Maximus (Guardian Security Shadow World #15)

Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

R eaper handed him a leather pouch. “I’ll destroy that after you’re done with it.”

Maximus nodded. “Thanks.” The information the pouch contained was not for public dissemination. However, to gain Elena’s trust and help, he would provide a small portion of the evidence the Council had against him. The horrendous acts against humanity funded and perpetrated by Abrasha Molchalin were hard to read about, but she’d asked, and if he wanted to gain her trust, she needed to know.

“How is she?” Reaper asked from the doorway.

“Still sleeping.” Maximus nodded toward the kitchen. “Tea?”

“I’m a coffee type of guy.” The man smiled momentarily before saying, “We’ll be waiting, one way or the other.”

Max knew what they’d be waiting for. Either they’d continue with the mission, albeit with restrictions on Elena’s interaction with other people, or they’d escort Elena out of the country until they found a way to take Molchalin out. He hadn’t told her that. That consideration wasn’t in play at that point, but should she decline to help, she’d need to be protected, and by protecting her, it would protect him as he worked. It was a sucky solution, but one that would have to be addressed should she not be convinced by the evidence he’d give her.

“Thanks,” Max said as Reaper turned to leave.

“Whatever it takes, my man.”

“For as long as it takes,” Max said as he shut the door and stared at the leather pouch. The information it contained proved Abrasha’s guilt beyond any doubt. He heard the bedroom door open and turned around. Elena stood in a pair of yoga pants and a baggy sweatshirt. Her hair was a bit tousled, but her cheek was less swollen, and the red marks were lightened dramatically. The finger marks on her neck had darkened, which sent that familiar bolt of hatred through him. Itchiness that he couldn’t scratch started to build, which wouldn’t end well for Molchalin’s security chief.

“Who was at the door?”

He lifted the leather pouch in his hand. “Delivery of the proof you requested.” She walked across the room and extended her hand. “You might want to have breakfast before you look at that.” She wouldn’t be able to eat after she saw what was on those pages.

“I don’t normally eat breakfast, but thank you.” She kept her hand extended.

“Remember you asked for indisputable proof.” After he handed it to her, he went into the kitchen and made her a cup of tea, taking it to her as she sat on the couch. Returning to the kitchen, he retrieved his cup, then sat on the other end of the sofa.

She pulled out the packet of papers and opened the file. He watched her expressions as she read the information. When she turned the page and saw the first picture, her hand flew to her mouth, and she gasped. “Oh my God.” Her eyes popped up, searching for him. “Oh my God.”

He nodded. “That’s only the tip of the iceberg.” He nodded to the pile of papers on her lap.

Her hand shook as she turned the photo over and read the next report. He sipped his tea and watched as she paled when she read the narrative. Flipping the paper, she saw the picture of Abrasha pointing a gun at a woman. The next photo showed the woman’s brain exploding from her skull. Elena shook her head but kept reading. About halfway through the papers, she stopped and put the paperwork back together. She put all of it in the leather pouch and handed it to him. “I’ll help you. He doesn’t deserve to be a free man, and he needs to stand trial for the atrocities he’s committed.” He took the pouch and handed her the tea that had been steeping. She took out the leaves and set them on the small saucer.

“Why hasn’t he been brought to justice?”

“He’s very wealthy and travels with what constitutes a small army. Just when we think we have him, he slips away.”

She took a sip of her tea. “But he won’t expect anything at the show.”

“He won’t be at the show you’re putting on.” Max twisted his position on the couch to look at her and leaned back on the arm of the couch.

Elena frowned. “What do you mean?”

“He’s out of the country, in China. When he makes these trips, he’s always gone over two weeks. Has he ever missed his art showings before?”

She nodded. “Several times, which is always nice. The guests seem to have a better time when he’s not in attendance.” She shivered and took a sip of her tea. “Now, I understand why.”

“Instead of putting on two shows, can you push the date of this one back?” Max had an idea.

“I could, but what excuse would I give?”

“Being attacked.”

Her eyes widened. “Well, it would be the truth.”

“Exactly. Tell him you need time to recover and ask if he would be all right with pushing the date back by two weeks. That would give him time to complete whatever he’s doing and return.”

