Chapter 5 A Real Threat

• Max tried to turn around, but the man was pressing the gun hard against his neck.
• "Walk," he said hoarsely, and she lifted her dress and started walking.
• The man pushed her towards a dark car parked at the end of the street and opened the back door to push her inside. But he couldn't even attempt it, because at that moment Max's heel forcefully stabbed into the toe of his shoe and the woman turned sharply, breaking his wrist in one swift movement and making him fall heavily to the ground.
• Max took the gun that had been in the man's hands until that moment and pointed it at his temple.
• "Don't shoot!" shouted the man who had tried to kidnap her.
• "Who the hell are you and what do you want with me?" she growled, cocking the hammer of the gun to show she meant business. If there was one thing Maxine Johnson was not afraid of in her life, it was shooting.
• "I... I thought... I thought you were the nun, I was wrong..." the man stammered and Max hit him hard.
• "And who wants the nun?"
• The man hesitated for a moment, but the determination in the woman's eyes was pure resolve.
• "They... they don't want the nun, but my boss believes that if he has her... if he has her, Liam Grissom will come..."
• Max was about to ask another question when she heard the characteristic whistle above her head. The bullet passed inches from her and hit the car. She fired twice in response and ran away from there, in the alley there were at least three more men, they were armed and had bad aim, and people with bad aim were even worse than those who shot well. She took off her shoes halfway to run better and a few minutes later she arrived at the back garden of the wedding hall. She stopped with shallow breaths and when she looked up and saw Garret Grissom standing in front of her, with a pale but resolute face.
• "Are you okay?" he asked, approaching. "Have you been hurt?"
• The old Grissom pointed to a small hole in the bottom of her dress, obviously from a bullet, and Max shook her head.
• "No... it didn't hurt me... but it's clear that someone is very interested in hurting your son," she replied. She tore off that piece of the dress, and wrapped the gun she was holding in it before handing it to the man. "Give it to the General, the attacker's fingerprints may be contaminated with mine, but he can trace the serial number..." she murmured. "And we'll see each other in his office tomorrow, there are a few toys I need him to get for me." She patted the old man's shoulder and he saw her go back into the party, as if nothing had happened.
• She had handled the situation in a professional manner and Liam hadn't even noticed. She was simply perfect.
• The party from then on was a constant state of vigilance for the girl, until someone announced the first dance of the newlyweds.
• "Let me guess, darling... did you have fun?" Liam asked with a sarcastic smile as he led her to the center of the room.
• "How sweet! You're starting to get to know me! And you?"
• "I... well, I'm here, right?" he said, with an uncomfortable grimace. "Let's at least try to smile."
• Liam took Max's hands and ran them over her neck. He kissed her, softly and calmly, letting his lips slide gently over hers while caressing her neck. And if she was honest, Max couldn't discern how sincere that kiss was and how much was for appearances. But she knew as soon as she felt Liam's heavy breathing.
• "I think it's time to start the Honeymoon!" he declared, taking her hand to drag her out of the room; and Max didn't complain, because it was certainly better to protect him in a less crowded place.
• They got into the limousine, and even Liam was surprised when instead of entering the Grissom mansion, the driver kept going, almost a mile further, to the gates of a different mansion.
• His phone started ringing and Liam heard his father's cheerful voice:
• "Congratulations on your wedding, son. This is my gift."
• Mr. Garret had given them his own mansion for the marriage. Liam was over the moon, and as he looked at Max, he saw that she was smiling from ear to ear.
• "Don't you think it's great?" he asked.
• "The truth is, yes," Max replied honestly, because she already imagined all the surveillance and security she was going to put in that house without anyone interfering. "I've never felt so... happy."
• "Well... wife... what do you say we start this honeymoon...?"
• But at the same moment he turned to Max, he was met with a cold and controlled look, and a finger moving back and forth saying no.
• "Eh!?"
• "No, darling, no," she confirmed. "I'm not going to sleep with you. The first time was a bonus, and now I'm saving your royal ass, but whatever you want from me, from now on, you have to earn it."
• Liam's jaw almost dropped.
• "Is this a damn joke!? The only and literally the only good thing about this filthy marriage is being able to sleep with you!"
• A genuine smile escaped Max because despite being an arrogant prince, there was something she liked about Liam Grissom: he had no filter, and he didn't mind saying what he wanted.
• "Well, I'm expecting a little more benefits besides sex, so control yourself a bit, and we'll see if you earn it."
• She heard that grunt of frustration and then saw him turn his back and storm off to explore the house. They found the master bedroom and Liam slammed the door in her face, locking it before going into the bathroom, but when he came out, all wet and relaxed, he realized she was sitting calmly on the bed.
• "How... how did you get in? I locked the door...!"
• "Well, you better stop doing it if you don't want tomorrow's newspaper headline to be: 'Ex-nun files for divorce the day after her wedding to Liam Grissom'."
• Max walked past him swaying and went into the bathroom... and didn't bother to lock the door because he was outside, thinking of all his ancestors and hating her intensely.
• He came out a few minutes later, wearing comfortable pajamas, and lay down on the bed.
• "Are we really going to sleep together?" he grumbled.
• "You promised, my dear husband," Max sighed. "So bring your butt over here before I do unspeakable things to you."