Maximus had said the informant had spoken about at least three Russians inside the building. He was a good shot, but he was fueled by anger and that was never a good thing. I rounded the building and found Growl and Primo beside one of the steel doors, trying to get in.
“Why didn’t he wait for you?”
“He tricked us,” Primo murmured. “We wanted to scout the area first and make sure the informant didn’t lead us into a trap, but Maximus didn’t want to wait.”
I shook my head. Growl finally managed to open the door. I took the lead and went into the dim inside of the warehouse with Primo and Growl close behind. This was a small warehouse for the Bratva, which made it a target, but that wasn’t why Maximus was here of course.
Voices drifted over to us and I motioned Growl and Primo to duck behind the wooden crates. With our heads lowered, we moved closer to the voices. I tensed when I spotted two tall forms behind one of the crates, then relaxed when I recognized Maximus and his father-in-law Romero. They pointed their guns at us then lowered them. I knelt beside them and Romero pointed at a gap between the crates while Maximus had his gaze firmly locked on the scene in front of him. I looked through the gap.
Three men were playing a game of cards at a table and drawing lines of their own stuff. My lips curled. A Famiglia soldier who sniffed our stuff would be punished harshly. You couldn’t be your own best customer if you wanted to run a successful business.
“The one without hair and the one with the big wart over his lip, those are two of the men who got us.” I could hear pain beneath the rage in Maximus’ voice. I had to admit I was relieved Maximus had taken Romero with him. If he’d gone here alone, he would definitely have done something stupid. I rarely felt guilty but I really hated that I’d been too far away to be by Maximus’ side the moment he needed me.
I touched his shoulder. “Wart guy is the leader of the lot?”
Maximus nodded. “He’s a low soldier high on the limited power he has over only slightly less stupid soldiers.”
“I’ll go ahead and you watch my back?”
“This is my fight, Amo. I waited but I want their blood.”
I patted his shoulder and nodded. Then I motioned him to go ahead.
“Don’t kill them.” His eyes burned with hunger for revenge. “I want to take my time.”
“We both do,” Romero said. I slanted him a look and nodded. In recent years Romero’s work as Captain had been less violent than that of Maximus, but I could feel his need for bloodshed.
On a sign from Maximus, all five of us jumped out of our hiding place. The Russians hadn’t expected an attack and they were high on cocaine, which made our job easy. I managed to tackle the guy without hair to the ground while Maximus got the one with the wart. Romero took care of the third while Growl and Primo kept watch over our surroundings in case there were more Bratva soldiers we didn’t know about.
The door burst open. I hit the guy in my hold over the head with my gun then pointed it at the intruders but lowered it when Dad and a few soldiers stalked in.
I got to my feet. Dad barely glanced my way as he went over to Growl and talked to him before he moved on to Romero who’d managed to tie up the Russian with cable straps.
“I want to take them over to our sanctuary,” Maximus said.
“You need to question them. I realize this is very personal, for both of you.” Dad’s gaze moved from Maximus to Romero. “But we need all the information out of them.”
“They’ll sing like canaries,” Growl said in his deep, growly voice.
Dad gave a harsh smile. “I trust in all of your abilities.”
Since Dad was content ignoring me for the moment, I went over to Maximus. “Do you want me to help you torture them?”
Maximus shook his head. “Romero and I should do it.” Romero glanced toward him and nodded.
“All right. Call me whenever you need me. To talk, get drunk or dance the adrenaline away. I’ll be there.”
Maximus gripped my hand. “Why don’t you come with us? I’d like you there even if you’re not part of the torture.”
“First I need a word with you,” Dad said to me.
“I’ll come as soon as we’re done.”
Maximus and the others carried the three Russians out while Dad’s soldiers rummaged in the crates to take stock of what was in the warehouse.
“Come on. Let’s go somewhere else.” Dad didn’t wait for me to agree. He turned and expected me to follow. I could tell how pissed he was. Considering I hadn’t answered his last seven calls I knew why. I followed Dad out to his car. He looked around and finally his eyes settled on the rental motorcycle. His eyes narrowed. “Where’s one of your bikes? Or car? Since when do you need a rental?”
“Is this what you want to discuss?”