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Was that a payoff? That sure looked like an envelope stuffed with cash he just pocketed. Is he acting on Dimitri’s orders or someone else's? There’s only one way to find out.
Leaving my hiding place, I step downstairs. Maks is strolling through the hallway, and I pretend to have just spotted him.
“Maks, what are you doing in this part of the club?” I casually approach him with a friendly smile.
He stiffens, then slowly spins around. His Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows. “Nothing. Just needed to stretch my legs.”
“Oh. So you weren’t looking for me?”
“Nah. If I was looking for you, I’d send a text.” His posture is relaxed, but it looks forced because his gaze keeps darting to the side. I’m surprised that he’s such a terrible liar. In his line of work that could get him killed.
I don’t want to push him too hard so I table the rest of my questions. “Okay then. I’ll be about an hour, I think. I’ll text you if work keeps me longer.”
He nods, relief radiating off of him in waves. Turning away, I walk toward the East wing, my mind reeling.
If Maks was on an errand for Dimitri, he’d say so. We’ve stopped at places in the past around the city when Dimitri needs something done that isn’t too dangerous. So that leaves me with one conclusion: Maks is going behind Dimitri’s back.
Is he working with Boris, the guy Dimitri’s trying to find? Or is he an informant of some kind, maybe with the FBI? The possibilities are endless. And not a single one of them looks good for Maks.
CHAPTER 25
Dimitri
“Listen, Pontrelli, I get it that Boris has left the country, but that doesn’t mean your work on this is done. I need to know who helped him escape. You have my suspect list, any leads?” I lean forward, elbows on my desk, phone to my ear.
Pontrelli snaps, “No. No leads. Those other Russians have disappeared too. I’m finished with being your hound dog. Use your own resources if you want to follow around your men. Mine are busy with more important tasks.”
“This isn’t over until I say it’s over. Remember, your daughter’s life is on the line.” I threaten, my tone menacing, even though my words are empty. I’d never harm his daughter, but he doesn’t know that.
“Don’t,” he says. “Just don’t. I’ll put my men on it.”
“Good.” I press the button to end the call.
Boris has left, right after those fuckers tried to grab me from the charity event. The one dead man on the scene had no ID on him. So far, nothing has come back from running his prints either.
My guess is that Boris is regrouping. He’s pig-headed, there’s no way he’s giving up. He’ll either lead this Bratva or he’ll die trying to step into my position.
The one thing that confuses me is why he wants me alive. Why didn’t they shoot me at the hotel? They had plenty of opportunity. I don’t get it.
A knock comes at my door.
“Come in,” I bark.
I do a double-take when Arianna enters my office. Standing up, I motion to a chair in front of my desk, which she hesitantly approaches. Our gazes meet, but she quickly glances away, a faint pink staining her cheeks. It’s obvious she’s thinking about last night. Does she regret it? Worse, did I hurt her?
She sits and folds her hands in her lap. All prim and proper. Her shields are up, and I’d honestly do anything to get beneath them.
I clear my throat. “What’s on your mind, kisa?”
After a strained moment, her eyes finally lock onto mine. Her pretty blush returns full force. Christ, I love that look on her.
“Do you trust Maks?” Her question takes me by surprise.
“Why? Did he touch you?” My fingers ball into fists on my desk. I don’t care who it is, if anyone touches her they die.
Arianna’s jaw drops. “No! Nothing like that… It’s just that he met with someone at Leonidas and it struck me as suspicious. Was he running an errand for you?”
My fingers relax. “No. But believe it or not, Maks has his own life too. Not everything he does is for me.”
