Chapter 32 Maxim #2
He shrugs. “They are long gone. I’m not wasting any more time on them, not when I can create new ones.” He smiles, and I want to wipe it off his goddamn, motherfucking face, but Grace’s touch calms me.
“What about my sister?”
“She has a choice, to stay or to leave.” He looks at her, and there is love in his eyes, but there’s also an equal measure of hate.
“Let’s see how the night goes, shall we?” Elena strokes Dmitri’s chest, placating him.
“What do you think she’s playing at?” Grace asks.
“I have no idea.”
“Guys, I have some intel,” Brooks’s voice comes through our earpieces. “I called a buddy of mine over at Langley to find out about Elena. He has high-security clearance and found out that she was recruited before she left Russia—her and Anna.”
Before she left.
“Where’s Anna? Is she alive?” If she is, Sergei will be beside himself.
“She is, but I don’t know where. I’ve passed the information on to Sergei. Their deaths were a cover so they could go into training.”
My heart is thumping, and Grace gives me a smile. “But why?”
“The CIA is training new kinds of weapons and these weapons are femme fatales.”
The oldest fucking trick in the book. Men will always be swayed by a beautiful woman, and no one suspects a whore to be a killer.
“They told Elena about what you and your father did in the Bratva, they said they would arrest you if she didn’t cooperate with them.”
“Those motherfuckers.”
“You know the drill,” Brooks says.
I shake my head because I know that’s how they recruit people, but when it’s your own flesh and blood, it’s bullshit.
“She has needed to stay near the top for access to the players in whatever way possible. She has her latest hit tonight.”
Grace and I stop dancing as we look around for Dmitri and Elena.
Thankfully they are still here. “Who is it?”
“Dmitri and Ivan Petrov.”
“She’s going after both of them?”
“Yep. My guess, from what she said in the garden, is she’s going to
make it look like Dmitri killed Ivan, then she’s going to kill Dmitri and make it look like revenge from the Bratva. Perfect really.” Brooks laughs.
“And what are we meant to do—let her do it? Do they want us to stop it?”
“I’m pretty sure you don’t want to get in the way of a CIA mission, especially with your reputation,” Brooks adds.
“Then what the fuck are we meant to do?”
“I have a feeling she wants your assistance,” Damon adds.
I look over at my sister. Maybe she does. We can do this together and then escape with her.
Grace shakes her head. I know she’s worried, but this is what I’m trained to do.
“If we do this, Elena is coming back to Ibiza with us,” I say.
“Kind of assumed that,” Brooks states.
“Good. I’m going to have to get Elena alone and work out a plan.”
“Good luck,” Brooks says before going silent.
Grace looks at me. “You’re doing this, aren’t you?”
“It ends tonight, Grace. Do you believe Dmitri’s bullshit about never coming after you?”
“No.”
“Then maybe we should follow the CIA’s plan.”
“Okay.”
“You’re not coming. I need you safe.”
“Dmitri’s not going to let me leave, not until his future is secure.”
Grace is right.
She reaches out and taps Dmitri on the arm. “Shall we change
partners?”
Dmitri’s eyes open wide, and a genuine smile forms on his face.
“Grace,” I hiss, but she ignores me.
Elena looks at me and then at Grace. She knows what Dmitri has put her through and yet here she is sacrificing herself so I can talk to my sister and plan how we’re going to kill this fucker.
If I wasn’t already in love with her, I would be now.
I watch as Dmitri pulls Grace into his arms, and she stiffens against him.
My blood boils as he whispers into her ear.
She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes.
“I’m sorry, Maxim.” Elena steps into my arms, but my eyes never leave Grace.
“We have time to catch up later once all this shit is over with.” I don’t mean to sound abrupt, but I can feel my blood pressure rising. “What’s your plan? You do have one, don’t you?”
“Of course, I do, I’m not an amateur. I’ve been trained for this.”
I can see the killer behind those emerald eyes. “Then tell me.”
Elena takes an unsteady breath. “You’re not going to like it, Maxim, as I need Grace.”
I shake my head. “No, leave her out of it.”
“Ivan wants the jewels, and he knows I’m one of them, but having two—no matter the risk, he would take it.”
I keep shaking my head. I will not use Grace as a pawn, luring some madman to his death.
She’s already escaped one, and now I have sent her back into his arms. I watch as Grace tries to put on a strong front while dancing with Dmitri, but I can see she’s dying, little by little, inside. I can’t do this to her.
Elena stops and stares at me. “Maxim, she will be safe. It will be quick. She’ll get out.
I know who you are, I’ve heard the stories.
I’m just like you, Max, I’m as good.Please trust me when I say I will end this, and Grace will never have to fear Dmitri or the Bratva ever again.
” She says it with such conviction that I find myself agreeing with her.