Chapter 150 Chapter 150

Chapter 150 Chapter 150
Chapter One Hundred and Fifty

Dimitri

The next morning, I gathered everyone in my office. I needed answers. I needed them now.

"We found footprints last night," I began. "Someone was watching the house."

Viktor nodded. "I checked the security footage. The cameras caught no one."

"How is that possible?" Alexei asked.

"Either they knew where the cameras were," Viktor said. "Or they moved too fast to be caught."

"Or someone turned them off," I said, looking directly at Viktor.

Viktor met my eyes. He did not look away. "You think I did this?"

"I think someone inside helped them," I replied.

Viktor set his jaw. "Then search my things. I have nothing to hide."

I studied him. His face showed nothing but honesty. But I had been fooled before. "Fine. Leave your phone and laptop here. I will have them checked."

Viktor pulled both from his pockets without hesitation. Set them on my desk. "Anything else?"

"Not yet," I replied. Viktor nodded and left the room.

When he was gone, Mikhail spoke. "He is either innocent or the best actor I have ever seen."

"That is what worries me," I said.

Alexei picked up Viktor's phone. "Should I check it now?"

"Yes," I said. "All of it."

While Alexei worked, I turned to Mikhail. "Tell me about my father. About what he did twenty years ago."

Mikhail's face changed. "Why do you ask?"

"Because the voice on the phone said someone wants justice for what my father did. What did he do?"

Mikhail was quiet for a long time. "Your father was not perfect. He made enemies. That is the nature of our business."

"That is not an answer," I pressed.

"I know," Mikhail admitted. "But some things are better left in the past."

"Not when the past is trying to kill us," Alexei said.

"What did you find?" I asked.

"Nothing," Alexei replied. "His phone is clean."

"Check the laptop," I ordered.

I turned back to Mikhail. "You need to tell me everything."

Mikhail sighed. "Twenty years ago, your father had a business partner. They built the empire together. But the partner wanted to take his share and leave."

"So?"

"Your father could not let him leave. So your father gave him an ultimatum. He stays or dies."

My blood ran cold. "What did the partner choose?"

"He tried to leave anyway," Mikhail said. "So your father had him killed."

The room went silent. "Who was he?" I asked quietly.

"His name was Anton Sokolov," Mikhail said. "He had a wife. And a daughter."

My heart stopped. "Katerina."

"Yes," Mikhail confirmed. "Katerina was Anton's daughter. That is why she came after you. She wanted revenge for her father."

"And we killed her," Alexei said. "So now someone else is coming after us. Someone connected to Anton."

"But who?" I demanded. "His wife is dead. Katerina is dead. Who else is there?"

"I do not know," Mikhail admitted. "Anton kept his family very private. But if he had other children, they would want revenge too."

I ran my hands through my hair. This was bigger than I thought.

"The laptop is clean too," Alexei announced.

I looked at Viktor's devices on my desk. "Give them back to him. And apologize."

"Apologize?" Alexei asked.

"Yes," I replied. "If he is innocent, I just accused him of betrayal. I owe him an apology."

I left the office and found Viktor in the hallway.

"Your things are clean," I said. "I am sorry for doubting you."

Viktor looked at me. "You are protecting your family. I understand."

"Still," I said. "You have been loyal for years. I should have trusted you."

"Trust is earned," Viktor said. "And right now, you are right to trust no one. Not even me."

His words surprised me. "Why do you say that?"

"Because someone inside is helping the enemy," Viktor said. "And until we know who, everyone is suspect. Even me."

We spent the rest of the day increasing security. But I still did not feel safe.

That night, I could not sleep. I went to check on Nikolai. He was sleeping peacefully. Irina was asleep in the chair beside his crib. I watched them both. My family.

Then I heard a soft sound from outside Nikolai's window. I moved quietly to look out. I saw nothing. But the sound came again. Like tapping on glass.

I grabbed my gun. Moved closer to the window. Then I saw a piece of paper taped to the outside.

I opened the window carefully. Grabbed the paper. Closed the window and locked it. The paper had one sentence written on it. "Tomorrow night. The old warehouse. Come alone or they die."

My hands shook. They. Who did they have?

I woke Irina. Showed her the note. Her face went pale. "Who is they?" she whispered.

"I do not know," I said. "But I am going to find out."

I woke Alexei and Mikhail. Showed them the note. We gathered in my office again.

"This is a trap," Viktor said immediately.

"I know," I replied. "But if they have someone, I have to go."

"Who could they have taken?" Alexei asked. "Everyone is here."

We did a quick headcount. Everyone was accounted for. Then it hit me. The lawyer. The one who got Mikhail released. I grabbed my phone and called him.

No answer.

"Try his office," Irina said.

I called his office number. A woman answered. "Mr. Petrov called in sick this morning."

I hung up. "They have him."

"We need to go to his house," Alexei said.

"No," I replied. "We go to the warehouse."

"It is a trap," Viktor repeated.

"I know," I said. "But we do not have a choice."

I looked at everyone. "I am going alone. Like the note says. But I want everyone else on standby. Ready to move if things go wrong."

"You are not going alone," Alexei said. "I am coming with you."

"The note says alone," I argued.

"I do not care what the note says," Alexei replied. "You are my brother. We do this together."

I looked at him. "Fine. We go together. But everyone else stays back unless we call for help."

We spent the rest of the night preparing. Checking weapons. Planning escape routes.

As the sun began to rise, I realized something. This could be it. This could be the end.

I went to say goodbye to Irina and Nikolai. Just in case. Irina was awake, feeding Nikolai his bottle.

"Do you have to go?" She asked.

"Yes," I said. "If I do not, they will kill the lawyer. He has a family."

"And we do not?" Irina asked. "You have a family too."

"I know," I said. "That is why I am doing this. To keep you safe."

I kissed her. Then kissed Nikolai's forehead. "I will come back, I promise."

But even as I said the words, I wondered if they were true.

We left at sunset. Alexei and I in one car. Viktor followed in another with backup. The warehouse was on the outskirts of the city.

We parked a block away. Walked the rest of the distance. The warehouse loomed ahead. Dark and Menacing.

"This is it," I said.

We entered through the main door. It was unlocked. Inside was pitch black. I turned on my flashlight. The beam cut through the darkness.

"Hello?" I called out. No answer.

We moved deeper into the warehouse.

Then we saw the lawyer. He was tied to a chair in the center of the room, gagged. His eyes were wide with fear.

"It is okay," I said, moving toward him. "We are here to help."

But as I got closer, I realized something was wrong. The lawyer was not looking at me. He was looking behind me.

I spun around and came face to face with a gun.

"Hello, Dimitri," a familiar voice said.

I froze. Because I recognized that voice. It was impossible. But I recognized it.

The figure st
epped into the light. And my world shattered. Because standing in front of me was someone I thought was dead.

Someone who should have been dead.

"Surprised to see me?" They asked with a cold smile.