I have not seen Maxim in a few years, but shit has gone downhill for him, it appears. This operation isn't as clean as it used to be.
"I won't repeat myself."
"Tasha," Maxim snaps, and the girl hurries to her feet. "My front left inside pocket," he tells her.
"No," I tell her, and she smartly stops. "I want the right pocket." That was the one he was going for. I already know from the blood draining from Maxim's face that it's a weapon. The girl does as she's told, pulling out the gun.
I'm pissed. No, I'm fucking enraged. "What the fuck did you think you were going to do here?"
"Nothing, I swear," he sputters, but I don't believe him. "Okay, things changed when we saw you had a girl with you."
"Oh God, was I about to be sex trafficked?" Teddy asks. "That was not on my list."
"You were about to be used against me." Maxim saw an opening and was making a play for it.
I don't know what he wanted: cash or information. It doesn't really matter at this point; he's a dead man either way. My Zolotse is off-limits, and I'm going to make that real fucking clear to everyone.
Chapter Twenty-Three
TEDDY
They were going to use me against Killian? Holy crap. This is way more action than I thought I was going to see in this underground scene.
"Sorry, sucker, you underestimated my man," I say, feeling as though I need to respond in some way, and I don't want to appear weak. Plus, those stretches of silence almost killed me. How I didn't speak, I haven't got a clue. I didn't know I had so much willpower.
Killian's brows lift. "I should have been meaner." This is when I need Lily. That girl can cut a man down to size with a few words. Some I've never heard before.
"Killian, listen." Maxim's eyes bounce between Killian and me. I want to tell him he might have better luck with Killian if he stops looking at me.
"No, you listen!" The blonde, who was half asleep even when pulling that gun out, is suddenly spry. She points the gun she pulled out of his pocket at him. Everyone is quiet.
"We're listening," I whisper loudly. The woman sniffles and rubs her nose with the back of her hand, still holding the gun in the other.
"You think I don't know about Mindy."
Who is Mindy?I wonder to myself.
"Babe—"
"Don't you babe me!" She steps closer to him. I glance over to Killian, who is watching them, appearing bored, but I know he's pissed. "Oh, and Carly." Maxim starts to get irritated because he tries to level Tasha with a glare.
"Knock this shit off. You know what you are." He speaks with disgust. Maxim must want to die tonight. "You're nothing. You need me now; put the fucking gun down." Her hand starts to slightly shake.
"Or," Killian speaks. "You could shoot him." He shrugs. "Take the money."
"You'd, ah, you'd let me take it?"
"It's all yours," Killian tells her. His hand comes out, pressing to my stomach, and I move in the direction I feel him guide me. He puts himself more in front of me.
"She's not going to—" The sound is soft, not a loud bang as I thought it would be. A small scream leaves me, but I don't see anything. Killian fully stepped in front of me. I pop my head out to see the man is now on the ground; Tasha still has her gun pointed at him.
"Here." Killian steps forward, wanting the gun. I see the hesitation in her eyes.
"The money," I remind her. "Get the money." That has her handing the gun over. She starts packing money up. Killian moves around the table, and I find myself creeping forward.
"Is he dead?" I whisper for some reason.
"Zolotse, stay back," he tells me, but I keep creeping forward, with a weird need to see this for myself.
