by Ann Jensen
Max shook his head. “You really believe they’re going to accept you? From what I’ve heard, you are a laughingstock. Hell, you botched a simple clean-up job, and you think they’ll trust you in the inner circle?”
Rage flushed Viktor’s face, and he began raining blows down on Max’s torso. His head was spinning and his heartbeat pulsed in his ears. Maybe he wouldn’t survive this, but he was proud he hadn’t betrayed anyone.
It took Max a few seconds to realize the blows had stopped. His ears rang, and he tasted copper on his tongue.
“Find out what’s going on,” Viktor’s shout felt muffled.
His breath was harsh and Max tried to listen to whatever it was that had caught the Russian’s attention. It took a few seconds to realize the thuds he was hearing wasn’t his pulse. It’s funny, civilians think suppressed fire is silent. As if people around you could fire and you would never know. While it’s not as loud as unsuppressed fire, it’s still has a distinctive sound. There was a lot of it going on somewhere nearby.
Tamir turned to the door and pulled his weapon. As soon as he opened the door, blood spattered across the wall and floor behind him. The large man crumpled backwards to the floor.
A woman stepped through the door, and for a moment Max thought he was dreaming, hallucinating even. His Wildcat stood framed in the doorway, the darkness of night behind her, and an assault rifle with a suppressor pressed to her shoulder. She looked like a goddess of wrath. He didn’t know who was more surprised in the next moment, him or Viktor, as she turned and without a single word, fired.
The shot took the Russian in the shoulder and knocked him to the ground. Cat stepped forward, and he realized she was still in her same outfit from earlier. The short jean skirt and scoop neck shirt a strange contrast to the military style weapon she was wielding.
His Wildcat was here.
Max blinked, trying to clear his vision. How could she be here?
“Hey, honey, I’ve come to rescue you.” The smile on her face made his heart soar.
Dear God, he loved this woman. Max looked down to see Viktor struggling to pull his own gun from his position on the ground. Without a pause, Cat raised her rifle and emptied three shots into him. The man fell motionless to the floor.
Her smile was magnetic as she continued to move forward. She stopped to check Viktor’s pulse and gave a small nod before she slung her weapon onto her back. Cat put her hands on her hips and gave him a saucy wink.
“Well, don’t you look a mess.”
He laughed out of pure shock, but cut it off almost immediately because of the pain in his ribs. This whole situation was going to be a nightmare for his Club, but he couldn’t help but feel joy knowing she was alive and free.
She bent down and gave him a kiss on the cheek. She whispered into his ear. “Just a bit more drama to go. I need you to roll with it and remember everything’s going to be all right.”
Max had no idea what she meant, but trusted she had a plan to get them out of here safely. The door opened and Akula stood in the opening, dressed all in black. She held an assault rifle at her shoulder.
Had she helped Cat get him free? How is she going to explain this to the Bratva? Cat had started to untie his ropes so he almost missed the double cross. Time froze as the Assassin raised her weapon and pointed it straight at Cat’s back.
His scream of warning was too late as three quick shots echoed in the room. Cat let out a groan and his heart shattered as blood splattered onto his body before she collapsed onto the floor. He barely took in the red that splattered the floor as he strained against his bonds.
“You bitch!” he screamed, his throat raw with agony.
“I am really tired of people calling me that.”
He lurched against the chair and tried to rip free of his bonds. She hadn’t moved from the doorway. His chair rocked and she raised her rifle back to her shoulder. Pain exploded across his chest. And he felt the wetness splattering against his face as his chair tipped over backwards.
Pain wracked his body and soul. He had trouble breathing in the new position, his arms pinned underneath the chair. He didn’t care. Cat was dead. What was the point anymore? The sound of several more shots filled the room, but he barely noticed. The sound of the woman’s boots as she crossed the floor was like a countdown. She was going to finish him off. In his last moments, he had only one wish.
To see Cat one last time before he joined her in death.
Chapter 31
Life is a shitshow so smile for the cameras.
* * *
Avery struggled to remain still while she listened to Max’s shouts of pain and heartbreak. Cursing Akula in her mind, she fumed. If the woman had given her one more minute before acting, she could have let him in on the plan and saved him from the emotional pain. She could only imagine what was going through his head. Making him believe she was dead was cruel, but breaking character now would destroy the fiction they were attempting to create.
Akula’s plan was insane, even if it seemed to be working. The two of them had taken out the two sentries on the way in. Then created enough noise to cause Viktor to send out Timur. That was where the show for the cameras had begun. Killing Timur and Viktor was easy after she saw what they had done to Max.
Once the man who had destroyed her life was dead, Akula had said the only way to avoid war would be for both her and Max to appear to die. Somehow the woman had found a realistic paintball rifle to use as a prop in their video drama. From the ache in her back, Avery knew she was going to have three deep welts from where the unusual ammunition had hit her. The sound of Akula’s footsteps approaching meant she had disabled the cameras. It was tempting to move, but as promised, Avery remained still.
“Cameras are disabled. Get your man to the van while I set this place to blow.”
