And Arkady has just been reminded, without me ever needing to raise my voice, that I’m still thepakhan.
I step into the stairwell and start upward, already moving through the next problem. Arkady aligned with Ivan. Now I need the location. And I need it without Rowan ending up in the middle of my crossfire.
The upper level of the security wing is warmer, but the cold in my body doesn’t come from the weather. It comes from waiting.
I cross the courtyard and head into the operations room without announcing myself. The men inside straighten at once, not from fear but from discipline that runs on instinct. The room is lined with monitors, maps, and whiteboards marked in ink. The screens show traffic cams, property feeds, and live updates from our teams.
Polina stands at the center table with a tablet in hand, her hair braided back tightly. She doesn’t look up when I enter. She keeps her attention on the screen.
Karp comes in behind me and closes the door.
I take my place at the table and study the largest monitor, where Arkady’s recent deviations from standard routes are mapped in red across the city. Charlotte spreads out in blocks and veins,roads marked like arteries. Snow shows along the edges of the satellite imagery. White patches against the dark asphalt.
“Update,” I prompt.
Polina lifts her eyes. “Arkady’s captain changed vehicles twice in the last hour. Both changes happened near industrial corridors. He’s avoiding main roads.”
That’s expected. Arkady isn’t stupid. He knows I’m watching him.
“What about Ivan?” I keep the name flat.
Polina’s fingers move across her tablet. “We have two possible sightings. One at a private garage in South End, and one at a storage complex near the train yard. No confirmed visual yet.”
Mikel leans a hand on the table. “They reacted already. Arkady tightened his circle. Three captains pulled back from their usual routes.”
A silent acknowledgment spreads through the room. Everyone understands what it means when someone pulls back. It means they’re hiding something. Or moving something.
Rowan.
My throat tightens at the thought. I keep my face blank. “Track the captains’ stops. Every door they open. Every gate they pass.”
Polina nods. “Already in motion.”
I stare at the map. “Arkady used Ivan to reach Rowan. That means he believes Ivan can do what his own men can’t.”
Mikel’s eyes narrow. “Information.”
“Access,” I correct. “Arkady thinks my territory belongs to him. He thinks Rowan can be used to pull me out of position.”
“If Arkady expects you to move on the properties he oversees, he won’t keep her there.” Polina keeps her eyes on the tablet.
“I know.” My jaw clenches.
Mikel watches me carefully. He’s been at my side long enough to recognize when my control is under strain. “You want direct confirmation.”
“I want certainty.” I point at the map. “If I go into the wrong building with automatic fire, she could be caught by mistake. That can’t happen.”
No one argues or breathes too loudly.
Polina turns the tablet so I can see. “We have a pattern. Arkady’s captains have been circling properties that aren’t on the Sovarin books.”
“Off-grid holdings.”
“Private leases under shell names,” she confirms. “He’s using external muscle.”
Ivan.
I tap the table once. “Pull the leases.”
