Page 32 of The Torturer's Target

“That was remarkable,” Harvey exclaimed, still in awe of what he had just witnessed.

Max simply nodded, scanning the room with his eyes. “My watch,” he requested, and Harvey handed it to him.

After putting on his watch, Max turned to face Harvey. “You have to keep searching,” he instructed.

“Of course, sir,” Harvey replied dutifully.

“Cast your net wide this time, Harvey. Don’t limit yourself to just the state; broaden your scope,” Max advised.

“I will keep that in mind, sir.”

As they made their way out of the room, Max couldn’t help but think of Tesiera Anderson and the night of her attack. He replayed the moments when she displayed her extraordinary skills in his mind. She was an excellent fighter.

He turned back to glance at the two men still lying on the floor and shook his head. He knew that men like them wouldn’t stand a chance against a woman like The Torturer.

That’s the kind of skill he needed. That was the kind of person he needed.

CHAPTER 14. A NEW DAWN.

The early morning rain had left the air feeling fresh, and the pathways were dotted with puddles, while the trees still dripped with water. Venus called Tesiera to invite her for an early morning run together, and she agreed reluctantly.

It had been two weeks since Tesiera's second attempt on Dr. Kingston’s life, and equally two weeks since she learned he wasn't her father's killer. In that time, she had undertaken just one mission, a stark contrast to her previously hectic schedule with cases lined up back-to-back, leaving her barely any breathing room. Her handler had been persistently calling, curious about the sudden slowdown of the 'Torturer', but Tesiera remained as tight-lipped as ever.

Gasping for breath, Venus suggested they take a break. Tesiera nodded in agreement, gradually coming to a stop. Venus, panting heavily, exclaimed, “Thank fuck. I’m so tired, I think I’m out of shape.”

“You're not out of shape. We've been jogging for hours,” Tesiera responded, equally breathless.

As they stretched, Venus broke the comfortable silence. “I saw an ad a few days ago and did some digging.”

“Digging?” Tesiera arched her back, stretching her arms.

“Yeah, OBTN Security Company posted an ad. They're looking for a full-time lifeguard for a big company.”

“Alright,” Tesiera acknowledged. In their line of work, 'lifeguard' was a code for a bodyguard assigned to offer round-the-clock, close-proximity protection. A human shield. A personal protector. “So, you're thinking of applying?”

“Nope.”

“So, why are we talking about it?”

“The big company is Kingston Hotels and Resort,” Venus said.

Tesiera paused and lowered her leg, staring up at the tattooed blond in front of her.

Venus shrugged. “I figured you would want to know.”

“Why would you think that?” Tesiera asked, averting her eyes.

Venus let out a deep breath. “I don’t know. Maybe I thought you might still be feeling guilty about what happened, and you might still want to make up for what you did.”

“I’m fine. It’s all in the past,” Tesiera lied.

“No, you’re not,” Venus said. “Killers like us might not have a lot of morals, but you and I have principles we live by. I know you, Tesiera. You might try to convince yourself that you’ve put it all behind you, but it’s a lie. You compromised your principles, and until you make things right, you’ll never fully move on.”

Tesiera’s brow furrowed. She had never pegged Venus as an emotionally intelligent person. And she hated that the woman was right.

“I thought of you as soon as I saw it,” Venus continued. “I figured that it would help you get over what happened.”

“I’m not working as a protector for anyone. I don’t work for anybody, period.”

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