Page 83 of Secret Heir

Maksim and the other man are calm and emotionless. Like this is just another Tuesday for them.

My brain is screaming for me to run and pretend I never saw this. But I’m frozen, unable to move or breathe.

Maksim says something in Russian. His voice is cold and flat, nothing like the warm tone he uses with me.

The man in the chair screams. Maksim pulls out a gun, and before I can process what’s happening he shoots the man in the head.

The sound is deafening in the warehouse, echoing off the metal walls. The man slumps in the chair, blood and worse things splattering on the concrete behind him. I clap my hand over my mouth, fighting the scream that wants to tear from my throat. My breathing comes in short pants and my vision narrows to a tunnel.

Maksim just…killed someone like it was nothing.

The other man—the one with blue eyes—pulls out plastic sheeting. They work together efficiently, clearly having done this before and wrap the body. Their movements are practiced and coordinated. Maksim says something to the blue-eyed man. The blue-eyed man nods. Maksim checks his watch then walks toward the exit. Toward where I’m hiding.

I shrink back behind the crates, pressing myself into the shadows, barely breathing. He passes within feet of me, so close I could touch him. I can smell his cologne and my stomach roils. It’s the same cedar and leather scent I’ve buried my face in countless times.

The same man who makes love to me with such tenderness just murdered someone without hesitation.

The warehouse door opens and closes. He’s gone.

I should run now. Should take this chance to get out while he’s not here. But I’m still frozen, shock keeping me pinned in place. And some morbid part of me needs to understand what I just witnessed.

I peek around the crates again. The blue-eyed man is still there, finishing with the body. Then I hear footsteps—someone else entering the warehouse. A new man appears. He’s shorter and stockier, with an unremarkable face I wouldn’t be able to describe if asked.

“Is it done?” The new man speaks English with a heavy accent.

“The accountant’s handled.” The blue-eyed man’s voice is rich and it makes me shiver. “Last loose end with the Cyprus accounts.”

Cyprus accounts. My brain tries to make sense of this, but everything feels fuzzy and unreal.

“And your partner?” The new man glances toward where Maksim left. “He’s still on board?”

“Completely.” The blue-eyed man sounds confident. “We move against his brother in three, maybe four months. Timing has to be perfect—Nikolai’s guard is down right now, and he trusts me completely.”

Nikolai. I know that name. Maksim has mentioned his brother Nikolai, the one who runs the family business. It always sounded like Maksim respected and maybe feared him a little.

“No second thoughts? No risk he backs out?” The new man sounds skeptical.

“None. He came up with half the plan himself.” The blue-eyed man laughs and it’s a cold, sharp sound that makes the hairs on the back of my neck rise. “The Corsicans are ready on our end—once Nikolai is gone, we split the territory as agreed.”

The words sink in slowly, like poison spreading through my bloodstream.

We move against his brother.

He came up with half the plan himself.

The Corsicans are ready.

Once Nikolai is gone.

Maksim is planning to kill his own brother. He’s working with these people—Corsicans, whoever they are—to betray his family. And they just murdered someone to cover it up. An accountant who knew about Cyprus accounts.

“And no one suspects?” the new man asks.

“No one. By the time they figure it out, it’ll be too late.” The blue-eyed man moves toward the body. “Help me move this. We need to be done before he gets back.”

They lift the wrapped body between them and carry it toward the back of the warehouse. I hear a door open and close, then I’m alone with the ringing in my ears.

I run.