Tank
“When we arrive at the estate, we have three hours to finalize the plan,” Maverick says from across the limo, voice calm and measured.
The city lights of New York flash across the tinted windows, reflecting off the sharp lines of his suit. He looks different here. Not the rugged outlaw we’re used to.
Here?
He’s every inch the Don.
“Reminder,” he continues, steepling his fingers the way he does when he’s thinking five moves ahead, “this estate is… considerably larger than Palm Springs. This is home base in America. When I leave Palm Springs for extended periods, this is typically where I reside.”
He glances between us.
“Security here is doubled. Perimeter teams, interior teams, rooftop coverage. You will notice more movement. That is intentional.”
Bones smirks slightly.
“Good,” he mutters.
“Most of the people you see on the grounds,” Maverick adds, “are guards or staff. Not family. My family in America is in Palm Springs. The rest are in Italy.”
Skip shifts in his seat. “So basically, if we screw up here, we’re embarrassing ourselves on your own turf.”
Maverick’s lips twitch faintly. “If you screw up here, Skip, you will not live long enough to be embarrassed.”
Spike exhales through his nose, amused but not.
“What’s the layout?” Foster asks.
“Outer gate. Inner gate. Main house. Two guest wings. A secondary operations building to the east. Underground access points you will not see unless I allow it,” Maverick says smoothly.
Of course, there are underground access points.
“It’s layered,” he continues. “Anyone approaching tonight’s meeting will be screened before they reach the primary structure. We will allow them to feel comfortable.Notwelcomed.”
I glance out the window as the limo slows.
Iron gates much taller than ours rise ahead of us. Stone walls. Cameras positioned so discreetly they’d be invisible to anyone not trained to see them.
“You’ll play your part,” Maverick says, looking directly at Spike. “Only you and Tank in the room at first. No cuts. No obvious weapons. We don’t reveal who you are too early. We get as many answers out of them the civil way before we release them to Bones and my cousins. Then they can extract the actual truth.”
Spike nods once.
“Stefano will be observing with the others behind the two-way glass in the library,” Maverick continues. “It is not a secret that I’m a twin. But most men are lazy. They see what they expect to see.”
A faint smile curves his mouth.
“We would prefer to keep it that way.”
Skip leans forward slightly. “So New York thinks there’s only one of you walking around at any given time?”
“New York believes I am omnipresent,” Maverick replies smoothly. “That belief is useful.”
Bones huffs quietly. “Confusion keeps enemies slow.”
“Exactly,” Maverick says. “If my enemies believe I’m always physically here, they hesitate. They miscalculate. They question their own information.”
His gaze sharpens.
