Page 55 of The Torturer's Target

As Hazel slept, Tesiera adjusted her hold again to make sure that the child was secure in her lap. She used one hand to support Hazel’s back and the other to cradle her head, creating a secure little cocoon for the sleeping child. She was completely focused on the task at hand, but her face had the gentlest expression he had ever seen from her.

Perhaps it was time he took Patty up on her invitation for a date. The nurse had worked with him for two years, and he knew she had a thing for him.

There wasn’t a policy against staff dating at the hospital, and she had given him all kinds of signals, but he had chosen to ignore them all simply because he didn’t want to complicate the relationship they had. Also, he hadn’t really seen her as a woman.

But Nurse Patty was a beautiful woman, and maybe it was time he went out again. His damn feelings were all over the place because he hadn’t gotten laid in months.

His newfound solution to the unexpected affection he felt for Tesiera calmed him.

CHAPTER 23. FACE-OFF 2

As the privacy gates of Max's mansion slowly opened, the sound of a car engine hummed in the tranquil air. The vehicle drove into the compound and to the front of the mansion, drawing everyone’s attention. Clinton and Bose were eagerly waiting for their arrival, the anticipation was palpable.

Valerie's heart pounded in her chest. Tears sprang to her eyes, blurring her vision as she waited impatiently for the car to halt. The moment it stopped, she bolted towards them, her emotions overflowing.

Without thinking, she punched Max squarely in the chest, once, twice, venting her pent-up anxiety and fear. Max caught her hands gently. “I’m so sorry, Val,” he murmured.

“I was so w-worried!” Valerie sobbed, her voice breaking. She struggled momentarily, then surrendered to her emotions, collapsing into Max's arms, her tears flowing freely. He held her in his arms for a few moments.

Then, he opened the car door, revealing Hazel snugly nestled against Tesiera. The child stirred, still groggy from her long nap, looked up at her mother and gave her a sleepy smile. “Mommy,” she murmured, snuggling into her embrace.

“Oh, my darling, I missed you so much,” she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. Valerie took her daughter and held her close, her arms wrapped tightly around her, savoring the warmth and comfort of her little body. “I love you so much, baby.”

“Love you too, Mummy.”

“So sorry we scared you, honey,” he said to his sister. He couldn’t imagine how hard it must have been for her to be apart from her daughter after knowing the child was involved in a shooting attack.

The sight of Tesiera with Hazel sent shockwaves of horror down Clinton and Bose’s spines. They looked at each other, their faces contorting into a look of sheer disbelief.

Finally, Valerie turned to Max with a concerned gaze. “Are you okay?”

Max patted her back. “I’m alright, Val.”

“Are you sure?”

He nodded, “No need to worry. How have you been?”

“I’m fine, I’m fine. Bose and Clinton have been taking good care of me.” Valerie walked away from him and toward Tesiera.

She pulled Tesiera into a tight hug. “Thank you so much for bringing them back safely,” she whispered into Tesiera’s ear.

What is up with today? This is all kinds of weird, Tesiera thought as Valeria hugged her. She didn’t pull away from the woman’s embrace, but she didn’t return it either.

“The boss did most of the job himself,” she responded simply. Valeria didn’t seem to care, or believe her, because she only tightened her arms around her. “Still, thank you so much.”

Tesiera could clearly see where Hazel got her persistence and warm attitude from. Finally, the woman pulled away, gave her a smile, and went back to her brother.

“Welcome back, boss,” Clinton said, patting Max on the back.

Bose’s eyes flickered with concern as he surveyed Max's face. “Are you okay, sir?”

Max nodded. “I’m fine,” he assured them. “Just a few bruises and scrapes. Nothing serious.”

Bose’s expression turned grim. “The attackers are still in the basement. I’ve tried making them talk, but no joy.”

“I had to force Bose to leave them alone,” Clinton interjected. “Or you’d be coming back to corpses, boss. Bose is a hot-tempered sonofabitch; he almost killed one of them.”

Tesiera leaned idly against the car, observing the scene unfold before her.

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