Chapter 494 - Missing (8)

In a small hotel at the outskirts of Las Vegas…

Dr. Snow placed Liz on the bed gently and he looked at her for a few seconds before he started rummaging through the plastic bags that were filled with medical supplies.

After he left the warehouse where Irene and her men were, Dr. Snow made a stop at the convenience store. He purchased gauze, band-aids, sanitizing solution, antiseptic cream, medication for bruises, painkillers, and anything else he found that could be used for treating Liz's injuries. He also got instant soup, energy drinks, and granola bars that Liz could eat when she regains consciousness.

Once he closed the door of the hotel room, Dr. Snow removed the qipao dress Liz was wearing. It was tattered, dirty, and smeared in blood.

With the fabric gone, he got to see the full extent of injuries on Liz's body and his heart ached. Normally, he would be excited to see the woman from his dreams on the bed, wearing only underwear, but the current situation was not a romantic one and he was a medical professional who saw many naked people, after all. The only difference was that his chest was tight as if he caused those injuries himself.

He got a towel and a basin with warm water from the bathroom, sat on the bed next to Liz, and started cleaning the dirt and dried blood from her body.

Dr. Snow pushed the bed covers away, wrapped Liz in a clean bathrobe (that hotel provided), and placed her on crisp white bedsheets.

Liz didn't move and his heart ached from the conflicting emotions that raged inside him as he inspected each of her wounds and applied the corresponding treatment. He didn't reveal more of her body than necessary. 

Dr. Snow never thought that it will reach this far, and he knew that he made a mistake.

When Irene approached him, he was angry and dejected, and jealous, and he wanted to show Liz that Max is not the amazing man she thinks he is.

The plan sounded simple, and no one was supposed to be hurt. Of course, Dr. Snow didn't know what Irene would do to Max, but he thought that at most Irene wants to punish him a little and maybe extort some money.

However, things spiraled out of control and here he is… applying antiseptic cream on a cut that is on Liz's right calf before he bandages it.

Liz's body is covered in bruises and Dr. Snow felt the weight of them tightening around his heart. Will Liz ever forgive him? Probably not. This time he messed up too much and the only comfort is that Liz's wounds will heal, and she will be fine… someday.

When he was done treating her right leg, he moved to the left one.

He was aware that the right thing would be to call Max and how that call will probably place him in jail, but he wanted to have Liz for himself a bit longer even if she was not aware of that.

Dr. Snow paid for this room in cash and he carried Liz from the parking lot in the back, so no one should know that they are here.

Dr. Snow lost track of time and he didn't care if it's still night or morning when he closed the bathrobe completely around Liz's body as he finished treating the visible wounds. The fact that Liz's pulse was steady and she had no fever told him that she should not have internal injuries.

He sat on the bed next to her and brushed the hair off her forehead. If he could erase the last day from her (and his) memory, he would do that.

Dr. Snow gazed at Liz's face and he was lost in her beauty. Even with all the bruises, cuts, and swelling, and with the overwhelming smell of medicinal cream, she was enchanting.

He touched her cheek gently and she twitched. A second later, Liz cried softly. "Max…"

Dr. Snow pressed his lips into a line. He knew that she was waking up and that he was running out of time. Part of him wished to wait and explain to Liz everything, but he knew that no explanation will be good enough for what he had done.

Dr. Snow took his phone and powered it on.

…

Earlier that evening…

Max exited an underground club with heavy steps. Quentin and Hunter were behind him.

The street was filled with police cars and the police officers were arresting people.

Max, Quentin, and Hunter carried guns and their clothes were disheveled and speckled with blood, revealing that they were in a scuffle.

"Shit!", Max cursed as this was also not the place.

This was the third club they raided, and they still didn't find any clues.

Mia and Brianna came from the back, with two men who report to Mia. Daniel was also there, and a few other men that report to Max and Mia trickled out of the club as well.

Brianna is not into violence and guns, but this was for Liz, so she stuck close to Mia. It's not difficult to point a gun and pull the trigger, as long as there are no friendly units nearby (which Bri can shoot accidentally).

It would be faster if they split up, but that would mean that they will be less in numbers and in more danger of getting hurt.

The chief of police provided a list of known gangs and their gathering places, as well as any details he knew about them.

The police didn't have any legal right to get into those places, but if someone else started a fight, and they arrived on a pretense of handling the situation and they accidentally found some damaging evidence... then it's a different story.

The chief of police promised Max that he will watch their backs as they storm the places, and as a bonus, he gets to arrest the bad guys. Everyone wins. Everyone, other than Max whose agenda was to find information on Irene and where she was hiding with the hope of finding Liz.

Sure, Irene will call him soon, because she requested five million dollars, but if Max can get to that place before that, he can have information on what he will be dealing with and time to come up with a plan that will provide an element of surprise.

"Mr. Anderson!", one policeman called to get Max's attention. "This man might know something…"

Max made his way to the policeman and then his eyes landed on a handcuffed skinny man in his early thirties whose skin was covered in tattoos.

"What do you know?", Max asked.

The man sneered. "What's in it for me?"

"I will vouch that you cooperated to reduce your punishment."

The man was not happy with this deal. "I need something more solid than that."

Max's face darkened. "How about I talk to your buddies and tell them that we raided this place because you tipped us off?"

The man was startled. "That would be a lie."

"Maybe. But I wonder if your buddies will listen to your explanation. How about I test that right now?"

The man panicked. "Fine, fine… there is a blonde chick. She showed up around a month ago and was looking to hire help."

"Did she hire someone from here?", Max guessed.

"We don't work for chicks. She had money and was a fine piece of ass, but that's it. If she wanted to warm my bed, I would take her, but she refused. The word is that she hired Brent's crew…"

Max looked at the policeman. "Do you know who is this Brent?"

Policeman nodded. "Brent is the boss, there should be about ten of them total. We get them repeatedly for theft and public disorder, but it was never big enough to keep them locked up. They have a lair on the East side."

"Do you have the address?"

"We have it on file, I will need to look it up."

Max exhaled in relief. Finally, there was a clue.

"Found something?", Hunter asked when he saw that Max's mood was better.

"I think so. Some guy Brent. Has no more than ten people. They are on the East side, and soon we will get the address…"

Max was interrupted by his phone ringing.

He swiftly moved away from the commotion and took the call. "Yes?"

"Do you have my money?", Irene asked.

"I have it. Let me hear Liz.", Max responded.

Hunter, Quentin, Mia, and Brianna gathered around Max and looked at him expectantly, wanting to hear what Irene was saying, but Max didn't put it on speaker so that Irene does not get a hint that they are outside with the police around. The last thing Max wanted was for Irene to panic and to hurt Liz more than she already did.

"Not so fast. You get something for me, and I will get something for you."

Max gritted his teeth. Knowing Irene, the exchange will not go smoothly. After all, if Irene was after the money, she would not leave the Alpha group because as a director, she could demand huge bonuses.

But Max was not in a position to negotiate for more time because Liz was in Irene's hands and his whole body was aching from the need to hold her.

"When and where.", Max said curtly.

"That's how I like it. First, no police or your fiancée will suffer. Second, here is where you need to come…"

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