Page 22 of Maxim

Just as my fingers touch the small card, his hand shoots out and grabs mine.

“Perhaps you’d like to go for dinner sometime, Miss Rossi,” he says, his eyes fixed on my tits yet again. As I watch in horrified fascination, a fleshy pink tongue flicks out to moisten his lips. He reminds me of a snake, waiting to pounce on its prey.

Beads of sweat glisten across his forehead, even though the room is cool enough to cause my nipples to pucker up from the chill. Which is possibly why he turned the air-con on when he walked in.

I can smell him: a noxious combination of cologne and sweat.

It turns my stomach.

The hand gripping mine is moist. Unpleasantly so. I try to pull away but he’s not letting go.

He leans forward and I lean back as far as I can manage while he grips my hand. “I’d very much like to get to know you better, Miss Rossi. Perhaps we could help each other…”

This time, I do manage to yank my hand back, while keeping a smile fixed firmly in place. The desire to wipe it on my dress is almost overpowering but I force myself to stay calm.

Memories of Rick looming over me, intimidating me, are front and center.

My heart thuds painfully in my chest. Black spots flicker on the periphery of my vision.

This isn’t Rick.

Rick is … gone.

James is busy putting his camera equipment back in the bag but from the way he keeps looking at me with concern, he’s aware of my discomfort.

“Sure, that sounds like fun.” My voice stumbles over the word ‘fun’. It sounds unnatural, a little too high. “I have to go now, and I’m sure you have people to chat to before the evening ends.” Grabbing my iPhone and shoving it into my bag, along with my notebook, I stand quickly. My legs are shaking so hard they knock on the table, causing the mayor’s glass of water to spill everywhere, all over his meticulously polished dress shoes.

He frowns in annoyance but is quick to school his expression back to kind benevolence. The brief glimpse behind the curtain is disconcerting.

“Thank you again, Mayor Kolanski. I appreciate you taking the time for this interview.”

I smile brightly. He watches as I fumble with my bag in my eagerness to escape. I get the impression he’s enjoying my discomfort in the same way a cat takes pleasure from toying with a mouse before it goes in for the kill.

As I walk out after James, I can feel the mayor’s eyes on me the whole time.

“That was … interesting,” James mutters as we weave through the lingering guests on our way to the main exit.

I don’t bother replying. My only concern at this point is getting the fuck out of this place before the mayor decides he can’t bear to let me go.

Chapter fifteen

Max

Smoke rises in thin plumes above the smoldering carcass of my former warehouse. Kolya stands at my side as I talk to the Fire Chief. The bodies of my men have already been removed and sent to the morgue for autopsies. A preliminary examination shows they were all shot but protocols must be followed.

“Arson,” the chief says, and I smother a snort. As if it was anything else. “The fire started in numerous locations.” I nod as small flakes of ash rain down on us, painting the shoulders of my black tux gray.

The cops are hovering around the site but I’ve already had a word with the detective in charge of the investigation. He knows not to dig too deep. Thanks to a significant sum of money recently wired into his off-shore account, he’ll conduct a superficial investigation, which will be closed in a day or so, citing ‘arson; probable perpetrators, kids; not enough evidence found.’

The last thing I need is anyone poking too far into my business premises. This warehouse is just one of many, all of which contain illegal goods.

My phone rings; it’s Sasha.

“The cameras picked up a white van leaving the docks shortly before the fire started. No identifying features and the plate was removed.” My fist grips my phone. Kolya takes a step back, recognizing I’m close to losing my shit.

“Nothing going in?” I try to keep my voice nice and even but inside, I’m raging. I need to know who’s targeting us. The fact someone has stolen what’s mine, and killed my men in the process, is fucking unbelievable.

Sasha hesitates before he replies, and I tense. Whatever he’s about to say, he’s unhappy about. “No, the security system was shut down remotely. Everything was normal inside and out until that happened.”

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