Page 98 of Devious Madness

“How are you even going to be able to talk to Calloway? Rurik isn’t going to let you just walk into a police department and have a meeting with this guy. And none of his men are going to let you, either.” She gives a pointed look at my armed escort for the day.

“That’s where I need your help. I thought I’d have him meet me somewhere neutral. Somewhere you and I would go, you know, then they wouldn’t have any reason not to take me. And Alexander would definitely let you go, and we’d be safe, and I’d be able to see what this guy could do to help.”

She shakes her head slowly. “You think this detective is going to help you take down Marco without also going after Alexander or Rurik or anyone else? He’ll see this as opportunity. It’s too dangerous.”

“Maybe you’re right.” I gesture to Sergei, who has his eye on us, that I’m ready to go. “I’ll figure out something. I’ll call you tonight.”

She gets up with me, hugging me to her tightly. “I know you better than that, Mira. Do not do this. Please.”

“I promise. I’ll be okay. Promise.” I let her go, sling my purse over my shoulder, and grab the shopping bags.

“The last time you said that you went missing.”

“I wasn’t missing. I was hiding. But I’m here now, and it’s time to make this all go away.”

“Sergei has the car up front.” Max takes the bags out of my hands.

“Thanks.” I kiss her cheek. “It’s going to be okay, Meg. I swear it.”

Her frown burns my back as I make my way from the bistro, following Max outside and to the car.

Several text messages come through while Sergei drives us through the afternoon traffic as we head back to Rurik’s penthouse.

Rurik:Change of plans for tonight. I’m taking you out.

Maybe a nice dinner is the perfect way to end things between us. I’ll let him know that I appreciate all he’s done, but I really need to go out on my own.

And then he’ll knock me over the head, drag me back to his cave, and chain me to his bed.

The thought of which should sound horrific and should absolutely not put a smile on my face.

Sounds great.

I shoot the message back to him, then send another message to Calloway.

We’ll meet tomorrow and get a plan in place. Remember, the Vokolvs and Rurik are off limits.

The sooner I get all the pieces moving, the better.

“I’ll take her up, just pull in front of the building,” Max tells Sergei as we approach the skyrise.

Max hops out of the car and opens my door while I’m unbuckling my seatbelt. As I scoot out of the car, he grabs the bags from the back.

“I didn’t get a chance earlier to say, but I am sorry about yesterday,” I say once I’m on the sidewalk and Sergei has pulled away.

“It’s—” Max’s eyes roll, and he falls forward on top of me, knocking me to the ground.

He’s massive, and nothing but dead weight as he crushes me against the sidewalk. The shopping bags are scattered around us, and I kick one as I try to wiggle out from beneath him.

“Max? Max!” I shove at his shoulder.

A woman screams; another person shouts, but no one is helping.

A moment later, Max is rolled off me. His blood covers me, and I see his chest. The gaping hole in it.

I’m going to be sick. When I roll to the side to lose the overpriced caprese sandwich I had at the bistro, someone grabs my arm and yanks me up.

“No!” I swing my arm, making contact but not enough to do anything but piss off my kidnapper.

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