“You were going to have someone take us out,” I finished.
“I guess once the wheels were in motion, Lenore didn’t see why we couldn’t go through with the original plan to take out groups like yours. She really wanted you guys gone. I guess it’s because you’d be the ones doing the work, if you know what I mean. We couldn’t afford to have anyone link us to those men or their money. I know the sites on the dark web where Breed hang out. Didn’t take long to find your tech guy.”
Viktor frowned. “And how did you do that?”
“Lenore knew the main handle your guy operates under, so I set up my account as Mr. X.”
Viktor looked agitated. He would have never told anyone information about Wyatt. Lenore must have charmed it from him. How many other things had she learned about us?
“And how did these men not grow suspicious?” Viktor asked.
Ronald shrugged. “Only Lenore kept in touch with them. Since none of them had ever been here before, I suggested talking up the city. We arranged private tours anywhere they wanted to go. Some of them they turned down, and others they accepted. It allowed us to manipulate their whereabouts without them realizing. Lenore wanted to be careful about where she arranged to have you guys ambush them. One guy just wanted to buy crystal elephants or some such nonsense.”
Viktor scratched the back of his head before smoothing down his silver hair.
“I don’t get it,” Ronald said. “How did you find out about our involvement? We were careful.”
Christian lightly smacked him on the side of the head. “You’re nothing but a gobshite with bad taste in cologne. Did you really think you could outsmart men more powerful than you could ever dream? One of them threw you under the bus before he died, and he didn’t do it to save his life. He did it for revenge. You were the only people they knew, the only ones who knewwherethey were and had all their money under your control.”
Ronald ground his teeth together. “I wish I had never met that woman.”
I snorted. “Join the club.”
“Are you gonna turn me in?”
“It is scandalous if not criminal to carry out hit orders with a hidden agenda to steal money.” Viktor’s chair creaked when he leaned back. “Turning you in would expose us. There are very bad people who believe in these men and who would seek justice for their slayings. Even we are not so foolish.”
Ronald swallowed hard, his eyes darting around. “So, uh… what’s gonna happen? I mean, I won’t say anything. I swear it. You’ll never see my face again.”
“Do you know what would have happened to their fortune if we had turned them in?” Viktor posed the question, giving Ronald a minute to think. “The higher authority would have charmed them to locate their assets. Though not all of it would be recovered, it is a significant fortune. They stole much from my people. The law would seek out anyone directly affected by their usurping the leaders of that time, and they would pay them punitive damages. They slaughtered many. I fought in that war, and I remember the bloodshed and horrors. All for power. You and Lenore assumed you could steal blood money and live like royalty when so many have suffered. I believe the fates will not allow such a thing, and that is why we are here today. That money can restore many broken lives across the world where the survivors have scattered. It can rebuild towns and help charities. But for you, it was just another home, another car, another expensive trip on a plane.” Viktor shot up and kicked his chair over.
The tension crackled. Even Christian let go of Ronald and backed up a step.
Ronald held up his hands defensively. “I wanted to turn them in and take the reward. I swear it! You can charm me. She’s the one who said it couldn’t be done without them unleashing all their men on us. Lenore was afraid Russia or another country would bid higher on the reward, and that night you came by, she was afraid everything might backfire on her. That’s why she made sure to give you the highest offer, doubling the amount. She didn’t care how much it took.” Ronald wiped his hand over his mouth and looked like a man facing his death. “I don’t even knowhowI can move it all. I made promises I couldn’t keep. It’s one thing to sell gemstones and convert foreign currency. That was all doable. I didn’t anticipate they’d have so many damn paintings and uncommon objects that’ll take years to move through auction. On top of that, people might question the authenticity or wonder where it came from.”
Viktor bent down and gave him a lethal stare, his hands gripping the chair arms. “And where is everything now?” he growled.
“It’s in-in a safe location,” he stammered. “I split the money into multiple accounts under the same name. Most of it’s offshore.”
“I want the exact location. I want everything. I will have Christian charm you when we are done, and if you lied or left anything out, I will show no mercy.”
Ronald fired off an address, and I got out my phone and typed it in to look at the map location.
“I want the account information too,” Viktor said before straightening. “Everything required to move the money back into Breed hands.”
Ronald furrowed his brow. “Soyoucan steal it? Isn’t that hypocritical?”
Viktor backhanded him, and I jumped with surprise. “You will pay us the reward promised. Five million per head. We have already taken down two, so you owe us ten. I want this to be Lenore’s money. As you are her financial man, I assume that you have access to her account.”
Ronald nodded eagerly. “I can do that.”
I did the mental math and realized if we split it evenly, it would be over a million each.
Viktor picked up his fallen chair and set it aside. “You will give account access to my tech. All the passwords—whatever he requires. From there, I will have him secretly disperse where their money truly belongs.”
Ronald removed his tie and tossed it on the floor. “What about the third guy? I can help you find him. Whatever you need me to do.”
“Nyet. We can no longer trust you. I will not send my people into a trap. There will always be a big fish to catch. Or else we would not have a job.”
