Chapter 46
CHAPTER
FORTY-SIX
DINARA
Few things in life are better than watching a powerful adversary fall into a trap I built for them.
Like right now.
I move closer to the screen, a smile spreading across my face, watching the Ghost’s surveillance signal ping our fake radio channel.
My honeypot is working. They’re listening and waiting for the moment to make their move.
We got the ball rolling last night, knowing we needed to catch their attention in advance.
I had Kirill send his brothers panicked messages over an encrypted app we know the Ghost monitors.
The message was simple: the DEA got tipped off that the Baronovs’ Red Hook warehouse is holding fifty million in heroin, and they’re planning to raid within forty-eight hours. The Baronovs have to move everything out immediately or lose it all.
Once I confirmed the Ghost had intercepted those messages, we staged a meeting between Kirill and Elio at Rocco’s, a social club in Williamsburg, where they very publicly negotiated a deal.
Elio offered up a Valenti warehouse near Newtown Creek for temporary storage at triple the going rate.
Kirill haggled on the price but eventually they came to an agreement and shook hands.
Last night started it all. Tonight, we’re reeling them in with a live mission.
Right now, three trucks are being loaded with bricks of heroin for transport across the city in a heavily guarded convoy.
I roll my shoulders, working out the tension from sitting hunched over the keyboard for the past six hours.
The door opens behind me, and Gigi walks in, holding a cup of fresh coffee, which she hands to me.
“You are a godsend,” I tell her, taking a long sip.
We’ve worked closely on this operation and I’ve come to respect her. She’s sharp, doesn’t waste time on ego, and holds her own in a room full of men who think they know better.
“Figured this is our chance to fuel up before the trucks roll out.” She takes a sip from her own cup. “The Ghost still listening?”
I gesture at the screen where the data stream is scrolling. “Bet they think they’re so clever, breaking my encryption.”
I built a radio comms system that looks secure from the outside, but I left one small vulnerability in the encryption. They found it within hours.
Now they’re listening to everything and they have no idea I’m feeding them exactly what I want them to hear.
“How’s it going downstairs?” Gigi’s team is in the basement coordinating all ground movements and operations.
She blows out a breath. “So far, so good. The convoy’s on schedule, and the soldiers are locked in position. Let’s just hope those fuckers don’t attack while we’re en route.”
“It’s too risky, even for them. They’ll wait until our people are unloading the trucks at the Valenti warehouse before they strike.” Or at least, that’s what we’re hoping they do. Newtown Creek is an industrial wasteland, which makes it the perfect place for an ambush.
It’s why two hundred soldiers from five families are positioned discreetly around the warehouse, waiting for my word to attack.
She pushes off the doorframe. “It’s showtime soon. I better get into position.” She pauses. “By the way, thanks for all this.” She gestures vaguely at the monitors. “Don’t think we could’ve pulled this off without you. And hey, if things don’t work out with Kirill, the Triad’s door is always open.”
I wink at her. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
My fingers move across the keyboard, queuing up the next fake transmission.
This one is a pre-recorded message. It’s Matvey’s voice confirming the route the convoy will take through Brooklyn and into Queens.
He mentions Metropolitan Avenue, the turn east at Greenpoint, then toward Newtown Creek.
He lists cross streets, estimated time of arrival at the warehouse, and confirms that Valenti personnel will be waiting to help unload the product.
The data stream shows the Ghost’s system intercepting the message within seconds—a spike in their monitoring activity that confirms they’re listening.
Gotcha, suckers.
“Kirill, do you copy?” I switch to our real radio channel, the one I encrypted with an airtight algorithm that no one can break, including the Ghost.
“Copy.” His voice is neutral. He’s riding in the lead vehicle protecting the convoy, meaning he’s not alone in the Humvee. But I need to hear his voice, just once more before we all lock down in mission mode.
“They just intercepted the route details. Everything’s proceeding as planned.”
“Good. How are you holding up?”
“I’m… fine. You know I live for this stuff.
” What I don’t say is that I’m worried about him.
Because even the best-laid plans can go to shit in the blink of an eye.
And for all my mini-celebrations, I know the Ghost is smart and capable.
I just pray this time, I’m smarter and more capable. “Promise me you’ll be careful.”
“You know I will,” he says, his voice taking on a gruff note.
“This will be over soon,” I promise him. What I don’t say is we’re so close to being able to be together for real. The future I dreamed of but didn’t think I’d ever get is now within my grasp. “I love you, Kirill.”
“I love you too, baby.”
The line goes quiet but I keep the headset on for an extra second, holding onto the sound of his voice. For the first time in my life, I let myself want something I never thought I’d have—a life with the man I love by my side.
But we need to get through tonight first.
I stretch my neck from side to side and lock in on my monitors. One by one, the trucks from the convoy pull out, and start the slow roll across the city.
This isn’t the dangerous part but I hold my breath anyhow. There’s risk involved in all parts of this mission, but so far, it’s going according to plan.
The door opens behind me, and without turning, I say to Gigi, “I’m good on coffee. Another cup and I’m going to be all shaky.”
“We have a problem, Dinara.”
The voice is deep, male, and definitely not Gigi.
I spin in my chair. Miron stands in the doorway, his expression grim.
He must have just gotten back from Russia.
“Miron, Jesus, you scared me. What’s the problem? Is it the operation? Did something happen?”
“I found her.”
My heart stops. “What?”
“Your mother. Marina.” He steps into the room, closing the door behind him. “I found her. She’s alive. And she’s here in New York.”
The room tilts. My mother’s in the same city as me?
“Where is she? Can I see her?”
“I’ll explain everything on the way.” His voice is urgent. “She’s in danger. We need to leave now.”
My confusion sharpens into unease. Something isn’t adding up.
I lick my dry lips. “I can’t. I’m in the middle of coordinating this mission.”
His face turns dark. “That’s really too bad.”
He launches at me. I surge out of the chair, lunging for the door to call for backup. His hand catches my wrist mid-reach and yanks me sideways. I twist into the pull, using his momentum against him, and drive my knee toward his groin.
He shifts, blocking with his thigh, and his free hand goes for his jacket.
“Gigi!” I scream as loud as I can. “Help!”
His palm slams over my mouth, cutting off the sound. I sink my teeth into his hand and taste blood. He doesn’t even flinch.
Something sharp and biting punches through my jeans and into muscle.
What the fuck?
I look down in time to see an injector pen stuck in my thigh. Heat explodes through my leg, spreading fast. My vision blurs. The room spins.
Then everything goes black.