Page 28 of Concerto of Crows and Cowards

She saw the smirk from the dealer out of the corner of her eye, and she took the hand Max offered her. Atticus and Nate had moved around over the last hour, and she finally caught sight of Jade at the bar, watching a baseball game with seemingly rapt attention. But Jade knew she was aware they were leaving, and she felt Atticus start to circle in closer.

“Stay close,” Max whispered in her ear. “Something isn’t right.”

The problem was going to be when they reached the elevator. Because they were in the penthouse suite their entrance was restricted to regular guests, but Vassin and his men had access to the whole hotel. She caught Atticus’s worried gaze and then took a step away and to the left of Max just in case he needed room to maneuver. She had her own instincts, and the only thing she knew was that she had to protect Max, no matter what the cost.

Max opened the door that led to the private elevator and saw the long hallway was clear. There wasn’t any sound or any sign that someone waited for them, and he and Jade moved quickly to the elevator, their footsteps silenced by the plush carpet. He swiped the key card and the elevator doors whooshed open immediately. He looked inside and saw it was empty before they stepped inside.

Just before the doors closed a man slipped through and had a knife at Jade’s throat before Max could move to intercept. He must have been waiting, lurking behind one of the closed doors that lined the hallway. That quickly, things were out of control, and he had no way to get to the man without harming Jade too.

Max’s blood turned to ice as he saw the man’s hands on her. Her pulse beat rapidly just above where the knife was held, but she was completely still, completely calm. The air felt as if it had been sucked out of the elevator, and Max and the man stared at each other, taking each other’s measure.

“You’ve made a very dangerous enemy, Mr. Devlin,” the man said. He was the same height as Jade and he used her body effectively to protect his own. His dark hair was shaved close to the scalp and his beard was the same length. Brown, soulless eyes stared at him, and Max knew he’d slice Jade’s throat in a heartbeat and show no remorse if Max didn’t tread very carefully.

“I can easily say it’s mutual, Mr.—?”

“Smith.”

“Yes, very clever. You can tell Mr. Vassin that if she dies then he won’t find a corner of the world far enough away to hide in.”

The man’s eyes narrowed and he tightened his hold around her neck so the blade bit into the skin. A single drop of red welled and Max felt his whole body go still. Dead man walking.

“If he wanted to disappear, you would never find him, but that is not why I am here. We are all businessmen, and Mr. Vassin decided he didn’t like the terms you set forth earlier. He felt it was a little one sided. After all, if he gives you half the money, what’s to keep you from taking it and leaving him high and dry? Here you go, sweetheart.” The man kept his eyes on Max as he put a black briefcase in Jade’s hands. “Hand this over to your boyfriend very slowly. I wouldn’t want my hand to slip and slice that pretty neck.”

Max reached out and took the briefcase from Jade, keeping his eyes on her attacker. He couldn’t look at her, afraid of what he’d see in her eyes. Or maybe more afraid of what she’d see in his.

“Be careful, Mr. Smith.” He set the briefcase by his feet so his hands would be free. “Good bodyguards are hard to find.”

“You seem to be rather careless when it comes to her wellbeing. Do you toss your lovers away so easily then?”

“Well, lovers are easier to find than bodyguards.” His casual attitude flustered the man, and he hoped the lack of concentration would be enough for him to make a mistake so Max could strike out. But this man was a professional, and he knew exactly how to hold her, how to position the knife so she’d be dead before Max could ever make a move.

“Why don’t you deliver your message so we can get things rolling?” he asked. “I’m a busy man. And I’ve got a plane to catch. I think I’ve decided I’d rather do business with Jarron Sikes after all.”

“Unfortunately, that is no longer an option. Mr. Vassin doesn’t want you to think that he’s not an honorable businessman, so the first half of the payment you demanded is in that briefcase. But we’re going to take your lover as our own insurance. Once you’ve given Mr. Vassin the information he wants, you can have her back. An easy transaction.”

“And how am I supposed to give Mr. Vassin this information, and where do I reclaim my property?”

“He’s extending an invitation to his home here in the valley. Come alone and unarmed. Now hit the button to take you to your room.”

Max stared at him out of glacial eyes, and the man must have seen the promise of his death there because he tightened his grip around Jade and took a step back. Max hit the elevator button for the penthouse level and stood impotent while Mr. Smith maintained control.

The doors opened and they stood in silence, still facing each other. “Get out,” Mr. Smith said.

Max stepped out of the elevator and into his suite, never turning his back on his enemy.

The doors started to close and Mr. Smith said, “Tonight, Mr. Devlin.”

The last thing he saw before the doors closed in his face was Jade staring back at him, with complete trust in her eyes that he’d come for her. And by God, he wasn’t going to let her down.

Chapter Thirteen

Max had his phone in his hand dialing Atticus’s number as soon as the doors closed, simultaneously taking the frequency device from his pocket and turning it on so no one could hear his conversation.

“What’s going on?” Atticus asked. “The staff here watches that private door like hawks. I couldn’t get anywhere near it without drawing attention to myself.”

“Vassin’s man took Jade as collateral and left the first half of the payment with me.” Max paused as Atticus swore viciously. “I can meet with Vassin at his home tonight and give him the convoy locations, and then he says I can take Jade and leave.”

“They’ll try to kill you.”

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