Chapter 495 - Missing (9)

Max and Quentin made their way into the dilapidated warehouse with two men behind, who were holding them at gunpoint.

Max and Quentin were carrying a duffel bag each, that appeared to be full and heavy.

Irene was standing at the far end, close to offices with Brent and two more men. Brent and his men held pistols directed toward newcomers.

"That's close enough!", Irene shouted when Max and Quentin were about twenty steps away from her.

"I told you to come alone.", Irene said to Max while gesturing toward Quentin.

"You told me to come without police.", Max reminded her. "You wanted five million. It's heavy to carry it on my own. It was either he accompanies me, or I drive the car inside." Max saw that Irene gave up on arguing about this, and he moved to the pressing point. "I've got the money, now give me Elizabeth."

Irene narrowed her eyes. "How do I know that the money is inside?"

Max swayed his hand and a heavy duffel bag fell about halfway between him and Irene. Max nodded to Quentin and the latter threw the duffel bag he was holding to land close to the first one.

"Check", Max said curtly.

Irene glanced at Brent who was standing next to her. "Open the bags."

Brent tucked his pistol at the waist of his pants and approached the bags. The sound of the zipper opening was unusually loud because everyone was quietly expecting to see what's inside. Audible gasps were heard when crisp green bills got into view and Brent shoved his hand inside, to ensure that the contents are bills and that it's not something else at the bottom. He randomly pulled a stack of bills from the bag and smirked as his eyes sparkled greedily.

"Check the other one.", Irene instructed, and Brent repeated the process with the second duffel bag.

"Five million?", Irene asked Max.

Max didn't see the point of this question. "You can either trust me or start counting. While you do that, I would like to see Elizabeth."

"Not so fast…", Irene drawled. "The money is only one part you need to give me in exchange for your fiancée."

"That is not how we agreed.", Max said stiffly.

"You are not in a position to negotiate. Remember, I have your fiancée.", Irene said smugly. A second later, Irene's face flashed in panic when she saw that Max was walking toward her.

"What are you doing? Stay there!", she took a step back, and another, and another… until her back hit the wall of the office.

"What are you afraid of, Irene?", Max asked icily. "All these people are pointing their guns at me. I won't dare to harm you."

Brent and his men exchanged nervous glances, unsure what to do. They never killed a person, and this was outside of what they discussed previously.

Max stopped one step away from Irene and narrowed his eyes. "On the other side, if I snap your neck, these guys can get their hands on five million dollars. I came here to get Liz in exchange for money. I don't care if it will end up in your hands or theirs."

Irene nervously glanced at Brent. "Don't listen to him!"

"You don't look happy, Irene…", Max said, making her focus on him. "I thought you wanted to see me."

"You are too close. Go back!"

"Isn't this what you wanted? Me, coming to you? Here I am. What will you do now?"

Irene's eyes widened as Max reached to her face and the tips of his fingers brushed against her cheek, moving lower slowly. She held her breath while wondering what is he up to. He was close, too close. Is he going to kiss her?

Irene gasped when Max grabbed her neck and applied pressure. She clawed at his wrist while trying to break free, but his grip was too strong and he seemed unaffected by the scratches she created.

"I have Liz!", Irene said through her teeth.

Max's lips lifted into a vicious smile. "Do you?"

Irene stared at Max as horror swelled inside her. It was not about the possibility that Max knew Liz was not there, or about the increasing grip on her neck which made it difficult to breathe. It was about the way he looked at her. His eyes were full of madness and she was confident that he will murder her on the spot.

A little background…

Just as Max finished his call with Irene where she told him to come to the warehouse with five million dollars, Max got another call.

"Liz is with me…", Dr. Snow said as soon as Max picked up the call.

"You bastard!", Max shouted angrily.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know it will get to this point…", Dr. Snow had to say this even though he knew that those words don't mean anything.

"Where is she!? Let me talk to her!", Max roared, interrupting whatever explanation Dr. Snow prepared.

"Liz is safe. With me. She can't talk now, but she is fine. Listen… a woman is behind this and you are her target. She never told me her name or her real agenda, other than how she planned to keep Liz away from you for a few hours to intimidate you. She will make her demands while tricking you that Liz is with her."

"Do you think I care about any of this?", Max squeezed through his teeth.

"You should. The woman is crazy, and she will not give up. If you don't use this chance to catch her, she will escape and attack again. Next time it will not be me who gets to save Liz from the warehouse and call you, but it will be some guy who will put a bullet into her head after he has his way with her. Are you willing to risk it?"

"Tell me where Liz is!"

"I told you, she is with me. I will not harm her."

Max took in a deep breath to calm down his emotions. "What do you want?"

"Take care of that woman, and then come and get Liz. I will be waiting…"

Back to the present…

Everyone was focused on Max who was choking Irene, and they didn't pay attention to Quentin who reached into his pocket and pushed a button on a device that sent a signal for the people outside.

There was a sound of glass breaking, and before Brent and his men could figure out what was happening, more than fifty armed people entered the warehouse and held them at gunpoint.

"Drop your guns!", Hunter shouted while pointing his gun at Brent.

Brent glanced around and he didn't need to count to see that there are at least five guns pointed at his head. Even Quentin was holding a gun. Didn't they search him for weapons before he was allowed inside?

Brent and his men were swiftly disarmed and escorted at the gunpoint to be welcomed by the police officers who had handcuffs ready for them.

As people trickled out of the warehouse, the chief of police came inside and observed the situation.

"As we agreed, you get this gang for kidnapping and extortion. That should put them in jail for a few years.", Hunter said. "We keep the woman."

The chief of police nodded in understanding and thanked them for cooperation before going out. He should not let them keep Irene, but the Anderson brothers helped in cleaning up several gangs in one evening. The woman was no good and she was an unknown person anyway so he didn't feel bad about doing this.

Irene panicked. Max loosened his grip on her neck, but he didn't let her go.

"What will you do with me?", Irene quacked.

"Take her and wait for me.", Max said to Daniel and then waved at the duffel bags. "Return this to the bank."

Max's men handled everything silently.

Mia thanked her people for their assistance and they all dispersed.

"Let's go and get Liz…", Brianna said nervously. Only when Liz is with them, they will be able to relax.

Max walked out of the warehouse and saw that Daniel was standing next to a black unmarked van.

Two men opened the back door and Max looked at Irene who was tied up on the floor of the van. Her legs were tied at the ankles, and her arms were tied at the back.

"You can't do this!", Irene hissed at Max. "Release me!"

"You want me to untie you?", Max asked to what Irene nodded.

She looked in disbelief when Max reached for her ankles and released her legs. She didn't think it will be that easy! But on the other hand, maybe Max still had feelings for her. He played hard to get in front of others, but now there are no witnesses, and he will eat from her palm, just how it used to be.

"What about my hands?", Irene asked when her legs were free.

"One at a time.", Max responded to Irene and turned to Daniel with his hand outstretched, palm up. "Your gun."

Irene's eyes widened in horror and she screamed when Max shot her in the right thigh, and then in the left calf.

He waited for her to stop making noise. It took some time.

"Do you want me to untie your hands also?", Max asked while gesturing with the gun toward her arms.

Irene realized that untying means she will get shot. She wondered, how come no one came to help her while she screamed? The police cars are still nearby, and they allowed Max to shot her twice! Will no one care if she gets killed here?

"No, this is fine.", she said in a shaky voice. The gunshot wounds hurt like hell.

Max nodded. "I thought so." He returned the gun to Daniel. "Make sure she does not bleed to death. You know where to take her."

Daniel understood that Irene should be taken to the safe house because Max wanted to deal with her personally.

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