Page 43 of The Torturer's Target

“They got away.” Tesiera helped Max up from the ground, but he was already on his feet. “Should I go after them?”

“Let them go. I hear Hazel crying. Let’s get out of here,” Max said, hiding the pain from his voice. He was already moving toward the car, when Tesiera fell into step with him. They got into the car, and Max took Hazel from the car seat and into his arms, soothing her.

Tesiera let out a deep sigh. This was her first day at work, and she was already in a gun fight. The sting on her shoulder was persistent, and she wondered if there were still bullet fragments left in the wound.

But what the hell was this about? Who were they, and who sent them?

The car ride felt like it lasted forever as they drove around for over three hours. Tesiera sat quietly in the back, watching the driver navigate the winding roads. She could feel the heavy weight of exhaustion on her eyelids but refused to give in to sleep. She knew they were far from Manhattan now, but she didn’t say anything. Instead, she watched Max cuddle the little girl, Hazel.

The child had cried until she drifted off to sleep. Max held her gently, rocking her back and forth, his eyes never leaving her face. Tesiera couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy at the way the man cradled the child with such tenderness. Once upon a time, her father had held her that way.

She blinked hard, to dispel the old memories.

After what felt like an eternity, Max finally spoke up. “Drive to Hamptons,” he ordered the driver.

Tesiera raised an eyebrow, confusion etched on her face. “What’s in Hamptons?” she asked.

“A beach house,” he replied simply. “The sun is setting; we’ll spend the night there. It’s been a long day.”

Tesiera nodded, relieved for the break.

The moment Max' phone began to ring, he quickly pulled it out, concern evident on his face as he saw Clinton's name on the caller ID. He answered immediately.

“Oh, thank goodness! Boss, are you okay? We've been trying to reach you, but your number was unreachable. We even tried two of your other lines, and they weren't available either,” Clinton's voice was laced with worry.

“Yes, I'm alright. We didn't have any cell service where we were, but we're currently en route to the Hamptons. We'll be spending the night there.”

“That's a relief to hear. We learned about the attack shortly after it happened. How are you holding up, sir?” Clinton asked, his tone tinged with almost desperate concern.

“I'm fine, and so is Hazel. It was a close call with the attack, but thankfully, we managed to escape unharmed.” Max glanced at Tesiera. “Miss Anderson was exceptional. She saved my life.”

Hearing this, Clinton let out a sigh of relief. “Thank God! Madam Valerie has been extremely worried, and Bose has been pacing for hours. I'm relieved to hear you're both safe, sir. I'll pass the message along.”

“Please do. Tell Val there's no need for excessive worry; we're safe. I’ll call her once I settle in.” Max instructed.

“Will do, sir. We're back at home now. By the way, we captured one of your assailants trying to flee the premises. He's currently detained. What should we do with him?”

“That's the best news I've heard today,” Max responded, a hint of relief in his voice. “Excellent work. For now, do nothing with him. I intend to be there for the interrogation. I need to find out who orchestrated this attack, whether it was Walter or someone else. It's crucial that I know,” he said, his voice tight with anger. The mere thought of Hazel being in danger made his blood boil. He would never forgive the perpetrators.

Within thirty minutes, their vehicle pulled into the driveway of the beach house. The car came to a halt, and they all alighted. Max stepped out with Hazel in his arms, still sleeping soundly against him.

Tesiera exited and stretched her limbs, enjoying the fresh breeze that brushed her skin. She felt a sharp pain in her left shoulder and knew that she needed to deal with it soon. She didn’t say anything, not wanting to scare the little girl more. And not wanting to draw attention to herself.

She walked away to further explore the house, wanting to have a better lay of the land in case there any more surprises.

“You were shot,” he stated matter-of-factly.

She didn’t answer at first, but then she spoke firmly. “I’m fine, sir.”

Her tone suggested otherwise, and Max could see that she was in agony. He took a step closer to her, reaching out to touch her shoulder, but she drew away.

“It’s not my first time taking a bullet. I’ll be fine,” she said, her tone firm but polite. But she was starting to feel dizzy.

Max could sense her discomfort, but she made it clear that she didn’t want his help. He sighed and backed away. “Are you sure you don’t want me to take a look?”

“I’m fine, thank you,” Tesiera reiterated. “So, we’re gonna spend the night here?” she asked, changing the subject. Her eyes took in the stunning beach house that stood tall, its exterior adorned with smooth, white walls and a sleek, modern design. The lush, green garden surrounding the house added a touch of natural beauty, completing the picturesque scene.

“Yes. We should be ready to go back tomorrow, but we can’t tonight. It’s late already and Hazel needs to sleep this horrible day off,” he responded, patting Hazel’s back in a soothing rhythm.

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