her grandmother was stubbornly persistent, and, apparently, so was she.
She'd only driven a block when her phone rang. She hoped it was Jax, but it was her sister, and she was not happy.
"Mom just called me," Darcy said. "You need to come here tonight and talk to me about all this."
"I'll talk to you, but it's late, and I don't want to drive an hour to see you."
"I don't care what you want, Maya. You're destroying our family. You need to come here and tell me exactly what you said to them."
"I can tell you on the phone."
"No. We're doing this in person."
She really didn't want to drive down to Carlsbad. She wanted to meet up with Jax. On the other hand, if she could win her sister over, maybe Darcy would help. That was probably a long shot, but she had to take it. "All right. I'll be there in an hour."
The phone immediately disconnected. She pulled over and sent Jax a text that she wouldn't be back until late, and hopefully she'd see him tomorrow. Disappointment ran through her at that thought, but perhaps it was for the best. And maybe Jax would be happy she was canceling. He'd blown hot and cold all night. He'd kissed her like he was dying for her, but before and after that he'd acted oddly, and she had enough mysteries to solve without trying to figure him out. At least not until tomorrow.
Chapter Eleven
Jax wanted to quit his bartending job. Having to play out his cover while his blackmail plan was now in motion was driving him crazy. He'd already mixed up three orders, because he couldn't focus. He was thinking about what kind of encounter would go down between David and his mother when she accused him of blackmailing Ryland with the photos Jax had planted in the car.
His thoughts were interrupted by a flurry of quiet chatter. Lifting his gaze, he saw Dustin Paul enter the room with two attractive females, who appeared to be in their twenties, while Dustin was in his late sixties. As Dustin and his ladies headed toward the private bar area, they were joined by Sylvia, Louisa, Alexander Dimitrov, and a tall gray-haired man, who Jax had seen in the library the night before. He wondered where Constantine was. He seemed to have disappeared since his conversation with Maya.
Constantine had certainly dropped a bombshell, pointing a finger at Maya's father being in Natasha's car the night she died. He wondered what Maya would do with that information. She already seemed to be in hot water with her family. Would she want to continue rocking that boat? Especially with such a damning question?
An older man slid onto the stool in front of him, and he gave him a smile. "What can I get you?"
"Do you have Zyr?" the man asked.
"Always. One of my favorite vodkas."
"I'll take a shot."
As he set the glass down, the man gave him a long, speculative stare. "You look familiar. What's your name?"
"Jax Kenin. You?"
"Daniel Bragin. I don't know where we've met, but I rarely forget a face."
He really hoped Daniel wasn't about to blow his cover. If he'd met him as an FBI agent, that could be a disaster. "Sorry, but I don't think we've met."
"Do you play chess?"
"Not in a long time. Are you in the tournament? I was working the library bar last night. Perhaps that's where you saw me."
"I wasn't here last night. It will come to me, I'm sure of it."
Jax smiled and stepped back as the bar manager, Ray Shalinski, came over. "Daniel, did you just get in?"
"Late last night," Daniel said, as the two men shook hands.
"How was your trip?" Ray asked.
"Productive. I'm supposed to meet my daughter, but I haven't seen her yet."
"Lindsay is on the roof."
"Of course. That's where the young people gather."
"Shall I let her know you're here?" Ray offered.
"Actually, I'm going into the restaurant; I'm starving."
"I'll make sure she finds you."
"Thanks."
As the two men left, Jax made a mental note to dig in on Daniel Bragin. He didn't think they'd met, but if they had, that could blow his entire operation.
The other bartender came over to him. "I'm going to take a break. You good for ten?"
"Absolutely. Before you go, do you know Daniel Bragin?
"Sure. He's a long-time member. He was one of the big five."
"Big five?"
"The five guys who started the Russia House. Constantine Dimitrov had the majority share, but he got the Russia House off the ground with