Pavel
A few of my brigadiers move ahead while I scan the abandoned lot near Riverview Plaza in Fort Lee. Other than the Cadillac Escalades lining the spaces in front of the warehouse, there’s no sign of life.
And if everything goes according to plan, it’ll stay that way.
Kostya gestures for his team to run around the back of the building. He then watches the double doors with me, crouching low behind a rundown Mazda sitting on cement blocks. He motions to the two men guarding the entrance.
I nod for Kostya and Gennadiy to take them out. The two of them disappear into the darkness and reappear under the halo of lights illuminating the guards. A flash of silver, a spray of crimson, and the guards collapse into their arms.
We want to keep things silent for as long as possible.
Kostya checks the entrance and then directs me to follow along with my team. I race after him, continuously scanning the lot for anyone unexpected. All I see are my men. And they’re all ready to fight to the death.
My heart rate picks up a new rhythm. The thrill of the hunt encourages me to move through the entrance with quick, calculated motions. Darkness drapes over us like a cloak, and we surround the expansive room. I take out a small mirror and hold it up to the window and see Cardona with several of his caporegimes.
Well I’ll be goddamned.
I had my suspicions that my captive was lying, of course, but those suspicions have been put to rest now that I can see Cardona with my own eyes.
This is it.I grip my gun and aim for Cardona.This ends now.
I’ve got him in my sights.
Nothing stands in the way of me having his head.
And when it’s lopped off, I’ll mount it on my wall, where Liya can see it.
Gunfire erupts. But not from my gun.
Kostya slams me to the ground and covers my head. He shouts at our team to attack. As he returns fire, I crouch near the edge of the hallway and search for Cardona. There’s too much chaos. I can’t find him.
“Son of abitch!” I growl.
I shove Kostya off and crouch into position. Two caporegimes run toward us. I raise my gun and fire four shots in quick succession. The two men slump to the ground, one on top of the other. A third man grabs a gun from the ground and turns to run. I stand from my spot as the second team of brigadiers storms through the back door.
Shouts echo through the warehouse. Cries of pain cut just beneath the haze of action. Gunshots fill my ears as I dart after the caporegime, who thinks he can make a run for it. I aim for the back of his head and squeeze the trigger. He stumbles forward, appearing like he’s still running away as his knees give out, and hits the ground.
But I don’t stop there.
As soon as I reach his body, I unload shot after shot into the back of his skull. Bone fragments and brain matter explode in every direction until my gun runs dry. I slam another magazine into it, acting on pure adrenaline and instinct.
Red ebbs and flows around my vision as I search the room.
“Felix! Come out, you fucking coward!”
Most of the bodies on the ground are his caporegimes. A few of my men are in the mix, but I don’t let it get to me. There will be a time for grief, but not now.
A single caporegime remains alive, held in place by Kostya. I snatch the man’s collar and roar in his face. “WHERE IS HE?”
He sneers but doesn’t say anything. I push my fingers into a bullet wound in his arm, drawing a sustained scream of pain. I grab his chin and force him to look at me. “Where thefuckdid he go?”
His eyes dart to a door on my right. That’s all I need.
I drop his body and point at Kostya. “Kill him.”
“With pleasure, Pavel Sergeyevich.”
My heart thuds in my ears as I race for the door. A single gunshot rings out behind me. We’re so close to the end, I can practically taste the victory I know I’m about to achieve. It’s just a matter of minutes—no,secondsuntil I send Felix straight to hell, where he belongs.