Master of his heart (Brielle and Max)

**Max Dorsey had rigged the equipment himself.**

Brielle was stunned into silence, feeling the sting as if she were the one who had been slapped, not Alivia.

"Liar," Max spat, kneeling down to punish her again.

Tears welled up in Brielle's eyes. After what felt like forever, she watched as Max stood up, his desires now in disarray. Seeing this usually composed man lose control left her defenses shattered; she had already surrendered. She was about to speak when his fingertip slipped into her mouth, pinching the tip of her tongue. "Don't talk; I won't like what you have to say."

Her eyes, still glistening from the tears, met his. Unable to utter a word, she could only stare. Max ignored her silence and bent down to kiss away the moisture from her lips before moving on to his main course. With Max, Brielle never spoke her truth. It was best to keep her mouth shut.

As they were winding down, Brielle was so exhausted she could barely keep her eyes open. Considering she had just been discharged from the hospital, Max held back, scooping her into his arms and preparing to leave. All the surveillance along the route had been disabled. He got into the car, holding her close.

Patrick was driving, mulling things over before deciding to spill the beans. "There are a bunch of new cameras around Pearl Estate, probably put up by the old man to keep tabs on you and Ms. Brielle," he said. "We've dealt with the ones around Premier Palace. Since you haven't been answering your phone, the old man's getting aggressive."

"Hmm, is James' family taken care of?" Max asked.

in a scenic,

and patted Brielle's

kept pretending

his eyes reddening slightly. He pressed his lips together and gently put her down outside the car. "Brielle, do you really

touched the ground when she "woke up." Sweat beaded on her forehead; she didn't dare look

Max reached over and pressed her head down for a forceful kiss.

again, he'd lock her away in Premier Palace right then

sharp retort, but instead, she opened the car door and climbed back in. "Patrick, could you step

and scampered off faster than

wondering what trick she was about to pull-was it a breakup, or a declaration of dislike? But a second later, the car windows rolled up. Her fingers went this

raced with possible scenarios: the car shaking, a hand pressed against the

was nothing. Only silence from

even less. But with the stress of Brielle's hospitalization and Max's

apple bobbing. Deadly. This vindictive little woman. Half an hour later, Brielle stepped out