Chapter 4 A Deal With The Devil

• One week earlier.
• Max was sitting on the bed in her cell, with her elbows resting on her knees, thinking for the thousandth time about everything that had happened.
• Insubordination.
• Sedition.
• Desertion.
• Assault on a superior officer.
• Those were the charges that had landed her with a three-year prison sentence, and she had already been in jail for six months. None of the few comrades she had left from the army had come to see her, so she was surprised when they announced that visit.
• "Lieutenant Johnson. Can I have a minute?" General Morrison asked, and she only raised her eyes to see him and the man accompanying him.
• "Thank you, time is something I have plenty of," she replied, approaching the bars.
• "I'm glad, because I'm here to propose a deal."
• "I'm not in the mood for deals, thank you," Max responded as she sat back on the bed.
• "Look, Lieutenant, I'm really sorry for everything that has happened..."
• "Oh, are you? And which part exactly hurts you? Sentencing me knowing I was innocent, or letting the real culprit go free?"
• Morrison sighed and sat in front of her on a small chair.
• "Listen, we have a problem and maybe you can help us. My best friend's son, Garret Grissom, is being threatened."
• "And what does that have to do with me?" she asked.
• "If anyone can commute your sentence, it's me, but understand that I can't set you free unless I declare it as a service."
• The General's proposal was simple, he offered her freedom in exchange for being the bodyguard of Liam Grissom, the young heir to a great empire. Although she didn't like it at all, Max soon realized that this was her only chance to get out of there, so she finally accepted.
• "Very well. Tell me what I have to do," she stated, and General Morrison explained her new "mission".
• There were only two important things she had to remember: she had to protect Liam Grissom at all costs, and she must not let him find out. Why? Only his father, Garret Grissom, knew.
• Just a few minutes after accepting, Max was taken out of her cell by two soldiers and set free.
• The initial plan was simple: drug Liam, make him believe he had slept with her, and then Mr. Grissom would take care of the journalists and the rest of the drama. However, when Max had been faced with the body of that man, suddenly her treacherous body had remembered all the time she had gone without satisfaction and well... Liam Grissom was definitely not one to disappoint!
• So now she was there, dressed in white and about to marry that sexual machine with a killer look.
• In a way, she couldn't be happier. It had been a tough six months in prison, and after everything that had happened, she could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel, and above all, she was free to make her worst enemy's life a living hell. Just the thought of it made her smile, but as soon as Liam appeared in her line of sight, the smile vanished from her face.
• Liam became nervous as the limousine carrying Max approached the event hall.
• "Are you really getting married?" Alexis murmured, impressed.
• "Don't even tell me! I'm marrying the nun! I want to gouge my eyes out!"
• The door opened and Max emerged, dressed in a stunning white wedding dress, and Liam felt like he had been punched in the stomach. He had never seen a more beautiful woman, and for a few seconds, he couldn't breathe.
• Alexis nudged him, completely taking away the little air he had left, and pinched his cheeks.
• "Oh my God! Leave her to me! If you don't want her, leave her to me! If that woman leaves me, I'll serve her as a carpet!"
• Alexis looked into his friend's eyes and knew he was thinking the exact same thing.
• "Wouldn't you like to get some fresh air?" he murmured as Liam turned a violent shade of pink.
• "I think what I need is a drink," he replied as they both hurried towards one of the bars, and Max rolled her eyes, imagining the challenge ahead of taking care of the little prince.
• Mr. Grissom put his hand on her shoulder to comfort her, and together they climbed the stairs to reach the hall. Garret entered first and stopped next to his son.
• "Are you ready to get married, son?" he asked as he took a sip of whiskey.
• "I don't think anyone can ever really be ready," Liam replied with a bitter smile.
• They walked to the arch filled with silly flowers where the justice of the peace stood, and Liam locked eyes with Max as she walked towards him.
• One moment he was looking at her, the next he was trying to resist the urge to run towards her and tear that dress off. He imagined kissing her neck, her breasts... and knew that if this didn't end soon, he was going to end up doing it in front of all the guests.
• "Liam, you're sweating," Alexis whispered, and he loosened his tie. "Are you okay?"
• "I don't know... how can I want to kill her and fuck her at the same time?" he grumbled.
• "Because you lack imagination," Alexis warned with a veiled laugh. "If I were in your place, I'd kill her to see..."
• "Shut up, you idiot!"
• Needless to say, the wedding was a madness. The hall was filled with people, everyone wanted to see how Liam Grissom's mysterious nun was getting married. There were journalists, photographers, and onlookers everywhere, and Max felt like she was in a zoo cage. Liam was nervous by her side, but they finally exchanged vows.
• "Don't worry," she murmured, "everything will be fine, we've already been photographed naked, it can't get any worse."
• And it was true.
• However, as everyone drank and danced, the woman's eyes wandered around the hall, until suddenly they stopped on a male figure standing in a corner, staring at them intently. He was tall and muscular, with dark curly hair, and had an intense and penetrating gaze. Although he didn't seem familiar, Max knew instantly that he was dangerous. There was something in the way he moved and looked at them... as if he was about to attack them at any moment.
• He had a cold and hard look, and for a moment Max wondered if he might be the one threatening Liam.
• He made a single signal to Mr. Grissom and the man grabbed his son's attention while Max followed the man outside.
• "You are making a mistake," was all he said when he felt the barrel of a gun pressing against his head. "A very serious mistake."