“Then you’ll arrest him.”

“Not me,” Max said. “Arresting isn’t my end of the stick.”

“You just make it a possibility?”

“Yes. I do what is required to ensure the assignment is completed.” He wasn’t lying to her, but through omission, he wasn’t telling her the truth either. That bothered him, yet another testimonial for the connection he’d somehow found with the beautiful woman.

“I’ll email him and tell him about last night. Should I tell him it was Sokolov?” she asked as she stood up rather slowly.

“Would you tell him if I wasn’t here?”

She stared at him for a moment. “Probably not. I’d wait for Abrasha to show up and then tell him. But I think Sokolov knows that, too. I think he’ll threaten me again before Abrasha comes back.”

“Then don’t tell him yet. You don’t need to worry about Sokolov. You’ll never be unattended. I plan on being with you from now until the showing. If I have to leave you, as I do this morning, to shower and change, I’ll make sure one of my coworkers is watching you.”

She turned to look at him and winced, and he was next to her in an instant. “How are you feeling?”

“I’ve never been hit by an automobile, but I suspect if I ever were, it would be a close match to how I feel right now.” She rolled her eyes. “Yes, I’m being a bit dramatic.”

“You have every right.”

“I’ll go get ready for work.”

“You’re going to work?”

“I have to. There’s a delivery from Abrasha’s residence to the vault this afternoon. One of the paintings he wanted in the exhibit.” She rubbed her arms. “You’ll come with me, right?”

“Will that anger Sokolov?” God, he hoped it would. He hoped the man would show his face. He wanted three minutes with the bastard. Fuck that, he wanted three days.

“I told him what you’d told me, your name, your position, what we were working on. He will leave me alone if he can validate your identity as you said he could. He was never supposed to approach me. I heard Abrasha threaten him when I was first hired. I threw that in his face last night. He said if I told Abrasha what he’d done, I’d be dead. I told him he’d die first.”

Max smiled. She had fight inside her. “That was baiting the bear, wasn’t it?”

“It was stupid, actually.” She reached up to his cheek. “It’s why he kicked me.”

Max touched the mark on her cheek. “Do you think Abrasha would kill his chief of security?”

“No. But I thought you would. That’s why I said it. Was I wrong?”

“You weren’t wrong.” He would kill the man.

“He was in the pictures with Abrasha when he shot the woman. Sokolov is evil, too, isn’t he?”

“He is, but I’m far more dangerous and skilled than he is. You’re safe with me.”

Elena stared at him for what seemed like years. Finally, she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. The simple touch was the sincerest action he’d ever experienced. It was pure, and he could see the embers of what had been in her eyes. He needed those embers to catch fire again. He’d move earth out of its orbit to ensure those eyes burned with the heat of a supernova again.

She blinked and whispered, “You won’t let him hurt me again.”

“Never.” He helped her down the hall.

As she opened the door, she turned to him. “If I were to ask what you were going to do to arrest Sokolov or Abrasha, would you tell me the truth?”

“If you asked me, I would. Please don’t ask.” He needed her to know she could trust him, and being as truthful as he could be began that process.

“I won’t. I think knowing wouldn’t help.” As she shut the door, a smile ticked the side of his lips. She had no idea how right she was.

He fished his comm device out of his pocket and put it in his ear. “Reaper.”

“Oh, he’s blessing us with his presence.” Con sighed.

“Stop being a baby,” Reaper said. “You need me, Max?”

“Retrieval. She’s in, and she’s going to work. I need someone to watch over her until I can change and return to her office.”

“You got it. Be there in five minutes,” Reaper acknowledged.

“Con, I’ve got eyes in the office. I’ll send you access.”

“What about the frames?” Malice asked.

“We’ll find out today,” Max replied and took a sip of his tea.

“What? What frames? How did you set up a camera system, and how do you know what I need to get into it?” Con rattled off the questions.

“Dude, he’s a nerd just like you.”

“Well, now, I’m really offended. No one’s like me,” Con said.

“I agree with that,” Max said, pulling his earpiece out of his ear and shoving it in his pocket.