Chapter 423 - Who Wants To Kill Liz?

Max didn't waste too much time on talking (or beating) Mr. Stone.

The moment Max mentioned Rita and running her career (and breaking her legs), Mr. Stone started talking about their plan for the Alpha group and who all was involved.

Max was not interested in their plot against the Alpha group, even though Mr. Stone mentioned a few names they were not aware of before.

Since Mr. Bolton blurted out that Irene is after Liz in order to get to Max, Max's focus was on finding Irene. He felt an urgency to stop whatever Irene planned for Liz because he found it hard to believe that Irene just left without trying to sabotage his chance of happiness… and all of his happiness is tied to Liz.

Based on the information they got, Mr. Bolton was the one to interact with Irene, while others focused on damaging the Alpha group.

Mr. Bolton didn't mention the card with a phone number on it that he gave to Irene, because that would put a target on his back, and he is already in trouble.

Max washed his hands from the blood while thinking about what to do.

The situation seemed desperate, as no one knew where Irene went or what she is planning to do.

That left Max with only one option. He called Ian again.

"Any update on Irene?", Max asked.

"No. If there is anything, I would let you know.", Ian responded.

Max exhaled sharply, and Ian thought to give Max more information. "I am keeping an eye on her cell phone, emails, and credit cards. If she uses anything, I will know about it and let you know immediately. No matter how much cash she has on her, it's bound to run out, as her checking and saving accounts are loaded. She will not leave them untouched."

"Thanks, Ian.", Max said after some time and ended the call.

"What will we do with them?", Hunter asked about the people they gathered in their safe house to be interrogated. 

"Let's squeeze out of them how much we can and find out who else was involved.", Max said with a grim expression. "For anyone who was part of this, we will destroy what is left of their companies. I want them to lose all their assets. And then we will see what we will do next, depending on how much they contributed to this charade."

Hunter nodded in understanding. "Our men made sure that no one knows where our guests are and how they got here. We can keep them here for days without arousing suspicion."

"We don't have days. I want to know where Irene is.", Max said and shoved his hand into his hair. "If I knew all this earlier today, I would not let her leave the HQ building."

Hunter patted Max's back. "I know… Go to Liz. She needs you. I will take care of things here with dad and let you know if anything useful comes out of this."

"What about Mia?"

Hunter shrugged. "Knowing her, she will want to help me out so that we can finish faster. Get some men to watch Liz and your place, don't take risks."

Max agreed. "I will get people to watch over Liz."

Max was not sure if he should tell Liz about the security he is about to arrange for Liz or not. What if Liz declines? He does not want to risk that scenario. Well, Liz can't refuse what she does not know about, and if she finds out about it later… in this case, Max will rather ask for forgiveness later than for permission in advance.

…

Max entered the room where Liz and Mia were, and he was startled when Liz ran into him and hugged him with her left hand (her right one was obstructed by the shoulder-brace).

He totally forgot that Liz watched him beat up people, and he knew that she needs to be comforted.

His arms circled around Liz and he kissed her forehead.

"I'm sorry, Max. These people used me to get to you.", Liz said in a whisper.

"Why are you sorry? It's not your fault."

"But if not for me, Irene would not accept to come to the Alpha group. And if I didn't provoke her, she wouldn't go with their plan."

Max exhaled helplessly. How can Liz ignore the fact that Irene is targeting Liz because of him? But that is his Liz. Always worrying about others.

"Let's go home and get some sleep. I'm sure that in the morning things will look better.", Max spoke softly.

Max pulled Liz gently toward the door, but she didn't budge.

"Don't you need to interrogate people?"

"Hunter and dad will take it from here. These people are not going anywhere. Your medications are due in an hour.", Max ended with a reminder.

Liz wondered if Max could get any sweeter. With all this mess going on, he is tracking her medication schedule. And he is doing a wonderful job.

She got on her toes and kissed him on the lips.

"You are an amazing man, Maximilian Anderson."

Max smiled smugly. "I will take that. Now let's take you home."

They said bye to Mia and left.

Mia was about to find Hunter, when her phone rang, and she saw that it's Fabricio.

Before she could take the call, Hunter peeked in the room with an intention to invite her to join him. He paused when he saw Mia gesturing to Hunter to wait.

"Yes, dad?", Mia said when she took the call.

