Page 40 of Inside the Maelstrom: Part Two
I nodded. The ties I held with Josef Meskov were bonds of blood, and those weren’t easily dismissed.
As soon as I was in the car, I connected to my security firm. I would convince Chaos to go to Iceland, but she wouldn’t leave without knowing that Hendrick, Otto and Sampson were protected.
For the next forty minutes, I called in my best people—the cynics who still hated the government, who’d spit in the face of a senator out of spite, and were absolutely loyal. I’d put them on the guys. I cared more about those fucking little shitheads than I would ever admit to anyone but Chaos. They meant the world to me too.
So I would give them the best protection money could buy, and then I’d run with my girl.
Sampson had done all the convincing for me while I’d been gone, which was a small blessing. I was man enough to admit that I was weak around Aviva. I would give her whatever she wanted, just because she deserved it.
We had a family meeting—which was still a fucking weird concept—and I told them what Josef had said, and Buck’s insinuation that there would be more. Hendrick looked pale, and Otto stroked his back soothingly, while Sampson looked like he was about to shatter his back teeth, his jaw was clenched so tight.
I tried to project a confidence I didn’t really feel. “You’ll be safe. I’ve got my best guys working your security and I’ve even called in some old favors.”
Hendrick raised an eyebrow. “You think I’m worried about me? I’ve fucking put a bounty on her head, and you think I give a shit if I live or die? Fuck. We should get a divorce. There's no way a judge would reject it, given everything.”
“And what, play right into your father’s hands? Sorry, Hendrick motherfucking Kenley, but I am not throwing you into the loony bin to save my own damn skin, so get that out of your brain right now,” Chaos chastised, making my dick harden.
Honestly, I loved her, and even more so when she was holding her own against these three. That mouth was delicious.
“I agreed to continue tracking down Nemo.” She hesitated. “I need to finish what I started, but honestly, if they want to chase me to Iceland, well, they can bring it. I’ll have Evan, and I’m safer with him than any security team on the planet.”
I gave her a lopsided grin. “Thanks.”
She looked around the room at the other three, and I could see her heart breaking. She might have agreed, but she hated it.
I stood, leaning in to kiss her temple. “I’ll go arrange the flights.” I’d give them some privacy to do whatever the hell they needed to do to make our girl feel better about leaving. I called Sampson’s assistant to organize our flights and accommodation, and shot off a quick message to Buck about chasing up leads on Nemo and where he might be in Iceland.
Buck sent me back some bullshit about how if I was going to work him like a two-dollar hooker, maybe he should up his rates. Asshole. He wouldn’t, but even if he did, I’d pay it. I trusted Buck, and usually I didn’t trust anyone.
After what sounded like some incredibly boisterous sex—which I tried to tune out but failed miserably—Chaos packed a bag and we were on our way to the airport.
Watching them say goodbye at the apartment poked at soft places I didn’t even realize I had left until Aviva. She held Hendrick the longest, clinging tightly to him as he whispered something in her ear.
She was saying goodbye like she might never see them again. That was a possibility. Fuck, I’d done everything in my power to make sure that wouldn’t happen, but it was foolish to believe I’d done enough to counter every possible scenario. People were unpredictable, especially assassins.
I hoped that removing Aviva from the situation might remove the payoff. But I couldn’t be sure, and the amount he was offering could be enough to make a short trip to Iceland worth it.
The guys had a plan to take down the senator, and I had to trust in that plan. Do my part, keep Aviva safe, and then we could all move on from this bullshit. But it grated that I wasn’t the one watching Sampson’s back.
I’d organized a private plane for a red-eye flight, keeping it as unpredictable as possible. The pilots were ones I trusted, who I’d background checked thoroughly. No flight attendant. Last minute lodgment of the flight plan.
Sampson turned to me. “She’s your priority,” he told me.
I nodded. We’d been through this. “Don’t take stupid risks. If you guys die being fucking martyrs, she’ll still be broken.”
He snorted. “I wouldn’t give the old fucker the satisfaction. I’ll keep Hendrick in line. You’ve got the security arranged?”
I briefly went through the roster with him, who to expect and when. Any deviation from the roster meant we’d been infiltrated. “Only person who should drive you anywhere is Muntz. If it’s not Muntz, turn the fuck around and go back inside. If someone is sick, the only person who can replace them is Harry. If it isn’t Harry, shut the fucking door and deadbolt it, and call Harry. Do not come out.” Harry was the second-in-command at my security firm.
“Got it, Evan.”
I rolled my shoulders, trying to loosen the muscles. “Aviva won’t be the only person who’ll be upset if you guys get yourselves assassinated.”
Sampson gave me a half-grin. “Are you trying to say you love us?”
“Chaos has made me fucking soft,” I grumbled, but turned to look at him. We were about the same height now, but once upon a time, he’d been just a fucking scared kid. “I do love you, all three of you little fucks. For a long time, you’ve been the closest thing I’ve had to family. So don’t fucking die.”
Sampson looked a little stunned, and I stepped away before this shit got any mushier.
