Max’s patience was running thin; waiting had never been his strong suit. Security gave him two options: they could escort him out, or he could stay with the others in the hospital waiting room. He knew arguing with the head ER nurse would not get him what he wanted. He wanted to stay by Megan’s side, but they had refused to let him pass—family members only. He had never lost his control with another person because most people didn’t argue with him, they just did what he asked. When the nurse told him that he couldn’t follow, he lost it and punched the wall, which didn’t earn him any favors. The next thing Max knew, he was being restrained and pulled aside by two security guards. These things did not happen to Max Pierce. Hell, he was usually the one who did this to other people when things got out of hand.
His fists were at his sides, and he felt the pain in his knuckles, but it was nothing compared to what he was feeling in his heart. This feeling of being out of control for a woman was overpowering. The sight of Megan lying motionless in her blood kept flashing in his mind. Why is it taking so long for her family to get here? He thought.
Max couldn’t stand still; he needed to move, but even that didn’t calm him. He leaned against the wall in the hospital waiting room, feeling the world around him closing in. He closed his eyes, hoping that the pain in his chest would ease. Tonight was not what he had envisioned when he spotted Megan’s car at the construction site. Harrison Construction was building a complex for Pierce Enterprises, and every night for the last month her car was there as he drove by late at night. He hated the thought that she was working those long hours, but that was the stipulation in the contract. The building had to be done by a particular time to avoid a fine. Tonight he had planned to put an end to her long hours when he stopped.
He knew he shouldn’t have waited three years. He should have gone after her before this. Three years ago, he knew she was different. Something inside changed him, and he didn’t see anyone, only her. Her smile, her scent, her laughter, her love of life, and the people that she cared about humble him. He wanted to be a better man just being with her. Megan never took anything for granted, and she loved with her heart. She saw the good in people, not like him. He questioned everyone’s motives, but not once did he question hers; he knew how genuine she was.
The moment she smiled at him, Max knew his life would change for the better, and that had scared him. Megan made him feel emotions he had not encountered before. His heart beat faster just being in her presence. Women knew how he was. He didn’t get involved; he loved sex, and that was his main purpose back then. That night was magic. She fit him like a glove, and they made love for hours. He took her virginity, but if she had said no, he would have stopped. When she wrapped her arms around him, he wanted to die in her embrace. Her skin, her hooded eyes, made him want to please her even more. When they had finally fallen asleep, it felt right, but the moment he woke up in a cold sweat with his heart pounding, he knew he could see the future with Megan. Then he bailed. He ran like a coward instead of embracing those new feelings.
As months went by, he couldn’t get her out of his mind, so he decided to track her down. He wanted to explain to her why he ran, or at least try, but the moment he saw her in another man’s arms, he knew he was too late. That angered him because she was his, but he had to let her go.
Now seeing her again, he wanted her. He wanted to put that smile on her face again. He wanted to remove the sadness, the hurt, and loneliness that reflected back at him. She hid it well, but he knew better. He put those emotions there, and she had kept them buried. He would let her have her say. Megan didn’t care who he was or how rich he was; she only cared about the man he was with her. The moment he saw her at that fundraiser, he knew there would never be anyone else. The flame was still there, and he was going after her full force. The instant that they touched, he knew she felt it too. That electricity jolting our bodies, he thought. We were made to be together! He was going to make sure that Megan stood by him as an equal and his life partner.
Max thought back to earlier that day when she walked into his office. She was angry, and he could see it immediately. She was upset, and he knew he was going to get her anger thrown at him. He knew that in anger there is passion, in passion there was desire, and eventually, they combine into amazing sex. He knew she was fighting him all the way and she was not afraid to speak her mind. Maybe the gifts were a little too much, and this had finally got to her, but damn the chemistry they had would burn up his office building.
Max thought back about that passionate kiss that left them both breathless that morning, her lying on his desk with her blouse open and her breasts just waiting to be devoured, her legs wrapped around his waist. If the phone had not rung, he would have been inside of her, claiming her. Just thinking about it made him want to fight everyone in this damn hospital just to be at her side, but here he was, waiting until someone from her family arrived.
