once the door locked behind us, there was no opening it. He’d be trapped.
I was just stepping out when he screamed, “You said you’d let me go!”
Looking over my shoulder, my lips curved into a cruel smile he couldn’t see. “I lied.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Highway To Hell
Maximo
WHAT A PISSHOLE.
Parked around the corner from All or Nothing, I felt like I needed a shower, and I hadn’t even stepped foot inside. The entire area was rundown—blocks of abandoned buildings and discarded trash.
“We sure he’s in there?” Ash asked.
“Don’t let Cole hear you doubt him or he’ll thoroughly explain the cell tracking process until your eyes glaze over.”
He grimaced. “Forget I asked.”
We had eyes on the front door and Cole was parked around back, watching that exit and the tracker for movement. Unless there was a hidden tunnel we didn’t know about, Dobrow was inside.
Ash drummed on the steering wheel, already wired. “What’s the plan?”
What I wanted to do was walk in, empty my magazine into Dobrow, then go home to Juliet. Unfortunately, the packed club ensured that wasn’t an option.
“Wait until everyone leaves, snatch Dobrow, get out before I catch something from the air.” Taking out my cell, I texted Marco.
Me: Everything good?
Marco: Quiet. Vera roped Juliet into watching another chick flick.
Me: Call if anything changes.
It took a handful of hours for the cars to clear out. It was another hour before the staff left. The place was dark and quiet.
It was time.
I messaged Cole.
Me: Heading in the front.
Cole: I’ll go in the back.
“Ready?” I asked Ash as I pulled on gloves. But he was already gloved up and heading out.
Ash and I stuck to the shadows as we made our way to the door. He aimed his gun at the lock. “Pick it or shoot it?”
I pulled the handle, and the door swung open.
He shrugged. “Or do it the boring way, that’s fine.”
We walked into the main room of the darkened club, the stench of sex, body odor, cheap perfume, and alcohol saturating everything. Heading past the large mirrored stage, I pushed through the swinging door to the long hall. Cole was already positioned in the open doorway at the other end, a grimace locked on his face. I only had to wait a moment to figure out why.
The sounds of skin slapping and fake moans came from behind a door on the left. It wasn’t the one Janson had told us about, but it also didn’t sound like Dobrow was conducting business.
Ash mimed gagging.
Reaching out, I turned the handle and opened the door, bracing for whatever horror awaited.
I didn’t brace enough.
Rather than Dobrow, it was a naked and sweaty Carmichael banging a bored stripper from behind. His body jiggled with each thrust.
That time when Ash gagged, it wasn’t mimed.
“Maximo!” Carmichael stopped and scurried back, flashing everything in the process.
“Never say my name while you’re naked.” I wanted to turn away, but I wasn’t stupid—just scarred for life. “Jesus Christ, I’ll never get this image out of my head.”
The stripper flopped down and yawned, her dazed gaze aimed toward the desk. It took two-point-five seconds to realize she was high as a kite.
Anyone fucking Carmichael would have to be.
Ash went back into the hall as I stalked across the small, makeshift bedroom. I checked Carmichael’s pants for a weapon before throwing them and his shirt at him. “Get dressed.”
Unstable and shaking, he struggled to put them on, already starting his excuses. “I can explain. It’s Viktor. I owe—”
“Where is he?” I asked. “His Escalade’s here.”
“It needs new brakes and repairs. He’s driving a Benz.”
“Rooms are empty,” Ash said. “His cell is charging in his office.”
Shit.
There was a possibility Janson not returning had tipped Dobrow off. There was also the possibility while I was staking out his place, Dobrow was doing the same to mine.
Panic shot through me. My place may have been Fort Knox with two people armed and on guard, but shit happened. Even with every precaution, something could go wrong.
I pulled my cell out, but Cole’s blockers meant no signal.
“Cole, check in with Marco,” I called, knowing his setup could bypass them.
“On it.”
Returning my focus to Carmichael, I asked, “Where would he go?”
He rapidly shook his head, looking two seconds from a heart attack. “He collects bank from his other clubs at the end of the night, but I don’t know where he’d go after. We’re not actually friends. I was only getting close to keep Juliet safe. He wants to sell her.”
“The same Juliet you tried to kidnap?” Ash