“My guests will need rooms after we clean up. Please, have some new women available.”
The man typed into his laptop. “And will you need any condoms, creams, or toys?”
Maxwell grinned at the guy. “I just wanted to tell you that this is such a nice place. Please tell management that they’re doing a lovely job.”
“Review them later.” I shook my head and finished. “After my cleaning crew is done, put condoms, creams, and toys in all the rooms.”
“Yes, sir.” He watched me walk down the hall. “Will you need a key for any of the rooms?”
“Not this time.”
Both men frowned.
Sorry, Circuit. I’ll make this up.
I gazed down at the long hallway.
Four guards stood at the end. They stared at us. Neither moved.
“They don’t look like the S group, but they’re killers,” Maxwell whispered. “Do we handle these guys?”
“Yes, but stop at the room next to them, and then we’ll charge.”
“Good idea. They may have guns.”
We slowly walked down.
Somehow Maxwell stuck his hand through the duct tape and wore it as a thick uncomfortable bracelet.
I took my phone out and dialed Circuit. “What do you have?”
“Last suite on the right. He ordered two buckets of lobster, three bottles of champagne, five women, a half kilo of cocaine, and a jumbo stuffed white pony with a pink and yellow bow around its neck.”
I continued to the room. “Why would he order a jumbo stuffed animal?”
“You clearly haven’t done a half kilo of cocaine before.”
“Clearly. Have the door ready for my print.” I hung up, placed the phone in my pocket, and continued forward.
The men switched their calm stance, lined up in the center of the hallway, and faced our way as if attempting to block us.
You’ll need to do a lot more than that.
None took guns out yet.
“No need to fake a charge.” Maxwell unbuttoned his jacket and kept his hands to the side. “They’re ready for us.”
“At least they think they are.”
My guys moved in front of me.
The tall man behind them tapped the suite door. It slid open. The sounds of moans and grunting entered the hallway. Five more men stepped outside, holding machetes.
“Good.” I undid my jacket. “They’re going to follow the rules.”
Four feet away, two of Leonid’s guards charged at us. The two men revealed long swords—one blue and the other green. In a flash, they sliced two of my men in half. Four parts of my men fell to the floor. Blood dripped from the swords. Victorious, the guards flashed wicked grins.
“Damn. I need to get in touch with their carver.” Fast, Maxwell wrenched out a machete. The duct tape still dangled on his wrist. “After we kill them, I’m taking those swords.”
“You can’t have both. That’s just being greedy.”
“Maybe I’ll give you one.” He winked. “Maybe.”
I pulled a knife from my jacket. “Fine, but I get the green one.”
“No way. You take the blue.”
“How about this.” I glanced his way. “The person with the most kills picks?”
“Deal.”
I turned back to Leonid’s guards. “Most important. Make sure you don’t get killed.”
“Aww.” Maxwell stepped forward and held the machete in front of him. “You love me. Don’t you?”
One of Leonid’s guards spoke in Russian. “Mr. Turgenev is not taking any visits at this time.”
Quick, Maxwell whipped the machete in the air. The blade hit the center of the guard’s neck. Blood gurgled out of his mouth. Dropping the sword, he crashed to the floor.
“One for me.” Maxwell took out another machete with duct tape. “You’re zero.”
“Damn it.” I charged for the other. He slashed at me. I jumped back and tossed my knife. It hit his chest but wasn’t good enough. While he tried to pull the knife out of his chest, I punched him in the face, grabbed his hand holding the sword, and shoved his own blade in his stomach. He fell to the floor. I pushed the knife deeper into him.
Sweat coated my forehead. “One.”
On both sides, all joined the fight. I would have picked up the swords, but the hallway was too narrow. Only an idiot fought with a sword in this space. That’s why the two men had gone down so easily.
As I pulled out another knife a man sliced my waist. The pain throbbed through me.
“Asshole!” I gave him all my attention and went to work.
Maxwell screamed behind me. “Two!”
“Fuck you.” I jammed the knife into the side of my guy’s head. It got stuck. “Shit. Die already. You’re messing with my count.”
I slammed my fist into his throat. He went down. I punched the air. “Two!”
Maxwell roared. “Duck!”
I did.
A machete zipped through the air.
Maxwell laughed. “Three!”
Rising, I pulled out another knife. “No one cares.”
“You’re just mad that I’ll have new swords.”
One of Leonid’s guards rushed for Maxwell. They wrestled with each other. Maxwell grunted and slammed the big guy into the wall.