Andrei’s jaw ticks, and his eyes shift rapidly.
“I . . . don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Okay,” I say, resigned. I reach into my suit and pull out my handgun, then pull the suppressor out of my pocket and screw it onto the end.
“W-wait,” Andrei says. “I can tell you some things, but I don’t know everything.”
“Is it Sergei or Yegor who ordered the hits on Greenspan?”
“I . . . I don’t know. I get my orders from a guy named Ivan.”
Declan steps forward and gut punches Andrei. Andrei hunches forward and falls to his knees. He’s not Russian muscle. He’s a Russian scientist, and he’s clearly not used to this side of the violent acts he helps to perpetrate.
“Try again.”
“Ivan works for Sergei.”
“Good. And what is TDC’s next move?”
“They want Greenspan destroyed.”
“We know that part,” Declan says, lifting Andrei back to his feet.
“They want to undercut the power of Langford Holdings.”
“That’s also not a stretch to figure out.Howdo they plan to do that?”
“I don’t know!”
“Whatdoyou know?”
“I know the hacker they used is called the Ghost.”
Sterling hisses in my ear. “Fuck. I’ve heard of him. He’s a goddamn legend. No wonder all their tracks have been well covered. He’s a mercenary hacker and doesn’t really care what the job is. He just works for the highest bidder.”
“What else?” I demand.
“Yegor is putting pressure on Sergei. This was supposed to be done years ago. The research is getting closer, and Yegor wants it shut down before it gets any further.”
“Who ordered the questioning of my grandfather?”
Andrei’s mouth pops open again, but nothing comes out. “I-I don’t know anything about your grandfather. He died before my time here.”
“Surely you’ve heard something.”
“No. Nothing. I-I had no idea there was a connection.”
I can’t tell if the terror on his face is genuine because he doesn’t know or if he’s trying to hide what he knows.
“For the last fucking time, what is TDC’s next plan?” Declan growls.
“Th-they want the company, and they’ll do anything to get it. Your board is eager to give it to them. I-I don’t know what they’ll do to get it, but they have something planned. I don’t what, though!”
Declan twists and punches Andrei straight on the nose. Andrei crumples to the floor.
“Try again,” Declan says, standing over him.
“The sabotage isn’t working,” Andrei says through a nasally, wet tone, clutching his bleeding nose. “They’re trying for a different tactic. They’re planning to hit Asher personally, where it hurts. They can’t get control of Greenspan without going after Asher’s power.” He looks up at me. “You hold too much power, and they want to take it for themselves. That’s all I know.”
