Page 17 of Malicious Claim (Dark Inheritance #1)

Diversion

MAKROS’S POV

I stood dead center inside my club, weaving as chaos unraveled around me. The ambassador was furious, pacing like a caged lion. His voice, sharp with barely restrained fury, cut through the bass-heavy beats.

"How the hell do you lose my daughter?"

Dan stiffened, his brow slick with sweat despite the cool air that whipped through the club. His lips parted to search for words that wouldn't come.

"I–I thought she came back inside," he finally said with a stutter.

"Thought?" The ambassador's anger was a palpable thing now, his hands clenched into fists. "You thought? My daughter has been missing for twenty minutes, and all you can tell me is that you thought she was here?"

Dan was done for, he had no friends here.

I sighed, stepping forward, playing my role perfectly. The concerned host. The respectable businessman who would never allow such carelessness in his territory.

"Mr. Ambassador," I said smoothly, placing a hand over my chest like I actually gave a damn. "I take full responsibility for this unfortunate incident. We will not rest until Vanessa is found."

The ambassador's wild eyes locked onto me. "I want the whole city searched! I don't care what it takes. Find her!"

I nodded solemnly. "My men are already on it. But you should have the police looking too."

Stefanos and another guard stepped forward, making a show of barking orders into their radios. Useless, of course, but it kept the ambassador satisfied.

Dan's shoulders sagged in relief, the fool mistaking my intervention as kindness.

I turned to him with a stern expression. "This was your responsibility, was it not?"

Dan swallowed heavily. "Yes."

The ambassador snorted at him. "He's done. Useless."

I nodded again, for the sake of appearances, pretending to weigh the options. "I'll handle Dan."

The ambassador did not spare more than a moment's glance his way. It was all I needed.

I snapped my fingers. Two of my men stepped forward and grabbed Dan by the arm.

"Hey, what the hell?" Dan protested, struggling as they yanked him toward the back halls.

I smiled, slow and cold. "Relax, Dan. We only need to have a little chat."

The real search for Vanessa wasn't going on. My men had already locked her away in a location I had yet to disclose. But for now, the illusion had to hold.

While my men continued their melodramatic search through the club, I made my way into the communications room and locked the door behind me.

Dragon was already waiting on the other end. "Update," I said.

"The guns are moving as we speak," Dragon replied in his gravelly voice. "Your timing was perfect. The ambassador's got the police searching in the wrong places."

I smirked, watching the security feeds. The police outside were interviewing panicked guests, checking corners and alleys that led nowhere.

"Good," I murmured. "Move them fast. I want no delay."

"Understood."

I hung up and took a deep breath. Everything was right on track.

It was time to deal with Dan.

He was sitting in a chair, his wrists bound, the fight already taken from him. I stepped into the dark room and let the door swing shut behind me.

"Makros, listen–"

I backhanded him before he could get another word out. His head jerked to the side, blood welling in the corner of his mouth.

He glared at me, but there was no fear in his eyes. Annoying.

I dropped to a crouch in front of him, propping my elbows on my knees. "So, Dan," I said conversationally. "What's an agent doing at my club?"

His jaw flexed.

I asked. "Come on now. Let's not waste each other's time. You were watching Vanessa, yes? But not for the ambassador."

He exhaled through his nose, saying nothing.

"Who sent you?" I asked, voice turning sharp.

No answer.

I sighed and straightened, reaching for my gun.

Dan's eyes flickered to the weapon, but still, he said nothing.

I pressed the barrel against his temple. "I'll give you one chance, Dan. Tell me who you work for, and maybe, maybe I’ll let you walk out of here."

He licked the blood from his lips, gaze defiant. "Go to hell."

I smiled, slow and pleased. "Wrong answer."

I pulled the trigger.

The gunshot echoed in the small room, the sharp scent of gunpowder mixing with the metallic tang of blood.

Dan slumped forward, dead before he hit the floor.

I exhaled, adjusting my cuffs as I turned to Stefanos. "Get rid of the body."

He nodded, already dragging Dan's corpse away.

With Dan's body being disposed of, I straightened my suit and left the room.

By the time I returned to the main floor of the club, the search had escalated.

The music had lost some of its volume.

Then I saw him.

The ambassador stood near the bar, the phone clutched tightly in his hand. I slowed down, watching him press the phone to his ear, his free hand holding tight to the bar counter as if steadying himself.

"Vanessa?" he breathed. The word was tight with emotion.

A small, fractured sob crackled through the speaker. "P-Papa... please... do what they say..."

She sounded terrified, her voice shaking. The noise in the club had dulled enough that a few guests nearby picked up fragments of the conversation, their faces shifting with curiosity and concern.

The ambassador’s already heavy breathing came out in pants. His eyes darted around, desperate for control. "Vanessa, where are you? Who has you?"

A muffled voice interrupted. Male. Distorted.

"Mr. Ambassador, I'd like to make an exchange. Your daughter for a prisoner's freedom. A fair exchange."

The ambassador's grip on the phone tightened. "You're out of your damn mind if you think–"

"Papa, please!" Vanessa's panicked plea cut him off. There was a rustling sound, as if someone had yanked the phone from her grasp.

"Don't test our patience," the voice was distorted but firm. "You have twenty-four hours. If our man isn't freed, you'll never see your daughter again."

Click. The call was dropped.

Silence stretched in the club as the ambassador slowly lowered the phone, his chest rising and falling in deep, controlled breaths. His jaw was clenched so tightly I thought it might snap.

I stepped forward then, with a carefully composed expression of concern. "Mr. Ambassador," I started smoothly, "What's going on?"

His gaze snapped to mine, wild and filled with a rage barely restrained. I tilted my head in a pose that conveyed worry. "Was that Vanessa?"

The ambassador exhaled sharply, shoving the phone into his pocket. “It's none of your concern.”

I nodded, offering a slow, understanding smile. "Of course. But should you need any resources to... resolve this situation, I am at your disposal. I let the police check our cams, my men are collaborating with witnesses."

His nostrils flared, but he gave a stiff nod before storming toward the exit.

I watched him leave, a satisfied smirk tugging at my lips.

Everything was falling into place.