Chapter 23 | Leo
Leo
Irose the next morning, ready to confront Marco and ensure he left New York once and for all. Katia cooked breakfast, and we ate in comfortable silence as we contemplated the importance of the day ahead. Dmitry usually slept past when I left for work, so I doubted I’d see him.
When we were finished eating, I shrugged on my suit jacket and placed my gun and badge on my hip. Katia approached, smoothing her hands over my jacket as she grinned.
“You’re really sexy, Agent Stabler,” she said, biting her lip. “The suit does it for me.”
Lifting her chin, I kissed her soft lips. “You can take it off when I get home.”
Fear entered her eyes. “Please come home,” she whispered. “I just found you, and I can’t lose you. I’m terrified Marco is going to do something insane because he doesn’t want to give up power.”
“I’ll be fine,” I said, hoping the words were true. “And maybe this weekend, I can finally take you on a sushi date.”
“Are we going to actually have a first date?” she teased. “I think we skipped over that step.”
“Yeah, I kind of suck at dating. I’ll do better.” My eyes darted between hers. “And over sushi, I’d like to talk about what we want for the future. You mentioned children in the den the night Dima moved in and...” I shrugged. “I’d like to talk more about that.”
Her smile deepened. “I would too. Kids have always been this distant idea for me, but with you...” She placed her palm over my heart. “I think we’d make some pretty awesome kids together. But we need to do it before my uterus goes into hibernation.”
Laughing, I nodded, thrilled that she was open to having kids. “Okay. We’ll talk about it on our date.”
Wrapping my arm around her waist, I drew her close and gave her a resounding kiss. “Love you. See you tonight, okay?”
She nodded, hope mingling with the fear in her eyes.
I headed out to the car, anticipation buzzing in my brain as I faced the long day ahead.
After the morning meeting, I logged some notes from yesterday’s homicide investigation. Glancing at my phone, I realized it was time to head to the warehouse.
I drove within a few blocks of the warehouse and parked there so my car would remain inconspicuous. I left my suit jacket in the car, knowing I wouldn’t need it for the off-the-books meeting.
I approached the back door of the abandoned warehouse, noticing one of Michael’s guys who I didn’t know very well guarding it. He stood in a wide stance; his hands crossed over his belt with a stone-faced expression.
His eyes met mine when I got closer, and he pulled the door open for me.
“They’re already inside,” he said in a gruff voice.
“Thanks.”
I stepped inside, my eyes adjusting to the dim light that shone through the elevated broken windows. Michael stood across the room to my right, several men behind him including Nick, Chris, Enzo, Joaquin and others.
Marco and Oskar stood across from him, side by side, as several bratva soldiers flanked them.
I joined Michael’s group and he gave me a curt nod. Facing Marco and Oskar, he began.
“I have agreed to your meeting in person, Marco,” Michael said. “It’s my hope that this will be the last meeting here in New York. You have a thriving business in the Caribbean and Miami, and it’s time for you to return to it. Go back home. You’re not welcome here.”
Marco’s lips curled into a cruel smile. “That’s not your decision to make, Michael.”
Michael placed his hand on the gun at his hip. “I don’t want this to get messy. No one has to die here today.”
“I agree,” Marco said, extending his hands. “Especially Dmitry. We want to make sure he stays alive so he can implement the program he stole from Rossi’s daughter.”
My eyes grew wide as Dmitry stepped forward from the men he’d been hiding behind.
“No!” I whispered, wondering when he’d left the house. I thought he’d been sleeping. Had he left before we awoke for the warehouse?
“Betrayal is an ugly game,” Marco said, “but I play it better than anyone. Dmitry has stolen Alexis’s program, and he sent anonymous tips to several major agencies across the world this morning.
I believe the FBI, Interpol, Mossad and several other agencies are hunting you and Sergey as we speak.
It won’t be long before you rot in prison. ”
Michael drew his gun, aiming it at Marco’s forehead. His actions caused me and all the soldiers on both sides to draw their guns, ratcheting up the tension in the room.
Glancing around, Marco emitted a malevolent laugh.
“Go ahead, Caruso. You kill me, and my men will come after every person you love. I think your pretty wife would look wonderful in prison scrubs. And the men I leave behind would be happy to finish what I started with your dirty agent’s girlfriend.
” Marco looked at me and spit on the floor. “Fucking whore.”
Michael’s finger tightened slightly on the trigger, and my pulse pounded as I wondered how in the hell to get us out of the terrible situation. Once everyone started shooting, there would be immense bloodshed and many would die.
My breath rushed through my chest as I saw something move out of the corner of my eye. A lone gunshot echoed in the room, and everyone swiveled to face the sound, retraining their aim in that direction.
