"What? The Newtown Creek apartment complex?" he asks, wide-eyed. "AMorozovbuilding?"
"I want a list of every unoccupied building where you've found the prison apartments. Will's projects first." My demon is dancing, howling with delight. "It's time to send a message. Burn them all to ash."
***
Even a Bratva the size of ours can't destroy twenty construction sites in one night.
But ten is a good start.
I watch Demid and his men move with lethal efficiency, wiring the Newtown Creek building. I'd been proud of this one. Polina's team had designed a beautiful structure with plenty of open areas around the apartment units. Maybe the plans can still be saved, even if the build couldn't.
Will Grand thought he could fuck with me. Spread his disease into the Morozov empire. He was wrong.
Demid steps back from the final charge, nodding at me. It's quiet on this construction site, as quiet as any place can be in New York. The night watchmen are gone. There's only us.
"Have you called thePakhan?"Demid asks. "To inform him of what's happened?"
"This is my decision," I say, staring at the building. "I'll speak with him after."
Demid is silent for a moment. "Understood. I've timed the charges; we can detonate at the same time as the other nine teams."
It took twelve blocks of Semtex to wire this building. In seconds, it'll be nothing but a pile of mortar and brick. Demid hands me the detonator.
"3… 2… 1…"
I press the button.
There's a powerful flash of light from inside the building on the main floor. A roar, like a bull elephant ready to charge, and the earth heaves under our feet. The percussive thumps of secondary explosions rattle the construction site, and then it all implodes. Shredded lumber and crumbling cement collapse inward. The windows are already installed in most of the windows, so now the crescendo of shattered glass adds to the symphony of destruction.
My demon laughs, dancing in the fiery remains of my crown jewel. "It's not enough." I walk back to the car. "Send Lavrenti and his team back for more Semtex charges. We have time for at least one or two more tonight."
I can barely hear my phone ringing over the roar from the fire.
It's Matvey. "Is there a problem?"
"Mrs. Morozova." His voice is shaking. "She's been taken."
***
chertov ublyudok- Russian for fucking bastard
Chapter Thirty-Seven
In which we meet a pasty, undead ghoul and the biggest asshole in the Tri-State area.
Ava…
A few hours earlier…
"Mrs. Morozova, are you ready to go to the clinic?"
"Don't call me that," I snap at Rurik, which instantly makes me feel guilty. None of this is his fault. "Can you please call me Ava? Like before?"
He shifts from one massive foot to another. "It would be inappropriate."
"Oh. Okay." I turn to pick up my backpack and he clears his throat, sounding like a landslide tumbling down the hill.
"Perhaps Matvey and I could call you Ava when we're not in public?"
