Page 79 of Scarred Redemption

“Then by all means, bring him to the… other side.”

“With pleasure, Pakhan.”

Now it was my turn to study him as carefully as he’d done with me. My father had told me more than once that what made a man an exemplary leader was his ability to listen and glean information. That was also true for observing body movements and facial tics, vocal inflections and reactions.

Sergei was my best friend, someone I’d trusted with my business and my life. There was little else worse than wondering if that same man could be trusted any longer.

“Mina could be experiencing a relapse.”

The news hit him very hard, so much so it was worth noting. He placed his hand over his heart, looking away for several seconds. “Cancer?”

“Her blood counts and platelets are all over the place, so additional testing was required.”

“Oh, Maxsim. I am so sorry. When will you know for certain?”

I studied the two commercial trucks in the parking lot. They both carried the company’s logo. My guess was I’d find the legitimate company had leased the building from the shell company. All a perfect way of laundering money. I couldn’t give a shit what their business entailed.

As soon as I entered the space, I was struck by how typical the facility was. A warehouse with a few offices up front. There were several of my soldiers sprinkled throughout, two standing by a door that I assumed separated the two sides.

“A hand scanner as a lock,” Sergei told me as I walked toward the door. “There’s a similar door and locking system on the back side of the building leading through what appears to be executive offices. The shower Isabel mentioned exists exactly as she described to you. Complete with bloodstains that appear to be fresh.”

He led me through the door to the other side, walking past a bank of smaller offices.

“Here’s one of the two warehouse spaces. Notice the fresh oil stains on the concrete locking dock.”

I followed his suggestion, standing on the threshold peering out at the second parking lot. Cargo had recently been moved and the location would be discarded.

“The building will go up for sale any day now,” I said nonchalantly.

His chuckle meant he suspected as much. “Undoubtedly you’re right.”

“And we will find no real trace of them. We’ll need to warn the employees they won’t be receiving their next payment.”

“Poor bastards. The county is piss poor.”

“Yes,” I muttered. “It is.”

We stopped at the shower facility after he showed me the second warehouse. All signs had been swept clean and even if I were to check for fingerprints, there wouldn’t be any.

As far as the blood on the floor, it had been left purposely. I crouched to the floor, peering at the dark stains while envisioning what Isabel had gone through when trying to escape.

“That’s a lot of blood,” he said.

“A letter opener through the jugular.” I scanned the room, finding nothing of value.

“Remind me never to get on her bad side.”

When I remembered the escape had been through a window, I moved through the room until I found the one she was talking about. It was important for me to walk the same path. Was it fueling my anger? Absolutely, but I needed the continued reminder of why my need for revenge had to be fulfilled.

Sergei watched in silence as I hoisted myself to the window, knocking it open and peering outside.

“I don’t know how she managed, Max. You should be very proud of her.”

I jumped down before responding. Fortunately for him, I had my hands in my pockets as I advanced, but my predatory actions surprised even a man capable of breaking another’s neck with his bare hands. “Proud, Sergei? I am sickened that the two people I care about the most were put in such a dangerous position. And I assure you that I will round up every. Single. Person. Involved. And do you know what I’ll do then?”

“I can imagine, Pakhan.”

“I’m certain you can and I assure you that you will be right by my side.”