Avery popped up to her knees, desperate to see how badly Max had been hurt in the fall. He had already been in rough shape before getting knocked back in his chair. She hoped that falling onto his arms hadn’t broken any bones. As she turned to see Max, Akula handed her a knife. He was slack-jawed as he stared up at her from his position on the floor. Her throat tightened as she saw tears shimmering in his eyes.
“You’re alive.” His voice was a harsh croak.
She gave him a small smile that she hoped told him how sorry she was for making him believe she was dead. “I told you it would all work out. I didn’t have time to tell you more.”
He was too heavy to pull his chair upright without first getting him free. The ropes around his wrists were her first task. She hoped to get the pressure off before any more damage was done to his arms. The moment his arms were no longer pinned, he clutched her to his chest in a crushing grip.
Max squeezed, and her breath came out in a rush. He looked down into her eyes with wonder. “How? I mean why?”
Avery pulled back and placed a gentle kiss on his lips. There was so much to say. She didn’t even know where to start.
“Explain to him later. Get him to the van now.” Akula was right, but she knew her man would be desperate for answers.
“We have to hurry, Max if this is going to work.” Avery pulled out of his grip, which she didn’t think she could have done if he wasn’t so hurt. She quickly cut the rope securing his legs and helped him to stand. “Trust me a bit longer.”
Max nodded as his body swayed. Fear twisted her guts as she steadied him. How badly was he hurt? She wanted to examine every inch of him to make sure he would be all right, but there would be time for that later. For now, they needed to get to the van.
From the way he moved, his legs didn’t seem to be injured, but his balance was off and he winced with every movement. She guided him out of the room and down the hall to the loading dock where they had backed up Akula’s van. Avery opened the back doors and pulled Max inside and down to the floor against the side panel.
The van was designed for cargo, not passengers, with a solid panel blocking access to the driver. A small ve
nt allowed air to pass through, but with no windows, it would be impossible for anyone to see them once the doors were closed. She flicked on the dome light before shutting them.
Avery grabbed the first-aid kit they had stashed in there before kneeling. Max had closed his eyes and she could only imagine the pain that was causing the tight lines in his face. She touched his hand and emotion rushed through her.
They had done it. She had saved Max, and they were almost out of here. Akula’s over the top plan was actually working. Desperation had been her only motivation to agree to any of this. She loved him so much, and would have risked anything to save him.
His eyes opened, and she swore she saw the same emotion in his gaze.
She shook her head and tried to get back on task. “Do you think anything’s broken?” There wasn’t much she could do if there was, but evaluating how much medical help he would need would be a factor in any future plans.
“Who cares? You’re alive, that is all that matters.”
She gave him a stern look. “No, it’s not. I want to know everything they did to you.”
“Why? They are already dead. Vengeance accomplished.” His chuckle was soft and morphed quickly into a groan.
“Max!”
He raised his hand slowly and cupped her cheek. “I’ve got a few ribs that might be broken. Bruises that make it hard to move and my head is spinning so badly, I’m not positive this isn’t a hallucination.”
She gripped his hand, loving how he wasn’t hiding his emotions from her. “I’m real.”
“So what happens now?”
The rest of the plan was complicated, and she hoped he would agree to it. “We need to stay hidden for her plan to work. I promised her that no matter what happens we won’t let anyone know we’re alive until she lets us out of the van and has time to explain things.”
“Does she think someone’s going to come before then?”
“It’s possible. She said either Bratva or your Brothers might show up. There are contingency plans for either event. She swore she has a way for us to stay together. One that won’t start a war or have people hunting either of us.”
She could see Max’s doubt in his eyes, but he paused, hopefully thinking about what she had said. “You trust her?”
That was a complicated question. That held a lot of ‘What other choice do I have’ in the answer. “She’s gone out on a limb for us and so far she hasn’t done anything to betray us. So, yes, at least for now, I trust her.”
“Okay, then I’ll follow your lead.”
His faith in her meant everything. She wanted to kiss him and show him just how wonderful she thought he was, but it wasn’t the time or place. In his condition, it would probably be weeks before she could really show her appreciation of his trust.
Avery used the medical scissors to cut away Max’s shirt. His torso was a mess of black and purple bruising. Even his stomach was mottled with color. Avery bit her lip. If he had internal bleeding, there wasn’t much she could do about it. She would have to watch him closely and hope he stayed conscious.
On a positive note, now that they were settled down in to the back of the van, his breathing didn’t appear labored. Honestly, if she didn’t see the evidence of his injuries on his skin, she wouldn’t have guessed he was injured. Other than the bruising, he only had minor cuts. The kind that were only small splits in the skin caused by a hard blow. The first-aid kit wouldn’t do him much good.
“Do you want me to wrap your ribs?” She held up the large ace bandage.
Max grimaced. “No. A few of them might be more than just fractured. It’s not worth the risk.”
“All right. Boys and girls, it’s time to go.” Akula’s voice came from the front of the van.
Avery sat down next to Max in the hope she could help him remain steady while the vehicle moved. After a minute or two of bumpy travel on the gravel parking lot, the ride smoothed out. At the same time, she heard the unmistakable rumble of a lot of bikes as they surrounded them.
