Ajax dropped his hand on the Pullman’s handle as if he didn’t know how to work it. Was this man—this rather young man—incapable of following basic commands?
It’s a shame for his parents.
He took out his phone and texted his sister, who was watching the girls.
D: This job will drive me mad. There is nothing to do but squat in a safe house and keep him from doing something stupid until Peter tracks down each of the threats. He has a bag of toys, I think.
L: Peter?she’d texted back, but he was sure she meant it as a joke.
D: No, the boy.
L: Mitya. You must treat even a stupid client with respect and kindness. She could lecture him about anything.
D: Of course. When have you known me to be unkind?
“I’ll take the Pullman too.” Dmytro took its handle. “When we leave the room, stay behind me.”
“It’d be easier to let them kill me now,” said Ajax. “At least then I won’t be bored to death.”
“Don’t worry.” Dmytro concealed his irritation. “I’ll keep you safe.”
Freedom didn’t look reassured. “Who’ll keep you safe while you’re carrying all that?”
The boy had a point, but what could he do? Dmytro pocketed his phone and glanced both ways before turning to Ajax. “We’re going to pretend we’re mice. Be as quiet as you can.”
“Okay.” Ajax held up a finger and ran across the room. “Just a sec. I need my cards at least.”
With a deep sigh, Dmytro closed and locked the door again. “This might be what I meant bydo you have everything?”
“I have everything. I just need these too.” Ajax got his cards and went back to the coat closet, where he wrapped a soft-looking scarf around his neck, tugged a slouchy beanie over his hair, and slid on a pair of sunglasses. Not bad. With his dark curly hair hidden and his trademark chiseled face obscured, he didn’t look like his internet persona anymore. Dmytro nodded his satisfaction.
“Better.” He checked his weapon, returned it to his holster, and gripped the door handle. Once he wrenched it open, he checked the hallway again.All clear. He and Ajax moved toward the elevators and Peter. The three got in together.
As soon as the doors closed, he and Peter stepped in front of Ajax, keeping their bodies between him and anyone on the outside. They traveled to the lobby of Ajax’s condo building without stopping, and when the doors opened, a further reassuring nothing happened. Dmytro and Peter swept their client out the revolving door and to the curb where Bartlomiej waited with the town car.
Dmytro left the luggage for Peter to stow and settled Ajax into the back seat. Then he got into the front on the passenger side with a huff. He bitterly resented being unable to drive after suffering a head injury and seizure a few months before.
“All right?” Dmytro greeted his colleague.
“All set.” Bartlomiej, whom everyone called Bartosz, sat behind the wheel with the engine running. “Don’t pout. You’ll be driving soon enough. In the meantime, you’ve got me. Enjoy.”
A few more months without a seizure and he would regain his driving privileges. Until then, he did what he was told. He rolled the window down and called to Peter.
“Be well, brother.”
Peter waved before melting into the night.
“He left?” Ajax asked. “Why’d he leave? Where’d he go?”
Dmytro closed his window. “We’re a team. We split up when we need to. Peter’s going to seek out and neutralize your admirers while we take you to the safe house.”
“Lucky me.” He didn’t sound like he felt lucky.
“Drive, Bartosz.”
“Bartosz,” Ajax addressed him. “Any chance we could hit a drive-through? I need something to drink. Which, I’ve gotta warn you now, will probably come right back up because I get really carsick.”
“Perfect.” Dmytro winced. “Do you need to sit up front?”
