“We’re about to take down another Bratva. People will probably die tonight, Anton.” He’s looking at me with the utmost seriousness in his eyes. “It can’t be for nothing.”
I sighed. “No matter what, Mikki, it won’t be.”
With that settled, we set out. For our meeting place, everyone met about half a mile from the property. Using binoculars, I surveyed what we were dealing with. It was nothing I couldn’t handle. Within the hour, everyone was in place and ready to go.
Now, my men are spread about at the property’s perimeter, sitting in the darkness, waiting for my signal. Vladimir’s home is fairly well-fortified, but nowhere near as thick as it would need to be if he were expecting me.
Just coming up the walk, I picked out several of his men patrolling along the property line and a few standing out in front by his cars. He’s also got cameras set up along the side wall leading to the back area, but I’m willing to bet no one’s watching them tonight.
Still, this will be tricky, but it’s not impossible. The plan is simple. My men will move in darkness, picking off the ones on the outer rim of the property. That will be enough to get Mikki and me closer. And once they’ve cleared the way, we will come straight up the middle while the rest of my men move in shadow, taking out the ones closest to the house.
In the back of my mind, I think about what might’ve happened if I hadn’t found out Vladimir’s plans. He was far more crafty than I initially believed him to be to set both me and Nikolai up this way. Had I the time, I’m sure I could have convinced Nikolai to join me. I doubt I’ll need his forces for Vladmir’s shitty little Bratva.
In the back of my mind, I keep wondering what part of his plan involves Natalya. He went through all the effort to get her back while planning this campaign against me. It means something.Shemeans something. It occurs to me that Vladimir didn’t take her from me because of some fatherly obligation. He’s planning on using her as part of his campaign to take out his competition. I don’t want to consider how and I’m not going to wait for him to act. This all has to end tonight.
We see quick lights flash as the outer perimeter guards are taken down. Once I see the last light flicker, Mikki and I move closer.
Vladimir’s property is fairly small. It’s only a few steps before we’re in the bushes, a few yards from the front door. We watch as two of his men smoke and chatter back and forth while they lean against one of their boss’s cars. There are three in total, all parked in a row in the circular drive. All the same make and model.
I’m watching the tree line a little ways off, waiting for the next group of signals from my men. Mikki nudges me and points to a camera just above the front door.
“Should we bother with it?” he whispers. “If they don’t see us yet, they won’t see us at all, I think.”
“Leave it,” I say. “By the time they do see us on camera, we’ll be knocking on Vladimir’s door.”
He nods, his eyes narrowing in the darkness as he looks at the two men. As close as we are and they have no idea that we’re waiting to jump them from the bushes. “We’ll have to move fast,” he whispers.
I nod. We need to take these two out quickly and get through that front door in as close to one fell swoop as we can. After that, we’ll have seconds to get into the house. The moment Vladimir realizes what’s happening, he will retaliate with firepower. Andonce we’re in a gunfight, then anything can happen. I need to keep control of this for as long as I can.
Just as I’m thinking that, the sound of gunfire in the distance goes off. One round on one end and another round on another. Both men stand up and walk slowly toward the noise, their hands on their guns.
That’s our cue. Mikki starts moving toward the closest man and I maneuver toward his friend. Mikki gets to his guy first, slitting his throat from behind. The other man sees it happen and I know I only have seconds to get him down before he pulls his gun on Mikki.
I get to him in time, wrapping my arm around his neck and squeezing, lifting him up off his feet. A satisfying crunch echoes through my skin as his neck breaks and his body goes limp. I drop him and the two of us head for the door.
I could kick it down. I could do a lot of things, but the center of the door is a decorative stained glass pattern, so I take the easiest path of resistance. I pull my gun out and shoot the glass.
It shatters after the first shot but doesn’t come apart completely until I shoot it twice more. Vladimir’s foyer is in full view as I step up and reach through to unlock the door.
“Look out!” Mikki yanks me back and to the side as a shower of bullets sprays the wood, sending glass and wood everywhere. I cut my arm on the glass in the door as Mikki gets me out of the line of fire.
Then the shots stop. There’s only the tinkling of glass falling and the heavy smell of gunpowder.
“Anton!” I hear from inside. “Is that you, old friend?”
I nod to Mikki to move around the back. He acknowledges and creeps away. “This is how you greet your brother?” I yell back at Vladimir. “I’ve had warmer welcomes in prison.”
I hear him laugh. “I always loved your sense of humor,” he says. “I used to tell Maksim that your dry delivery is part of your charm. He used to respond that your jokes needed work. He never did have much of a sense of humor, I’m afraid.”
“This is true,” I tell him. “But then empires aren’t built on comedic relief.”
The sound of his shoes crunching the glass as he gets closer is unnerving. My hands are sweating against the handle of my gun. “I know Natalya is with you,” I yell. “Let’s talk about this like gentlemen. Put the guns down and have a rational conversation, yes?”
“Oh-ho,” he laughs. “I should say we’re past rational, my friend.”
“Everything can be worked out with a civil enough tongue. Allow her come out to me and we can let bygones be bygones.”
“You’ve got a lot of balls, Anton. A lot of balls.”
