Page 211 of Malicious Claim

Makros glanced in the rearview mirror, a smirk tugging at his mouth.

"Feisty," he muttered. "Dragon, you can stop now."

Dragon sneered but slowly lowered the gun. "So... what now?" he asked.

"There's a war going on back there," Makros said. "Perfect time to vanish. Hey, Leila, how do you feel about a little trip back to America?"

"Let me guess," she said. "My feelings wouldn't matter."

Makros scoffed. "Damn right."

Dragon grunted. "Did you know her mom's working with the Orel Bratva and Vincenzo?"

Makros raised an eyebrow. "Hmm. Didn't even know she had a mother."

He didn't sound too astonished. He had already started piecing it all together. The Russians, Vincenzo... they weren't working alone.

Makros didn't let the thought distract him. He drove fast, barely slowing down as they reached an old vineyard. The place looked dead—overgrown plants, broken fences, and quiet air. But a rusted gate opened as they got closer.

Three men in black stood behind it, holding guns. One of them stepped forward.

Makros rolled down the window. "It's me."

The man nodded and stepped aside. Makros drove in.

Dragon looked around. "Who are those men?"

Makros didn't answer. He just kept driving until they reached a barn at the end of the path. It looked empty, until someone slid a section of the wall open, revealing a helicopter inside.

Leila's eyes widened. "You've got a chopper?"

Makros brought the car to a stop. "Chopper, yes. Let's move."

The wind from the spinning blades was loud and wild. A man handed Makros a black bag. Another checked his watch, nodding to the pilot.

Makros grabbed Leila by the wrist and led her to the chopper. She hesitated but followed. Dragon walked behind, watching their backs.

Before getting in, Makros turned to the men left behind. "Burn it. No one should find this place."

One of them nodded. "Got it."

The chopper lifted into the air quickly. Leila looked down. The place was already starting to smoke. Makros sat across from her in silence.

Dragon closed the door and sat beside him. "So what now?"

Makros didn't look up. "Now we vanish."

Dragon looked at Leila. "What about her?"

Makros finally looked up. "She's not going back to Zandros. Ever."

Leila didn't respond. Her chest felt tight. She looked out the window as the world below got smaller.

She didn't know what came next. But she feared that the worst was yet to come.