My lips screwed up in distaste. “He thinks so little of his own soldier?” I asked.
Rurik shook his head. “Don’t get my words twisted, Aguado,” he said coolly, warning me I was treading on thin ice. But fuck, I loved thin ice. It was my favorite place to skate across. See how far I could push someone before they tried to make me drown. “Maksim has always been a valuable asset to the family. When he’s given an order, he follows through. And he never fails when given a job.”
“Then why not just be up front about what he wanted me to do?” Maksim asked, frowning at Rurik.
“Because Anatoly knew you’d freak out if you were told to go fuck the enemy,” Rurik bluntly answered. “But if you thought Alfonzo had instigated the entire thing, you’d continue doing what he wanted. We just didn’t factor in that someone else would have found out your job and tracked you, then tried to take you out. That’s on Anatoly. Theonlyreason he’s not putting Zinovy on the job is because I told him this should be Alfonzo’s kill. Zoro went after someone that belongs to him, and his end goal was to take out Alfonzo.” Rurik looked at me. “It took quite a bit of convincing. Because contrary to what you believe, Aguado, Anatolydoescare about every member of our family.”
I just grunted. I didn’t believe it for a fucking second, but I wasn’t going to argue the fact.
“So… what now?” Maksim asked. “Am I expected to come home?”
“Not a chance in fucking hell,” I growled, sitting up straight. Maksim swung his pretty eyes to mine, swallowing thickly. “You’remine, mouse. You stay withme.”
Rurik nodded. “Yes, you’ll stay here. With him,” he clarified. “But if you ever need to get away—” I snarled at him becauselike fuckwas Ieverletting Maksim go— “we are still your family and still your home.”
Maksim leaned into my side, immediately calming me. “I’m not leaving him,” Maksim said quietly. “But thank you.”
Rurik nodded. “You have any questions?” When Maksim shook his head, Rurik stood. “Good. Then I’d like to watch Zoro bleed out for turning on you and betraying the family, if you don’t mind.”
I grinned and stood, lighting up with delight. “It’ll be my pleasure,” I said, giving a mock bow. I looked at Maksim. “You joining, mouse? Or do you want me to call for your guard?”
He shook his head. “I’m coming. I heard what you said when the SUV was opened. I want to watch him pay for thinking he could target you.”
I groaned and tugged him close, sealing my lips over his. “Fuck, it’s hot when you get all possessive and protective of me, mouse.”
His blush was the fucking cutest thing I’d seen to date.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Alfonzo
The basement was fucking cold when we descended the stairs. I shot off a text to Drew, telling him to bring a thick hoodie down to Maksim. I knew that my mouse would never complain, but not only was the cold going to be uncomfortable for him, but that gunshot wound was going to be pretty sore too if it got too cold.
After Drew sent back an affirmative, I moved deeper into the room, tilting my head to the side the slightest bit as I took Zoro in. With dark hair and eyes just as dark, he might have been good looking. But knowing what I did about him made him absolutely fucking hideous in my eyes. He’d come after my man to try to get to me, andthatwas going to cost him his life.
I crouched and braced my elbows on my knees. He just glared at me, pure hatred burning in his eyes. I hummed. “It was pretty cowardice of you to try to take out what belongs tometo try to draw me out,” I drawled.
He spat at my feet. “Fuck you,” he snarled. “If I’d have killed you, I would have climbed the ranks. I no longer would have been some random soldier told to do this and do that.”
“So, you went after your own family to achieve it?” I questioned. Itsked and shook my head. “You seriously thought taking out Maksim was going to get you a spot up in the ranks? Turning on family? You really are fucking delusional.”
“Not if I made it look likeyoutook him out. It was perfect. You were both set up to target each other. Tokilleach other. I just needed you to take Maksim out. But you didn’t. Youfuckedhim instead. So, I blabbed to Anatoly, told him what I’d seen. Shown himfootage. Told him I was just worried that Maksim was turning on the family.”
“And then what?” I asked, giving him all the attention he wanted. Zoro wasn’t stupid. He knew this was the end for him. He just wanted me to know everything he’d done and all his lavish plans first. I loved it when they spilled all the beans for me. Took some of the fun out of torturing them, but man, when cocky assholes like Zoro went on a roll, they couldn’t stop spewing shit from their mouths.
“Rurik took Maksim, tried to get him out of the country. I overheard everything—was listening in. So, I followed them, and when Rurik left, I took my shot. Thought I’d clipped him in a good enough spot to kill him, but clearly not,” he said, giving Maksim a distasteful look.
“Aht,traidor, eyes on me,” I warned him. “You don’t get the privilege of looking at him.”
Drew entered the basement with Niran, and Drew helped Maksim into the thick hoodie he’d brought down. Maksimmanaged to zip it up halfway, but Drew had to finish zipping it because Maksim couldn’t get his arm to cooperate with him.
Physical therapy was definitely going to be needed.
“So, your grand plan was to take out Maksim, make it look like Alfonzo did it, then kill Alfonzo when he came hunting for you?” Rurik asked. “Did I get all that right?”
“Yeah, and it would have fucking worked it not for?—”
“Those meddling kids?” I teased, unable to help myself. I liked Scooby Doo—sue me. Rurik, who obviously got the reference, snorted a laugh.
