We follow the usual route toward the highway, the estate disappearing behind us as the city lights begin to glow against the evening sky.
Then we reach the intersection where everything changes.
A black sedan waits near the corner.
As we slow, the vehicles align just long enough for the switch.
I step out.
Dimitri slides into the backseat of my car while Konstantin moves to the passenger side. The transition takes less than twenty seconds.
My original car drives off again immediately.
Same plates.
Same tinted glass.
From the outside, nothing looks different.
Anyone watching would assume I’m still inside.
But I’m already stepping into the second vehicle Dimitri prepared earlier, identical down to the smallest detail.
I watch my decoy car disappear into traffic.
“Good luck, boys,” I murmur quietly.
Then we drive away in the opposite direction.
Fifteen minutes later, my phone vibrates.
Konstantin.
I answer immediately.
“They took the bait,” he says.
Gunfire cracks faintly through the receiver before the line muffles. A burst of shouting follows.
Then Konstantin’s voice again, calm as ever.
“Three vehicles attempted interception. But they’ve been neutralized.”
I exhale slowly.
“Anyone alive?” I ask.
“Nope. They refused to squeak.”
I nod even though he can’t see me. “Don’t worry. Timofey is on it. He’ll call me any second now.”
We end the call.
My phone rings again almost immediately.
Timofey.
I answer before the second ring finishes.
