"Have you heard from Artem?" Saint asks, quietly. He's being casual, pretending like he barely cares.
Igor's smile falters, slightly. "No. Nothing. He is...quiet."
"That concern you?"
"A quiet Russian is a dangerous Russian." He drinks again. "But! Tonight is about celebration. We worry about Artem tomorrow."
He moves on, greeting others, and working the room.
"He's worried," Marcello observes. "He's trying to hide it, but he's worried."
"Good instincts," Saint mutters. "We should?—"
The lights go out.
All of them at once, and the warehouse plunges into darkness.
Someone screams, and I feel myself tense.
Saint's hand finds mine immediately, and he pulls me behind his body. "Stay close."
"What's happening?"
"I don't know. But?—"
The emergency lights kick in. Dim. Red. Casting everything in blood-colored shadows. It's eerie as hell.
I look up, gasping as I see him.
In the doorway stands Artem Orlov.
He's not alone. Men throughout the crowd start pulling guns—not Igor's men. Artem's. They were here all along, scattered among the guests.
The warehouse goes silent, as everyone collectively holds their breath.
"Good evening." Artem's voice carries. Calm. Controlled. "I apologize for the dramatic entrance. But I wanted everyone's attention."
Igor pushes through the crowd. "Orlov. You were not invited."
"No? Strange. Since we're celebrating the Pakhan position." Artem steps forward. His men fan out around the warehouse, blocking every exit. And it's in that moment that I know we are screwed. Artem wasn't quiet these last few weeks. He'd been playing the game. "And I have such interest in that position."
Before Igor can respond, Artem moves so fast, I almost don't see the gun. There's a small sound, and then, a wet thwack.
Igor falls.
For a second, no one moves. No one breathes.
Then someone screams.
Saint shoves me down, his body covering mine. Around us, people are running, shouting, scrambling for the exits that are already blocked.
Through the chaos, I see Artem. Still standing. Still calm.
And everything goes to hell.
CHAPTER 28
Saint
