“Sit down, Cam,” Maxim says, gesturing for me to drop back into my chair. “Nick doesn’t work for you anymore, he works for me. He keeps tabs on my investments. That’s what I pay him for.”

The words are like gasoline on the fire in my veins. Nick, the shady arsonist from the parking lot is also the creepy guy following Jade around town. My skin goes hot then icy, my right hand bunching into a tight fist. I am one second away from losing it when another realization hits.

“Oh my God. It’s you.” I turn, stare across the desk at Maxim. “You’re the one holding Jade and the kids at gunpoint.”

Maxim glances at Nick, just a subtle flick of his eyes, and I know what he’s doing. He’s calling for backup, those two big bouncers guarding the door are probably already on their way. I’m making more than enough noise.

“You’re upset,” Maxim says, his tone calm and controlled, “and I would be, too, in your shoes, which is why I’m going to pretend you didn’t say any of that.” He squints, pointing at me with his lit cigarette. “But from here on out you’d do well to watch your words, do you understand what I’m telling you? Most people don’t survive insults like the ones you just hurled.”

My shoulders slump. My lungs empty and the room goes slippery, tinged with smoke and the stink of my own sweat. That’s it. I’m done. Uncle.

“Just kill me, Maxim. Put a bullet in my head and me out of my misery.” Me for my family. It’s a rotten trade, but Maxim will see it as a noble one, and at least then this whole nightmare will be over. “Just please. Please don’t touch my family.”

A scuffling noise comes from behind me, two large bodies moving into the room, and I brace for what’s next—a tackle from behind, a blow to the skull or fist to the kidney—but Maxim stops them with a hand. “Sit down, kid.”

My legs give out, and I collapse onto the chair.

“Here.” Maxim pushes the cigarettes and lighter across the desk, and what the hell? I shake one from the pack and fire it up. “You and I have known each other a long time, Cam. We have history. And I shouldn’t have to tell you this, but whoever’s in your house right now is not one of my people. That’s not the way I do business. This has nothing to do with me. You have my word.”

For the first time since college, I suck a lungful of cigarette, and it’s like riding a bike. My skin goes tingly, my brain blissed out on nicotine. “Then who?”