Page 48 of Maximus

Abrasha gave him a dismissive look and scathed, “It is being cared for and insured. If the prince is here, I will meet him.”

“If you insist,” Max said timidly.

“I do,” Abrasha spat at him.

“Please follow me.” Max led him into the hallway with the two guards at their heels. Max turned at the door. “Sir, if your men could wait here outside the door. There’s only one way in and one way out, as I’m sure they are aware.”

Abrasha looked at the men, then at Max. His left eye twitched, but he nodded his head. He turned to his guards. “Any sound out of the ordinary, and you’re inside,” he ordered.

Max opened the door and entered with Abrasha. A man in a white thawb stood in the corner facing the room.

The doors shut behind them, and Max’s knife pushed against Abrasha’s back. “One loud word, and you’re dead.”

The prince turned around. Abrasha paled. “Is this a joke?” he whispered as Smith disrobed.

“Indeed, it is not,” Smith said, his voice almost a perfect replica of Abrasha’s. What was perfect was the makeup that aged Smith to look exactly like his father.

“Who are you?” Abrasha’s voice rose slightly, and Max shoved the knife a bit, causing the man to hiss.

“I’m your bastard.” Smith walked up to Abrasha and looked at him as he took the robes off. He was wearing what Abrashawas wearing. Smith reached out and plucked the trifolded handkerchief from Abrasha’s pocket. “I never learned how to do a trifold.” Smith put the folded fabric into his pocket. “Never had a father who gave a shit.”

Abrasha’s eyes narrowed. “What do you want?”

Smith snorted. “From you. Nothing.” He put a bit of gravel in his voice, mimicking Abrasha’s voice.

Reaper took the robes from Smith and handed them to Abrasha. “Put them on.”

“What? Why?”

Max pushed the knife and felt it hit resistance. It had to have gone through the expensive jacket Abrasha was wearing. “If you want to live, put the fucking robes on.”

Reaper lifted a handgun and pushed it against Abrasha’s head. “I don’t have the time or patience to tell you again.”

Abrasha put on the robes, and Max reached into his pocket. He stuck the syringe into Abrasha and pushed the plunger.

Reaper holstered his weapon and bent over, taking Abrasha’s weight over his shoulder. “Smith, you’re up.”

“Remember, Malice has your back.”

“I’ll be fine.” Smith adjusted his sleeves under his jacket.

“Listen to them, Smith,” Val growled.

“Are you safe?”

“We are,” Val said. “Sokolov was looking for us but hasn’t come into the forest. The blind is doing its job, and we’re ready for pickup.”

“Copy. Go.” He nodded at Smith, who hunched over just a bit and walked out of the room. Instead of going to the venue, Smith turned toward the main lobby. The guards hurried after him. Max peeked into the hallway, waiting for Smith to take the guards.

“Let’s go.” Max led Reaper around the other corner and out the door toward the parking lot. He opened the back of the whitevan that was parked there early that afternoon and checked several times by staff security. Reaper flopped Abrasha into the back, then shut the door as Max dashed around to the driver’s seat. Reaper sprinted across the parking lot toward the front of the hotel, where Smith would be waiting for Abrasha’s car. Only the driver would be Reaper.

Max started the van and turned on the lights. He glanced at his watch and then put the vehicle into the drive as the first set of explosives blew. He floored the accelerator and zipped past the lodge's entryway.

Abrasha’s guards had their weapons out as Reaper pulled up right after Max. Max kept his eyes glued to the rearview as the guards pushed Smith into the car, and Reaper floored it out of the parking lot. Reaper turned left to pick up Val and Elena while Max continued straight for about a half mile before pulling into a wooded gravel road. He turned off the lights and the van before stepping out, taking off his tux, and shoving it into a bag before tossing the bag into the back of the van. From under the seat, he pulled out two packages. He took the thinnest and ripped it open.

Inside were overalls, socks, three pairs of gloves, and a t-shirt. He reached between the seats and pulled out a pair of boots, stomping into them before he gathered the second package and waited. It didn’t take long before Malice ran through the opening and threw open the back of the van. His sniper’s rifle was huge and heavy. Max watched as he pushed Abrasha out of the way and started disassembling the weapon before he put it into its case and then stripped out of his black clothing and put on the casual athletic attire waiting for him in the back of the van. He shut the back doors and walked to the driver’s door. “Ready?”

“Yes.” Maximus was more than ready. He went to the passenger side of the van and got in. Malice put the vehicle intoreverse, and they were soon on the main road heading to the top of the mountain. They pulled up to the clearing Max had chosen, and Max tugged Abrasha out of the back of the van. He shut the doors and knocked twice on the van, and Malice drove away. Max watched the taillights until he couldn’t see them anymore. Then he glanced down at the man at his feet. It was time for Abrasha Molchalin to pay for the evil he’d done. Max pulled the comm device out of his ear and placed it with the package holding his clean clothes.