Petrov’s ugly face appears on screen, his eyes are bloodshot and he looks like shite, like he hasn’t showered or slept for days.
Good.
“Petrov, my old friend!”
His face droops into a thunderous scowl as he recognizes me.“Chertova svin'ya, ya tebya vypotroshu! I ya broshu tvoyu zhenu svoim lyudyam i…You fucking pig, I will gut you! And I will throw your wife to my men and-”
I can tell the moment he hears the thunder of his imminent death as he turns toward the huge picture window in the room, facing the mountain peaks.
“You should have never gone after my woman and her family,” I say, enjoying every micro-change of his expression.
Shock.
Confusion.
Realization.
"By the way,” I grin, “how doesPyat' Semey,theFiveFamilies of Moscow sound to you? Maksim Morozov thought it had a nice ring to it."
Panic.
“I know how much you enjoy your explosives, so here’s a little gift. Goodbye, motherfucker. I’ll see you in Hell.”
The monstrous tsunami of snow, rocks, and ice rips through the compound, tearing apart the walls and guard towers. The chunks of concrete and broken lumber act like a battering ram, tearing through the main house. Even from this height and over the noise of the blades, we can hear the detonation of gas and propane tanks rupturing, and the groans of cars crushed like tin cans.
The walls of the mansion bulge oddly for a moment, struggling to hold shape until finally exploding in the opposite direction with a flood of demolished furniture, shattered glass, and shredded human remains.
The tiny figures of panicked guards racing for the front gates are swallowed up in the ocean of snow and debris flooding across the compound and tearing apart the front gates. Huge pine trees are ripped out of the ground, joining the tidal wave of destruction as it continues down the valley.
I’ve never been this satisfied. That sick feck is gone, and he’ll never threaten my wife again.
“Boss? The wind’s getting bad,” Katya warns, watching her control panel. She glances over her shoulder with a little grin. “Daniil and I both hit record at the moment the charges dropped. You’ve got it all in nice, clear, high-definition video.”
“I have never loved a woman more,” I say fervently. “Before we go, can you make one last low-altitude sweep?”
She rolls her eyes, but I know she wants to as much as I do.
The devastation is complete. We soar over the remains of the compound, broken bodies and debris buried under a mountain of snow. A violent gust of wind rattles the ‘copter and makes us lose altitude before Katya gets control again.
“Let’s go,” I say with a sigh.
“But what a rush, eh, Herr MacTavish?” My avalanche expert’s eyes gleam with an unholy joy.
“Aye, the best,” I laugh, slapping his back.
***
The new storm will keep me inside until it dies down tomorrow, so back at the hotel, I call Aria. Her phone rings and rings.
“Love? Call me as soon as ya’ get this, aye?”
Gregor calls as I disconnect.
“It’s Miss Aria,” he says urgently, “she’s gone.”
Chapter Thirty-One
In which Aria just cannot catch a break.
