Page 112 of Maxim

I need to make a move quickly. She isn’t going to shoot him. At least not dead. Maybe injure him.

I size up the two men behind me as she continues to speak with her father.

“Oh, this is great. Szymon told you that? Did he tell you that after I sold you, he asked to purchase Daryna? Said he didn’t want to miss out a second time. Fucker is a pedophile. It’s why he fit so perfectly into this place. He was too obsessed with you to be a true second, though.”

“I’m glad you feel that way. He sold you out. He told the Bratva all about your dealings. From what I understand, they are taking down your businesses right now.”

Jan hesitates. “You’re lying.”

She shrugs. “That’s what he told me at least. You better run and take care of that. Leave the kids.”

He shakes his head. “You aren’t going to shoot me, Olena.”

He steps forward. I can see the resolve melting in front of me. She is losing all the bravado she had coming into this room. Her body is conditioned to obey her father’s commands. She has spent so long conceding to him that she will fail.

As soon as he is within striking distance, he has his hand on her neck, pinning her to the wall. That’s when I make my move. One strike to the man’s Adam’s apple has guard one down. The second one tries to reach for his gun, but I pulled his ankle knife out before I made my move. It now resides between his ribs and in his heart.

He crumbles to the ground as the other man tries to breathe. Taking a gun from the choking one, I flip the safety off and hold it to the back of Jan’s head.

“She might not kill you, but I will.”

He squeezes her harder. Her face is turning red.

“If you shoot me, you risk hitting her.

“She’s nothing but a toy, remember,” I lie.

He laughs.

“Yeah, right. You won’t kill me. You need me to unravel my organization. You are with the Bratva are you not?” he asks.

“I already know what your partner looks like. You were dumb enough to bring him to that meeting.”

“Or did I use a decoy to throw you off?”

I never considered that, but I guess I should have. Why would he have the man show up to a meeting with some small-time collector? Olena had me so distracted that I lost sight of what I was doing. I wouldn’t take a minute of it back, but we may never know who the benefactor is.

“I’ll find out now, won’t I? You won’t be here to know, though. Not if you don’t let her go.”

Olena’s face is starting to change colors, making me scared for her. My mission is to find the head of the snake, but I can’t wait any longer.

Without another word, I move the gun to his neck, pointing it up as I fire. Jan falls to the ground, Olena falling right along with him.

Quickly, I grab her, holding her to me. She is gasping for air.

“Are you okay? Where are you hurt?” I ask, kissing her face.

“I’m fine. We need to go,” she says hoarsely.

“Where is Szymon?” I ask her carefully.

“He’s dead. We need to find Dayna and Alek,” she rasps.

I want to push, but now is not the time. The only thing that matters is that he won’t be in our way as we make our way out of here.

“They are in the woods. Let’s go get them.”

Helping her stand, I turn and shoot the remaining living guard. Then I grab all of their phones.