“Truth, memory and intent,” Bryn corrected, settling into a chair across from him.He pulled off his gloves but kept his dark glasses on.“I’m not psychic, just gene-altered.I’m guessing you know what that means.”
“I heard stories.Russo’s been obsessed with finding you for months.He was apoplectic when you got away in Philly.I was in a different city and felt the sonic boom.”Malavita’s hand shook as he reached for his water glass.“That’s part of why I’m here.What he’s planning…it’s not only criminal, it’s insane.”
“Why don’t you tell us what you know,” Gunnar said.“Bryn will verify it.”
“And I get witness protection?”
Bell, from his position by the door where he was standing with Emmett, nodded.“That’s the deal.”
“Okay then.From the raids that have been happening on drug manufacturing sites, I guess you already know that Russo’s been working on the development of a synthetic drug.A drug that works on lupines and sanguines.It makes them stronger, faster, more dangerous.Enhancing the enhancements, if you like.”
“We know.”
“It’s been trial and error.A lot of failure.He refined the drug by using it on subjects coming in for regulation testing and now it works.He’s got six or seven men ready to go.”
“How do you know?”Bell asked.
Bryn reached across the table.“I need to hold your wrist, Mr.Malavita.”Malavita held his arm out and Bryn gripped his wrist.“Okay.Carry on.”
“I’ve seen them in action.They’re not gene-affected humans anymore, they’re monsters.They can do things…” Malavita shuddered.“Russo’s planning to use them to eliminate the Kozlov family.All of them.Every last one.It’s Russo’s idea of a test of their capabilities and obedience before he puts them to work on the streets.”
“Truth.”Bryn leaned forward, ignoring the spike of pain behind his eyes.
“When?”Bell asked.
“He’s been waiting for the right opportunity, and Pavel Kozlov’s memorial service is perfect.He’ll do it there.The entire family will be in one place.”
“And you have a problem with that?”Gunnar’s voice carried a note of skepticism.
“I signed up to run numbers and collect debts, not to be part of a genocide,” Malavita snapped.“Russo’s talking about this like it’s some kind of demonstration.Showing the other families what his enhanced soldiers can do.He’s going to start a war that will burn down half the city.The Kozlovs are only the beginning.”
Bryn removed his glasses then pinched the bridge of his nose.“He believes he’s telling the truth.”
Malavita stared at him.“Your eyes are…glowing.”
“Yeah.I swallowed a uranium pill with my coffee this morning.I’m going to take a look at your memory now.”He left his glasses on the table.After a second, the image came through.“He’s standing in what looks like an aircraft hangar.”Bryn described what he was seeing.“Russo is there, and a group of men.They look gene-enhanced.Mostly wolves I think, maybe one or two vamps.Russo is making a speech.‘When we’re finished, every other family in the city will know exactly what happens to those who cross us.When we’re done with Boston, we move on to New York, Chicago, Miami.We’ll take out the cartels, the Yakuza, anyone that gets in my way.’”
Bryn shifted his focus to Malavita’s intent.The man’s fear was genuine, as was his horror at what Russo was planning.But there was something else, a desperate hope that cooperating with the FBI would keep him alive long enough to disappear.
“He’s genuine in as much as he wants to save his own skin,” Bryn said, releasing Malavita’s wrist.He pressed his fingers to his temples as the familiar headache began to build.
“So Russo’s planning to hit the memorial service with an enhanced team and he sees it as a show of power,” Gunnar said.
“How many enhanced soldiers?”Bell asked.
“There were six I saw but there may be more, of course,” Bryn clarified.
“What about Russo himself?”Gunnar asked.“Will he be there?”
Malavita shrugged.“He’ll be coordinating from a distance, but close enough to see the results.Fucking power hungry maniac.He had a good thing going, why does he need more?”
Agent Bell cracked his knuckles.“You’ll testify to all of this in court?”
“If it means Russo goes down and I get to live through this, yes, providing you protect my identity.”
Bell’s phone buzzed, and he glanced at the screen.“Excuse me for a moment.”He stepped out of the room, returning a few minutes later.“That was our surveillance team.The memorial is at two this afternoon but they’ve spotted some of Kozlov’s people scoping out the area around St.Nicholas Cathedral.”
“Then that’s our window,” Gunnar said.“If Russo’s going to move, it’ll be then.”