"We have a situation. When can you come to Portland?"

Mia frowned. Since when is Fabricio calling her when there is a mess in HIS organization? She mentioned to him the last time they spoke about changing focus from assassins to bodyguards, and Fabricio thought that it's a ridiculous idea, rejecting it right away. She told him that she does not want to be in the business of taking care of other's problems while getting her hands bloody, and Fabricio responded how that is just a business and if they don't do it, someone else will. It was clear to her that Fabricio does not want to budge, and she was not willing to compromise on this either. Why is he calling her now?

"Why would I come?", Mia asked icily.

"Because this is something that involves you. If you don't come, you will regret it."

Mia would think that Fabricio is exaggerating, but his tone was final, and she understood that it's serious.

"Let me guess… we can't talk about it over the phone.", Mia said stiffly.

"Correct. Are you coming?"

Mia looked at Hunter and exhaled. "I will be there by midnight."

"Good.", Fabricio said and ended the call.

"Where are you going?", Hunter asked Mia.

"Portland. My dad called and it's important."

"Are you sure he does not want to get you to accept his ways?", Hunter asked.

Hunter does not care what Mia will do, he would support her either way. But he knows that Mia does not want to be in the business of assassination, and he does not like that Fabricio is not flexible. How Hunter sees it, if Fabricio is adamant about Mia inheriting his position, he should be willing to compromise.

Mia shrugged. "I don't know what he wants. He told me that if I don't come, I will regret it, and I believe him."

Hunter frowned. "Is he threatening you?"

"I don't think so. It was more like a warning, but my dad would never hurt me.", Mia responded before adding: "There is no point in guessing what he wants. I am going to Portland."

"Without me?"

Hunter looked at Mia with big eyes, reminding her of an abandoned puppy and she thought that he is adorable.

Mia gestured toward the one-way mirror through which they could see Mr. Bolton and Nathan talking. "I would ask you to come with me, but it seems that you have your hands full here. I will be back by breakfast."

Hunter walked to Mia and wrapped his arms around her. "These guys will not go anywhere. I don't want you to drive all night. Let's go together and take the jet. You can sleep on the way, and I will be your support no matter what your father wants."

Mia didn't object. "OK. When we come back, I can help you interrogate these people."

Hunter smiled. "You have yourself a deal, my lady."

…

~ Portland, the Russo family property ~

Mia and Hunter arrived before midnight, and Fabricio was waiting for them at the door, together with the butler Leo.

"How was your trip?", Fabricio started with pleasantries.

"We didn't come here to chit-chat.", Mia said curtly and Fabricio was irked that Mia smiled at Leo, yet she is hostile toward him.

"Can we get to the topic that can't be discussed over the phone? You said that it's important and we rushed here."

"Before we start, do you want something to eat or drink?", Fabricio offered, and Mia and Hunter refused as they wanted to find out what the emergency is about.

"OK. Let's go to the study…", Fabricio said.

Mia and Hunter sat opposite from Fabricio, who put one folder on his desk in front of him.

"I will go straight to the point…" Fabricio glanced at the folder in front of him. "We got a call for a job, and I was looking through the profile of the target, when I realized that the name is familiar. After double-checking, I decided to let you know about this."

Mia frowned when she saw that Fabricio pushed the folder toward her, silently asking her to open it.

Mia opened the folder and her eyes widened.

Fabricio smiled victoriously. "I was right. She is your friend." He leaned back into his comfy leather chair. "You see, Mia… running this business is not only about killing people. It's about knowing who has a grudge against whom. Other than killing, we can do kidnapping, extortion, robbery... Whatever wealthy people don't dare to do, they come to us. That does not mean that we will do it indiscriminately for the right amount of money. What our clients don't understand is that the moment they reach out to us for a job, we own them. Running this organization is not about money. With the amount of dirt I have on politicians, super-stars, and powerful families, I don't need money to achieve what I want. One phone call is enough, and the person on the other side won't dare to say 'no' to me regardless of what I am asking."

Mia gulped softly while looking at the file with the information on Elizabeth Williams. There was information on Liz's address, job, phone number, people she hangs out with... 

"Who wants you to kill Liz?", Mia asked when she found her voice.

Just a few hours ago they heard Mr. Bolton say how Irene hates Liz, but now that she is looking at this file in her father's study... things became real.

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