He was pissed off when he showed up, and her car was still there. He was going into that building, and he could have envisioned himself hauling her over his shoulder as she squirmed in place, her sweet little ass in his face. He could feel himself lean in and bite her if she didn’t control herself. That kiss had changed everything. It meant she still cared. It made her body respond to his touch, his lips. She opened like a wildflower as she arched into him, wanting more. Megan’s body had heated up like an inferno, and he felt her nipples harden as he touched them through her silky bra. That changed everything, and he knew she would be screaming out his name in the end.
He looked around the waiting room as more people filled in, but thinking of her had calmed him a little. Soon the tension eased, and he could feel the air in his lungs again. Not knowing if Megan was okay created an aching feeling in his chest. He hoped he had gotten to her in time; her pulse was weak, and they had almost lost her in the ambulance. He needed to know for himself that she was going to pull through. Hospital protocol meant that only family members would get information for a patient, but he did make a few calls to make sure she was getting the best care possible and to have a room ready for her if she needed to stay overnight.
Max stood at the far end of the waiting room, he took a deep breath and sighed. The sound around him of people murmuring and crying wasn’t helping, but they had each other. The hospital was not where he would like to be right now. It left something to be desired—the plastic chair, the smell of industrial cleaners, the sound of the janitor cleaning the floors, the sound of sirens in the distance, and medics screaming stats as they brought in another patient on a gurney. Max moved his shoulder in a circle motion to release the tightness. Never had he felt this buildup of stress before, especially for a woman. He sat down and rested is elbows on his knees as he rubbed his face with both hands. He took another deep breath and combed his fingers through his hair. He moved his head from side to side, trying to crack his neck. He hated not knowing what was happening. Leaving was out of the question, but from this day forward he was going to take Megan into his own hands. She would have security with her; he would do anything in his power to make sure of that. Whoever did this to her would pay.
He reached into his jacket and pulled out an envelope, that someone slips into his pocket. There was no name and nothing written on the outside. He looked it over, opened it, and pulled out the contents.
YOU WILL PAY FOR WHAT YOU DID. WE WILL BE WATCHING. NOW WE KNOW YOUR WEAKNESS.
Max had never bothered with threats before. Business was business. It was always about what you knew and what you could have. He had seen it before during hostile takeovers when CEO didn’t agree with new management. This was different, personal, and he knew it. He wouldn’t sit around for people to hurt him. He took out his cell phone, took a picture of the contents, and forwarded it to his team of security. They had better find something fast, or they would be replaced with someone that can do the job. If they were coming after him, his only weakness that he knew was Megan, and he wouldn’t let anyone get close to her. He put the evidence back in his pocket so he could give it to his security team in the morning.
Max held his head low. He took another deep breath and looked at his injured hand. He rubbed the top of his knuckles with his other hand to feel the cuts. Just minor, he thought. He pressed his other hand on top, feeling it, making sure nothing was broken. As he extended and flexed it, the soreness was there, but he knew it would only be bruised. Punching the wall when the nurse said no was not the smartest move, but he was angry and had lost his temper.
He looked up at the nurses’ station, and it was finally quiet. He tempted faith again and hoped he would get some answers without causing a scene and getting kicked out for good. As he walked toward the nurses’ station, he noticed the guards looking at him. He nodded and smiled back, meaning ‘I got this and it’s okay’. He leaned into the window and couldn’t help but watch the young nurse blushed as he smiled back at her. Yeah, I have this! He thought. His smile grew bigger, and he thought he might just get some answers after all. He relaxed and showed off his dazzling smile with full wattage, the one that said, hey baby, look at me. The one that made women melt the moment they saw it. “Evening. I was wondering if there is any update on the condition of Megan Harrison.”
Max watched her, not giving away that he was holding his breath, keeping the smile on his face as he watched her turn beat red. Yes, he had that effect, and he knew it. He looked at her flipping through charts as she tried to push her hair behind her ear. Then she looked up at him, and her face changed. He knew he wasn’t going to get the information he wanted.
“I’m sorry, sir. I cannot give you that information unless you are family.” She looked up at him and smiled.
“That’s bullshit, and you know it,” Max said through clenched teeth, trying to keep his cool. “Do you have any idea who I am? I need to talk to the supervisor in charge and now! I’ve been waiting here for hours, and I need to know the status of Megan Harrison.” Max held on to the counter, hoping that he wasn’t going to lose his patience with her. He was just about to say that she was his wife when a hand touched his forearm. He turned and looked into a pair of gray eyes full of concern. “Maggie,” he whispered and pulled her into a hug.