Seven women.
"Three are confirmed dead," Mila continues, her voice gentle but clinical. "Two disappeared without trace—presumed dead but no bodies recovered. One is in psychiatric care in Russia, completely non-verbal. All were connected to Bratva families through blood or marriage. All were ballerinas."
The scope is staggering. Anton isn't just a serial killer—he's been orchestrating a systematic campaign against Bratva-connected dancers for over a decade.
"The earliest victim we can confirm is from 2009," Mila says, scrolling through her files. "Irina Volkov, daughter of a Moscow Bratva leader. She was twenty-three. Then Elena in 2010. The pattern continues every one to three years after that. You're the first to survive an attack and remain functional. The others either died, vanished, or were completely broken psychologically."
I stare at the names on the screen. Seven women. Seven ballerinas.
All destroyed by the same man who dropped me on stage five years ago.
"Halloween at Juilliard Theater in Lincoln Center is his finale," Alexei says. "He's been planning this for years, possibly since he destroyed your ankle in 2020. He'll have backup—probably hired security, possibly armed accomplices. This is his masterpiece performance. He won't go quietly."
Maksim speaks for the first time, his voice controlled but dangerous. "Then we need to be prepared for war."
"Agreed." Alexei pulls up tactical documents. "Chicago is sending six men. They'll arrive Sunday afternoon. I've also activated our federal partnerships from our previous operations—FBI tactical units will be on standby, positioned discreetly around Lincoln Center. NYPD ESU ready to deploy if needed. Anton won't just face you two—he'll face an army."
The call lasts two hours, covering:
Detailed security assessment of Juilliard's Peter Jay Sharp Theater
Chicago's tactical team support and positioning
Federal coordination protocols
Communication frequencies and equipment
Medical staging locations for casualties
Extraction routes and contingencies
Rules of engagement (FBI wants him alive if possible for federal prosecution)
