Maximus (Guardian Security Shadow World #15)

Chapter 13

CHAPTER 13

M ax sat at his desk and watched Elena work. He picked up his cell phone, tapped his earpiece, and put the phone to his ear so she would think he was talking on the device and not through his comms system.

“Dude, what the hell do you need a frame for?” Con asked as a way of greeting.

“You can forget about that for the time being. The frame contained a Chagall reported as stolen during World War II. Elena found a registry of stolen artwork, and it was listed.”

“So, the dude is smuggling in stolen art.” That was Reaper.

“That’s correct.”

“How many works do you have?”

“We believe thirteen, but we haven’t opened the other frames. It’s a matter of preservation of the art and proper restoration to a frame. Elena doesn’t have that ability, and it would take me longer than two weeks to perfect the skills to do it.”

“No shit,” Con said. “Try two decades.”

Max rolled his eyes. Of course, the man had no idea who he was talking to. Elena glanced at him and smiled but returned to work tracking the provenance of the found canvas. He wanted to have it in case the powers that be at Guardian needed it.

“Right, anyway, contact Archangel and inform him of what we have. Getting them out of the country is the right thing to do; we should do it sooner rather than later. Elena is concerned about the deterioration of the canvases and paint due to the storage, and some of them have been here for three years.”

“I can do that. Send me any information you have on the picture,” Con said.

“Painting.”

“Potato-Po-tot-oh.” Con came back. “We can confirm Abrasha is still in China.”

“Affirmative, I know,” Max said. He’d checked the bastard’s location before returning to the office that morning.

“How? How do you know when I only just got that confirmation about five minutes ago?”

“Con, stop being jealous.” Reaper chuckled. “What about the event where we take him out?”

“We’ve rescheduled the showing for two weeks from now. Same location.”

“I copy,” Reaper said. “Same game plan?”

“Minus Merlin, and Elena is to be protected at all costs.” He stared at Elena, who looked up at him. “She cannot be placed in danger.”

“Noted.” That was Malice. “We can exit her before the mission starts. Val, will you be able to do that?”

“And miss the fun? Guys, you’re killing me here.”

“I can do it,” Smith said.

“No, you’re the surprise element. Malice is the sniper, and Reaper is Maximus’ backup. I’m the logical one to get her out.” Val sighed. “I hope someone tries to stop us. I need to dismember someone.”

“Why?” Smith laughed as he asked the question.

“Because someone shot you because of Molchalin.” Val made that growling sound in her throat again.

“I was shot because I was a big target in a very small tunnel.”

“You know what I mean,” Val huffed. “I’ll keep your woman safe, Maximus. You have my word on that.”

“I also have four addresses for you, Con. They all belong to Molchalin.” Maximus couldn’t help smiling. He loved making the guy crazy.

“What? How? Where?” Con sputtered. “How are you getting this information?”

“I’ll send it after the call. All are confirmed by Elena to be owned by Molchalin. She’s worked on the art collections in all four locations.”

“Oh.” Con was silent for a moment. “You had me doubting my talents for a moment.”

Max sighed. “I’m sure you’re good at what you do. I’m just better.” He lowered the phone while pulling out his earpiece. Both slipped into his shirt pocket.

“Why would I be in danger?” She stopped typing and turned to look at him. “You’re just arresting him, right?”

“He has proven he doesn’t want to be arrested, and his people have initiated gunfire on numerous occasions to give him a chance to escape. They’ve killed to remove him from situations where he should have been stopped.” Max opened his computer and sent the addresses to Con along with the provenance that Elena had just sent to his duped email account.

“Could you be injured?” Elena asked, and he lifted his eyes from his computer screen.

“There’s always that possibility, but as I said, I’m not an arresting authority.”

She nodded and turned back to her computer. “How can you call on your cell phone and send emails when your jammer thing is working, and you’re not connected to my internet?” She glanced over at the small box he’d placed on the desk that morning. “You said my desk phone wouldn’t be affected, but I couldn’t use my cell.”

Max shrugged. “Different frequencies. Most cell phones operate on frequencies the government sells to wireless phone companies. The frequencies of my systems are not accessible by the government, Russian or American.”

She stared at him for a moment. “Are you a spy?”

He barked out a laugh. “No, and I don’t drink martinis, stirred or shaken.” He assumed a British accent. “Stryker, Max Stryker.”

She laughed. “When will you tell me your real name?”

“When we have taken care of Molchalin.” He couldn’t compromise her or himself by divulging that information.

“Taken care … you mean arrested, right?” she asked.

“Again, I’m not an arresting authority.” He shrugged. “The people who do that for the agency will have that obligation.” If he didn’t succeed in killing the bastard, Reaper would. He had no doubt Smith and Malice would also give their all to ensure the man didn’t live. His days were numbered.

She stopped what she was doing on the computer. “It feels like you’re talking around the subject.”

“I am.” He’d admit it. He was trying to be as transparent as he could be.

“And if I asked?”

“I’d tell you, but again, I’d ask you not to do so.” He leaned forward. “One day, you’ll understand everything. I will be as transparent as I can be until that time. That is as fair as I can be, given not only our lives, but the lives of my coworkers, are on the line. Should Molchalin or Sokolov find out I’m not who I say I am, or our intent be discovered before the night of the showing, I have no doubt he’d kill all of us without a second thought. Which is why I told my coworkers you were to be protected at all costs the night of the showing.” If she were hurt, he'd never forgive himself.

“And before the showing?” She got up and came over to him, standing in front of him.

He took her hands and stood up, looking down at her. “Until then, I dare anyone to try to get to you. I’ll tear them apart with my bare hands.”

She stared up at him. “You’re dangerous.”

“Extremely.”

“But not to me.” It was a statement. Her eyes told him she knew it.

“Never.” He made that vow to her, whether she understood it or not.

“Take me home, Max. Take me home and make love to me.” She closed her eyes and leaned against his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head. She’d wanted him to protect her, to be her guardian against the world's evil, and he would.