Page 52 of The Torturer's Target

She hummed, staring blankly at her lotion on the table.

“I heard there was another attack on Max's life and you got caught up in it. I hope you didn’t sustain any serious injury.”

Tesiera’s gaze shifted to her arm. “I’m fine.”

“That’s good to hear. Find out why he keeps getting attacked. Don’t keep flying blind. I know you can take care of yourself, but I don’t want you in any danger because of him. Just be careful.” He was speaking to her in that rare, soft tone only Tesiera ever heard.

“I’m always careful,” she replied, ignoring the little voice at the back of her mind that called her a liar.

The truth was, she took risks. She cared about getting the job done than about being careful. Probably because she had never really cared much about her life.

It was all about taking risks—reckless risks. For instance, climbing up a luxury boat as high as forty feet with bare hands above a deep body of water that guaranteed a chilling death if anyone were to fall into it from such a height.

A person who was being careful wouldn’t attempt to take out a bullet themselves.

She lived to avenge her father’s death. She regularly pondered what her purpose on Earth would be when her father’s murderers were found and killed. What would she do with herself? Would there be anything else worth living for?

“Siera? Are you still there?” Big Cat’s voice pulled her out of the thought.

“I’m here. What were you saying?”

“There is another reason for why I called you today,” he said. “It’s about your father’s killers.”

The hand that was rubbing her leg stilled. Fierce anger filled her. The rage that built in her heart made her chest burn. “What do you have for me?”

“My men got some intel. We got the location of one of the killers and tracked him down. I sent everything we have on him to you.”

Her fists clenched in fury as anger was the prominent feeling in her mix of strong emotions.

There was a sense of impending victory, as the news meant she was a step closer to achieving her revenge. Anxiety and an impatient urge to grab her knife and finally destroy the bastard.

“Thank you, Big Cat. I’ll go through the information.” She was such a mess of raging emotions that that was all she could manage to say.

“Good. This time, don’t let your emotions make your decisions for you, and for Christ’s sake, don’t ignore your instincts just because you wanna get the killer. Make your own assessment before you act. Do not allow a repeat of what happened with Maximilian,” he rebuked.

She would not make the same mistake.

“See you later,” Big Cat hung up.

Tesiera’s mood had soured. She’d gotten carried away with Max and being so focused on being his protector that she had forgotten the rage her father’s death. But now its revolting taste was back and had settled unpalatably in place.

Her emotions overwhelmed her, and Tesiera got up from her bed, her chest heaving with angry breaths. She hurled her fist into the nearest wall, punching it with a frustrated grunt. Her knuckles cracked and were busted, traces of blood lacing the new bruise.

Revenge is nigh. Once she confirmed the identity of the man, she would gut him like a pig,

Max exited his room dressed casually—a black T–shirt, a pair of jeans, and white laced sneakers. At that same time, Tesiera had also stepped out of her room and was moving in his direction.

His smile faltered as she brushed past him without looking at him, her presence leaving a chill in the air. His brows furrowed in puzzlement, wondering what had upset her so early this morning. Tesiera was never sunshine and roses, but this was different.

Was it about last night?

Just the thought of the night before made him angry. Angry and sad. He had barely slept, as their fight replayed itself over and over in his mind. He’d seen her in a different light, one he’d never thought he’d see her in. This, woman who was all iron and steel had a vulnerable side deeply hidden beneath layers of impenetrable ice.

The thought that she resorted to self-harm as a coping mechanism filled his throat with bile. His mother had done that in the past, and it had gutted him.

Fortunately, his mother got better with counseling. She was able to face and overcome what Maxi had done to her.

Would Tesiera ever face her past? He had a feeling that she wouldn’t. He wanted to help her, but he knew the worst patients were those who didn’t want to be helped.

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