A tall man in a suit stepped out from behind a large, faded wooden bookcase that sat unnoticed in the warehouse. Striding forward, his dress shoes echoed on the cement floor.
Marco gasped, and I swiveled my head back toward him, watching his unseeing eyes he crumpled to the ground. A trail of blood trickled from the bullet hole in his forehead.
The tall man in the suit aimed his gun at Oskar. “You’ve been a loyal soldier, and I don’t want to kill you. But sadly, I’m afraid you’ve left me no other choice.”
“I’ve pledged my loyalty to you for years!” Oskar screamed.
“Apparently not.” Sergey’s lips thinned. “You stood with Marco this morning instead of me.”
“You weren’t here!” he cried. “Caruso will eliminate everything that makes us money and gives us power!”
Sergey’s expression fell. “We’re ushering in a new age, Oskar. One that will protect us and allow us to thrive. The old-world order is gone. I’m sorry. May your soul rest in peace.”
Sergey fired, lodging a bullet in almost the exact same spot on Oskar’s forehead. He collapsed, expelling his last breath as his body lay in a heap on the cold, dirty floor.
“Does anyone else want to challenge my partnership with Michael Caruso?” Sergey asked, his voice loud and commanding as he looked at Oskar’s remaining soldiers. They glanced at each other, and eventually, lowered their weapons.
Sergey stepped toward Dmitry and patted him on the shoulder. “Good job, son.”
“I wasn’t sure you could get back into the country in time,” Michael said. “Guess you made it.”
Facing him, Sergey smiled. “When I changed my mind about attending this meeting, I called every contact possible and secured a private plane. I depart for Estonia from Atlantic City airport in four hours.”
“Then we need to get you on the road,” Michael said, stepping forward and extending his hand. “Thank you.”
Sergey shook it, and I could see the mutual respect that was slowly growing between the new partners.
“I look forward to a new era where we both benefit,” Sergey said. “Your optimism that we can thrive in the financial and crypto market without human trafficking is heartening, although I still doubt it can be done.”
“I look forward to proving it’s possible,” Michael said. “Safe travels home.”
Sergey approached me and extended his hand. “Sergey Kersna. Thank you for taking care of Dmitry. I leave him in your hands.”
“I’ll keep him safe,” I said, shaking Sergey’s hand.
Sergey gestured toward two men in Oskar’s contingent, and they stepped toward him, following him as he exited the warehouse.
Looking at Michael, I blew out a breath. “Holy shit.”
“That was close,” Michael muttered. “But I’m glad they’re both gone.” Turning to Enzo, he asked, “You’ll take care of the bodies?”
“On it, boss.”
Facing Oskar’s men, Michael addressed them.
“I’m not your enemy. My organization and the bratva are entering a new era.
We welcome you as long as you pledge your loyalty to me and Sergey.
Now, I urge you all to go home just in case any NYPD officers were notified of the gunshots.
Sergey and I will be in touch with orders. ”
Oskar’s men scattered, and I rushed to Dmitry, placing my hands on his upper arms. “Are you okay? I thought you were still home when I left.”
“Sorry,” he mumbled, his eyes downcast. “Sergey contacted me and said I couldn’t tell you guys.” He lifted his gaze to mine. “I hope you’re not mad. I really like staying with you and Katia.”
Grinning, I pulled him into a tight hug. “I’m not mad, although next time, I’d really like a head’s up.” Drawing back, I squeezed his arms. “I don’t want you doing dangerous secret missions. Katia and I just want you to be a safe, normal kid.”
“Who codes new financial infrastructure programs for notorious crime syndicates?” he asked, arching an eyebrow.
Laughing, I nodded. “It doesn’t sound great when you put it that way, but yes.” Patting his arm, I turned to find Nick. Locating him, I waved him over. “Can you take Dima home? I think Katia will feel better if you deliver him there safely.”
“Of course,” Nick said.
The men filtered out of the warehouse, Enzo and some other soldiers removing the bodies to dispose of them.
Left alone with Michael, I rested my hands on my hips. “Did you know Sergey was coming?”
“He told me he changed his mind, but as you heard, we weren’t sure he could get into the country. Thank God he did.”
“A crisis averted, for sure. Now that Marco and Oskar are dead, I’ll close and seal some of their open files at the agency. Less of a paper trail to implicate you or Katia on the fraudulent financial deposits.”
“Thank you.”
We walked to the side door and stepped onto the gravel outside. Michael slid into the backseat of his SUV and gave me a wave goodbye.
I began walking down the sidewalk to my car when two men stepped into my path. Glancing up, I gazed into the furious eyes of Daniel Kelly.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
Lifting a pair of handcuffs, he tilted his head. “Leo Stabler, you are under arrest for aiding and abetting known criminal Michael Caruso.”