to follow that with, "But, it's complicated. There really is more to it. Just. People have some strong feelings about... that."