Chapter 158: Hidden Alliances

Chapter 158: Hidden Alliances
The FBI field office was almost empty at 7 in the morning. Chen met them in a conference room with coffee already made.

“You look like hell,” he said to Anya as she entered.

“Three hours sleep. Someone hit Morozov operations last night.” Anya plopped down and spread photos across the table. “Six professionals. Military precision. No identification.”

Chen studied the images. His expression shifting. “Shit.”

“You recognize the work.”

“No. The work. The timing.” Chen flicked up his laptop. “We’ve been tracking similar hits. Last three months. Different cities. Always hitting organized crime targets.”

“Show me.”

Chen flicked up a map. Red pins dotting the Eastern Seaboard. “Boston. Philadelphia. Baltimore. Now here. Same MO. Simultaneous strikes. Professional execution. No survivors.”

“Who’s behind it?” Viktor asked.

“We don’t know. No chatter. No claims of responsibility.” Chen looked troubled. “It’s like someone’s systematically testing defenses across multiple territories.”

“Testing for what?” Anya leaned forward.

“That’s what worries me. This level of coordination suggests serious funding. Serious planning.” Chen flicked up more files. “The only organization with these resources is—“

“The Syndicate.” Anya finished for him.

“But Sokolov’s in custody. Operation dismantled.” Viktor frowned. “Who’s running things now?”

“That’s the question.” Chen circled several names. “Someone could be consolidating power.”

Anya studied the timeline. “These hits started two months after Sokolov’s arrest.”

“Someone moving into the vacuum.”

“Or someone who was waiting for the opportunity.” Anya’s mind raced. “What do you need from us?”

“Intelligence. Any unusual activity. New faces. Financial irregularities.” Chen paused. “And I need you to keep the council stable. If the families start fracturing, whoever’s behind this wins.”

“We’re working on it.”

“How’s Dmitri taking it?”

“Angry. Demanding immediate retaliation.” Anya’s voice was dry. “I convinced him to investigate first.”

“Good. Last thing we need is a war.” Chen closed his laptop. “I’ll share intel. You do the same?”

“Deal.”

They left the building. Viktor drove while Anya made calls.

“Elena. Run background on everyone Dmitri’s brought into his operation in the last year.”

“Looking for what?”

“Connections. Military background. Financial changes. Anything unusual.” Anya switched calls. “Irina. Reach out to Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore contacts. See if they’ve heard anything about who’s behind the hits.”

“The cities Chen mentioned?”

“Yes. Someone’s running a coordinated campaign. I want to know who.”

By noon they were back in Anya’s office. Elena arrived with files.

“Found something. One of Dmitri’s new lieutenants. Viktor Orlov. Hired eight months ago as security consultant.”

“Background?”

“Former Russian military. Special forces. Clean record. Came recommended by the Volkovs.” Elena pulled up details. “He was hired specifically to oversee security at the three locations that got hit.”

The room went silent.

“He set it up.” Viktor said quietly.

“Or he’s the leak.” Anya studied Orlov’s file. “Who recommended him?”

“Alexei.”

“Alexei.” Anya’s voice was thoughtful. “Who has every reason to hate Dmitri after what happened with Elena.”

“You think Alexei’s behind this?”

“Motive. Means. Opportunity through Orlov.” Anya stood. Paced. “But it doesn’t fit Chen’s pattern. The hits across multiple cities.”

“Unless Alexei isn’t working alone.” Elena suggested. “What if he’s part of something larger?”

“Syndicate reformation.” Viktor nodded slowly. “Alexei provides intelligence. They provide muscle and coordination.”

“It fits.” Anya turned to Elena. “Where’s Orlov now?”

“Running security review after the hits.”

“Perfect cover. He can make sure no evidence points back.” Anya made a decision. “We need to bring him in. Quietly. Before Dmitri realizes.”

“If we’re wrong—“

“Then we apologize and investigate elsewhere. But if we’re right and we wait, more people die.” Anya looked at Viktor. “Can you grab him without causing a scene?”

“I can be discreet.”

“Do it. Bring him to the warehouse on Pier 47.” Anya turned to Elena. “Contact Irina. I want her there. And Chen.”

“FBI involvement?”

“If Orlov talks, Chen needs to hear it. This is bigger than one leak.” Anya grabbed her coat. “Tell Dmitri we’re following a lead. Don’t mention Orlov yet.”

“He’ll be furious.”

“Better furious than compromised.” Anya headed for the door. “Move fast.”

Three hours later, they had Orlov secured in the warehouse. Viktor had grabbed him during a “security consultation.”

Anya entered to find him zip-tied to a chair. Professional. Calm. Not scared.

“Viktor Orlov. Former Spetsnaz. Current security consultant.” Anya circled him slowly. “And the man who helped murder five of Dmitri’s soldiers.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Security footage shows six professionals hitting three locations you were responsible for protecting.” Anya stopped. “Electronic security that mysteriously failed during the attacks.”

Orlov’s expression didn’t change.

“You’re good. I’ll give you that.” Anya leaned down. “But you made one mistake. You assumed Dmitri was your only problem.”

“And?”

“And you forgot about the council. About the resources we have.” Anya straightened. “Chen. Show him.”

Chen stepped forward with a tablet. “We tracked encrypted communications from your phone. Messages to a shell company. That company traces back to someone interesting.”

Orlov’s calm cracked. Just slightly.

“Alexei Volkov.” Anya said the name quietly. “Who’s been funding and coordinating hits across five cities.”

Silence.

“Here’s what happens now,” Anya continued. “You tell us everything. Who’s involved. What the endgame is. Where Alexei’s operating from. In exchange, you get protective custody instead of what Dmitri will do.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Then I let Dmitri know we found his leak. And I make sure he understands you’re former Spetsnaz, so he should take his time.” Anya’s voice was ice. “Federal protection or Morozov revenge. You have sixty seconds.”

Orlov stared at her. Calculating. Then his shoulders sagged.

“Alexei’s in Philadelphia. Setting up new Syndicate operations. He’s got backing from overseas Russians who want a foothold.”

“Names.”

“I don’t have names. Only Alexei had direct contact.” Orlov leaned forward. “But I know the plan. Destabilize the families. Make them desperate. Then offer protection through the new Syndicate—“

The warehouse door exploded inward.

Dmitri Morozov burst through with armed men, face purple with rage.

“You went behind my back!” He roared at Anya. “Investigating my people without telling me!”

Viktor moved fast. Positioning himself between Dmitri and Anya.

“Dmitri, stand down—“

“No! This is my operation!” Dmitri pulled a gun. Aimed at Orlov. “My revenge!”

And six laser sights appeared on Anya’s chest.