Page 80 of Blood & Snow

Our breath forms clouds in the frigid air.

At the warehouse's side entrance, I pause to check my weapon.

The Makarov rests comfortable against my ribs, loaded and ready.

"How many men do you have?" I ask quietly.

"Four, positioned around the perimeter…" Stepan chambers a round and I feel my chest tightening.

Good they're contained.

If they try to escape, our men will dissolve the problem for me.

But I want Sokolov myself.

Slaughtering the son of my enemy is the best way to show him I'm not fucking around here.

I push open the side door slowly.

It creaks once, then goes silent.

Inside, the warehouse stretches out in shadows broken by harsh fluorescent lights hanging from the ceiling.

Stacks of wooden crates create a maze of hiding spots and blind corners.

Voices carry from the center of the space—Russian mixed with accented English and what sounds like Chechen.

Business voices, discussing prices and delivery schedules.

Stepan and I move through the shadows between crate stacks.

Neither of us makes a sound as we advance, using the stored goods as cover.

Twenty meters from the center of the warehouse, I can see the meeting clearly.

Yaroslav stands beside an open crate filled with automatic weapons, gesturing while he talks.

Four of his men stand in a loose perimeter around him.

The Chechens examine the merchandise, their leader running his hands over an assault rifle.

Everyone is focused on the deal so intently they don’t hear or see us coming.

I signal Stepan to take the left flank while I move right.

We separate, circling around opposite sides of the group.

I take the first shot—a clean hit to the chest that drops Yaroslav's lieutenant where he stands.

Before anyone can react, Stepan's weapon barks twice, taking down two more Brotherhood soldiers.

Chaos erupts.

Men dive for cover behind crates,shouting orders and curses.

Muzzle flashes light up the warehouse as return fire comes from multiple directions.

I move between the crates, using them as shields while I pick off targets.