With no explanation, I opened the door and left the jeep.
Maxwell paused and yanked out his gun.
I walked over.
He spotted me, put the gun up, and rushed over. That New York accent rode every word. “Em called. I was supposed to give them this address, but I thought it would be smarter to get the girl first, and then call them.”
“Good.” I nodded in agreement. “If Jean-Pierre got Eden before giving me Emily, he may kill Emily, or dangle her in front of me to his bidding. This move makes us equal.” I looked back. “As long as she’s still alive.”
“Misha told me the Devil didn’t want to give her back.”
“Something to do with the Devil’s beef with Jean-Pierre.”
“So we’re going to kill the Devil?” Maxwell took his gun out.
“I haven’t decided yet. My focus is Emily and getting her back.”
“Me too.” Maxwell hitched the right side of his mouth in disgust. “Just point to the motherfucker I’m supposed to kill.”
I checked the empty sedan that Maxwell had left. “Where’s Misha?”
“He had to go back to St. Petersburg.”
Rage blazed through me. I gritted me teeth. “Misha and I will have a long talk after all of this is over. What happened to your eye?”
He frowned. “It’s a long story and not important.”
Emily’s men showed up next in several jeeps and vans.
Still gripping his gun , Maxwell checked their direction and raised his eyebrows. “Where are all the black people coming from?”
“Emily’s new crew?”
“New crew?” Maxwell studied them as they rushed out of their vehicles. “We’ll see about that.”
“She’s been busy.”
“She always is.” Maxwell glared at me. “I thought you was supposed to protect her. If I knew you couldn’t, I wouldn’t have left her with you.”
“Left her with me? Is that what you did?”
Maxwell turned to the house. “I’m taking her back to New York after this.”
“You must still be drunk.”
Maxwell pursed his lips.
“After this kidnapping, do you think I’ll let anybody else near Emily again?” A dark laugh hit me. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep her safe from now on.”
Maxwell snorted. “You won’t get another chance.”
“I will, and this had nothing to do with me. It was all about a kidnapped flute player.”
“I thought she played violin.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It could.” Maxwell shrugged. “Regardless, is the flute player in the house?”
“You tell me. Misha gave us the location.”
Across the street, two men got out of a parked van and eyed us. They had guns on them, but they were smart enough not to pull them out.
These s must be the Devil’s men.
Pavel left the jeep and walked over to them. Maxwell and I headed that way.
When we met them, Pavel spoke, “Which one of you is the Devil?”
The man took in all of our faces and pointed a shaking finger to the house.
Pavel gestured at it. “The Devil is in there?”
They nodded.
“With the girl?”
The guy widened his eyes and nodded again.
“Thanks.” Pavel smiled, pulled out his gun, and shot them both in the forehead. One of his men cleaned up the bodies .
“Let’s go.” I headed down the walkway.
Maxwell took out his gun again and followed.
Annoyance hit Pavel’s voice. “Where’s Misha?”
“He headed back to St. Petersburg.”
“Why?”
Maxwell cleared his throat. “long story.”
I frowned. “I have no time for games, Maxwell.”
“Man, I’m not coming between Misha and you. Why he left is his story to tell.”
“Misha fucked up and now Emily is gone,” I growled. “Him and I will talk soon.”
“If it matters, Misha’s going through a lot—”
“He should have been here.”
Nodding, Maxwell left it alone.
We stepped to the front of the house. Pavel remained on my side. Maxwell stepped forward and knocked on the door.
No one answered.
I knocked.
Sound came from inside. Footsteps, and hushed noises.
Maxwell tilted his head to the side. “Some guy peeked his head through the curtains and then jumped back. I think he’s still there, hiding behind the curtains.”
“Shoot him.”
Maxwell shrugged, pointed, and shot.
I pointed at the door for the others. “Let’s go.”
Pavel and David kicked down the door, shoving it off the hinges.
The scent of blood drifted my way.
I raised both guns and shot the first man I saw. Bullets slammed into his chest. Bloodied holes remained. There was no time to waste conversation. Everyone needed to understand who had come, and that I wasn’t playing.
I shot the Devil’s men before they could lift their weapons to aim. Anyone that I didn’t get, Pavel, David, or Maxwell did . Fast. Efficient. Our men moved into the room, firing on the Devil’s men.
“Wait!” A huge man dropped his gun and raised his hand. A clear mask covered his face.
What’s up with the mask?
“Hey!” The masked-man ducked. “I’m on your side!”
Pavel and David stopped right in front of them, aiming their guns at his head.
“Hold on.” I gave my guns to the man closest to me, and then held one hand up for my men. There was no need to shoot. We had a smart guy here that would be ready to talk.