Page 104 of Maksim

“Are you loyal to the Pakhan, Alik?”

He takes his time responding, as he should. I asked him a dangerous question.

“When Nikita gave you that girl, he had me follow you. I know you took her to the desert, and I know what you planned to do. I wasn’t close enough to see, but I know something happened there, and I know you wound up pawning his gift to you off on Hugh. I know a lot of things.”

“What’s your point?”

“I reported none of this. I’ve never reported anything that would result in me being given the order to put a bullet in your head, and do you know why?”

I stare at him and wait for him to continue.

“Because I’m stingy with my loyalty, and I’ve respected you since the day I joined the brotherhood. Does that answer your question, dickhead?”

Silence.

It’s possible I’ve been an asshole.

My jaw ticcing, I nod. When my eyes get the urge to wander, I find the computer screen. Guilt is an uncomfortable thing.

A red dot flashes on the screen, and I lean in to take a look.

“Looks like she’s just outside of Vegas,” Alik says. “Your car stopped fifteen minutes ago.”

“Where the hell is that?” I squint at the area surrounding the dot.

“Residential area, it appears.”

Whose house would Elira have gone to?

“Here.” Alik grabs a pen and scribbles the address on a scrap of paper before handing it to me.

I glance at the paper before tucking it in my pocket. “Thanks,” I mutter and start toward the door but stop when I remember I drove here in Anthony’s car. I need to do this alone.

“One last thing,” I spin to face him. “I need to borrow your car.”

He’s already standing as he reaches into his pocket, pulls out his keys, and tosses them to me before heading for the door. “Good. You drive.”

“What?” My face pinches.

He looks at me like he’s the one who should be confused. “You could need backup.”

“The hitman is in Albania.”

“Sure, but?—”

“Alik, you’re not coming with me,” I interrupt, suddenly anxious to get out of here. “Watch the monitor and tell me if she moves. I’ll bring your car back in one piece. I promise.”

Alik doesn’t say another word as I leave, my anxiousness growing with every step.

I don’t know what I’m going to say to Elira. All I know is I need to convince her to stay.

28

ELIRA

Henrietta taps my nose with the tip of the knife while standing over me like the authority she believes she is.

I wish I could say I put up a fight. That she has scratches up and down her face, that her skin is beneath my nails.