Maximus (Guardian Security Shadow World #15)

Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

M aximus knocked on the hotel door after ensuring he wasn’t followed or tracked. A massive man resembling a younger, stronger version of Abrasha Molchalin answered the door. He uttered one word. “Maximus.”

Maximus gave his passcode, “Force.”

The man opened the door, revealing a forty-five in his hand, and ushered him in. “Val, Malice, and Reaper are in the kitchen. I’ll make myself scarce.”

“Why?” Maximus turned to look at the man. “My plans include you.”

“Excuse me?” Val said as she walked out of the kitchen with a glass of wine. “He’s still recovering from surgery.”

“Can he talk for himself?” Maximus asked and turned back to Smith. “I think you at the show would cause enough of a diversion and commotion with the guards that all of us would benefit.”

Smith crossed his arms over his chest. “I would like to know your plan before I agree.”

Max smiled. “I like him.” He jabbed his thumb at Smith while talking to Val.

“Yeah, well, I have you beat. I love him.” She went over and leaned against the wall of muscle as he protectively put his arm around one of the deadliest women in the world.

“Max, I’d say it’s been a long time, but then again, that would be an understatement,” Reaper said as he and Malice walked out of the kitchen. Malice had a sandwich, and Reaper had a drink in his hand. “Can I get you a drink?”

“No, thank you. I don’t drink.”

“Yeah, why’s that?” Malice asked.

“My mother doesn’t like the smell, and I never acquired a taste for it.” Max shrugged. Reaper chuckled. “Mommy issues?”

“Man, if you knew my mom, you’d have them, too. Are we ready to get down to business?” Max sat down in the chair nearest to him.

“Always,” Malice said. “What’s the plan?”

Max shrugged. “Killing Abrasha in a very loud, very public fashion.” He glanced at Smith. “Will that be an issue with you?”

Smith sat down on the couch with Val and leveled a stare at him. “Only if you fail.”

Max smiled at the man. “That won’t happen this time. All right. This is what I’ve worked out. Elena Ivanova is his art curator. I have an in with her. At this point, I have nothing indicating she’s in bed with Abrasha, but she’s worked with him for four years.”

Reaper whistled. “And she’s not dead?”

“Are you sure she’s not his mistress?” Val asked.

“From everything I’ve discovered, she’s a permanent resident of Sochi, and there’s nothing to indicate a relationship other than through art.” Max shrugged. “You can have Con or Jewell dig if you want, but they’ll find the same thing.”

“Oh, that’s right, I forgot you were good with computers, too,” Malice said with his mouth full of his last bite of sandwich.

“I know a thing or two,” Max acknowledged. They’d never know how good he was. No one would. “She’s planning two showings. One in two weeks, the next two weeks after that. She doesn’t know about the second showing.”

Smith narrowed his eyes. “Explain that, please.”

“I’ve enticed her with a ploy suggesting my clientele is selling a highly sought after painting. She’s sent Abrasha’s financials, all verified by Swiss banking protocols. I won’t make contact with her for a couple of days.”

“Letting her stew,” Reaper said, nodding.

“Exactly. Then I’ll casually run into her.” Max leaned forward and detailed the rest of his plan.

Smith looked at Val and nodded. She turned to him. “It has a lot of moving parts, but damn, I think you’ve got a good trap set up. The only thing I require is Smith to wear body armor.”

Smith rolled his eyes. “That would limit my ability to fight.”

She made a sound in her throat, and Malice leaned away from her. “Smith, your woman is growling.”

Val reached out and punched Malice in the arm. “Shut up, brat.”

With a laugh, Malice got off the couch. “I’m grabbing something to drink. Don’t discuss anything important until I get back.”

“Then hurry up!” Val yelled as he trotted into the kitchen.

Reaper leaned back and stared at his hands. “I can get behind the ploy. The identities will be solid?”

“Better than any you’ve ever had.” Max smiled. “I guarantee it.”

“And you’re sure you can get the second showing?”

“No,” Max admitted. “That’s why we’re setting up for support in case I have a chance at the target this weekend. But based on the intel I’ve obtained, I don’t think Abrasha will be at the show then.”

Malice returned with a bottle of water and a drink of some kind of dark liquor. He tossed the water to Max, who caught it and cracked the top. “What did I miss?” Malice asked.

“We’re talking about setting up for plan B.”

“As far as?” Mal sat down again.

“Why won’t Abrasha be at the show? They’re his paintings, right?” Smith asked.

“Again, you can confirm with Con and Jewell, but Abrasha isn’t in Russia. We know he left last night. He landed in China and will be there for at least two weeks. It’s a pattern he’s established in the last two years. There’s something or someone in China he visits every three months. He has the Chinese government’s protection, but our satellites have been able to track him to a compound in the heart of the country owned by the Chinese government.”

Malice’s hand went to his ear, and then he chuckled. “Con wants to know how the fuck you knew that when he just got the information confirmed.”

“Tell him he’s too slow.” Max smiled wickedly at Malice.

Malice started laughing. “I’m not going to repeat that, Con.”

Val leaned forward. “Don’t you have comms?”

“I do and will wear them during operations, but not in between. I won’t be monitored. It’s in my contract.”

“Wait, what?” Reaper perked up. “You have a contract?”

“Hell, no.” Max laughed. “I’m just a rebel.”

“Well, that, I can respect.” Reaper shrugged his shoulder and relaxed back in his chair.

“So, spill the beans and tell us what you want us to do or where you want us to be the night of the first showing.” Val took a drink of her wine. “Some of us are still jet lagged.”

“All right. So, we know the location of the venue. The Krasnaya Polyana resort. It’s in the mountains not far from here.” Max leaned forward and pulled a hand-sketched map out of his coat pocket. Everyone leaned forward to see the depiction as Max explained what he wanted.

“That’s not much fun,” Mal said.

“As I said, I don’t think he’ll be there.”

“He has two weeks to return to the country,” Smith said.

“Which is why Con and Jewell are going to try to track him,” Max said.

“No, Con, I’m not telling him that either.” Reaper chuckled along with everyone else.

“You can make plans for the second showing,” Max said and stood up. “I’ll be in contact.”

“Don’t be a stranger,” Mal said, following him to the door.

Max chuckled. “You can bet on it.”

“Which? That you will or won’t be a stranger?” Val called from the living room.

“Yes.” Maximus laughed and walked out the door.

Malice followed him out. “Yo, Max.” Max turned and looked at the assassin. “I’ve got your back.” He held up his hand, stopping Max’s comeback. “Don’t. I know somewhere out there, you have people who care about you, or maybe you care about someone. I know you’ll do your job here and send a message. You’re just as good at this as we are, but you don’t work as often as we do. That, I know, is a fact. Yeah, you have skills we don’t know about, and that’s cool, but … everyone, even the lone wolf, still needs the pack occasionally. We’re here. Understand?”

Maximus smiled. “Momma Mal. I get why they call you that now.”

Malice rolled his eyes. “So, fucking sue me. My people matter; even though we don’t interact much, you’re still my people.”

Maximus turned and extended his hand. Malice grabbed it. “Whatever it takes, brother.”

Malice smiled. “As long as it takes.”

Maximus turned and walked away. Yeah, he was a lone wolf. He preferred the quiet to any effort at peopling. But Malice was right. He had a family he cared for and people who cared for him. He wasn’t a fool; he’d call in backup if needed. But the takedown was his. The message that needed to be sent was his to send. Abrasha had had his time. Well, he’d fucked around, and now, it was time for him to find out.