Part 24 (2/2)
”Safe,” he a.s.sures, but he can't know for certain. ”The guys have all been briefed.”
”f.u.c.k, I don't like this. There's another way.”
”Trust me?” he asks, aiming for my vote of confidence.
I'm not able to give that to him, so I reiterate, ”I don't like this.”
I hear his truck in the background again, then the click of his lighter before he inhales while saying, ”It's not like we can walk up to the door, knock, and ask for those girls, Max.”
”I know,” I reply, still wary.
”This is why I don't tell you jack s.h.i.+t.”
Correcting his reasoning, I raise my voice. ”You're on the outside of this.”
”And working my a.s.s off to get in.”
”Right,” I concede. I won't win; Aimes is too headstrong and confident for his own good. ”You're still on the meet with Viktor later?”
”I am.”
”He's on edge after what happened to Anna, so be cautious.”
”I'll be me,” Aimes spits back.
”That won't work.”
He laughs into the line, but I don't find it funny. ”You take care of you and let me handle the rest.”
”Still not a good plan,” I respond, knowing he's not listening.
”See you later, sweetness,” he remarks before he gives me another chance to speak.
f.u.c.k me.
Chapter Twenty-Nine.
”How's Anna?” I ask an absolutely defeated-looking, pale-faced Viktor as he sits behind his desk, staring remorsefully at his hands, which rest on the s.p.a.ce in front of him. His body appears to have shrunken in size since the last time I saw him.
”Better, I think,” he utters. ”She tells me she doesn't remember a lot of what he did to her. It's such a small piece to be thankful for, even if I know she's saying it for only my benefit.”
”Hangar?” I question, still unsure where he is. No one's mentioned him, and I haven't given a s.h.i.+t until now.
”Hangar will be dealt with when the time is right,” Viktor replies, his eyes becoming increasingly dark and his posture growing stiff.
It's only been a little over twelve hours since I got the call from Aimes. The time has pa.s.sed like days and as the clock ticks, I feel more and more on edge. I've walked around the club trying to remain calm, but it's been hard. Something's brewing and it's weighing heavily. The Casey's safety and the others' hangs in the balance.
”This meeting for Casey, Max,” he calls out and gains my attention. ”Because it's her, this one will try your patience, but I expect your absolute compliance.”
Without giving away my interest in this specific meet, I ask, ”Then why am I here?”
”You want to see Casey happy, do you not?” he asks. ”You're as vested in that little girl as I am.”
”Then don't f.u.c.king sell her,” I state with obvious distaste. ”Give her to me.”
”You still don't understand, do you?”
”Understand what?” I ask, raising my voice only slightly.
”Never mind. This isn't a debate I wish to keep having.” He doesn't give me another chance to counter before advising, ”Hoss is coming back, most likely soon. I'm going to tell him my intentions of leaving once he returns. However, I don't expect I'll be able to continue doing business here after he...”
Before Viktor can finish his sentence, Cilas opens the door without knocking. The door opens wider as I turn around to find Casey being held by her shoulders in his strong grasp. Cilas' face is still as he sees me sitting across from Viktor. Casey's eyes are focused to the floor and her hands are clasped together in front of her.
”Thank you, Cilas,” Viktor greets, then dismisses, ”You may go.”
The air turns distraught when I s.h.i.+ft my gaze to Viktor, who stares at Casey standing alone once Cilas closes the door behind him.
I don't say anything as I'm unsure she knows I'm sitting not just three feet in front of her.
”Casey, sweetheart,” Viktor calls her attention and her eyes go to his. She still doesn't give any consideration to me. I imagine this is what she's been programmed to do.
For him.
”Are you well?” he asks with a sincere nature.
Nodding first, she then voices, ”Yes, sir.”
”Anna won't be joining us today,” he explains to her. I didn't tell her what happened and being that Cilas doesn't talk, I know he didn't, either.
Nodding again, she concurs without questioning the reasons for it. ”Yes, sir.”
”All right then. Do you know what to expect?”
”Yes, sir.”
Finally, her eyes tear away from Viktor for the briefest moment. When they hit mine, they widen quickly then settle back and she looks to Viktor again.
I hear the smile in his voice. ”You've met Max.”
The smile is in her voice as well, although she's trying hard to hide it. ”Sir,” she greets to me, and then looks down and bites her lip.
<script>