Chapter 161: Counterplay

Chapter 161: Counterplay
The guard collapsed to the floor. Viktor caught his weapon as it clattered to the ground.

Anya took the man's radio. Turned the volume down.

"Team Two, report in." The voice crackled.

Viktor pushed the transmit button. Used the guard's voice. Perfect. "All good here. Prisoner under control."

Pause. Then: "Copy that. Advance on target."

They dragged the unconscious guard into the room. Anya stripped him of his tactical vest while Viktor looked down the corridor.

"Two more at the end of the hall. One at the monitors." Viktor's voice was low. Professional. The Devil in action. "We get them silently. Then we head for Pavel's data."

"What are you looking for, exactly?"

"Proof. All the things he was saying about having information on the families. Something Chen can use." Viktor moved closer. Quiet. "And I want to know who's really supporting him. He doesn't have the assets for this all on his own."

They crept down the corridor. The lighting was low. Industrial. Built for seclusion.

Viktor gave the signal. Guard ahead. Turning his back. Watching monitors.

Anya moved before Viktor could stop her. Quick. Efficient. Just as he'd trained her.

She had the guard in a chokehold before he knew what was happening. Crushed. Counted to eight. He went limp.

Viktor gave her a look of approval. "Good."

They zip-tied the guard. Anya took his place at the monitors.

Six screens. Monitors. Showed different locations. The warehouse they'd been brought to. The hallway they were currently in. The room with Orlov still sitting bound to his chair. And three other rooms that looked like conference rooms.

"He's broadcasting," Anya realized. "Show the council members evidence of each other's misdeeds all at once. Set them against each other in real time."

"Smart. Vicious. Effective." Viktor peered at the screens. "But it still requires them all to show up."

"Irina will be here. She'll bring people." Anya swiped at the keyboard. "Pavel is counting on it."

"Can you get into his files?"

"Wait a second." Anya searched directories. Pavel hadn't secured his system very well. Arrogant. "Here. Finances. Communications. Jesus, Viktor. He's been planning this for two years."

"Show me."

Anya opened files. Wire transfers from off-shore accounts. Communications with someone called only "Architect." Detailed plans going back well before the Kozlov family had been publicly taken down.

"He wasn't lying about having international support." Viktor leaned in closer. "These accounts have Russian origins. FSB maybe."

"Why would Russian intelligence care about New York crime families?"

"Destabilization. Chaos in the American crime world makes it easier to insert their own organizations." Viktor swiped through more files. "Pavel is not building a new Syndicate. He's building a puppet organization for foreign interests."

"He's a traitor."

"He's a mercenary. Willing to sell out to the highest bidder." Viktor pulled a flash drive from his pocket. "Copy everything. Every file. Every communication."

"Where did you get that?"

"Always be prepared." Viktor's smile was grim. "Copy it all. Chen will need this."

Anya plugged in the drive. Started the transfer.

The radio crackled. "Team Leader to all units. Subjects are late for check in. Confirm status."

Viktor reached for the radio. "Team Two. Still securing. Minor difficulty."

"What difficulty?"

"Subject was physical. He has been subdued."

Pause. "Team Leader acknowledges. Report when ready for extraction."

Viktor placed the radio down. "We have five minutes or so before they send people in to check."

"Transfer is at sixty percent."

"We need it all. Everything." Viktor stepped to the door. "I will buy time."

"Viktor—"

"Stay here. Finish the download. Then we find another way out." He checked his weapon. "I will lead them away from you."

"That's suicide."

"That's tactics." Viktor looked her in the eyes. "You are more important than me right now. You have the evidence. You can get to Chen. Expose Pavel and whoever's supporting him."

"I'm not leaving you."

"You are not. You are completing the mission." Viktor's voice was gentle. "Trust me. I have survived worse odds."

"Not against Pavel and a dozen armed men."

"Then I will make it thirteen." Viktor stepped to the door. Paused. "Anya. If this doesn't go as planned—"

"It will."

"If it doesn't. Don't come back for me. Get that evidence to Chen. Burn Pavel's entire operation." Viktor's face was serious. "Promise me."

"Viktor—"

"Promise."

"I promise." The lie tasted of ashes.

Viktor nodded. Then he was gone. Moving down the corridor with deadly purpose.

Anya turned back to the screens. The download crawled to seventy-five percent.

Through the monitors, she watched Viktor move to the main room where Orlov was being held. Saw him take position. Waiting.

Pavel's voice came through speakers. "Thirty minutes until the council arrives. Get the presentation ready."

The download hit eighty percent.

On screen, Pavel walked into the room where Orlov waited. Checked his watch. Then his expression shifted.

"Where are the guards?" He pulled his weapon. "Sound the alarm!"

Sirens wailed through the facility.

Viktor moved. Anya watched him dispatch two guards before they knew he was there. A third went down with a shot to the leg.

But more were coming. Too many.

Ninety percent.

Pavel was barking orders. Men flooding the corridors. All headed toward Viktor's location.

Ninety-five percent.

Viktor was surrounded now. Trapped. Gun raised. Anya could see his face on the monitor. Calm. Ready.

One hundred percent.

Anya grabbed the flash drive. Shoved it in her pocket. Started looking for an exit.

The door behind her exploded open.

She spun. Gun raised.

Pavel stood there. Alone. Smiling.

"Did you really think I wouldn't be watching my own security feeds?" He raised his weapon. "Drop it."

Anya's finger tightened on the trigger.

"Drop it or I have my men execute Viktor right now." Pavel's voice was ice. "Your choice. Both of you die, or both of you live as my prisoners. Three seconds."

Anya lowered her weapon.

"Smart girl." Pavel moved closer. Disarmed her. Patted her down.

His hand found the flash drive.

"What's this?" He pulled it out. Recognition dawned. "You copied my files."

"Chen will still get them. Irina will make sure—"

"Irina is walking into a trap. The council is walking into a trap. And now you've confirmed that you're too dangerous to be useful." Pavel's finger moved to the trigger. "I gave you a chance. You chose the Devil over your own life. That was your mistake."

"Pavel, wait—"

"I'm done waiting. I'm done with the Kozlov family. Done with all of you."

He pulled the trigger.

The shot never came.

Pavel's head snapped forward. Blood bloomed on his chest.

He fell.

Behind him stood Viktor. Weapon raised. Face spattered with blood.

"Never turn your back on the Devil," Viktor said quietly.

Anya stared. "How—"

"Knew the number of guards. Watched you come into the room. Arrogance." Viktor moved to Pavel's body. Checked for a pulse. "He's finished."

"The others—"

"Dead or running. But more will be coming." Viktor took the flash drive from Pavel's hand. "We need to get out of here. Now."

They ran.

Behind them, alarms continued to wail.

And somewhere above, the council was arriving.

Walking into a trap with no one left to spring it.