Page 31 of The Torturer's Target

At those words, Tesiera ceased her punches, processing Venus's admission. “You have?” she asked reluctantly.

Venus simply shrugged in response.

Tesiera knew Venus talked about herself about as much as Tesiera did. Her life was shrouded in mystery. She turned and looked at Venus now and instantly knew, from the look in her eyes, that she was telling the truth.

“If you don’t do something about it, the burden will only grow bigger, heavier. It will never get easier. You will feel the weight here,” Venus said, touching her chest. “You’ll never be able to concentrate on your missions the way you did, and you’ll question every decision you make. The self-doubt, regret and guilt are the worst. If you don’t do anything about it, it will consume you.” She blinked, pushing her own memories away.

Tesiera said nothing; she just stood there and watched the only real friend she had.

Venus turned and started for the door.

“Is there a way to make it go away?” Tesiera asked in a quiet voice.

Venus paused and faced Tesiera. “You have to embrace your mistake and move on,” Venus said, watching as a mixture of emotions played across Tesiera’s face. “But the best way is to try and make amends for the mistake.”

“Make amends for it?”

Venus jerked her head once. “Especially if you hate being indebted to people. You owe that doctor. Make up for it somehow. You’ll feel better if you do. It’s like a salve for your soul.”

Tesiera simply stared.

“A man like him must have a lot of enemies, threats to his life,” Venus continued. “Why not eliminate one of his enemies for him? Or work for him for a few weeks or a month? You almost killed him twice, so save his life a couple times. That is the best way to appease your aching conscience,” Venus finished, and she could see the wheels turning in Tesiera’s mind as she considered the suggestion.

Tesiera was silent for a moment before she finally said, “Thank you, Venus. I will think about it.”

Venus nodded before finally leaving the room.

“Sir, we have successfully screened and tested thirty candidates for the bodyguard position. After conducting rigorous tests, we were able to narrow down to two top-notch individuals,” Harvey reported to Max as they strolled down the dimly lit hallway that led to the training room in one of his secure houses.

“The best, huh?” Max raised his eyebrows inquisitively.

“Yes, sir. One has a black belt in karate and a military background, while the other has served in various security organizations and won numerous accolades. I have personally observed their fighting abilities, and they are exceptional,” Harvey replied proudly.

“And they’re here now?”

“Yes, sir. Waiting in the training room.”

Max halted at the door, and Harvey opened it for him. “I want to fight them,” Max declared, removing his wristwatch.

Harvey was taken aback. The boss was known for his dislike of fighting and seldom got involved in it. “You do?”

“If this bodyguard will be shadowing me every moment and invading my personal space, then I might as well test their capabilities myself. Besides, I need to let off some steam,” Max answered, tossing a glance over his shoulder at Harvey. “Have you ever seen me fight?”

“No, sir,” Harvey replied.

Bose and Clinton stood leaning against the door, arms crossed, eagerly anticipating the show. Although the boss rarely fought, they loved to watch him in action.

Max entered the ring, and his eyes were fixed on the two bodyguard candidates. They bowed their heads in respect, and he reciprocated the gesture. “For right now, I am not a potential employer but an enemy trying to kill your protectee. Give it your best shot because if I win, then you both failed,” Max challenged them.

“Roger that, sir,” they responded.

As soon as the fight commenced, Max moved with lightning speed, his movements smooth and precise. He easily dodged their attacks, countering with a series of punches and kicks that left the two men gasping for air.

Harvey watched in wonderment as Max displayed a level of grace and power he had never seen before. It was like watching a master at work, with every move calculated and lethal.

The two aspirants struggled to keep up with Max, their attacks becoming increasingly frantic as he pressed his advantage. With one swift move, he took both men down simultaneously, his limbs moving so quickly that they were a blur.

In less than ten minutes, the fight was over, and Max stood in the center of the circle, breathing heavily. He turned to Harvey, a slight grin on his lips.

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