Page 44 of Queen’s Gambit

Her hand reluctantly dropped from mine, and I gathered the rest of my things before heading for the door. I looked back at Ana who practically glowed where she sat on the bed. Giving her a nod, I slipped out and marched for the back exit.

“Hey, man,” Marcus said as I stepped outside. He threw down his cigarette and crushed the butt with the toe of his boot.

“Hey. You have everything?”

“Of course.”

Marcus had already brought my car around, and I froze mid-step when I noticed someone in the backseat.

“Who the hell is that?”

“Paul...he woke up when I tried to sneak out and insisted on coming.”

Yanking open the driver’s side door of the SUV, I looked at Paul.

“This may be dangerous,” I said.

“I know. That’s all the more reason to have reliable backup,” Paul said.

“As long as you know what you’re getting into, thank you,” I said as Marcus sat down in the passenger seat.

It was time to land a big fish, one who would put me on the map as a real up-and-comer.

We slowed at the guard booth. The man on duty looked inside the car and then nodded to open the gate. Did they memorize the faces of all the students? If so, that was impressive.

“Where are we going anyway,” Marcus asked.

I glanced at him as he pulled out a small bag of potato chips. He made so much noise trying to get it open that I was tempted to push him out of the moving vehicle. Paul tapped on his shoulder.

“Let me open it.”

“Good, I’m not the only one who wants to kill him,” I said, glancing at Marcus.

“It’s impossible,” he grumbled, giving the bag to Paul, who opened it and handed it back in all of a second. “What the fuck? I warmed it up for you.”

“Uh, huh,” Paul said as Marcus sulked.

“Just answer the question. Where are we going?”

“Rimrock,” I said, and Marcus just stared at me. “More specifically, we’re heading to the sportsman’s club.”

“Why so they can shoot us and no one will question the noise?”

“Wow, you’re uplifting,” I growled at Marcus. “I have to do this. But if you don’t want to be involved, then I can pull over and let you out so you can walk back.”

“And get eaten by something? No way, I’d rather be shot than feel pieces of my flesh being ripped off with no escape. That’s just freaky,” he said.

“Dude, what is wrong with you,” Paul asked from the back.

Seconded. I’d known Marcus a long time, and if there was anyone who could find a way to mess with your head and bring up the worst-case scenario, it was him.

“I’m just saying, if I had to choose, give me the gun.” He lifted the bag of chips and dumped it over his mouth. All I saw were tiny crumbs falling all over my SUV. Killing my best friend—with the bullet he wished for—before the night was out had become a possibility.

“Can we get back to the importance of tonight? I’m meeting with Mr. Carlo Varriano. I need to make a good impression if I want him to do business with me instead of Ladanov.”

“What’s the plan? Why do you want him to use your new docks? Isn’t it dangerous stealing business from the Bratva?”

“The Ladanovs and the Mikhailovs have been feuding for years. If Varriano agrees then he and Edmundo align with Mr. Mikhailov and therefore Yuli. Am I right,” Paul asked, and I nodded.