Viktor had his hand on his weapon too, eyes narrowed, posture tense. Katya went absolutely still between us.
The first man out of the lead truck gave a hand signal. Two more men moved to our flanks, weapons raised, covering every exit angle. One of them shouted toward our driver in English.
“Cut the engine! Hands where we can see them!”
Our driver complied immediately.
“What the hell is ARCHEON doing here?” Viktor muttered.
“Either coincidence,” I said, “or?—”
“No,” Katya cut in, voice tight and flat. “They don’t do coincidence.”
The front passenger door of the lead truck opened slowly.
A woman climbed down, stepping neatly onto the asphalt in polished shoes that did not belong anywhere near a service road. She wore a luxurious navy suit, tailored to perfection, dark hair twisted into a severe knot. Her posture was elegant, but there was nothing soft in it.
I knew who she was before she even spoke.
ARCHEON’s director.
She walked toward our limo, stopped a few feet in front of the hood, and studied the tinted glass like she could see straight through it.
Then she spoke, voice perfectly calm, like water over ice.
“Are we done playing games, Mr. Dragunov?” she asked.
For a moment, my brain tried to decide which Dragunov she meant.
Then she lifted her gaze and added, “Both of you.”
Yeah. She knew exactly who was in this car.
“Fantastic,” Viktor said. “The fun police.”
“Open the doors,” the director said. “Slowly. Hands visible. I’m not in the mood for theatrics.”
“Neither am I,” Viktor muttered. “And yet here we are.”
“Do it,” I told the driver.
He hesitated, then complied, hitting the release.
The locks thumped open.
Viktor glanced at me. “Fight?”
“Not yet,” I answered quietly.
Guards approached both side doors, rifles up, bodies angled. One yanked my door open with a curt motion.
“Out,” he snapped.
I slid out with both hands raised, posture relaxed, eyes doing a full sweep. There were four trucks in total. Twelve guards, at least. All ARCHEON.
Viktor followed, every line in his body radiating aggression, but he played it smart, keeping his hands up and his mouth shut for once.
Katya climbed out last. I stepped slightly in front of her without thinking.
