This doesn’t erase the lies or the betrayal. It doesn’t magically resolve all the doubts that still plague me at three in the morning when I can’t sleep.
But it’s a start.
28
Tony
Adrian Belmont has been busy while we’ve been hunting his mole.
Boris summoned me to Dmitri’s office twenty minutes ago, and I’ve spent most of that time staring at surveillance photographs that tell quite the story.
Sasha sits beside me, with her knee almost touching mine.
Alexei paces behind his brother’s chair while Dmitri studies the images with the sort of scowl that usually precedes violence.
“Our teams in Western Europe reported in three hours ago,” Boris explains from his position near the window. “They’ve been tracking Adrian’s movements since we confirmed Ivan as the source of the leak. What they found is concerning.”
He’s underselling it.
The photographs show Adrian in Paris, shaking hands with members of the Corsican syndicate outside a café in the Marais district. Adrian in Berlin, dining at a private club with a formerKGB operative who now runs weapons through Eastern Europe. Adrian in Amsterdam, photographed entering a canal house owned by financiers known for bankrolling hostile takeovers of legitimate businesses.
“He’s building a coalition,” Dmitri states. “Every network he’s contacted has one thing in common. They all have grievances against Russian organizations operating in their territories.”
“The Corsicans lost three shipping routes to us last year,” Alexei adds. “The Berlin contact had his money laundering operation disrupted when we expanded into Germany. The Amsterdam financiers have been trying to acquire a company we currently control.”
“Adrian is offering them something invaluable in exchange for their cooperation,” Boris continues. “Information about our operations, our vulnerabilities, and our financial structures. This is the kind of intelligence that could cripple us if it fell into the wrong hands.”
“And it’s all information that Ivan’s been feeding him,” I realize.
“Exactly.” Alexei replies with a nod. “Every document Ivan accessed, every file he copied, every detail he passed along is now being used to build a case for why these organizations should unite against us.”
I inspect the photographs more closely. Adrian looks different in these images than I remember from our meetings. Thinner. More manic. The composed art dealer I first met has been replaced by someone operating on obsession and desperation.
“He’s accelerating,” I observe. “These meetings are happening too fast, too openly. He’s not being careful anymore.”
“Which makes him more dangerous,” Dmitri replies. “A careful enemy is predictable. Adrian has stopped caring about consequences.”
“What exactly is he proposing to these networks?” Sasha asks. She hasn’t looked at the photographs yet, keeping her gaze fixed on her brother instead.
Alexei answers. “From what our sources gathered, he’s positioning himself as a coordinator. Each organization contributes resources and intelligence. In return, Adrian promises them a share of whatever territories and assets they can seize once the Kozlov operation is destabilized.”
“He’s selling them a war,” I surmise.
“He’s selling them an opportunity,” Dmitri corrects. “One they’re apparently willing to consider. Some have agreed to provide logistical support, others are offering weapons. The Amsterdam group is prepared to fund the operation.”
Sasha finally looks at the photographs, and her face goes pale as she examines a shot of Adrian leaving a hotel in Munich. She’s working through what this means. Adrian is trying to assemble enough firepower to destroy them completely.
“What’s our move?” I ask.
Dmitri exchanges a look with Boris before answering. “We need to force his hand. Draw him out before he finishes building his coalition.”
“How do you intend to do that?”
“By giving him what he wants.” Dmitri’s gaze settles on Sasha, then on me. “You and Sasha will travel to London. Make it look like you’ve successfully isolated her from our protectionand have convinced her to return. That puts her back within his direct reach. Adrian’s been waiting for this moment since he hired you. We give it to him.”
My stomach drops.
“You want to use Sasha as bait.”