“Your Brothers better not mess this up for me.” Akula’s voice was filled with frustration. “You two remember your promise and stay quiet.”
Max raised his eyebrow, and Avery nodded at him. She hoped he would keep his word. The plan hinged on everyone believing the two of them had died.
The vehicle came to a stop. Avery stilled as she listened to Akula’s confident voice from up front. “I will only talk to Hawk. Tell those boys not to go closer to that warehouse. It’s about to explode.”
There were muttered shouts from the people surrounding the van.
“Turn off the van.” Sharp’s voice was unmistakable even through the small vent.
“No. Get Hawk. Don’t go close to the warehouse. I’ve given you simple instructions so you should be able to understand them.”
A few seconds later, the sound of Hawk’s frustrated voice was clear. “What the hell is going on, Alena? Where is my man?”
Akula’s name was Alena? Avery wondered if it was her real name or another alias?
“I’ve missed you too. Darling.”
It was hard to imagine anyone willing to talk to the scary man who was Hawk in such a flippant tone, but the assassin had ovaries of steel.
“I’m not in the mood for your games. Where is Max?”
“He’s dead. So is his woman.” She said the words as if she was talking about the weather and it was boring. This was the part of the plan that Avery hated. Max glared at her and for a moment she thought he was going to blow their cover. The sound of the explosion hit a second before the van rocked from the shock wave.
“Is that your work?” Hawk’s tone was tight.
“The warehouse maybe. Your man and his woman, no. Now, unless you want to deal with the police, you and I will go somewhere alone and I will catch you up.”
“I’m not going anywhere with you alone,” Hawk growled.
“You don’t trust me?” Avery swore she heard genuine hurt in Akula’s voice.
“Not after last time.”
“I told you I didn’t know they would be there.”
“I’m not arguing about this.”
The back and forth between the two of them was so natural that Avery was starting to believe they had a much longer history than she originally thought. If she hadn’t known better, she would have thought the two of them were an old married couple.
“Fine, pick three of your men who you trust. I will follow you to somewhere you choose. Otherwise, the deal’s off and we can wait for the cops.”
“I don’t think you want to be here when the police get here anymore than I do.”
She snorted. “I’m a friend of the owner. You’re the President of an Outlaw MC. I tell them you came and blew up this place. Who do you think they’ll believe?”
Hawk’s growl was almost a roar. “What the hell happened to my Brother?”
“I told you,” ice filled her words, “I’ll explain somewhere else. I’ll follow you wherever you want to go as long as it is close and there are only four of you.”
“You better not be screwing with me.”
“I’m not. Though we might be able to arrange that for later.”
There was a loud slam against the side of the vehicle that made Avery jump and knock into Max. He groaned, the sound loud, and she put her hand over his mouth to muffle it. She tried to hold still and hoped Hawk hadn’t heard anything. The silence stretched, and she held her breath.
“Fine. Follow me.”
Chapter 32
If the decision was easy then it wasn’t really a choice.
* * *
When the back doors of the van swung open before Akula even turned off the engine, Max wasn’t surprised to see Hawk’s concerned face. He’d hoped his President had heard him back here earlier. It had been too good an opportunity to pass up when Avery fell against him to make a noise loud enough to be heard. Neither of the women would have accused him of breaking their deal. He wasn’t sure what the Russian woman h
ad planned. But whatever it was, he knew his Brothers could be trusted, and he wouldn’t have agreed to any plan that kept them in the dark.
“Damn, Brother, you look like shit.” Hawk’s face was shadowed in the small illumination of the van, but his smile was bright.
Avery was tense and looked ready to fight. Max gripped her hand and hoped she would understand they were safe. Whatever was going to happen, they would face it together.
“Yeah, but it beats being dead.”
The front door to the van slammed, and he heard Akula coming around to the back.
“Well, you’ve figured out my surprise.”
Hawk snorted and shook his head. “You may be a cold-hearted bitch Alena, but the moment you told me my brother was dead that way, I knew you were lying.”
She leaned back against the open door and waved a hand dismissively. “Yes, yes. The all-powerful Hawk knows all. I suppose now it’s story time.” She clapped her hands. “Right, you two. Out of the back so we can talk.”
Max did his best not to show just how much he hurt as he and Cat slid out of the van. Everything down to his fingers ached, and he was sure at least two of his ribs were fractured. Fortunately, standing was actually more comfortable than sitting on the floor of a vehicle. He took a slow breath to steady himself.
It could have been so much worse. His head still throbbed, but he took it as a good sign that his vision seemed to be back to normal. The night air was cool against his skin since Cat had cut open his shirt. His leather cut hadn’t been designed for warmth, so he hoped this conversation wouldn’t take too long.
Cat slid under his arm, doing her best not to touch his chest, but he suspected she needed the comfort of his touch as much as he needed hers. Max didn’t have the heart to tell her, every time she took a deep breath, he could feel it in his ribs. Pain wouldn’t keep him from keeping her at his side.
