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“Look, lady, I don’t want trouble and I have other fares to pick up. Just get out and deal with him.” The driver, willing to be my savior only a few minutes ago, is now ready to ditch me.
I look up at the cop from where I sit in the back seat then check behind us. No other cars have pulled up. We’re stopped outside a townhouse. The entire block is residential. I have nowhere to run. And running from the cops is probably the worse option. So fine. I’ll go with him and explain everything.
As soon as I’m on the pavement, the cop shuts the door, the taxi pulls away and speeds down the street. I watch him go, half wanting to chase him down to beat him. How does he know I’m safe with this guy? Just because he’s got a badge doesn’t mean he’s a good guy.
“Please turn around, ma’am, and lace your hands at the back of your head,” the cop orders me, already getting his cuffs off his belt.
“Why are you arresting me?” I ask as I do what he says.
“I’m not arresting you,” he assures me as he slaps the metal link around my right wrist and brings it down to my back before grabbing my left to do the same. He walks me to his cruiser and opens the back door. “Watch your head.” He helps me inside and shuts the door on me when I turn to speak to him.
Once he’s in the driver’s seat he picks up the receiver on his comms unit. “This is unit 4769. Taking my dinner break.”
Dinner break? Panic rushes through me.
“What are you doing?” I ask as he makes a wide turn and heads back to the main street. Once there, he flips on his lights again and traffic parts ways for him.
“Where are you taking me?” I demand with a kick to the back seat.
He only chuckles and turns the radio on. I kick harder, but he doesn’t budge. We weave easily through traffic with the help of his lights and before I can come up with a plan, he pulls the cruiser up to Maxim’s building.
“No!” I shout and kick with both my feet. “You corrupt son of a bitch!” I scream at him through the divider. He turns off the ignition and climbs out of the car. After a short phone call, he yanks my door open and reaches in for my arm. I’m ready for him through and turn on my side, throwing both of my feet at him.
I catch him off guard, and he stumbles. But it’s only a moment before he’s back at me, grabbing my arm and pulling me from the seat.
“That was a bad idea,” he grumbles and pushes me through the front doors of the building. The doorman stands idle as I’m manhandled through the lobby and shoved into the elevator.
“Don’t do this.” I yank free from his grip once we’re closed off in the lift. He shakes his head silently.
There’s a ding, then the elevator doors glide open. My escort lightly grasps my elbow and leads me to Maxim’s door. It swings open, and there’s Ivan, with a shit-eating grin on his face.
“He’s in the bedroom,” a man I don’t know directs him to take me down the hall.
“Do you even care that this man could kill me? He could be waiting for me so he can hurt me and murder me,” I say through gritted teeth.
“Maxim is many things, but I’ve never seen him act without cause. If he’s doing anything like that to you”—he pauses a moment, looks over at me and shrugs—“you’re not the innocent girl you look like.”
“Aren’t you supposed to protect and serve?” I shoot at him as my hair falls into my eyes.
“He’s doing his job.” Maxim’s voice reverberates against my chest. He’s standing in the doorway. “Thank you, Tommy, I appreciate the assistance.”
He’s calm. Completely cool as he stands there in his white button-down shirt, the top two buttons undone, and his belt on full display around his waist.
“No problem, Mr. Volkov.” He digs out the keys to the cuffs.
“Ivan will take you down to your car. A small gift of appreciation from the Romanovs.”
A fucking payoff, that’s what it is.
The metal rings are unlocked, and I rub the soreness away.
“She didn’t give you any trouble, did she?” Maxim asks, moving to the side so I can step forward into the room.
“A good kick here and there, but nothing horrible,” the traitorous police officer answers as he puts the cuffs away. “Have a good night.” He tips his hat to him.
As soon as he’s gone, Maxim closes and locks the door.
I pull my purse off over my head from where I had it strapped across my chest and toss it to the armchair. Next, I climb out of my coat. All the stress and activity has me covered in a thin layer of sweat.
