Page 11 of Maxim

“Good girl,” he coos as he runs his hand over the back of my head.

Then he smacks my ass, making me squeak a little.

He’s sick. Truly sick. I’ve always known it but I didn’t know it was to this extent.

“You’ll make some man truly happy one day, Olena, or it will be the last thing you do,” he says as he walks toward his desk.

Death. I wish for nothing but death.

Breathing hard, I stretch my neck. The only thing that could have made that workout better was if I had someone to work out with. Reaching into the fridge, I pull out a bottle of water before walking over to the couch. I sit down and put my legs up on the coffee table in front of me. Sighing, I open the water and take a drink.

This is bullshit.

I hate sitting around waiting. All I want to do is go in, guns blazing, and get this over with, but I can’t. I knew going undercover would take time and shit, but I didn’t realize how slow shit would actually move. This is killer for someone who likes to stay busy.

What’s worse is the news that Alexei reached out and told me.

I walk up to the meat counter and wait my turn when another man comes to stand next to me.

“Max,” Alexei says quietly.

“You aren’t supposed to be here,” I say under my breath.

“I know, but I figured this was the best way to get news to you.”

“What’s going on? Is the family okay?” I ask as the line moves forward.

“The family is fine. The girls send their love, and the guys miss you.”

“Did they say that?”

“It’s obvious even to me.”

“Tell me what’s going on. You wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t important.”

“Each family is reporting an uptick of missing people,” he says, making my jaw clench.

“I’m trying.”

“I know you are. This shit takes time.”

“Why do you think it’s happening now?”

“We believe, based on intel, that a sale is going down soon, and they are trying to get all the bodies possible to fill orders.”

“Any idea of when? Has anything about me come up?” I keep my voice low as I look around.

He shakes his head as he reaches for a salami log. “Nothing on you besides what we put out. Keep your head down, and you should get the invite.”

“And if I don’t?”

“That’s not an option,” he says before walking away.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!

“Next, come on, man, we don’t have all day!” the deli guy says, calling me forward.

Those poor fucking people. If I could just get in and get what I need, this could all end.