Page 31 of Be My Vengeance

“What’s that?” Danny pointed to the concoction.

“Sodium pentothal.”

Penn chuckled. “You know that’s not a truth serum, right? As a matter of fact, agencies stopped using it because it was insanely unreliable and usually led to their subjects inflating scenarios, and yammering on and on.”

Toni nodded. “That’s fine. But it will lower his inhibitions enough that lying will be harder, and we might actually get somewhere.”

Gideon picked up the syringe. “Okay, we’ll use this, question him, but we don’t kill him.”

I narrowed my eyes at Gideon. “Why not?”

“We don’t know if keeping him alive will work to our advantage, but what I do know is that if we kill him we can’t undo it, Alex. So, for now, he lives.”

I wasn’t happy about that, but at the moment I’d shut up and follow Gideon’s lead, though I wouldn’t rest until every Ivanov was dead.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Danny

Once Maksim woke up, Toni led him to the bathroom and he was given some water. He’d complained he was hungry, but he was already getting treated nicer than he deserved.

I glanced at Alex, who was leaning against the wall, his arms folded, glaring at Maksim while Toni retied him to the bed. I knew it was taking everything in him not to beat the shit out of Maksim. He’d done a decent number on him. Maksim had a swollen eye, bruising on his neck and jaw, and a split lip.

Gideon’s words rattled around in my head as we waited for Toni to finish readying Maksim. Nothing that Gideon had said was untrue. I was supposed to watch Alex, keep him out of trouble. But all I’d done was feed his fury. It hadn’t taken me long to realize why I’d done what I’d done. It was simple, really. I loved Alex Walker and revenge was all he had room in his heart for, so I’d helped him because I’d do anything for him.

“I don’t know why any of you think I have information. My father doesn’t confide in me.” Maksim was bound to the bed again, Toni beside him.

“I think you know more than you’re telling us.” Gideon was sitting on one of the chairs in the corner, rolling a cigar between his fingers.

“But I don’t and…” Maksim narrowed his eyes at Toni as he pulled out the syringe. “What the fuck is that?”

“Just something to help you relax.” Toni reached for Maksim’s arm, but he got squirmy so Alex assisted and held him still.

“You like putting your hands on me, don’t you, big boy?” Maksim sneered.

“Shut the fuck up,” Alex snarled.

When Toni injected him, Maksim winced and then glared at me. “Do you two even fuck?”

“I said shut the fuck up.” Alex squeezed Maksim’s face. “Don’t even look at him.”

Maksim chuckled darkly. “Maybe you are fucking.” He met my gaze again. “Or want to be.”

“How long till that stuff is in his system?” I asked Toni, wanting Maksim to let this go.

Toni stepped back as did Alex. “Thirty seconds.”

Sure enough, Maksim’s head started lolling from side to side and he was giggling.

“How are you feeling?” Gideon inquired.

Maksim hummed. “Nice.”

“Great.” Gideon rose from the chair and slipped the cigar into his jacket pocket. “I want to ask you some questions, Maksim.”

Maksim attempted to shrug. “Not sure I know things,” he slurred.

“Why are you in the States? I think that’s something you’d know.”