Bothered by how the handoff could’ve failed and how any one of the three of us could have been blind-sided and killed by that drive-by out in the open, I stepped back as Maksim and Dean argued and discussed who had been informed about this handoff. The list was small, and neither man had any idea who to look at for why this had happened.
Taking a step back and letting them get into it as they retraced the planning of this handoff, I grew worried. I wanted to understand what had gone wrong. This was set up before I’d been involved, and I wanted to see where things had failed, why a leak could have happened.
Maksim liked to solve problems.
He got things done.
I realized that dynamic early on and I witnessed how Adrik counted on him to do just that.
I was like that too, though, and right now, I reeled with the questions that flooded my mind and had to be answered so I could help solve this.
What if someone was trackingmeand wanted to aim at me?
They had routine handoffs and runs and no one suffered the risk of a drive-by. But it happened today, when I’m here. Is that the variable that matters?
What if this is because of someone against the Cartel? Someone who was wronged by Arturo because of some stupid decision he’d made?
Dread filled my stomach and I winced.
What if he screwed someone else over and they’re trying to take me out as retaliation because they can’t get to him at the compound?
“Let’s go,” Maksim said at last, turning to me.
Dean nodded at us and moved to get into the car. “I’ll follow you.”
I went with Maksim, wishing my thoughts weren’t swirling like an angry, chaotic mess in my mind. He held my hand, covering my back as he got me back into the car, and that jarred me out of my thoughts.
I didn’t want his protection when he needed it too.
I didn’t want to be a thing to shelter or guard.
I wanted to help solve this, dammit.
But I didn’t push it. I didn’t protest or fight back like I normally would.
“Wait.” He frowned, studying me as he stood at the passenger door. “Slide over. You drive.”
I didn’t argue, bothered and too deep in thought. I moved over behind the wheel and he got in on the side. Keeping his gun in his lap, he indicated that he intended to be the lookout while I drove. Once we got going, with Dean following us, he got on his phone and began relaying the details of this incident.
First, he spoke with Adrik. Then Alexei. Another call on speaker with Alexei and Viktor.
They all worked as a team, never letting egos get in the way. Concentrating on driving while he kept his eyes open for a threat, I was treated to another example of how the Volkovs weren’t structured as lawless men, but a sterner unity than what I ever saw in the Cartel. These Volkovs ran a well-oiled machine of violence and power, and they did so with the greatness of loyalty behind their decisions.
Maksim’s coldness and aptitude for focusing on his job weren’t cruelty. It was discipline. And that was something I’d never be able to say about my brother and how he ran the Cartel.
My father had been a follower of the same beliefs that the Volkovs exhibited.
He stood on the principle of loyalty. But with his death, my brother was letting the unity and brotherhood of the Cartel lapse and go to waste.
I sighed, knowing we were closer to Maksim’s house. Not a single threat had appeared on the drive, which was a relief. But I couldn’t lower my guard at all.
With my brother on my mind again, I dismissed that he could’ve been in on that drive-by attempt at that handoff.
He hasn’t checked in with me once.
All this time, he had been without any communication. Not even a standard congratulations had been formally issued after the wedding over a month and a half ago.
Arturo and I had never been close, but since our parents were killed, we’d been forced to work together. He’d never admit it, but hehadleaned on my expertise and judgment to keep the Cartel going.
