Chapter 26: The Breaking Point

Angela tackled the man who was aiming to attack Max from behind. And from one, she started combating beside Max with half of the other men. It didn’t take Max much time to realize what she was doing.

“Angela!!” his heart skipped a beat, “What are you doing? Just go and hide yourself for god’s sake” he yelled while hauling another man between his arms, “I can’t risk you getting injured”

“Shut up” she yelled back, “I’m strong enough to protect myself” she said, punching the man in front of Max with her elbow, “But you seriously need a hand here”

Max was greatly taken aback by her outburst but he didn’t have enough time to give it much thought as the number of goons were far from being tackled by two persons. Yet, Max and Angela fought beside each other, helping each other, hand in hand. In between smashing the heads of the goons, Max didn’t fail to notice Angela’s expert combatting skills. Her moves are not of some amateur, her blows are of someone practiced for long enough, he mused.

One of the men among the goons, called his partner for help and within fifteen minutes, another group of skilled snipers arrived at the place. Fuck, Max cursed. Where the hell is Rick? He and Angela stood facing the snipers, back to back. “Angela, I’ll try to engage these snipers for some time, till then you run away from this place and hide yourself” he whispered to her, slowly.

“And leave you behind?” she smirked, “No way”

The leader of the snipers interrupted them, “Any last wish before dying, Maxwell Harrison?”

Max’s jaw clenched, a cold drop of sweat trickled down his face. He contemplated for a moment before speaking, “Let the girl go and I’ll submit myself to you”

The man barked out a laughter. It felt like a déjà vu. “You’ll submit?” he snickered again, “Let me tell you Harrison, you have no choice here. You’re gonna die anyway. We were ordered to bring you back alive but my hands are itching to kill you. You’re a dead meat today, Maxwell” he growled, raising up the gun to focus at Max’s heart.

Angela peeked at Max to gauge his reaction. Even her heart was throbbing madly beneath her chest, fearing their death but Max’s face remained neutral. I… don’t want to die yet. And… I don’t know why but I don’t want him to die him either. I don’t know when I started liking him but…… Max’s hand land at her waist to shield her body behind him. She closed her eyes in pain. Oh Max……. let me die instead of you. She opened her mouth to speak something, “Max I……”

A sharp bullet noise cuts through the air, making her flinch with horror. For a moment, she thought that the bullet pierced through Max’s heart and she felt her heart dying along with him. But then she feels his sturdy grab, squeezing her waist lightly as if reassuring her. She opened her eyes find him completely fine. Thank god……

Another bullet sound came, followed by another sound and then it became continuous. All the snipers, searched for the attacker, running everywhere to save themselves from the shots and firing at the suspicious places. Angela and Max were as baffled as the snipers as they couldn’t locate anyone firing bullets at the enemy. Who could be it? Angela ran her eyes everywhere, searching for her alleged friend. It was then, when she saw him. a smile forming it’s way on her lips, Romeo.

“It’s your bodyguard” Max mumbled beside her. She cocked her head to look at him. Of course, he’d find Romeo even after he hid at such a good place. Max is known for his sharp gaze, after all, she admired him subconsciously. Meanwhile Romeo, with his excellent shooting skills successfully managed to kill down almost all of the snipers. And it didn’t take long enough for Max’s men to come for their rescue. Romeo also jumped down to reach near Angela, his move as fast as a shadow killer. Still firing shots with his gun, he said to her, “I saved your ass today. Don’t forget to thank me later”

Angela smirked at his words. Typical August! “I’ll remember it till my last breath,”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*`

“Are you out of your fucking mind?” Max engaged himself in playing his phone, trying to avoid Adam’s scolding.

“Answer me damn it. How can you be irresponsible? Is this all just a game to you? You’re a CEO for god’s sake.” Adam growled, getting more furious with every passing second.

Max finally took his eyes off his phone, sigh heavily, “I’m alive, standing in front of you and listening to your rants, aren’t I?”

Adam resisted the urge to haul Max’s phone in frustration, “This isn’t like you, Max. Your getting worse day by day. This isn’t some time to go and date with some chick. Do you not understand that a very dangerous mafia gang is lurking around this city like an angel of death, ready to take your life?”

Max pursed his lips thin, “I know Ad, and I’ll look into it as soon as possible. I assure you that they won’t be able to get away with it easily. I’ll make them pay for everything,”

His words didn’t seem to calm Adam as there was another pressing matter in his hand right now, “And what is SHE doing here?” he asked pointing at the exhausted figure of Angela, sprawled at one of the couches in the first floor of Max’s mansion.

Max let out a breath he was holding back, “She’ll be staying here with me for this night…….” He looked at Adam to gauge his reaction, “…….. and till the time this mafia case is solved properly.”

This was it for Adam, he finally lost all the patience he was containing inside his mind, “Say that again?”

“She’ll live with me, in my mansion from now on,” Max replied immediately.

“That’s it. You’ve completely lost it. You’ve gone so far as to invite a suspicious girl to live with you when your life is threatened by your enemies from every possible direction?”

Max’s jaw ticked with annoyance at his words, “I’m not a child Adam and I know what am I doing, very well. They clearly know about Angela now and can use her against me taking her as a bait. She’s in this situation because of me and I will do everything possible within my powers to protect her. Period.”

“To hell with your protection and to hell with your Angela, you’ve turned insane by her beauty.” Adam snapped, his eyes red with fury.

“Adam!!” Max’s voice raised an octave higher, “You are going overboard with your hatred for Angela. I don’t need your opinion to decide who I should trust and who I should not. And I won’t tolerate another insult for her from your mouth,”

His words felt like a slap to Adam’s face. All those years of friendship and brotherhood seemed to shatter bit by bit in front of his eyes. Picking up his jacket, he decided not to stay any longer. But before exiting his room, Adam hissed in low voice, low enough for Max to hear, “I’ll wait for the day you’ll regret this. Every bit of this. And you’ll still find me standing beside you. No matter what happens to you.”

Max didn’t like the tone of his words. He didn’t like the way Adam walked away from him. But he also didn’t like the way he talked about Angela. He had no right to judge anyone without knowing them. Max knew he couldn’t be mistaken the longing he saw in her eyes for him. I know she wants me as much as I want her. He watched Adam slipping out of the room, banging the door close behind him. Adam’s words were menacing. They felt like a warning.

Adam’s steps were quick and reluctant, as he descended down the stairs with a feeling of hurt in his heart. Given Max and Adam had fought many times but this wasn’t like any of their regular fights. He has even gone as to sabotage their years of friendship just because of a girl? That girl? He stared at Angela resting at the couch, her head laid back and eyes closed. He stalked closer to her silently.

Angela opened her eyes suddenly, sensing a pair of eyes burning hole at her head. As soon as the vision came in front of her, she found Adam’s intimidating-built hovering upon her, his eyes intense with many feelings in them. Her eyes took in his appearance, his black tie hung loose around his neck, the top buttons of his crisp white shirt popped open, his hair tousled around his forehead, he looked exhausted. She had always liked him for being such a good friend to Max, so much as to ignore his disgust filled gaze on her. He must have been worried for Max.

She opened her mouth when she couldn’t ignore his intent stare upon her. Doesn’t he have any decency not to stare at someone trying to rest. He’s hovering just above me and won’t even budge from his place. “You…...

“Before doing anything, just remember the fact that he really likes you very much. He’s ready take any measures for your happiness and I’m going to take any measures for his happiness,” And with that, he walked away without giving her a chance to retaliate.

Angela’s blood went cold inside her veins. He knows something. He’s suspicious of me…….