Chapter 196 MOLE.
\~~~LUCIANO.
“Again?” I raised my brows, my voice low but sharp enough to cut through the quiet.
The dim light in the back room of the warehouse hung heavy, casting long shadows over the wooden table where we sat.
My men stood against the walls, their faces tight with the same frustration gnawing at me. Viktor sat to my right, his broad shoulders tense, fingers drumming lightly on the table. Gabriel, across from us, fiddled with a cigarette he hadn't lit yet, his eyes darting between me and the floor. The air smelled of stale smoke and damp concrete, a reminder of the gritty world we navigated every day.
Another deal down the drain, and this one stung deeper than the last two.
One of the younger guys, Rico, shifted uncomfortably. “I'm sorry, boss.”
I bit my lower lip gently, tasting the faint metallic tang of blood from pressing too hard. My gaze swept the room, taking in each face, the hard lines of their jaws, and the way some of them avoided my eyes.
These were my people, forged in fire and trust. Then I locked onto Viktor and Gabriel, the two I relied on most. Viktor's jaw clenched, and Gabriel's fingers stilled on that unlit smoke.
This was the third time in just two weeks. A shipment of high-end tech parts, meant to slip through customs without a hitch, vanished before our contact could even touch it.
Word came back that authorities had tipped off the port and even before that, a property deal in the suburbs fell apart when the seller backed out at the last minute, claiming threats he wouldn't name.
And the one prior? A partnership with a supplier in Jersey was sabotaged by leaked documents that painted us as the bad guys. Someone was always one step ahead, pulling strings from the shadows. Sabotaging our plans, our deals, and our edge.
“And there are no traces?” I asked, leaning forward, my hands flat on the scarred table.
“None at all,” Viktor answered, his voice steady but edged with anger. He rubbed a hand over his shaved head.
“It was a clean job,” Gabriel added, finally lighting that cigarette. He exhaled a thin stream of smoke, watching it curl toward the ceiling. "We couldn't trace back to anything. No fingerprints, no digital breadcrumbs. Like they knew exactly how we'd move.”
I leaned back in my chair, the wood creaking under my weight. Someone was messing with me. On purpose, no doubt. Pranks? Hell no, this wasn't some kid's game.
These hits cost us money, time, and respect on the streets. And in our line of work, lose that, and you're done.
“Boss…” Gabriel swallowed hard, his Adam's apple bobbing.
“Speak,” my tone left no room for hesitation.
He stubbed out the half-smoked cigarette.
“I am afraid they are too accurate to be strangers. The timing, and the precision feel like they know our playbook inside out.”
I felt a chill settle in my gut. “You think we have a mole.”
My voice dropped low, and I raised a brow, scanning the room again. Whispers rippled among the men, but no one met my eyes.
Gabriel nodded slowly. “Yeah. Or at least, someone close.”
I'd built this team from scratch. Every one of them, I knew them down to the hairs on their heads, their habits, and their weaknesses. Viktor's loyalty ran deeper than blood, and he would take bullets for me. Gabriel? The guy was family, planning Viktor’s wedding with him like it was the only light in this dark life.
So, betrayal? It didn't compute. But doubt crept in anyway, a poison I couldn't shake.
I turned to Viktor. “It's getting frequent. We gotta do something. What do you suggest?”
Viktor breathed out a long sigh, shaking his head. “I am out of ideas, boss. We have swept the crew, checked phones, and tailed everyone. Nothing sticks.”
The room fell silent, heavy with its weight. I could feel the men's eyes on me, waiting for the call. My fist clenched under the table, knuckles whitening.
But this sabotage? It felt personal, like a knife twisting slowly.
Gabriel cleared his throat. “Look, boss, maybe we keep it simple. Cut the middlemen on the next deal. Just us three handling the drops, no delegating. I can pull strings with my contacts in the docks quietly, no fanfare.”
Before I could respond, Viktor shook his head firmly. “I think we should do something else instead.”
“What is it?” I asked, intrigued despite the frustration.
Viktor leaned in, his voice dropping. “Me, you, and Gabriel, get directly involved in the deals now. No one else. Gabriel and I can handle the legwork, the runs, and the meets. We can keep it tight, and eyes on everything,” he turned to Gabriel. “Right?”
Gabriel frowned, crossing his arms. “Your wedding's coming up soon, Vik. You shouldn't stretch yourself thin like that.”
“I don't mind,” Viktor shot back.
“From there, we can watch for the mole. See who slips, and who asks too many questions.”
Luciano shook his head but Viktor pressed on. “I say we do this. Again, boss.”
“Yes?” I prompted, wanting him to lay it out.
He paused, gathering his thoughts. “Remember the issues from a few months back? When someone reached out to the Donna anonymously to strike a deal. We never found them.l
I straightened, the memory hitting like a punch. “What? I thought it was Talia and Marco. Didn't you investigate them?”
Viktor's eyes hardened. “It wasn't them. It wasn't. We tore through their lives, phones, alibis, and everything and it was clean. Whoever it was is still out there... and could be anywhere.”
Gabriel leaned forward, his voice urgent. “Then we have more than one person to look out for, is it?”
“Or one,” Viktor said, smacking his lips in thought.
I tilted my head. “You think it could be one person?”
“I think it's one person. There is a pattern already,” Viktor tapped the table for emphasis.
“What pattern?” I demanded, my pulse quickening.
He held up a finger. “First, the anonymous reach to Donna, hiding behind no name, and using a burner line. They hide behind screens or another person to get their shit done. We can't dispute that.”
The pieces clicked, forming a shadow I couldn't ignore.
“Then we find them,” I hissed, my voice a low growl that echoed off the walls.
Viktor nodded, fiercely. “We must.”
Gabriel's eyes met mine, a silent agreement passing between us. The room buzzed with renewed energy, my men straightening, and ready for the hunt. But deep down, the doubt lingered.
Who and how close were they? I'd tear the city apart if needed, to protect what was mine. No more games.