respond, because Hancock was dead on. Steele would do anything to protect Maren and keep her from harm. And he wouldn’t give a damn who he hurt in the process.
“So what’s your Kryptonite, Hancock?” Steele murmured. “What’s your motivation for your relentless pursuit of your goal? You used Grace. You used Maren. What’s driving you?”
Hancock’s gaze became shuttered and he stiffened. “We’re wasting time on useless bullshit.”
Steele knew he’d hit a sore spot, and yeah, who really gave a fuck what motivated Hancock. If he had intel that Maren was in danger, Steele damn well wanted to know about it.
As soon as they entered the living room, Maren gasped, her eyes widening in alarm when she saw Hancock. He didn’t know if it was because she feared his arrival or if she was shocked over his appearance.
He soon had his answer when Maren shoved by Baker and hurried up to Hancock.
“What on earth happened to you?” she demanded.
As she spoke, she reached up, probing one of the lacerations to his scalp.
“This needs stitching and it looks like your nose is broken. Did Tristan do this? Is it because you helped me get away?”
Hancock looked bemused by the rapid-fire questions and even more befuddled that Maren seemed concerned about him. He reared back so his head was out of reach.
“I have a lot I need to tell both of you,” Hancock said, looking between Maren and Steele.
“Well, you can tell us while I stitch those wounds. Steele, you have a med kit. Can you send Baker for it? Surely you have a suture kit.”
Steele swallowed back the smile that threatened. There was nothing remotely amusing about the situation, but he found it hilarious that Maren was barking orders like a seasoned drill sergeant and didn’t seem the least intimidated by Hancock.
Baker hurried to get the med kit and then Steele dismissed him to take watch with the others.
Moments later, Hancock was sitting on one of the stools at the bar in the kitchen while Maren focused intently on stitching his wounds.
“You need to watch your six,” Hancock said to Steele as Steele stood close by. No way Steele was leaving Maren with Hancock without Steele Velcroed to her side. “Caldwell has lost his shit.”
“Yeah, you said that already. But what does that mean? Did you shut him down? Why are you here and not wherever he is?”
“The entire situation was FUBAR,” Hancock said in disgust. “Caldwell went off the deep end after I got Maren out. Before, he played it cool. I was never in favor of him taking Maren. He could have hired anyone to do what he wanted her to do. I knew he had the hots for her, but I didn’t realize the full extent of his obsession.
“I kept Maren with us because I wanted to appease Caldwell and keep him focused on the deal he was working with the guy I’m after. Caldwell was just a means to an end. I was counting on him to lead me to Maksimov.”
“Whoa, wait a minute. Ivan Maksimov? The Russian?”
“I see you’ve heard of him,” Hancock said.
“Who the hell hasn’t?”
“Uh, me?” Maren said, pausing in her work.
Both men ignored her.
“You’re taking down Maksimov?” Steele asked. Despite his deep dislike of Hancock, the man had balls for going after Ivan Maksimov. This was a man not to be fucked with. He was feared—with good reason. He had a reputation for being utterly ruthless. It was rumored he’d killed one of his own children in front of its mother as punishment for the mistress defying him. Later he’d sold the woman into sexual slavery and when she attempted to help Interpol agents by feeding them information, her mutilated body had been found. In pieces.
“Caldwell was an up-and-comer. Big on the scene. He quickly gained a reputation for being able to get things done. Cleanly. He gained the notice of Maksimov, and Maksimov was interested in dealing with Caldwell. It was why Caldwell was leaving Costa Rica, having reconstructive surgery and assuming an entirely new identity and relocating to Kosovo.
“I got in with Caldwell at the right time. I gained his trust and I did what I had to do to make myself invaluable to him. I also exerted a lot of influence and control over him. It’s what I do. It’s what I did with Farnsworth. It’s a gift, I guess you would say.”
“Some gift,” Maren muttered.
“It’s a very valuable gift,” Hancock said. “After a while I can control them by making