Page 65 of The Torturer's Target

Their smiles faltered as they saw Mira.

“Good day, Ma’am,” they said politely before standing behind Max.

Mira ignored them and struggled against Max. “How could you allow this...this...brainless Barbie to insult me? Let me go. I want to teach her a lesson!”

Clinton and Bose winced at Mira’s outburst. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Clinton said, trying to diffuse the situation.

But Mira didn’t hear him. “You’ll never have him. You’re just a bodyguard!” she hissed, kicking against Max, her frustration boiling over. “Let me go, Max! I’m gonna kill her.”

Clinton smirked, enjoying the absurdity unfolding before him. “You know what? On second thought, maybe let her attack The Torturer. It would be a good show to watch.”

However, Max was not amused. “Tesiera will get blood on my floor, and I happen to have a particular liking for this rug,” he grunted. He lifted Mira and started marching towards the door.

Mira was mortified. “Let me down! Let. Me. Down,” she screeched, her face contorted with anger. As Max carried her, her gaze fell on the other woman, who smirked and gave her a superior look, infuriating Mira even more. She kicked out, trying to get free. “Stop! You are embarrassing me.”

But Max ignored her. He exited mansion and not-so-gently handed her over to one of the hefty security guards stationed in the foyer. “Escort her off of the premises,” he said.

The guard nodded and grabbed Mira by the arm, trying to lead her out of the mansion. But Mira was not one to go down without a fight. She struggled to get away from his grip, desperate to join Max. “How dare you embarrass me like this, Max!” she raged, her voice echoing through the halls.

“Good riddance,” Bose growled.

CHAPTER 26. UNSEEN CHAINS.

That night, Bose was snuggled deep under the covers when he was jolted awake by crying.

“What the hell?” he mumbled; his voice groggy from sleep. He rubbed his eyes and tried to shake off the drowsiness.

Tiny, terrified whimpers filled his ears. He would have thought it was Hazel, but Hazel wasn’t at the mansion tonight.

Bose left his room to check it out, just as Clinton emerged from his.

“You heard that too?” Clinton whispered, keeping his voice low, and Bose nodded, perplexed.

“What the fuck could that be?” Bose asked, his voice filled with confusion.

“I think it’s coming from The Torturer’s room,” Clinton said, looking equally perplexed.

Bose looked at Tesiera’s bedroom door with doubt. “No, I don’t think—”

A loud, pain-filled wail echoed through the hallway. Bose and Clinton shared another look, their eyes widening in concern.

They walked to the door of Tesiera’s bedroom, tested the handle and it opened. Bose pushed it open slowly, squinting to see through the nearly black room.

Tesiera lay on her bed, trembling and moaning. Her eyes were wide open, and tears streamed down her face. Bose and Clinton exchanged another worried glance.

“She must be having a nightmare,” Clinton whispered. “We should wake her up. She needs our help.”

Bose hesitated for a moment before shaking his head. “No, let’s not do that,” he replied. “That woman would never want us to see her like this. Hell, she might wake up throwing daggers.”

They looked back at Tesiera, helpless about what to do. Her cries were getting louder, and her head and arms glistened with sweat.

“The pain in her eyes...” Clinton swallowed tightly. “It’s like looking into Vera’s eyes.” He shook his head at the memory of Max's mother after Maxi’s attack and took a step forward. “No, I have to wake her—”

“Don’t,” Bose grabbed him. “Let’s call the boss instead. He’ll know what to do.”

Clinton nodded his agreement, and they walked out of Tesiera’s bedroom as quietly as possible and headed for Max's bedroom on the other side of the mansion.

Max answered the door with a frown, wearing a towel around his hips. His hair and body dripping water from the interrupted shower.

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